How do I retrieve data from phone with a broken screen?

[AC Question]

How to retrieve data from phone with broken screen.

When I turn my Samsung Galaxy S5 Verizon phone on there is blackness all over the lock screen, where the numbers are is completely blacked out. There is no way for me to enter my password. I want to connect it to my windows PC via USB cable to backup contacts/text messages/emails/documents I've created/photographs. My verizon cloud is full so there are some things on the phone that I need to backup. It seems like every software I have tried needs you to enter the phone password first and enable USB debugging mode. I cannot do this because the screen is so blacked out I cannot see any of the numbers, the OK button, or the delete button. Please Help!

 

[Rukbat]

Re: How to retrieve data from phone with broken screen.

When I turn my Samsung Galaxy S5 Verizon phone on there is blackness all over the lock screen, where the numbers are is completely blacked out. There is no way for me to enter my password.

Shine a strong light across the face of the phone, and look at it from different angles. You may find an angle of light and sight that allows you to see a faint image of what's on the screen - at least enough to get your data off.

I want to connect it to my windows PC via USB cable to backup contacts

If they're Google contacts, they're already backed up on Google's servers. If not, you'll have to use the above trick to export them or move them to the SIM (if you have one).

/text messages

You'll need an app like SMS Backup & Restore.

/emails

They're backed up on the email server.

/documents I've created/photographs.

They should show up on the computer. The phone will show up as another hard drive. In that "drive" there will be a Phone folder and, if you have an SD card in the phone, a Card folder. Copy anything you want to the computer, just drag it and drop it.

My verizon cloud is full so there are some things on the phone that I need to backup. It seems like every software I have tried needs you to enter the phone password first

If you've never connected the phone to that computer, or didn't check the "always allow" box when you allowed it to connect, yes.

and enable USB debugging mode.

Not just to copy files.

Very worst case (the screen isn't just dark, it's shot, and you can't see anything, no matter what you do), find an independent repair shop that has a used S5 screen that they're willing to plug into your phone long enough for you to get your data off. (You'll have to pay something for the service, of course.)