How to Get Data from a Broken Samsung Phone with a Cracked Screen

Posted by Boey Wong / September 21, 2026 09:00

Dropping your Samsung phone and seeing the screen go black is a gut-wrenching feeling. The phone might still be working underneath, but with a broken or unresponsive screen, you cannot access your photos, contacts, messages, or any other data. The good news is that in most cases, the data is still there, and you can recover it even if the screen is completely dead.

In this guide, I will show you two methods to get data off a broken Samsung phone: a DIY method using a USB OTG adapter and mouse, and a professional solution using FoneLab Broken Android Data Extraction that can recover data even from phones with severe hardware issues. Let us get started.

Guide List

• Part 1. Can You Recover Data from a Broken Samsung Phone?
• Part 2. Method 1: Recover Data via USB OTG and Mouse
• Part 3. Method 2: Recover Data with
• Part 4. What Data Can Be Recovered?
• Part 5. Tips to Prevent Data Loss on Samsung Phones
• Part 6. FAQs about Broken Samsung Data Recovery

Part 1. Can You Recover Data from a Broken Samsung Phone?

Whether you can recover data from a broken Samsung phone depends on what exactly is broken. Here are the common scenarios and your chances of recovery:

1. Broken screen but phone still works. If the phone turns on, vibrates, or makes sounds, the internal storage is likely intact, and recovery is very likely.
2. Black screen but phone powers on. The display might be dead, but the phone is running. You can often connect a mouse via USB OTG to navigate.
3. Touch screen not working. If the display works but touch is unresponsive, a USB OTG mouse can solve the problem.
4. Phone will not turn on at all. If the phone is completely dead, recovery is more difficult but may still be possible with professional tools.
5. Water damage. If the phone was submerged, do not try to turn it on. Let it dry completely and then try recovery methods.

The most important thing is to stop using the phone and not try to charge it repeatedly if it is not responding. Every time you try to turn on a damaged phone, you risk further damaging the internal storage. Start with the methods below as soon as possible.

Part 2. Method 1: Recover Data via USB OTG and Mouse

If your Samsung phone still powers on but the screen is black or touch is not working, you can connect a USB mouse using an OTG (On-The-Go) adapter to navigate the phone and transfer your data. This is the cheapest method and works if the phone's USB port is still functional.

Step 1Get a USB OTG adapter. The Galaxy series of that era uses a micro USB port, so you need a micro USB to USB female OTG adapter. These are cheap and available online or at electronics stores.

Step 2Connect the OTG adapter to the phone's charging port, then plug a USB mouse into the adapter.

Step 3Turn on the phone. You should see a mouse cursor appear on the screen (if the display works) or you can use the mouse blindly if the screen is black. If the screen is black, connect the phone to a TV via MHL/SlimPort adapter to see the display.

Step 4Use the mouse to unlock the phone (enter your PIN or pattern) and navigate to Settings > Connections > Bluetooth to pair with a Bluetooth device, or connect to Wi-Fi to upload data to the cloud.

Step 5Transfer your data. You can use the mouse to open the Gallery, select photos, and share them via email or cloud storage. You can also connect the phone to a computer via USB and copy files directly if USB debugging was already enabled.

This method works well if the phone's USB port and internal storage are intact. However, it requires some patience if the screen is completely black, and you may need to connect to an external display to see what you are doing. If USB debugging was not enabled before the screen broke, you may not be able to transfer files directly to a computer. For a more reliable solution, try Method 2.

FoneLab Broken Android Data Extraction

Fix your frozen, crashed, black-screen or screen-locked Android system to normal or Recover data from broken Android phone or SD card.

• Fix your Android disabled problems and recover data from phone.
• Extract Contacts, Messages, WhatsApp, Photos, etc. from broken android device or memory card.
• Android phone and SD card data are available.

Free Download Learn more

Part 3. Method 2: Recover Data with FoneLab Broken Android Data Extraction

FoneLab Broken Android Data Extraction is a professional tool designed specifically for recovering data from broken or damaged Android phones. It can extract data from phones with black screens, broken screens, water damage, or even phones that will not boot normally. It supports most Samsung Galaxy models, including older Galaxy models.

Step 1Download and install FoneLab Broken Android Data Extraction on your Windows PC. Open it and choose Broken Android Data Extraction from the main interface.

Step 2Connect your broken Samsung phone to the computer using a USB cable. Click Start to begin the recovery process.

Step 3Select your device name and model from the dropdown menus. Make sure you choose the correct model (Galaxy phones have several variants depending on region and carrier). Click Confirm.

Step 4Follow the on-screen instructions to put your phone into Download Mode. This usually involves pressing and holding the Volume Down, Home, and Power buttons simultaneously, then pressing Volume Up to confirm.

Step 5The software will download the matching firmware and scan your phone for recoverable data. Once the scan is complete, you can preview and select the files you want to recover, then click Recover to save them to your computer.

What makes FoneLab Broken Android Data Extraction so effective is that it can access the phone's internal storage directly, even when the screen is not working. It does not require USB debugging to be enabled beforehand, which is a common limitation of other methods. It can recover a wide range of data types, including photos, videos, contacts, messages, call logs, WhatsApp messages, and documents. The software guides you through each step, so even if you are not tech-savvy, you can use it successfully.

Not sure which method fits your situation? Here is a quick side-by-side look.

Part 4. What Data Can Be Recovered?

FoneLab Broken Android Data Extraction can recover the following types of data from a broken Samsung phone:

1. Photos and videos. All photos and videos stored in the Gallery, including those taken with the camera and downloaded from the internet.
2. Contacts. All saved contacts, including phone numbers, email addresses, and contact photos.
3. Messages. SMS and MMS text messages, including attachments.
4. Call logs. Incoming, outgoing, and missed call history with timestamps and durations.
5. WhatsApp messages. Chat history, photos, videos, and voice messages from WhatsApp.
6. Documents. Word, Excel, PDF, and other document files stored on the phone.
7. Audio files. Voice recordings, music, and other audio files.
8. Calendar and notes. Calendar events, reminders, and notes stored on the device.

The software lets you preview each file before recovering, so you can select exactly what you want to save. You can choose to recover everything or just specific files. The recovered data is saved to your computer in its original format, so you can easily transfer it to a new phone or keep it as a backup.

FoneLab Broken Android Data Extraction

Fix your frozen, crashed, black-screen or screen-locked Android system to normal or Recover data from broken Android phone or SD card.

• Fix your Android disabled problems and recover data from phone.
• Extract Contacts, Messages, WhatsApp, Photos, etc. from broken android device or memory card.
• Android phone and SD card data are available.

Free Download Learn more

Part 5. Tips to Prevent Data Loss on Samsung Phones

Prevention is always better than recovery. These tips will help you avoid losing data if your phone gets damaged:

1. Back up regularly. Use Samsung Cloud, Google Drive, or a computer backup to keep a copy of your data. Enable automatic backup so you do not have to remember.
2. Enable USB debugging. While your phone is working, enable USB debugging in Developer Options. This makes it easier to connect to a computer if the screen breaks later.
3. Use a protective case and screen protector. A good case can prevent most screen damage from drops and bumps.
4. Sync contacts to Google. Make sure your contacts are synced to your Google account so they are automatically available on any new phone.
5. Upload photos to the cloud. Use Google Photos, Samsung Cloud, or Dropbox to automatically back up your photos and videos.
6. Keep your phone dry. Avoid using your phone near water, and use a waterproof case if you will be near pools or beaches.
7. Do not try to repair it yourself. If the phone is broken, do not try to open it or repair it yourself, as this can cause further damage and make data recovery impossible.

By following these tips, you can minimize the risk of data loss and ensure that even if your phone gets damaged, your important data is safe and recoverable.

FoneLab Broken Android Data Extraction

Fix your frozen, crashed, black-screen or screen-locked Android system to normal or Recover data from broken Android phone or SD card.

• Fix your Android disabled problems and recover data from phone.
• Extract Contacts, Messages, WhatsApp, Photos, etc. from broken android device or memory card.
• Android phone and SD card data are available.

Free Download Learn more

Part 6. FAQs about Broken Samsung Data Recovery

A broken Samsung phone screen does not mean your data is gone forever. With the USB OTG method or FoneLab Broken Android Data Extraction, you can recover your photos, contacts, messages, and more. The key is to act quickly and avoid further damaging the phone. For more recovery tips, check how to recover pictures from a broken Android phone or recover data from Samsung phones.