Galaxy Note 3 - broken screen, cant unlock to get photos off - help please

[drkraez]

Hi, My 2 month old phone hit the ground a couple of days ago, and a small crack appeared in the screen, and the screen is starting to turn brown at the crack. Obviously it need to get fixed, and I have taken it in to vodafone for help, but have been told it will be wiped if I send it off to be fixed, so I am trying to get off my photos and videos of my kids before I do. (Yes, I know I should have backed it up.. I have been meaning to, but you know...)

The problem is that the phone is locked with a pattern code and I cannot unlock the phone to get the photos off due to the screen no longer functioning. I have tried attaching it to my pc via the usb cable, and I have tried using kies and samsung link, and also just using windows file manager, but each time I am told I need to unlock the phone. Does anyone know how to get around this? Can I turn off the lock somehow with some sort of reset that wont also wipe the phone?

with many thanks.

 

[dpham00]

If you saved them to sd card, you can remove the sd card and put it into a sd card reader.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3

 

[drkraez]

Thanks.. but unfortunately not all of them were saved to the sd card. I can actually "see" them using Samsung Link, so I will see if I can manually save them one by one.

 

[anon8380037]

Thanks.. but unfortunately not all of them were saved to the sd card. I can actually "see" them using Samsung Link, so I will see if I can manually save them one by one.

You don't need Samsung link (I don't know what that is), just select all files with shift and enter and copy to a new pc folder or desktop.

BTW if you could enter a 4 digit pin/password of your choosing with that screen there is a possible way to insert a new lock with Android Device Manager and so unlock it, but it sounds like you cannot.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk Pro

 

[drkraez]

You don't need Samsung link (I don't know what that is), just select all files with shift and enter and copy to a new pc folder or desktop.

BTW if you could enter a 4 digit pin/password of your choosing with that screen there is a possible way to insert a new lock with Android Device Manager and so unlock it, but it sounds like you cannot.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk Pro

I was not able to "see" the file structure on my phone at all (ie using Windows on my PC when I connected the phone to the pc with a USB cable), because the screen was locked. I kept getting a message to "unlock your device to use USB storage" (or something to that effect). Anyway, for anyone else going through this, nb, I was FINALLY able to get my pictures off by using the remote "unlock my screen" function in Samsung link. But... I had previously registered my phone for Samsung link (ie before breaking the phone), I have a feeling that may have been a necessary step.

Now to try to work out how to remotely sync my calendar prior to getting my phone fixed...

Thanks for your help!

 

[lterry913]

You will probably have to got to or call service provider and see if they can get you into phone...the lock is there to prevent people who have stolen phones from getting info...if you got to or talk to service provider and can prove identity and lock code is known they may be able to help you bypass and back up or retrieve pictures etc.

 

[Li Anne Riley]

I need to know how to transfer my contacts from a broken screen mega galaxy to a new Notes 3 phone. thanks

 

[lterry913]

When you log into the new phone with your same account info they should transfer automatically...are you asking because you can not log into the device with the broken screen? Google should have all your info backed up if you have a gmail account.

 

[Karilin Ocampo]

Whats the sameung link? i have the same problem.

 

[lterry913]

Just google samsung find my mobile...but as stated above you may have had the phone registered and have an account to access your device...your provider is your best bet if you didn't register.

 

[anon8380037]

If Samsung Link could remotely unlock a 'broken' screen, as per a post above, neither Samsung's Find my Mobile or Android Device Manager will now.

I had Samsung Link on a GS2, but Find my Mobile is on my Note 3.
Link is no longer available, afaik.