How to Connect Samsung S22 to PC with Broken Screen to Retrieve Your Data

Accidents can happen to the best of us, and having a broken screen on your Samsung Galaxy S22 might leave you feeling worried about retrieving all the precious data stored within it.

Fortunately, there are several methods that you can use to access your smartphone and retrieve your data from a broken or black screen. This article covers multiple solutions, providing you with step-by-step instructions for each method.

Table of Contents

1. Connecting with a USB-C Hub
2. Using Samsung Smart Switch
3. Utilizing ADB Commands
4. Relying on Third-Party Software

Connecting with a USB-C Hub

Connecting your Samsung S22 to a PC via a USB-C hub is one of the easiest ways to mirror your device’s display on an external monitor while gaining control over its functions using peripherals such as a keyboard and mouse.

Prerequisites

• A USB-C hub with HDMI output, USB ports, and power delivery (PD) support.
• An HDMI cable.
• An external monitor.
• A USB keyboard and mouse.

Steps to Connect

1. Plug the USB-C hub into your Samsung Galaxy S22.
2. Connect the HDMI cable between the hub and the external monitor.
3. Connect your USB keyboard and mouse to the available USB ports on the hub.
4. Power up your monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
5. Use Samsung DeX if it automatically launches; else, navigate through your phone interface using the peripherals connected.

With this setup in place, you’ll be able to see the contents of your device on the external monitor and control it using the keyboard and mouse. Proceed by transferring the required data to your PC.

Using Samsung Smart Switch

Samsung Smart Switch is a user-friendly tool developed by Samsung, designed for easy data transfer and backup between devices. By default, this program can recognize your device even when its screen is broken.

Prerequisites

• A USB cable.
• Samsung Smart Switch installed on your PC.

Steps to Connect

1. Launch Samsung Smart Switch on your PC.
2. Use the USB cable to connect your Samsung Galaxy S22 to your computer.
3. Allow a few moments for the software to automatically recognize your phone.
4. Click Backup within the user interface; this creates a complete backup of your device’s data onto the PC.
5. Restore or explore the contents of the backup to retrieve the required information.

Do remember that you’ll need to have USB debugging enabled on your device for this method to work efficiently.

Utilizing ADB Commands

Android Debug Bridge (ADB) is a powerful command-line tool that allows you to communicate with an Android device directly from a computer running on any operating system, such as Windows, macOS, or Linux.

Prerequisites

• A USB cable.
• ADB installed on your computer.
• USB debugging enabled on your device.

If you haven’t set up ADB before breaking your screen, consult the next solution.

Steps to Connect

1. Connect your phone via a USB cable to the PC where ADB is installed.
2. Open a command prompt or terminal window in the directory where ADB is located (shift + right-click and select “Open PowerShell window here” in the ADB folder).
3. Enter the command adb devices to list all connected Android devices.
4. Locate your Samsung Galaxy S22 device in the list and ensure it’s not marked as offline.
5. Now that your device is connected, execute the command adb pull /sdcard/ C:\destination_folder to transfer all data from your phone’s internal storage to your PC.

Replace “destination_folder” with the desired location on your PC for storing the retrieved data.

Relying on Third-Party Software

In some cases, third-party software can provide a hassle-free method of recovering lost data from a damaged screen, especially when other native solutions are ineffective.

Enter at your own risk, as using third-party software could lead to potential security vulnerabilities. It’s vital to research any software you intend to utilize thoroughly before proceeding.

Prerequisites

• A USB cable.
• Third-party data recovery software installed on your PC.

Steps to Connect

1. Launch the third-party data recovery software on your computer.
2. Connect your Samsung Galaxy S22 to your PC using a USB cable.
3. Follow the instructions provided by the recovery software, typically involving scanning and selecting data for retrieval.

Remember to only use reputable third-party applications and verify user reviews before choosing one.

Wrapping Up

While having a broken screen is undoubtedly a frustrating experience, there are multiple methods outlined above that should assist you in recovering crucial data from your Samsung Galaxy S22. Pick an approach that works best for you based on availability and technical expertise.