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Seoul desk6 min

Rescue Your Memories: How to Retrieve Data from a Samsung Phone with a Broken Screen

A broken Samsung screen does not always mean lost photos. Learn which route fits a visible screen with failed touch, a black screen, or a phone that will not power on, and what Smart Switch does and does not transfer.
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The method depends on what the broken screen still does. If the display shows an image but ignores touch, a USB mouse and keyboard connected through an OTG or docking adapter can often let you unlock the phone and start a Smart Switch backup. If the screen is completely black, Samsung’s supported route is to send the phone’s video to an external HDMI monitor or TV through a USB-C hub, but only on a Galaxy running Android 12 or later that supports DisplayPort output. If the phone will not power on or cannot be unlocked, no universal self-service recovery method is established, and a repair diagnosis that puts data preservation first is the safer path.

Step one: identify which kind of failure you have

Two situations are often lumped together, but they call for different tools. A visible screen with failed touch means the phone still powers on and draws an image, so you may be able to control it with a mouse or keyboard. A black screen means nothing is shown on the glass, so you need the phone’s video signal sent somewhere else. Before buying anything, answer these questions:

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  • Does the phone power on? Look for the Samsung logo, vibration, or charging indicator when you connect it to a charger.
  • Does the screen show any image, even faintly, when the phone is awake?
  • Is the phone locked? Know the PIN, password, or pattern, because you will need it whichever route you take.
  • Is the Galaxy model one that supports DisplayPort video output, and is it running Android 12 or later? Samsung’s support pages for each model list this, and you can check the model number on the box or in your Samsung account.

Route A: Phone shows an image, but touch does not respond

Samsung’s US support guidance says a USB mouse can control some Galaxy phones whose touchscreen no longer works. This is model dependent. Some phones need an OTG-capable USB connector, so confirm your phone supports it before you buy an adapter.

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  1. Connect a compatible OTG adapter or docking adapter to the phone’s USB-C port.
  2. Attach a wired USB mouse and move the on-screen pointer to the unlock area.
  3. Connect a wired USB keyboard through the same adapter if you need to type a PIN or password. The on-screen keyboard can also be operated with the mouse.
  4. Once you are inside the phone, open Smart Switch and back up to a computer, to an SD card or external USB storage, or to a second Galaxy device.

Route B: Screen is black, so use an external display

Samsung Canada’s support article on transferring data from a Galaxy phone with a broken or damaged screen, last updated June 17, 2026, describes this method. It is the only supported route in the sources reviewed for a phone whose glass shows nothing at all.

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Equipment checklist

Samsung states that none of these items come with a Galaxy phone, so gather them first:

  • A USB-C to HDMI hub adapter with a USB-A port. The hub must carry a video path the phone supports.
  • An HDMI-capable monitor or TV.
  • An HDMI cable.
  • A wired USB mouse.
  • A wired USB keyboard.

An ordinary charging or data adapter is not enough evidence of video compatibility. Check the hub against your exact model before relying on it.

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  • Replacing old, cracks, dead spots, damage, touch not working properly or touch response problems on the screen.
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Connection and navigation steps

  1. Connect the monitor or TV to the hub with the HDMI cable.
  2. Connect the mouse and keyboard to the hub’s USB-A port.
  3. Hold both volume buttons while you connect the phone to the hub. Release them once the connection is made.
  4. The external screen will show either a mirror of the phone or Samsung DeX. If it shows DeX, select Apps, then Exit DeX to switch to mirroring. Samsung says that pressing Esc or Windows + Backspace closes the initial DeX setup screen.
  5. If the phone is mirrored but locked, use the mouse or keyboard to enter your PIN, password, or pattern.
  6. Open Smart Switch on the damaged phone.

Starting the transfer on the receiving Galaxy

  1. On the receiving Galaxy, open Smart Select Switch and choose Receive data, then Galaxy/Android, then Wireless.
  2. On the damaged phone’s mirrored screen, select Connect to authorize the wireless connection.
  3. On the receiving phone, choose the categories you want to copy and complete the prompts.

Menu names and layout can change with the model, software version, and Smart Switch version. Samsung Electronics Service Korea’s guidance on transferring data from a damaged-screen Galaxy, dated January 4, 2024, warns about this directly. If a label on your screen differs from these steps, follow the on-screen prompt that matches the same purpose.

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What Smart Switch does and does not cover

Smart Switch is a selected-data backup and transfer tool, not a complete forensic copy of the phone. Samsung Electronics Service Korea’s Smart Switch backup and restore guidance, dated June 21, 2024, lists PC backup and restore, device-to-device transfer, and backup to an SD card or external USB storage. The supported media types it lists include photos, videos, music, and documents.

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  • KakaoTalk chat history is excluded from PC backup. Use KakaoTalk’s own backup service where it applies.
  • Secure Folder: the backup details Samsung lists include APKs but not app data.
  • App data in general is not guaranteed. Check each important app for its own export function, and confirm account sync or cloud copies separately.
  • Passwords, authentication credentials, and protected content may not transfer. Do not assume they will.

After the transfer, open the receiving phone and verify the photos, messages, and documents you cannot afford to lose before you wipe or hand over the damaged device.

Troubleshooting by symptom

Symptom What to check Next step
Monitor stays blank Model supports DisplayPort video output; Android 12 or later; hub has the required video path Confirm with Samsung’s page for your exact model. HDMI output is not supported by all Samsung phones.
Phone shows DeX, not mirroring Whether the DeX setup screen is active Select Apps, then Exit DeX. Press Esc or Windows + Backspace to close the initial setup screen.
Screen is visible, tapping fails OTG or docking adapter compatibility for your model Use a wired mouse for navigation and a keyboard for the passcode.
Phone is locked Whether you know the PIN, password, or pattern Enter the credential with the mouse or keyboard. The cited Samsung instructions do not describe bypassing device security.
Smart Switch misses an app or chat App-specific export and account sync Use the app’s own backup function, then verify the result.
Phone will not power on, USB-C port or logic board is damaged Whether any video or data path works External display and Smart Switch are not established as solutions. Go to a repair diagnosis (see below).
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

When the phone will not power on or cannot be unlocked

If the phone is dead, the USB-C port is damaged, or the internal board has failed, the sources reviewed do not establish a universal recovery procedure. Before authorizing any repair, tell the provider that preserving your data is the priority. Ask them to confirm in writing how they will handle storage and whether they will attempt a transfer. Do not authorize a factory reset, software flashing, or board replacement until you understand what it will do to your data.

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Samsung Electronics Service Korea’s guidance says its service centers in that region do not offer the described data-migration service. That statement applies to Korea and should not be assumed for other countries. Its page still directs owners to back up personally using the external-display method above.

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Do not use bypass tools or promise access to encrypted or private data without the owner’s credentials. If you are locked out and do not know the passcode, the realistic options are a repair provider’s diagnosis or a backup you already have.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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