Can the technician at an apple store transfer data from a working phone with a broken screen to another iPhone?

No. They have the same options as you to back up to iCloud or back up to a computer and if neither can be done and then you’ll need to proceed with repairs first. However if it’s only a cracked screen a screen repair typically doesn’t erase the device.

You cannot without the use of special hardware Apple Stores do not have access to.

It's possible a store could connect a replacement screen just long enough to enter the appropriate passcode, but I doubt any would be willing to take the time to do that.

shoeluvr13 wrote:

No. They have the same options as you to back up to iCloud or back up to a computer and if neither can be done and then you’ll need to proceed with repairs first. However if it’s only a cracked screen a screen repair typically doesn’t erase the device.

It should be possible, but it really depends on the situation with the broken iPhone, whether it's being replaced, what the new device is, etc. One case I heard of was someone with a damaged phone that could still back up, and it was already through the transfer process to a replacement iPhone when the customer decided not to go through with the replacement.

I've certainly heard of people being allowed to use a Mac at an Apple Store to do the data transfer between devices, although a store employee might need to walk the customer through the process. It's pretty much the same as doing it with any other computer.

There are a lot of reasons why someone might want a transfer without repairing the device, including one that's damaged but being replaced with a newer model. I certainly can do it myself at home, but not everyone can or wants to.

Dogcow-Moof wrote:

You cannot without the use of special hardware Apple Stores do not have access to.

It's possible a store could connect a replacement screen just long enough to enter the appropriate passcode, but I doubt any would be willing to take the time to do that.

The OP didn't indicate that the screen didn't work - only that it was broken. I've seen plenty of iPhones and iPads where the glass was broken and where it still worked. Now having a long crack going across a device is annoying, but that doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't work enough to enter a passcode or to trust a computer.

deggie wrote:

How do you transfer information from a phone with a broken screen that you cannot unlock the iPhone?

I had an iPad Mini 2 with completely shattered glass and a destroyed home button. It would connect to a Mac (although it was previously a trusted computer), charge up, and even respond to Find My alerts. Never had to unlock it for that. However, that might not apply to the OP's situation. (Addendum: It looks like current versions of iOS don't allow backup without unlocking first.)

But in this case the OP says it's "a working phone with a broken screen". In my experience, cracked glass doesn't always mean that an iPhone doesn't work as I've seen plenty of working ones where the glass is broken. I have heard of cases where cracked glass resulted in "ghost touch" where it was difficult to get it to work, but not always. You haven't seen a working iPhone with cracked glass? You seem to be making an assumption that it can't be unlocked or where the user trusts it with a particular computer.

Dogcow-Moof wrote:

It depends upon how you interpret "broken" - as in cracked, or as in non-functional.

The OP calls it a "working phone" so I thought it was in reference to one where the device can be unlocked. My interpretation was that it's a question of whether or not Apple will help with the transfer, and/or whether or not Apple considers a damaged device to be a reason to not help with the transfer.

How do you transfer information from a phone with a broken screen that you cannot unlock the iPhone?

It depends upon how you interpret "broken" - as in cracked, or as in non-functional.