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How To Backup and Restore a Broken or Damaged iPhone

Having a broken or damaged iPhone can be extremely frustrating. Not only is the phone unusable, but all your important data like photos, messages, and contacts may be inaccessible or at risk of being lost. The good news is that you can often backup and restore an iPhone – even one with a broken screen or water damage. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to properly backup and restore a broken iPhone to keep your data safe.

Backing Up a Responsive iPhone with a Broken Screen

If your iPhone is still responsive but has a cracked or broken screen, you have a few options to backup your data before it’s too late:

Use iTunes on a Computer

  • Connect your iPhone to a computer that it trusts via a USB cable.
  • Open iTunes and select your iPhone.
  • Go to the Summary tab and make sure “This Computer” is selected under Backups.
  • Click “Back Up Now” to backup your iPhone data to this computer.

Use iCloud Backup

  • If you have iCloud Backup enabled, your iPhone may automatically backup periodically when connected to power, Wi-Fi, and locked.
  • You can also manually trigger a backup by going to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now.

Use a Third-Party App

  • Apps like iMazing and AnyTrans allow you to backup your iPhone data to your computer for safekeeping without needing to restore it.

Backing Up an Unresponsive iPhone

If your iPhone screen is fully unresponsive or broken to the point where you cannot unlock it, backing up requires a few extra steps:

Use iTunes on a Trusted Computer

  • Connect your unresponsive iPhone to a Windows PC or Mac that it already trusts.
  • Open iTunes, select your iPhone, go to Summary > Back Up Now.
  • iTunes will back up the iPhone without needing to unlock it since it’s a trusted computer.

Use iCloud Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Press the right arrow key twice, followed by Control + Option + Space (Mac) or Control + Alt + Space (Windows) to trigger an iCloud backup.

Use Professional Data Recovery Software

  • Software like iMyFone D-Back and Dr. Fone can retrieve data from an unresponsive iPhone with broken screens by scanning the device itself at a low level.

Restoring a Backup to a New or Replacement iPhone

Once you have a backup of your broken iPhone, you can fully restore it to a replacement device:

Restore from an iTunes Backup

  • Connect the new iPhone to the computer with the iTunes backup > Select “Restore from iTunes Backup” in Setup Assistant.

Restore from an iCloud Backup

  • Sign into iCloud during the new iPhone’s setup process > Select “Restore from iCloud Backup”.

Migrate Data to a New iPhone

  • Use the Move to iOS app (Android switchers) or Quick Start setup (new iPhone) to transfer data.

By properly backing up your broken iPhone before it loses functionality, you can securely restore that data to a replacement phone and avoid losing your photos, videos, messages, and other important information. Be sure to backup regularly so you always have a way to restore your data.

Tips for Backing Up a Water Damaged iPhone

Water damage can seriously corrupt an iPhone and make backing up difficult or impossible if the device no longer turns on. Here are some tips:

  • Act quickly – The sooner you can backup the device after water exposure, the better chance you have of saving the data before corrosion sets in.
  • Dry it thoroughly – Gently dry the iPhone with a soft cloth and place it in rice or silica gel packs for at least 24 hours to absorb moisture. This may allow it to temporarily power back on so you can backup data.
  • Avoid powering it on prematurely – Water in ports and circuits can short circuit and permanently damage components if powered on too early. Wait until fully dried out.
  • Use data recovery software – If the phone won’t power on after drying, data recovery software may still be able to scan the storage and retrieve data by bypassing the main logic board.
  • Send to a repair shop – Professional iPhone repair services have tools to temporarily restore power solely for backing up data before attempting any repairs.

Restoring Data to a Replacement iPhone

Once you get a replacement iPhone, you can restore your data during initial setup:

Set Up New iPhone

Go through the initial iOS prompts like language selection and Wi-Fi setup. On the Apps & Data screen, choose either “Restore from iCloud Backup” or “Restore from iTunes Backup” depending on your backup source.

Sign Into iCloud

Enter your Apple ID and password to sign into iCloud. Select the appropriate backup you want to restore based on date/size. Tap Restore to begin downloading your backed up data.

Sync with iTunes

For an iTunes backup, connect your new iPhone to the computer you used for backing up the broken iPhone. iTunes will give you the option to restore from your latest local backup.

Be sure to sign into iCloud after the restore to ensure all data syncs from the cloud, including app data, messages, contacts, and photos if you use iCloud Photo Library. With a proper backup, you can seamlessly restore your old iPhone’s data to a replacement device.

Conclusion

Backing up and restoring data from a broken iPhone may require some special steps depending on the type and extent of damage. But in most cases, by following the appropriate backup procedures either through iTunes, iCloud, or data recovery tools, you can successfully migrate your information to a replacement phone and avoid losing precious data – even for phones that no longer turn on. Be sure to always keep regular iPhone backups to simplify the process in the event your device gets damaged.

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