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The route that works depends on what the broken screen still does. If the phone powers on and the picture is visible but touch no longer responds, you may be able to operate it with a USB mouse and keyboard. If the screen is black, Samsung’s supported option is to send the display to an external HDMI monitor or TV through a USB-C hub, but only on a Galaxy running Android 12 or later that supports DisplayPort. If the phone will not power on at all, no supported self-service method is established, and the next step is a repair diagnosis that puts preserving your data first.
Identify which kind of broken screen you have
Three situations look similar from across the room but call for different approaches. Work through them in order, because each one rules out the next.
| Symptom | What it usually means | Possible route |
|---|---|---|
| Picture visible, taps ignored | Display works, touch layer or digitizer has failed | USB mouse (and keyboard) through an OTG or docking adapter, if your model supports it |
| Screen black, phone vibrates or lights respond | Display panel or its connection has failed; the phone may still be running | External display via USB-C hub and HDMI, if Android 12+ and DisplayPort are supported |
| No power, no response at all | Battery, power, or board-level fault is possible | No self-service route is established; get a repair diagnosis |
Samsung’s own support pages describe the first two routes. Neither one bypasses the lock screen, so you will still need the PIN, password, or pattern to reach your data. If you do not know the passcode, check your account and cloud records before attempting anything else.
What you need before you start
Samsung Canada’s guide on transferring data from a Galaxy phone with a broken or damaged screen, last updated June 17, 2026, lists the equipment for the external-display method. Samsung states that none of these items come in the box with a Galaxy phone:
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- A USB-C to HDMI hub adapter with a USB-A port (the hub must carry video, not just charging or data)
- An HDMI-capable monitor or TV
- An HDMI cable
- A wired USB mouse
- A wired USB keyboard
Confirm two compatibility points before buying anything. First, the phone must run Android 12 or later (Settings > Software information shows the Android version on most Galaxy models). Second, the phone must support DisplayPort video output. Samsung US warns that not all Samsung phones support HDMI display output, so a phone that is compatible with one adapter may still fail with another. A generic charging or data adapter is not evidence that the video path will work.
Method 1: Use an external display with Smart Switch
This method applies when the screen is black or unusable but the phone is still running. Samsung’s procedure is as follows.
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- Connect the HDMI monitor or TV to the hub with the HDMI cable, then connect the mouse and keyboard to the hub’s USB-A port or ports.
- Hold both volume buttons on the damaged phone while you connect it to the hub. Release them once the connection is established.
- Watch the external screen. It may mirror the phone, or it may show Samsung DeX.
- If DeX appears, select Apps, then Exit DeX to switch to mirroring. Samsung says that pressing Esc or Windows + Backspace closes the initial DeX setup screen.
- If the phone is mirrored, use the mouse or keyboard to unlock it, then open Smart Switch on the damaged phone.
- On the receiving Galaxy, open Smart Switch and select Receive data, then Galaxy/Android, then Wireless.
- On the damaged phone, select Connect to authorize the wireless link.
- On the receiving phone, choose the data to transfer and follow the prompts until the transfer completes.
Menu names change with model, software version, and Smart Switch version. Samsung Electronics Service Korea’s guide to the same workflow, dated January 4, 2024, cautions that menu names and screens may differ from its illustrations. If a label does not match, look for the closest equivalent rather than guessing at a different path.
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Method 2: Use a mouse when the display works but touch does not
Samsung US’s guidance, “Access your Galaxy phone’s data if the screen does not respond,” states that a USB mouse can control some phones whose touchscreen no longer responds. The steps are:
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- Connect a compatible OTG adapter or docking adapter to the phone’s USB-C port.
- Attach a wired USB mouse and use the on-screen pointer to move and tap.
- Connect a keyboard the same way to enter your PIN or password. Samsung also says the on-screen keyboard can be operated with the mouse.
- Once you are inside the phone, back up the data you need using Smart Switch or another method.
Two limits apply. Samsung says this works on some phones, not all, and that some models may need a particular OTG USB connector, so check your exact model before you buy an adapter. Also, an OTG adapter does not replace video output: if the screen is fully black, use Method 1 instead.
What Smart Switch does and does not cover
Samsung’s Smart Switch support documentation, updated June 21, 2024 by Samsung Electronics Service Korea, describes three things: PC backup and restore, device-to-device transfer, and backup to an SD card or external USB storage. The supported media types it lists include photos, videos, music, and documents.
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Smart Switch is a selected-data tool, not a complete copy of the phone. The same Samsung documentation sets several exclusions:
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- In the Secure Folder backup details Samsung lists, APK files are supported but app data is not.
- Smart Switch does not guarantee that app data, sign-in credentials, or protected content will transfer.
Check each important category separately: app-level export options, account sync (Google, Samsung account), and any cloud copies of photos, messages, and documents. After the transfer, open the new phone and confirm that your key files and conversations are present before you rely on the copy.
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Troubleshooting common outcomes
- The monitor stays blank. Confirm that your model supports DisplayPort video output and runs Android 12 or later. Check that the hub carries video. If the hub is a charging or data-only adapter, replace it with one that is designed for video output.
- The phone shows DeX instead of the phone screen. Select Apps, then Exit DeX to return to mirroring, then open Smart Switch.
- The screen is visible but taps fail. Use Method 2. Whether it works depends on your model and connector.
- The phone is locked. External input can help you type a passcode, but it still requires that you know it. Samsung’s instructions do not describe any way around device security. Bypass tools and claims of access to encrypted or private data without the owner’s credentials are outside what this guide covers.
- The phone will not power on, the USB-C port is damaged, or the main board is damaged. Neither the external-display method nor Smart Switch is established as a fix for these faults. Take the phone to a repair provider for diagnosis, and tell them before any work starts that recovering your data is the priority.
- Smart Switch misses an app or conversation. Use that app’s own backup or export feature, check account and cloud sync settings, and verify the result rather than assuming the transfer was complete.
Before you authorize repair work
Ask the repair provider three questions: whether they can access the data without wiping the device, whether the repair involves a factory reset or software reflash, and whether the data will remain intact if the logic board is replaced. Avoid any step that resets the phone until you know how it affects your files. Samsung Electronics Service Korea’s guidance on transferring data from a damaged-screen phone, dated January 4, 2024, states that its service centers in Korea do not provide the data-migration service described. That statement applies to that region only. Outside Korea, confirm with your local Samsung service center what it can and cannot do before you hand over the device.
If you can reach the phone’s contents through one of the two routes above, copy your data first and repair the screen afterward.
Samsung’s current guidance for data transfer from a broken-screen phone is available from Samsung Canada, Samsung US, and Samsung Electronics Service Korea. The versions named in this article are dated as shown, so check the source page for the latest model-specific instructions.
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