Backup your iPhone with a broken screen

Yep, if it's broken/failed, pretty much. Apple provides multiple methods to backup your phone. If iCloud backups are enabled, it will back up automatically, with no user intervention, when the phone is plugged into power, connected to WiFi, and locked.

If iCloud backups are not turned on, it will be backed up to your computer every time you sync the phone with iTunes.

Okay 😟 But thanks a ton! You were super helpful in comparison to my extremely length Customer Care calls that got me nowhere! Appreciate this 🙂 Good day! 🙂

Another question if I may, Iclod allows only 5GB storage. However, I have a 64GB phone and ypou can imagine the number of photos & videos I have. Any alternative to back it up other than icloud?

nickytilk300 wrote:

Unfortunately the only way is to borrow a screen from another functioning iPhone and disconnect its screen and then hook it up with your broken device in order to access your password screen.

Which will permanently forfeit your right to have either the donor phone or the recipient serviced by Apple.

When your iPhone/iPad is cracked or shattered by accident and left locked, it becomes important to get data off the broken device such as photos, videos, contacts, messages, etc. Here, this video tutorial will show you several methods to backup iPhone/iPad with broken and passcode-locked screen.

Quick guide:

#1 Check some of important data in iCloud.com like videos, pictures, contacts, notes, reminders when iPhone is broken and lokced

https://youtu.be/EiZf-I1qGrc?t=18s

#2 Recover data from broken/locked iPhone/iPad with iPhoneRecovery software if the iTunes detects your device on computer. Otherwise you'd better get your gadget repaired first.

https://youtu.be/EiZf-I1qGrc?t=50s

#3 Chances are that you’ve previously made a backup for iPhone/iPad with iTunes, then it would be easy to get back your files.

https://youtu.be/EiZf-I1qGrc?t=4m10s

Also for your step 3, if the home button is not working either, you can plug in apple headphones (or I believe any headphones with play/pause controls) and hold the play/pause button to activate Siri.

The only remaining limitation I'm seeing is that Siri must be previously enabled. Has anyone successfully enabled Siri by not touching the screen or home button?

A huge thank you to both jbuckner85 and kuris for their helpful comments. I followed jbuckner85's instructions to get the phone all set up to back up to the cloud, and kuris' instructions to also add a bluetooth keyboard so that I could sync with iTunes via a USB cable. I was able to save all of the important data on my daughter's smashed phone, which is a tremendous relief.

I AM DELIGHTED TO SAY I HAVE SOLVED THIS ISSUE- Watch this video (click the link)

https://youtu.be/TPhG-1qfN48

I'm so glad to prove apple wrong on this one as was given no chance but I've been able to successfully back up all the data onto a new phone!

Thank you for mentioning the Camera Connection Kit because I already had one of those. What was surprising was I was able to use a regular (non-powered) usb keyboard (Dell model number SK-8165) from an old computer. It only worked after I turned Voiceover on using Siri, as mentioned earlier, and my iPhone 5 battery was fully charged (or even around 70%). I just plugged the keyboard into the camera connection kit, and the camera connection kit into the lighting port on the iPhone 5. I was able to turn on iCloud and backup my data. I'm so grateful!

hey there..

so im currently going thru this very same thing. my issue now is that i believe i have siri disable. im about to purchase the keyboard but when i try to hold the home button to actuvate siri i get nothing?

i first unlock the phone by pressing the home screen once, but immediately after its unlocked a bunch of notifications pop up.

is there any suggestions if siri command isnt working?

If you want to turn Voiceover on without Siri, you may want to try hitting the home button three times in a row. My Siri was not working after I erased all the contents and settings (hoping that it would fix the screen issue), but I was able to turn Voiceover on in this way. Siri was working again after I went through the setup process of entering my language and country, etc. using a keyboard.

Hi xtinabot,

please I want to know, if in this keyboard work move by arrows to move between icons? I bought one certified from griffin, but arrows doesn´t work, when I want to go down in settings to the wi-fi etc.

Please let me know.

Thanks,Jiri

Were you not backing it up previously? If not, it's too late now.

Hold the home button until you hear "voice over" tone. Then speak your password.

esther144

Can you please explain how you did it because i have exactly the same problem with my iPhone 5S brokens display 😟

I have the exact same issue, accept my phone now says "iPhone is Disabled - connect to itunes" - which I've done. I've tried the voice activation and it won't come up. Please help, any suggestions?