How to Recover Photos from a Broken iPhone

How to Recover Photos from a Broken iPhone

Our smartphones hold some of our most precious memories, and losing access to them can be heartbreaking. If your iPhone is broken, you might be worried about losing your photos. But don’t worry! There are still ways to recover your pictures, depending on the condition of your iPhone.

In this guide, we’ll go over different methods to recover photos from a broken iPhone, whether the screen is cracked, the phone won’t turn on, or it has other issues.

{getToc} $title={Table of Contents}

1. Check If You Have a Backup

Before trying anything else, check if your photos are backed up. iPhones automatically back up to iCloud or iTunes/Finder if you have set it up.

How to Check Your iCloud Backup

1. On another device, go to iCloud.com.
2. Log in with your Apple ID.
3. Click on Photos to see if your pictures are there.

If your photos are available, you can download them to your computer or another iPhone.

How to Restore from an iTunes or Finder Backup

If you previously backed up your iPhone to a computer using iTunes (Windows) or Finder (Mac), you can restore your photos by:

1. Connecting a working iPhone to your computer.
2. Opening iTunes (on Windows) or Finder (on Mac).
3. Clicking Restore Backup and choosing the latest backup.

This will restore everything, including your photos, to another iPhone.

Also Read:How to clear app cache on iphone 15

2. Use iCloud Photos

If you had iCloud Photos turned on, your pictures might already be saved in the cloud. You can access them from:

1. Another iPhone – Sign in with your Apple ID, and your photos should appear automatically.
2. A Computer – Go to iCloud.com, log in, and download your photos.

If you don’t see your photos, check if you have enough iCloud storage. Sometimes, photos stop syncing if your iCloud storage is full.

Also Read:How to Turn off Automatic App updates on iPhone

3. Try Connecting Your iPhone to a Computer

If your iPhone has a broken screen but still turns on, you may be able to recover your photos by connecting it to a computer.

For Windows

1. Connect your iPhone to a PC with a USB cable.
2. If the iPhone is unlocked and trusted the computer before, it should appear in File Explorer under "This PC."
3. Open the DCIM folder and copy your photos to the computer.

For Mac

1. Connect your iPhone using a USB cable.
2. Open the Photos app.
3. If the iPhone is detected, import your photos.

Note: If your iPhone screen is completely unresponsive and you haven’t trusted the computer before, this method may not work.

Also Read:How to Use Find My iPhone on another Phone 

4. Use a Third-Party Data Recovery Tool

If your iPhone won’t turn on or isn’t recognized by a computer, you can try a data recovery tool. Some popular options include:

• Dr.Fone - Data Recovery
• Tenorshare UltData
• iMobie PhoneRescue

These tools can scan your iPhone or backup files to recover photos. Most of them require a paid version for full recovery.

Also Read:How to Delete stickers on iPhone

5. Take Your iPhone to a Repair Shop

If your iPhone is physically damaged but still turns on, a repair shop may help. They can:

• Replace the screen if it’s just cracked.
• Fix the internal components if the phone isn’t working properly.

Once repaired, you can unlock your phone and retrieve your photos.

Also Read:How to Remove virus from iPhone

6. Check If Apple Can Help

If your iPhone is under AppleCare+, you may be eligible for a repair or replacement. However, Apple doesn’t recover data. If your phone is completely dead and you don’t have a backup, a third-party repair shop or recovery service may be your best option.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I recover photos from a completely dead iPhone?

If your iPhone is completely dead, you can try recovering photos from an iCloud backup, iTunes/Finder backup, or using a data recovery tool. If those don’t work, a professional data recovery service may be needed.

2. How can I recover photos if my iPhone screen is broken but still turns on?

You can connect your iPhone to a computer and access photos using File Explorer (Windows) or the Photos app (Mac). If the iPhone was previously trusted, you should be able to copy your photos.

3. Are data recovery tools safe to use?

Most well-known tools like Dr.Fone, Tenorshare UltData, and iMobie PhoneRescue are safe. However, be careful with unknown software, as some may contain malware or scams.

4. What if I never backed up my iPhone? Can I still recover my photos?

If you don’t have an iCloud or iTunes backup, your best chance is connecting the iPhone to a computer or using a data recovery tool. If your iPhone is dead, a repair shop may be able to fix it temporarily to access your photos.

5. Can Apple recover my photos if my iPhone is broken?

No, Apple does not offer data recovery services. They may replace or repair your iPhone, but they won’t help you retrieve lost data.

6. How can I prevent losing my photos in the future?

To avoid losing your photos, enable iCloud Photos or regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud or iTunes/Finder. This ensures your pictures are safe even if your iPhone breaks.

Final Thoughts

Losing access to your photos can be stressful, but there are several ways to recover them. Always try:

• Checking iCloud or iTunes backups.
• Accessing iCloud Photos.
• Connecting your iPhone to a computer.
• Using data recovery software.
• Visiting a repair shop if necessary.

To avoid this problem in the future, regularly back up your iPhone using iCloud or iTunes/Finder. That way, even if your iPhone breaks, your photos will be safe.