Broken screen. Can't save photos without passcode

Your reply does not help answer the question in any way. What is the point of your comment?

This is precisely why backups are not optional, but essential, if you have data you cannot afford to loose. While a screen replacement (take it to Apple and let them evaluate it) may regain access to content, given it was run over, there is no guarantee that merely replacing the screen will allow you to salvage any of the content. While you say It is working now, you really have no idea of the extent of the damage. The screen giving some minor indication of minimal power to the display unfortunatley does not rule out other internal damage.

Make an appointment with Apple and let them evaluate it (a free service) and see what repair options you have. If you get it repaired or replaced by Apple you will at least preserve your remaining warranty, or get 90 days warranty in the repair, whichever is longer. If you have AppleCare+ you can use one of your two damage claims.

If you have an apple usb keyboard and a lightning to usb adapter you can actually unlocked the screen using the keyboard (we used to do it when I worked at the apple store) If you can connect to a computer that you've connected it to before, then you'll be able to initate an iTunes backup. It would have to be a computer that you've connected to before though, because a dialog both will pop up on the screen asking you to Trust the computer and you will not be able to press that given your phone's condition.

You don't automatically back your device up to iCloud? Have you take the device into Apple to see if the screen could simply be replaced?

Without having imported those photos onto your Mac or PC, or to a cloud service like Dropbox or SugarSync, then if you don't have a backup you can restore your Camera Roll from, it is unlikely you will be able to retrieve them.

Best of luck,

GB

Go to any quality independent repair shop and have them put on a new screen for you so that you can unlock your phone and make a backup. This is a no brainer.

Disclaimer--opening your iphone may void your warranty service options with Apple

gswooldridge wrote:

Your reply does not help answer the question in any way. What is the point of your comment?

My response does indeed answer the question, albeit I'm sure not the answer the OP was hoping for.

There IS no way to save the images or data from that device in its current state. It may be possible a screen repair may restore function without losing data, but that is the only hope of recovering data from that device, given the damage and condition the OP reports.

So yes, the only sure way of protecting the data was to have it backed up before a disaster struck. Afterwards, it may be (but is unlikely) that the data can be saved, but there is no guaranteed or sure way to do that until the physical damage is repaired or at least diagnosed.

Wishful thinking and pointless optimism do not change the reality of the situation that a damaged solid state electronic storage device is highly likely to result in lost data. Backups (preferably redundant) are the only reliable method of safe guarding your data.

And the "take it in for assessment and possible salvage" recommendation comes with a deadline. As is, the device is unstable and degrading, after an unknown while that slim option will be gone.