Data recovery FAQ: answers to your questions
Find answers from our specialists to the most frequently asked questions about data recovery: hard drive failures, SSD, RAID, USB drives, pricing, turnaround times and process. SOS Data Recovery (Tesweb SA), Swiss specialist since 2006 with over 10,000 cases handled, answers your questions.
Why consult our data recovery FAQ?
Our technicians answer the most frequently asked questions about hard drive, SSD, RAID, NAS, USB drive and memory card failures. Each answer is based on over 10,000 cases handled since 2006 and regularly updated. If you cannot find the answer to your question, contact us — free diagnosis within 3 hours.
Is it possible to recover data from a phone with a broken or black screen?
Yes. A broken or malfunctioning screen does not affect the phone's internal memory. If the device is still recognized by a computer via USB or turns on (vibration, sound), the data is accessible with the appropriate tools.
Depending on the condition of the phone, several approaches are possible:
- OTG connection + external mouse/keyboard — to navigate a phone where only the screen is faulty
- Access via ADB (Android Debug Bridge) — if USB debugging was enabled
- Direct memory chip extraction — for cases where the screen AND other components are faulty
For iPhones, extraction often requires repairing the screen first (using a replacement screen in the lab) to bypass iOS encryption.
Is it possible to recover data from an iPad tablet with a broken screen?
Yes. The internal memory of an iPad is separate from its touchscreen. A cracked or completely failed screen does not prevent the recovery of stored data.
For recent iPads (Face ID), a replacement screen is often required in the lab to bypass authentication. For older models (Touch ID), connecting to a trusted computer via Lightning or USB-C is usually sufficient.
If USB debugging was enabled and a trusted computer was already paired, extraction can be done without manipulating the screen. In the most complex cases (completely inert iPad), our technicians proceed with a direct extraction of the NAND memory chip.