How to Recover Messages from Broken Android Phone with Cracked Screen

A broken Android phone can happen unexpectedly. Your phone may fall and get a cracked screen, become unresponsive because of system errors, or fail to unlock because of a forgotten password. If your Android phone contains important conversations from work, family, or personal life, you may wonder whether you can recover messages from a broken Android phone.

The answer depends on your phone condition and whether the data is still available. In this guide, we will show you how to recover text messages from a broken Android phone, including cracked-screen phones, locked devices, and Android phones with system problems.

Recover Messages from Broken Phone

Why You Need to Recover Messages from a Broken Android Phone

You may need to recover messages from a broken Android phone in the following situations:

  • Your Android phone screen is cracked after a drop.
  • The touchscreen is not responding.
  • You cannot unlock your phone because of a forgotten password.
  • Your phone is stuck on the startup screen.
  • Your Android system crashes or freezes.
  • Your device has water damage.
  • Your phone cannot turn on normally.

Different phone conditions require different recovery methods. Choose the solution that matches your situation.

How to Recover Messages from Broken Android Phone

Method 1. Restore Messages from Google Backup

If you enabled Google Backup before your Android phone was damaged, you may be able to restore your messages and other device data. Google Backup can save certain information, including MS messages. Contacts, app data, device settings, etc. To restore messages from Google Backup:

Step 1:
Open the "Settings" app on your Android device and go to the Google backup settings. Check the latest backup time and confirm that your device data was saved before the messages were deleted.
Step 2:
Launch "Settings" on your Android phone and find the reset menu. Depending on your device model, the option may be located under "System", "General Management", or "Additional Settings".
Step 3:
Tap "Factory data reset" and carefully review the information shown on the screen. Confirm the reset process and complete the required security verification.
Step 4:
After the reset finishes, your Android phone will restart and display the initial setup screen.
Factory Reset Android Data

Note: A factory reset removes current data from your device. Make sure you have a valid Google Backup before continuing.

Step 5:
During the Android setup process, connect your device to the internet and sign in using the same Google account that was used to create the backup.
Step 6:
When the backup restoration option appears, choose the available backup file that was created before your messages were deleted.
Step 7:
Select the data you want to recover from the backup. Make sure the "SMS Messages" option is enabled, then tap "Restore" to begin recovering your saved text messages.
Step 8:
Wait until the restoration process is completed. After setup finishes, check your Messages app to see whether the deleted conversations have been restored.
Restore Messages From Google Backup

However, this method only works if your messages were backed up before your phone was damaged. Messages that were not included in the backup cannot be restored through this method.

Method 2. Check Messages from SIM Card

Some older Android phones allow text messages to be stored on a SIM card. If your broken phone cannot be operated but the SIM card is still available, you can try checking whether your messages are saved there. To check SIM card messages:

Step 1:
Remove the SIM card from your broken Android phone.
Step 2:
Insert it into another compatible phone.
Step 3:
Open the messaging app and check whether the messages appear.

Keep in mind that most modern Android phones store messages in internal storage instead of the SIM card, so this method may not work for all devices.

Method 3. Access Android Phone with Broken Screen

If your Android phone still turns on but the screen is cracked or the touchscreen does not work, you may be able to access your messages using other methods.


Use an OTG Adapter and Mouse:

Step 1:
Connect an OTG adapter to your Android phone.
Step 2:
Connect a USB mouse to the adapter.
Step 3:
Use the mouse cursor to unlock your phone.
Step 4:
Back up your messages or transfer them to another device.

This method only works if the display is still visible and the phone supports OTG.


Use Screen Mirroring Tools:

If USB debugging was enabled before your screen broke, you may be able to control your Android phone from a computer through Android screen mirroring.

After accessing your phone, you can back up your messages and other important data.

Method 4. Recover Messages from Broken Android Phone with Aiseesoft Android Data Recovery

If your Android phone has a cracked screen, cannot respond to touch, is locked, or has system problems, accessing messages manually may not be possible. In this situation, you can try Aiseesoft Android Data Recovery to scan your device and extract available messages. The tool can help recover text messages, contacts, call logs, photos, videos, and audio files, WhatsApp data, message attachments, etc.

Free DownloadFor Windows

Secure100% Secure. No Ads.

Free DownloadFor macOS

Secure100% Secure. No Ads.

Step 1.
Launch Aiseesoft Android Data Recovery on your computer. Connect your Android phone to the computer using a USB cable. Choose "Broken Android Phone Data Extraction" from the main interface.
Fonelab For Android Interface
Step 2.
Enable USB debugging on your Android phone according to the on-screen guide.
Open USB Debugging Mode
Step 3.
Install FoneGo on your device and allow permissions.
Step 4.
Click "Start Scan" to scan available data.
Scan Files
Step 5.
Select "Messages" from the scan results.
Step 6.
Preview the messages, select the conversations you want, and click "Recover" to export them to your computer.

FAQs About Recovering Messages from Broken Android Phone

How do I recover messages from a cracked Samsung phone?

If your Samsung phone has a cracked screen but still works, you can try using an OTG mouse, backup services, or Android data recovery software to access and save your messages.

Can I recover messages from a locked Android phone?

It depends on the phone condition and security settings. If you cannot unlock your Android phone because of a damaged screen or forgotten password, a supported Android recovery tool may help extract available data from your device.

How can I recover messages from an Android phone that won't turn on?

If your Android phone cannot turn on, first check the charger, battery, and power connection. If the device has hardware damage or serious system problems, you may need professional repair or a data recovery solution to access your stored messages.

Conclusion

A broken Android phone does not always mean your important messages are lost. Whether your device has a cracked screen, frozen system, forgotten password, or other problems, you can try different methods to recover text messages.

If your phone can still be accessed, backup solutions or external control methods may help you save your messages. For phones that cannot respond because of screen damage or system issues, Aiseesoft Android Data Recovery provides a convenient way to scan and extract available messages and other important files.

By choosing the right recovery method and acting quickly, you can increase the chance of retrieving valuable conversations from your broken Android phone.

Free DownloadFor Windows

Secure100% Secure. No Ads.

Free DownloadFor macOS

Secure100% Secure. No Ads.

Disqus IconLeave your comment and join our discussion
Android Data Recovery box

The best Android Data Recovery software to recover deleted files like SMS, contacts, call logs, documents, etc. from Android phone/SD card/tablet on Windows/Mac.

Free DownloadFor Windows

Secure100% Secure. No Ads.

Free DownloadFor macOS

Secure100% Secure. No Ads.

Back to top