Help Unlocking Retreiving Data From Huawei P20

[Android Central Question]

Hi - wondering if anyone out there can think of a solutions to this...

So, my wife cracked her phone screen (Huawai P20) and bought a cheap phone to use short term while we worked out a replacement (Alcatel 1). When setting up the temporary phone, not all of the data from her P20 was install/copied, mainly because there's not enough storage space to hold it all.

Some of the data left on the P20 is really important (downloaded documents/files and pevious whatsapp history), so I was going to hook it up to a PC and grab all the data from it, but the biggest problem is she can't remember the unlock pattern. I know developer mode/USB debugging is not turned on, so I can't even get a PC/ADB to recognise it, plus I've had to connect it to a mouse and monitor (via HDMI/USB adapter) to even view/control the unlock screen.

I'm pretty sure that without the pattern we have little or no options, but was wondering if anyone knew the answers to the following:

1. Is there any way to unlock the phone using the old PIN that was set (she's confident she knows this)?

2. Is there a way to unlock using the finger print sensor (even though is says 'pattern required due to restart')

3. Should ADB list it as a device even though USB debigging is turned off and the phone is screen locked (currently does not list it, but I thought you could PIN unlock via ADB)

4. Does anyone know any other tools/options for accessiing the files on the phone.

Thanks is advance for any help!

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Unfortunately, I think she may be out of luck. Since the phone is asking for the pattern to start up, I don't think it will fall back on the backup PIN.

Fingerprint sensors are less secure than passwords/PINs/patterns, which is why the phone requires the pattern to start up (and why phones with fingerprint sensors still periodically ask the user to enter the password/PIN/pattern for greater security).

It's normal for a phone to register as a device when plugged in, even when the screen is locked (or even when it's turned completely off). However, the storage will not be accessible.

The only thing I could suggest would be to look for a forensic data recovery specialist, but that can cost hundreds of dollars. Good luck!

Please register on this forum, which will allow you to engage in discussion more easily, as well as post images. https://forums.androidcentral.com/ask-question/409154-join-android-central-community.html

 

[DrGonzo1208]

That's what I thought - thanks for getting back to me though. Interesting that the device should still be listed in ADB though... I'll see if I can get anywhere with that.

 

[B. Diddy]

Yeah, I don't know the technical details of USB connections, but I know from prior threads that even a dead phone that can't power on can show up as "USB Device" when plugged into a PC.