How to Recover Photos From a Broken iPhone Without a Backup: A Guide

Recover iPhone Photos: Did you know that as of 2023, 2 billion Apple devices are currently in use? That's 200 million more than last year! 

Many of those devices are iPhones. iPhones, which now have over 1.4 billion users, are popular because of their ease of use. They're also secure and offer convenient continuity features.

However, like any device, iPhones can fail due to defects or accidental damage. Things are worse if their stored data doesn't have a backup.

If that happens to yours, your best bet is to learn how to recover photos from a broken iPhone without a backup. There are several ways, and we're here to enlighten and educate you on each of them.

So read on; the sooner you finish this article, the sooner you can have your precious photos back. 

Hard Reset Your Phone First

Some people are quick to panic when their beloved phones act up. Indeed, a survey found nearly 9 in 10 college students have nomophobia (no mobile phone phobia). It's the term used to describe the fear of being away from one's phone or mobile connectivity.

Luckily, a seemingly broken iPhone, such as one that doesn't turn on even when plugged in, may be fixable with a reset. It may work if your phone only experienced a temporary hardware or OS issue. 

So before worrying about your iPhone being "dead," perform a hard reset first.

First, charge your iPhone for half an hour (ensure the charger works!). The next step depends on the model of your iPhone.

If you have an iPhone 8 or later, press and immediately release the volume-up button. Then, do the same on the volume-down button. Finally, press and hold the side button and wait for the Apple logo to appear.

To hard reset any version of the iPhone 7, press and hold the top or side button with the volume-down button. Wait for the Apple logo to come up.

If you have an iPhone 6 or an older model, press and hold the top or side button, then do the same with the Home button. Keep pressing until the Apple logo shows up.

Hopefully, your iPhone turns on after the hard reset, but if it doesn't, the odds are high that you have a broken device. 

Confirm You Don't Have a Backup

Here's another reason not to worry immediately if you think your iPhone broke: iCloud. You may have forgotten about doing so, but you may have enabled it on your device before it failed.

iCloud is the native cloud storage service for Apple products. When you first got your iPhone, you most likely enabled it during the initial setup. In that case, you may have also turned on iCloud Photos.

iCloud Photos works with the iPhone Photos app. If synced, it automatically keeps all photos and videos taken with the iPhone. It then stores these files in iCloud.

Suppose you're sure you have a broken iPhone but aren't 100% certain whether it has a backup. In this case, you can confirm by going to iCloud.com. You can use a browser on another device, such as a desktop PC, laptop, or smartphone.

Once you're on iCloud.com, sign in with your Apple ID and password. Next, choose Photos, then Library. Hopefully, your photos and videos are there.

Another way to check iCloud Photos is if you own a Mac signed in to the same Apple ID as your broken iPhone. If so, iCloud Photos automatically syncs your Library with your Mac's Photos app. This means the photos you took with your iPhone may be on your Mac.

If your files are on iCloud, you can leave them there, but you should consider creating backups too. This provides you with more iPhone photo recovery methods in the future.

Experts advise organizations to have three data backups, but you can follow this tip, too. 

Use iTunes 

While an iPhone with a black screen looks dead, it may still have power. This could happen if you dropped your phone and it crashed hard. It may have knocked loose the connections between the screen and the motherboard.

You may still be able to recover photos from an iPhone with a black screen using iTunes. The important thing here is that the motherboard still runs on battery power. So, charge your phone for at least half an hour before you plug it into your computer with iTunes installed.

If you have a Windows device without iTunes, you can download it from the online Apple Store. If you have a Mac with a macOS older than Catalina, you can also download it from the Mac App Store. It's no longer available on Macs running Catalina and later macOS versions.

Once you have iTunes, launch it and then plug your iPhone into your computer. Wait for a few seconds, then select the Device button on the top left side of the iTunes window. If your iPhone is on (despite appearing dead due to its black screen), it should appear on iTunes.

If it does, choose the Sync Photos option. You can move specific albums, folders, or everything to your computer.

Since your phone may fail soon, you should move everything to be safe. Don't forget to create three backups once you've recovered your photos. 

Use a File Recovery Tool

Suppose you have a Mac running on Catalina or a later macOS version. Because of this, you can no longer access iTunes.

Your other option is a third-party iPhone photo backup and recovery tool. Be sure to use one with positive reviews. Also, double-check for complaints about them being potential malware. 

Most recovery tools only work on iPhones that aren't "dead" per se but are only stuck on a black screen. So like iTunes, they must be able to detect your phone to recover your data. You must also have trusted the computer where you plan to install the app before.

The exact steps vary from tool to tool, but they all start with you connecting your iPhone to the computer. After launching the third-party software, wait a few seconds to see if it detects your phone. If it does, it should show your iPhone's name, meaning it can recover your data.

Once detected, you may have to click a button that says "Scan iPhone" or "Scan Device." The recovery tool should scan your device for data it can restore and move to your computer.

Once the scan is complete, the software may request your permission to recover the data. It may also require selecting which files to recover and transfer to the computer. 

Contact Apple Support

If none of the above hacks help you recover photos from your broken iPhone, it's time for pro support.

Apple Support is the official technical support service of the tech giant. It should be your first point of contact for iPhone-related issues you can't fix by yourself.

Apple Support is available via phone or chat, depending on your country or region. For instance, if you're in North America, you can reach them at 1-800-275-2273. An Apple Advisor can advise you further on what to do with your broken iPhone.

At this point, though, they'd likely say you need physical iPhone repair. Apple may fix it for free, depending on your warranty status and the cause of the device's failure. But as long as the team can fix it, your photos and other files are likely intact and recoverable. 

Limited Warranty

All brand-new iPhones have a one-year warranty for hardware repairs. This covers manufacturing issues or defects. So if your phone dies because of these problems, Apple should repair it for free.

You'd have to pay a fee if your iPhone broke because of accidental damage. An example is if your phone won't turn on after accidentally dropping it. Another is water damage, which can happen if you spill water on or drop your phone in a puddle. 

AppleCare+

AppleCare+ is the extended warranty program for Apple products. Users can buy it alongside or within 60 days of purchasing their new Apple device.

Depending on the model, the extended warranty costs between $79 and $269 for two years. An automatically renewing monthly option is available, priced from $3.99 to $13.49. The upside is that it comes with unlimited accidental damage coverage.

So if you have a valid AppleCare+, Apple should cover your phone, even if it broke due to accidental damage.

However, don't expect Apple to shoulder the entire repair cost. No, it won't, as you'd have to pay a deductible, the cost of which depends on the issue. For example, for a damaged or cracked screen, you must pay $29, while it's $99 for other accidental damage.

Hire a Reputable iPhone Repair Service

If your broken iPhone is no longer under warranty, you can still contact Apple Support for help. They can tell you about Authorized Service Providers closest to your location.

However, Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASPs) can set their preferred repair rates. This means one center's technician may charge higher or lower than the others. So if several locations are near you, get an estimate from each.

If there's no AASP near you, your next best bet is to find a reputable iPhone repair service. They can fix your busted device and allow you to recover your photos.

Here's what to look for to ensure you work only with a reliable, trustworthy provider. 

Genuine Parts

Reputable iPhone repair providers often charge less than AASPs. That's because they're not exclusive to Apple, so they can afford not to charge premium prices. However, they still use original Apple replacement parts.

So before choosing a repair company, ask them if they use genuine Apple parts. They should put it into writing, too. They can't fool iPhone users since these phones have accessible service histories.

After the repairs, you can double-check the genuineness of the replacement parts. Go to your iPhone's Settings, then General, and tap About. If they're original, they should show "Genuine Apple Part."

If not (e.g., "Unknown"), tell the service provider. It may be an honest mistake, but let them know you plan to take action if they don't fix it. If they still don't, report them to consumer protection or the State Attorney General. 

Low Price Guarantee

Most reputable iPhone repair services offer free estimates online. Some also have low-price guarantees if you can show them their competitor's pricing. Use this to your advantage to get a better deal, but ensure you check the terms and conditions of the offer.

Quick Turnaround Times

How soon a technician can finish fixing your iPhone depends on what caused it to break down in the first place. However, if it's due to a dead battery, a loose connection, or a cracked screen, it should take no more than an hour. After all, they should carry the most common replacement parts in their stores.

However, no matter how quick their turnaround time is, it won't do you any good if they're too far from you. So, choose a repair service closest to your home or office. You can check the iPhone repair services found here for more information. 

Warranty

Lastly, confirm that your chosen iPhone repair service offers a warranty. It should cover both the replacement part and labor. For example, if the repaired part fails again, the provider should fix it for free. 

Many reputable businesses offer lifetime warranties. However, others only back their services for a few months or up to a year at most.

As much as possible, choose a repair service provider offering a lifetime warranty. This also signals how confident they are about their work. 

That's How to Recover Photos From a Broken iPhone Without a Backup

Now that you know how to recover photos from a broken iPhone without a backup, it's time to test your knowledge. Start with a hard reset, check if you have no backup, and try recovering them with iTunes or another tool. If they don't do the trick, then that's the time you should bring your phone to Apple or a service technician.

Are you ready for more tech-related tips? Then check out our latest blog posts and popular articles from tech experts!