Question Galaxy S21. Is there a way to recover photos with a completely dead phone?

[usmdesigner]

I've been googling with no luck that I can tell. Most things say use the cloud (mine wasn't sync'd), or hook a cord up and use software.

If the phone is completely dead, won't take a charge nor do any buttons work at all (even if I try the double button hold to get to the bios, that won't work either) am I out of luck?

Is it worth trying to download software on my laptop and connecting to the phone even though there is zero power to it, or are my 4 years of photos just hosed?

 

[rvbfan]

You could try bringing it to a shop and see if they can revive it, you never know. One question you have to ask yourself, what are these photos worth to me? Personally, I would bring it to a shop and try and save them if I didn't already have multiple backups. It could be something easyish like the power button. But always backup whether that be to the cloud or your computer. Hard lesson to learn I know.

 

[winmod21]

I've been googling with no luck that I can tell. Most things say use the cloud (mine wasn't sync'd), or hook a cord up and use software.

If the phone is completely dead, won't take a charge nor do any buttons work at all (even if I try the double button hold to get to the bios, that won't work either) am I out of luck?

Is it worth trying to download software on my laptop and connecting to the phone even though there is zero power to it, or are my 4 years of photos just hosed?

I found an iPhone in the middle of a street one morning, after a stormy night of heavy rains.
. . . Hmmm, kinda sounds like the first line of a good phone mystery story !=)) . . .

Anyhoo, it was completely dead; wouldn't turn on at all; that was about the net of it.
So upon arriving home I submerged the iPhone in a big bowl of rice (don't recall what kind, my wife gave it to me out of the pantry; maybe it doesn't really matter), as I had heard about doing so, somewhere, and left it submerged for a couple days. Then tried to power it on....but nothing.
So I re-submerged it and left it submerged in the bowl of rice for another couple of days. Then after approx 4 days of being submerged in the rice....whilst walking by the bowl I pulled it out, and voilà ! ....it powered up!

Went to the iPhones' Contacts > called the phones owner > and a very very thankful young college-aged lady met me the next day to retrieve her precious iPhone.

Edit: I realize that your dead one's probably not moisture related, but as I remember it, I also left the phone plugged into it's wall charger — the whole time it was submerged in rice, as well.

The moral of the story . . . the ol' bowl of rice angle can work !;-)

 

[mustang7757]

I've been googling with no luck that I can tell. Most things say use the cloud (mine wasn't sync'd), or hook a cord up and use software.

If the phone is completely dead, won't take a charge nor do any buttons work at all (even if I try the double button hold to get to the bios, that won't work either) am I out of luck?

Is it worth trying to download software on my laptop and connecting to the phone even though there is zero power to it, or are my 4 years of photos just hosed?

Depends did you have them backup from Samsung cloud /PC smart switch/Google photos/drive .. Microsoft one drive ?

Completely dead you won't retrieve anything, try letting charge with known good cable and wall adapter for 5 to 6 hours if that doesn't work try wireless for the same amount

 

[winmod21]

Depends did you have them backup from Samsung cloud /PC smart switch/Google photos/drive .. Microsoft one drive ?

Completely dead you won't retrieve anything, try letting charge with known good cable and wall adapter for 5 to 6 hours if that doesn't work try wireless for the same amount

I wonder if one of those Batteries Plus stores, or similar type of store might be able to get it back to taking a charge?

Or maybe call the Police! Cuz all those police forensic IT specialists on Dateline & 20/20 & 48 Hours &c . . nearly always get into suspects or 'persons of interest' phones – in nearly every forensic phone data mining investigation ! ....(After 20+ years of those stories, it's amazing how criminals still bring their phones along during their felonizering acts – revealing times & all cell tower location pings &c.)

Wait! . . . What's a Michigan helmet doing in your @mustang7757 avatar?!

 

[mustang7757]

I wonder if one of those Batteries Plus stores, or similar type of store might be able to get it back to taking a charge?

Or maybe call the Police! Cuz all those police forensic IT specialists on Dateline & 20/20 & 48 Hours &c . . nearly always get into suspects or 'persons of interest' phones – in nearly every forensic phone data mining investigation ! ....(After 20+ years of those stories, it's amazing how criminals still bring their phones along during their felonizering acts – revealing times & all cell tower location pings &c.)

Wait! . . . What's a Michigan helmet doing in your @mustang7757 avatar?!

Not sure for the battery plus stores but OP has to see what they charge as a fee and if it's worth it and if it can be done.

I have to celebrate Michigan, I've been waiting last 3 years that it was supposed to happen and waited since 97 before that which was a shared title

I'm just happy finally for my team

 

[winmod21]

Not sure for the battery plus stores but OP has to see what they charge as a fee and if it's worth it and if it can be done.

I have to celebrate Michigan, I've been waiting last 3 years that it was supposed to happen and waited since 97 before that which was a shared title

I'm just happy finally for my team

Well, okay, I guess, if you have to be happy for them. Well done MI; congrats!

We live in MI now, and work with several MI alum, so we've been hearing and witnessing a ridiculous I mean righteous amount of the long-awaited happiness.

I guess I'll just have to keep reminiscing back to the good ol' days . . . .
Rose Bowl
January 2, 1978
#13 Washington 27
#4 Michigan 20

Rose Bowl
January 1, 1992
#2 Washington 34
#4 Michigan 14

. . whilst forgetting about the 81' or 93' Rose Bowls.

 

[VidJunky]

You say it won't turn on. Depending on how long it sat with a dead battery the device can be stubborn but have you left it to charge for a few hours? It likely doesn't respond at all when plugged in but this can happen when the battery is totally depleted. Let it charge for an hour or two, I think B. Diddy usually recommends something like 6 hours but if it's working you should see some results in a few hours. If it were me, when I've encountered issues similar to this after a device is allowed to die due to low battery, I've plugged it in for an hour, then unplugged it and plugged it in again and usually get a response from the screen in the form of a charging symbol. How ever you attempt this don't charge it unattended. Old batteries can be dangerous so I would for sure keep an eye on the device or check on it regularly. I bet you find that it isn't as dead as you believe. Now remembering the passcode that will be the next hurdle.

 

[J Dubbs]

Also try different chargers, I've had a phone that went completely dead from sitting, and one charger (the charger I normally charged it with) didn't get a response from the phone at all, but the second charger started charging it right away

 

[winmod21]

Also try different chargers, I've had a phone that went completely dead from sitting, and one charger (the charger I normally charged it with) didn't get a response from the phone at all, but the second charger started charging it right away

Great idea! Had same experience.