Backup your iPhone with a broken screen

Does this work when your phone screen is completely black, but home button seems to work? (computer /iTunes recognizes phone but is requiring input).

If you were backing it up to iTunes on your computer, it should not prompt you to unlock the phone unless you changed the passcode since the last time you unlocked.

There is no "hard drive" in an iPhone. They use flash memory that soldered on to the logic board. If you did not already have it backed up, it's too late. You're going to lose your data.

This was a brilliant suggestion (well, particularly as I already have the Camera Connection Kit). I did need to connect the keyboard to the iPhone via a powered USB hub as the keyboard (Apple Wired Keyboard) drew too much power, but once that was done it worked perfectly. iPhone is now happily being backed up. Thanks mmashburn85!

I tried to turn on voiceover with Siri and realised that I had Siri turned off in my settings so at that point I was pretty screwed. I wondered if my touchscreen was still working, so when iTunes told me to enter my password I blindly swiped right and hit my password in the best estimate of where I thought the numbers would be sitting on the screen. This worked for me, so if people are really stuck, think their touchscreen might be working and don't have time/money to buy the keyboard try this out! It might work for others!

I had the exact same thing happen. I purchased a "Logitech Wired Keyboard - for iPad Lightning Connector" and was then able to enter my password on the keyboard and backup my phone. Worked like a charm and didn't lose a bit of my data.

This worked for me... Was challenging slow process but figured it out. i was told by Apple and a gadget guy there was nothing that could be done for my iPhone 5c which was turning on and working but the screen was black/non responsive after i dropped it.. No hardware fixes. This allowed me to navigate phone by voice to settings to turn on iCloud. All pics from my son's first two years were saved!!

I looked at countless forums and threads after I got my husband's phone wet and the touchscreen stopped working. Most provided very unhelpful responses like the one above ("If you didn't back it up earlier, it's too late now") but using your guidance I bought a Logitech wired keyboard for the iPad and was able to unlock the screen, back up his photos and contacts, all through Voiceover and the keyboard. I also would've never figured out how to "click" on an item without your post so thank you, thank you, thank you!

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?

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 😟