How to transfer photos from an iPhone with a broken screen to Mac

Are you sure you didn’t do ANY of these ways of preserving photos and videos?

• Archive or make copies of the information you store in iCloud
• emailed, texted or messaged the photos to friends or family
• iCloud photo sync
• iCloud backup
• iTunes backup
• Transfer your photos to your computer via USB cable
• Apple Photo Stream
• Sync to Google Photos
• Sync to some other photo archiving service such as Shutterfly
• Sync to Dropbox
• Sync to box.com
• Sync to Microsoft OneDrive
• Sync to Amazon Photos
• back up to Livedrive
• Backup to any other backup or archiving service

A final option is if you synced your photos to iCloud, you have a Mac, and you use Time Machine to back up your Mac automatically, you can open Time Machine and restore the photo library to an earlier date. To do this on your Mac open Finder, then click on Pictures in the sidebar and launch Time Machine. Go to a time before the photos were deleted and restore

Photos Library.photoslibrary. (If you had ever changed the name of the photo library restore that file instead).

If the answer is no to all of the above your photos are gone forever.

What model iPhone?

It used to be possible for older iOS devices if they were previously trusted (I did that a bunch of times on a totally trashed iPad Mini 2), but more recent versions of iOS don't initially connect without the device being unlocked. You'll get a message saying "Unlock iPhone to use accessories" which you currently won't be able to do.

You'll need to get the front screen assembly replaced. And if there's something like extensive case damage Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider will only offer a replacement device. And even if they can replace the screen alone on the same device, there are some caveats, including that Apple doesn't guarantee that data will still be available or even that you get back the same device. They could reset the device for any number of reasons or even offer a complete replacement exchange in lieu of fixing your particular device. I have a preference to go with Apple and not third party repair, but that's something to consider as a possibility if the data on the device is more valuable to you than a completely OEM device.

I got that exact "Unlock iPhone to use accessories" message on my iPhone 7 today before it would connect to my Mac. Then when I tried connecting again after disconnecting it didn't need to unlock to connect. I never really though of a Lightning cable and/or computer as a USB accessory though.

However, I never really thought of why it happens and looked up what my situation was. It's about USB Restriction Mode (which I've heard about in passing), where the default is off and I've never changed it. The message under Face ID (or Touch ID) & Passcode indicates that it's one hour before unlock is required to connect again. Won't matter to the OP anyways, but I thought I'd mention it since it might be useful for someone.

Using USB accessories with iOS and iPadOS - Apple Support

Allow access to USB accessories

You can allow your iOS or iPadOS device to always access USB accessories, for example, if you use a USB assistive device to enter your passcode on your locked iPhone. Many assistive devices will automatically turn on the setting to allow USB devices the first time they’re connected.

If you don’t connect to USB accessories regularly, you might need to turn on this setting manually.

In Settings, go to Face ID & Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode, and turn on USB Accessories under Allow Access When Locked.

Have you ever connected the iPhone to your Mac before? If not, try turning on voice control via Siri. Other then that, there is really no other option other than to take it to an apple authorized repair shop to get it fixed or the Genius Bar at your local apple store.

AdigeSamil wrote:

Have you ever connected the iPhone to your Mac before?

Did you read the original post before responding? Specifically:

• the phone hasn't trusted this MacBook before

If it hasn't trusted this computer before there is no way to make a backup without entering your passcode on the iPhone.

No, both responders missed that.

Nope. Didn't miss that. Just an "even if" comment. As in, even if the computer was previously trusted, it's not going to connect without unlocking the iPhone.

Except that is not true, even on current phones it can connect and backup if the computer has previously been trusted.