That the mobile phone suffers a fall and the screen is broken It's one of the most feared incidents for any Android user. And while using protectors and cases can reduce the risk, even with these measures, the panel often ends up being damaged, leaving us with the following challenge: How to unlock an Android phone if the screen is broken?
Losing access to your phone can also mean losing photos, messages, contacts, and other valuable information. However, there are effective and proven solutions that allow you to access your device, unlock it, and even recover important data, without needing to be a tech expert. In this guide, we'll introduce you to Updated techniques, resources, tricks and tools step by step so you can unlock your Android phone with a broken screen.
In addition to keeping your files safe, these methods will help you extract information before repairing your phone or replacing it. We've compiled the methods most highly valued and most used by technicians and we explain them clearly, including options for Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, and any other compatible Android brand.
First steps after a broken screen: what you should know before trying to unlock your Android phone
The moment your mobile screen breaks, it is important avoid worsening the damage and take some basic precautions:
- Don't force the screenIf the touchscreen is still partially responsive, try using only the functional areas.
- Considers Cover the damaged screen with a plastic protector or transparent film so that the fragments do not scatter and to protect your fingers.
- Do not try to force restart your phone. unless necessary to apply any of the methods we describe below.
Once your phone is secured, you can try one of the following solutions, tailored to the severity of the damage and the type of lock used on your device (PIN, pattern, fingerprint, facial, etc.).
OTG cable and mouse: control your Android from scratch
Undoubtedly, The easiest and most universal solution to unlock an Android phone with a broken screen When the panel still displays an image (even if it doesn't respond to touch), use an OTG cable with a USB mouse. This way, you can simulate touch operation and enter your PIN, pattern, password, and navigate menus as you normally would. You can also check out how to fix broken touch screen for other solutions.
What do you need?
- OTG cable compatible with your model (micro USB or USB-C, depending on your phone).
- USB mouse (any will do, even a simple office one).
- External power supply (optional, if the mobile phone drains battery quickly with the mouse).
- Connect the OTG cable to the mobile phone's charging port.
- Plug the mouse into the free end of the adapter. Within a few seconds, a pointer should appear on the screen.
- Use the mouse to access your PIN, swipe your pattern, or enter your password. If the screen is partially operational, you can toggle between the mouse and active touch zones.
Additional tips:
- Some mobile phones allow you to connect USB keyboards by OTG to write long passwords more comfortably.
- If your mobile is compatible with Bluetooth and you set it up before, you could pair a wireless mouse or keyboard, but this usually requires prior access to the screen.
- Check in This OTG compatibility list if your phone supports this feature.
This method will also allow you, once unlocked, copy files to the cloud, back up, or transfer data to another deviceBut if the screen is black or severely damaged and shows no image, you'll have to try more advanced options.
Unlocking Samsung phones: Find My Mobile
If you have a Samsung device, you can take advantage of Find My Mobile, an official tool from the brand that allows you to remotely unlock your device even if the screen is unusable. For more details, you can visit How to control your phone without touching the screen.
- Access from your computer or tablet to Find My Mobile.
- Sign in with your Samsung account associated with the damaged device.
- In the right panel, click on the option To unlock and confirm the action again.
- Enter your account password and wait a few seconds. Your phone should unlock automatically.
Requirements:
- The phone must be turned on, connected to the Internet, and previously associated with your Samsung account.
- The screen should still display content so you can verify the unlock was successful and transfer data.
With this method, you can maintain access to your phone and, if you wish, start a backup, transfer content, or restore data before sending it in for repair.
Connecting to a computer: transfer and retrieve data when the touchscreen is unresponsive
In situations where the The screen is completely black, with no image, or the touch screen is not responding at all., the best option is to try to access the internal storage of the mobile phone using a computer. Here the possibilities depend fundamentally on whether you activated the USB debugging before the accident, and whether or not you can accept new connections from your phone (if the screen does display anything). For more information, see .
1. Professional data extraction software
Specialized applications such as Dr.Fone, iMobie PhoneRescue, Tenorshare UltData or EaseUS MobiSaver They allow you to recover files and, in some cases, even unlock the screen, provided the software supports it and the device is recognized by the computer. These programs work as follows: can help you recover important files in case of a broken screen.
- Download and run the software on your computer (Windows or Mac, as applicable).
- Connect the broken mobile phone using a USB cable.
- Follow the wizard to detect the device and select the type of data you want to recover (photos, contacts, messages, videos, etc.).
- Most offer direct preview and export to your computer.
Some of these programs can remove screen lock or allow you to create backups even if you can't interact with the phone manually. However, they require the phone to be recognized by the computer and, for advanced extraction, the device to be rooted or USB debugging enabled.
2. Android Debug Bridge (ADB): Commands to unlock and access your Android with a broken screen
ADB (Android Debug Bridge) It's an advanced development tool that allows you to interact with your phone from your PC using console commands. This method is more technical, but one of the most powerful for unlocking Android phones when the screen is broken and USB debugging is enabled. For more details, see Advanced recovery tools with ADB.
- Download and unzip the Android SDK Platform Tools from the official page.
- Install your brand's USB drivers (Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, etc.).
- Connect your mobile to your PC and open the console (command prompt).
- Introduce cd C:/android/platform-tools to access the correct folder.
- With the mobile on, run adb devices to check that your phone is detected.
- Send the following commands to unlock:
- PIN lock: adb shell input text “yourPIN”
- Press Enter: adb shell input keyevent 66
- For patterns, the process is more complex (requires access to the internal database).
- You can also delete the lock file with adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key (This removes lock patterns, but may vary depending on the Android version.)
Precautions: Only use ADB if you have basic knowledge and avoid it if you're not comfortable using system commands. The process may vary depending on the manufacturer and Android version, and while it's safe, it requires having debugging enabled beforehand, which isn't always common among non-technical users.
3. Secondary display connection: HDMI/MHL output
Some Android models allow connection to a television or external monitor using cables. MHL/HDMI or USB-C to HDMI adapters. If your phone supports this feature and you have the right cable, you can View the screen in full size and control the device with an OTG mouse as in the previous method: change screen orientation.
- Connect the HDMI adapter to the mobile phone and the external display.
- Use a USB mouse connected via OTG to navigate and enter the unlock data.
This option is perfect if your panel is completely black but the rest of your system is still working properly.
Remote control applications and unlocking software
Another modern alternative for Unlock your Android phone with a broken screen and control the device It involves using remote control applications between your PC and mobile phone. The following options stand out:
- Vysor: A Google Chrome extension and PC software that allows you to mirror and control your phone's screen from your computer via USB (requires USB debugging to be enabled). For more information, see .
- TeamViewer: A multi-platform solution for remote control, ideal if you already had the app installed and configured before the accident.
- droidkit: In addition to unlocking mobile phones and extracting data, this suite integrates tools for full system recovery.
- Download and install the app on both your PC and your mobile device (if you can still interact with the device at least minimally).
- Connect both via USB and follow the steps indicated by the software to link the devices.
- Once linked, you will be able to unlock, transfer files or even extract the most relevant data.
These methods are especially recommended if you have access to the same Google account on both devices and can authorize connections. If the screen is completely unresponsive, these solutions require USB debugging to be enabled.
Other options: Use Google Find My Device
Google offers the feature Find my device, originally designed to track lost phones, but also allows you to remotely remove the screen lock. This Reset is recommended only if you have a copy of your files or you want to sell/delete all the data on your phone:
- Access from any browser to Find my device.
- Sign in with the primary Google account associated with your phone.
- Select the damaged device and press the option Delete device.
- Confirm the operation. This will erase all data on your phone, including the screen lock, restoring it to factory settings.
Important warning: The process is irreversible. Use it only if you've made a recent backup or if you urgently need to delete all your data.
Professional Recovery and Unlocking Software: Beyond Standard Methods
For those looking for a professional unlocking or advanced data recovery, there are applications that, in addition to managing everything from simple unlocks to extracting files from unrecoverable devices, offer technical support and constant updates:
- Dr.Fone – Screen Unlock: Easy to use, compatible with most makes and models, allows for data loss-free unlocking in many cases. For more details, check out repair mobile screen.
- Tenorshare UltData for Android: Recover photos, contacts, videos, and more, even if your phone is no longer responsive to touch.
- EaseUS MobiSaver for AndroidSpecializes in data recovery for Android phones with damaged screens; requires rooting in some cases.
- droidkit: Offers multiple tools to fix common Android issues, unlock, extract data, and backup.
General steps for using these programs:
- Download and install the software on your PC.
- Connect your affected phone via USB and follow the step-by-step wizard.
- Choose the type of unlock or data recovery and follow the program-specific instructions.
The success rate is usually high as long as the phone's hardware is in good condition and the software correctly recognizes the device. Always check the software manufacturer's website to ensure compatibility with your specific model.
Prevention and recommendations for the future
Avoiding data loss and complications from broken screens is possible if you apply some of these best practices:
- Enable USB debugging in Settings > Developer Options (recommended if you're testing or frequently connect your phone to your computer).
- Make automatic backups on Google Drive, Google Photos, and other cloud services.
- Keep your apps and operating system updated to improve compatibility with recovery and unlocking tools.
- Consider installing remote access or unlocking apps before an emergency arises.
- Use reinforced cases and quality screen protectors to reduce the risk of accidental drops.
There are several ways to unlock an Android phone with a broken screen and recover your data.Choosing the right method depends on the severity of the damage, the device model, and the features you previously enabled (USB debugging, linked accounts, etc.). Solutions like an OTG cable and mouse, Samsung and Google remote unlock tools, recovery apps, and ADB commands make it easier to recover your data. Proceed with caution, and if you don't feel qualified, consult a specialized technician. The important thing is that your information and memories remain safe, no matter what happens to your Android phone's screen.
