Recovering photos from a broken iPhone that won’t turn on may seem daunting, but it is possible even without access to the phone’s screen or functionality. When an iPhone is physically damaged and no longer powers on, the data stored on it including photos, videos, contacts, messages, and other media are still present on the device’s storage, though inaccessible through normal means. With some persistence and the right tools or professional help, you can retrieve your photos from a broken iPhone in several ways. This guide will walk through various methods to salvage your precious memories off an unresponsive iPhone.
Assess the Damage
The first step is to assess the extent of the damage to determine why your iPhone won’t turn on. Common reasons an iPhone may not power on include a cracked screen, water damage, battery issues, software crashes, or hardware failure. Carefully inspect your iPhone for any physical damage like cracks on the screen or back of the device, warped casing, or dents that could indicate drops or impacts.
Try pressing and holding the power button for 30 seconds to force a hard reboot. If the screen remains black and nothing happens, the issue is likely hardware-related. If your iPhone’s screen is badly cracked or completely black/unresponsive when you press buttons, this points to a broken display or other internal damage preventing the phone from turning on properly.
According to experts, among the most common faults with iPhones are screen and logic board failures that can prevent an iPhone from turning on entirely (https://reboxed.co/blogs/outsidethebox/10-common-faults-with-iphones). If there are no visible signs of physical damage but your phone still won’t power up, it could be a problem with the logic board or battery.
Back Up to iCloud
If your iPhone turns on and works partially, the first step is to try to back up your data to iCloud. iCloud provides 5GB of free storage to back up your iPhone data including photos, messages, contacts, and more (Source). To perform an iCloud backup on a functional iPhone, go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > iCloud Backup and tap “Back Up Now”.
iCloud backups happen automatically when your device is connected to WiFi, plugged in, and locked. But if your screen is damaged, you won’t be able to lock your iPhone. So it’s best to manually trigger a backup if possible while you still have some functionality. iCloud requires an internet connection and can take time if you have a large backup. Keep your iPhone plugged in until the process completes.
If your iPhone is completely non-functional, you won’t be able to rely on an iCloud backup. In that case, move on to trying iTunes or data recovery tools and services to retrieve your photos and data.
Use iTunes Backup
One way to retrieve photos from a broken iPhone that won’t turn on is by backing up the device to iTunes on your computer [1]. To do this:
- Connect the iPhone to your PC using the charging cable. iTunes should automatically detect the device.
- Open iTunes on your computer and select the iPhone icon under the “Devices” header.
- Click “Back Up Now” to start backing up the iPhone data to iTunes. This includes photos, messages, contacts, and more.
- Once the backup is complete, you can access the photo library by going to iTunes > Preferences > Devices and selecting your iPhone backup.
Backing up to iTunes creates a complete copy of the iPhone data that you can restore later. This allows you to retrieve photos even if the phone is damaged or won’t power on [2].
Remove the SD Card
If your iPhone has an SD card, removing it to access the photos is often the easiest solution. The SD card is separate from the internal storage, so even if the phone itself is damaged, the photos stored on the card can likely still be accessed.
To remove the SD card:
- Locate the SD card slot, usually on the side of the phone.
- Carefully insert a paperclip or SIM tool into the hole next to the slot to eject the tray.
- Gently pull out the SD card tray and remove the card.
- Insert the SD card into a computer or USB card reader.
- Open the DCIM folder to access your photos and videos.
- Copy the files to your computer or external storage.
Once the photos have been recovered from the SD card, you can format the card and reuse it if needed. This allows you to retrieve your photos without needing to repair the phone or use data recovery software.
Just be sure not to take any more photos with that SD card, as they could overwrite your existing photos that you want to recover. If the phone does power on, be sure to disable the SD card before attempting to recover photos from it.
Try a Data Recovery App
One of the best options for retrieving photos from a broken iPhone that won’t turn on is to use a phone data recovery app. There are many highly rated iPhone data recovery software options to choose from, both free and paid.
According to Macgasm, EaseUS MobiSaver is one of the top choices for recovering lost iOS data from an iPhone. It can extract photos, messages, contacts, and more. The free trial allows previewing recoverable data.
Coolmuster also recommends their iOS data recovery software as a leading app for recovering lost iPhone data. It works even if your phone won’t turn on.
Most phone data recovery apps allow you to connect your iPhone to a computer, then scan the device for recoverable photos and media. Even with a broken screen or logic board failure, the apps can often still extract data from the storage chip.
Just be sure to avoid restoring or wiping the iPhone before running a data recovery app, as that may overwrite deleted photos.
Send to Data Recovery Service
If you have valuable photos or data on your iPhone that can’t be accessed, sending it to a professional data recovery service may be your best option for retrieval. Data recovery services have sophisticated tools and clean room facilities specifically for extracting data from damaged devices.
To use a data recovery service, you will need to mail your iPhone to a reputable company like Secure Data Recovery Services, which has a 4.9 rating based on over 85 reviews. Their specialists work in a Class 100 ISO 5 Cleanroom and use advanced techniques like microsoldering to repair devices and extract data at the component level.
The service will first diagnose your iPhone to determine the cause of the issue, whether it is software-related or requires hardware repair. Once repaired, they can use forensic tools to access and recover data directly from the NAND flash memory chip. This gives them the best chance of retrieving photos and files without needing an iCloud backup.
The cost for iPhone data recovery varies based on the severity of damage and required work. Expect to pay anywhere from $300 to $1000+ for this service. While expensive, it may be worth it to recover irreplaceable photos from a broken iPhone that won’t turn on.
Replace Logic Board
If your iPhone won’t turn on even after trying all other troubleshooting methods, the issue may be a faulty logic board. The logic board contains the phone’s central processing unit and is essentially the iPhone’s “brain.” If the logic board is damaged or defective, the phone will not be able to power on at all.
Replacing the logic board can potentially bring an unresponsive iPhone back to life and allow you to regain access to the data. This repair requires opening up the iPhone, removing the old logic board, and installing a new one. It’s a complex procedure that should only be attempted by an experienced technician. Many third-party repair shops offer affordable logic board replacements and data recovery services.
According to discussions on Apple’s support forums, some users have resolved an unresponsive iPhone by getting the logic board replaced after diagnosis at an Apple store (source). However, logic board issues can happen even in newer iPhones, as described in this thread. Replacement costs will vary depending on your iPhone model and service provider.
While certainly not the easiest or cheapest fix, a logic board swap could potentially bring an unresponsive iPhone back to life and allow you to regain access to your photos and data. It’s worth considering if you have exhausted all other options.
Replace Screen
Replacing a broken screen can allow an iPhone that won’t turn on to power back up again. If the screen is cracked or damaged, it may be interrupting the connection between components and preventing the phone from booting up properly. Putting in a new screen can restore these connections and get the phone working once more (Source).
However, it’s important to use high-quality original replacement parts and have the repair done by experienced technicians. Low-quality or improperly installed screens may not fully restore functionality, or could even further damage the phone. The new screen needs to integrate properly with the phone’s logic board and other components (Source).
Replacing an iPhone screen has become an affordable and convenient option for many users. But to avoid potential issues like degraded visual quality, touchscreen glitches, or impaired camera performance, it’s best to use official Apple parts and certified repair shops whenever possible.
Conclusion
The best option for retrieving photos from a broken iPhone that won’t turn on depends on the extent of the damage. If the phone still turns on but the screen is cracked, backing up to iCloud or iTunes should allow you to access the photos on a working device. For an iPhone that won’t power on due to battery or logic board issues, taking it to a reputable data recovery service may be the most effective method if you need to recover the data urgently. However, this can be expensive. Sending the device to Apple or an authorized service provider for logic board or full device replacement can also work in many cases, but tends to be slower and pricier.
For minor screen or battery issues that prevent powering on the iPhone, consider replacing components like the battery, screen and connectors yourself or via a reputable independent repair shop to get the device working again at a lower cost. But for any significant liquid damage or component failure, utilizing professional data recovery services or board-level repairs at Apple may be the best option to retrieve photos from a broken iPhone that won’t turn on.