Need my photos back

Normy01

Hi all . recently i lost my samsung galaxy s8plus . when i later found it it had the full screen missing . i was just wondering how i can retrive my photos. thanks

JAy3001

This could be tricky.

Did you have an SD card installed and if so did you set the SD card as storage for your photos? (This sometimes happens automatically)

If yes you can simply eject the SD card and insert it into a computer to retrieve them.

If they are stored internally it maybe difficult as when you plug your phone into a computer a popup appears on your phone requesting access to the files. If you cannot confirm this notification then you will not be able to view your files. (You maybe able to bypass this if you have a Linux system, but I cannot help with this.)

Another option is cloud storage backup. Did you have it setup for the Samsung gallery app or Google photos app? If so you should be able to sign in on a new device and retrieve them or use the below links on a computer:

Google Photos - All your photos organized and easy to find

Samsung Cloud

The last option would be to get the screen repaired.

Hope this helps @Normy01

Normy01

ok thanks for this . been through all the routes and i think i may need to get my phone repaired

JAy3001

Sorry to hear that @Normy01

There is one more option available, but it is tricky and I'll need to know a few more things first:
Did you setup fingerprint login and password?Is the phone switched on and past the startup password to allow the OS to boot?Does any of the screen work?

Normy01

the screen was stolen and there is no screen just the board and back.

JAy3001

This is very odd, I've never heard of a phone screen being stolen!

So can I assume the phone does not power up? You never answered my other questions @Normy01 Depending on your answers we maybe able to get to your files.

Steven

Sorry to learn that, state of the world we live in

If not backed up elsewhere and the storage module is intact i think you may well have to look at approaching a recovery company. The cost - benefit ratio being a personal decision as they are your photos

Normy01

it does power up but i set up fingerprint and passcode. yes unfortunatley it got handed back with the whole screen missing and didnt want to make a fuss or make a big scene.

JAy3001

Ok @Normy01

This does make it almost impossible to access due to the fact you are not logged into the OS and are at the initial bootup screen.

If you had been in the OS itself we could have unlocked the phone with your finger print, used a USB dongle and plugged a mouse into the phone and been able to confirm the popup message (trail and error obviously) but certainly not impossible as the popup is large and at the bottom of the screen.

The dongle will work on the bootup screen, but it would be near impossible to be able to guess the position of the cursor to enter a specific code. (Even considering you get a sound on each key entered)

Sadly you will need to get your phone fixed to be able to access the files. If it goes back to Samsung I doubt you would get your files back either as they would have to reset the phone. Not sure how it would work with 3rd parties, you would have to ask.

Normy01

Thanks for all your help I’ve been through every option . Just going to see if I can recover the photos when I get my new phone via Samsung and google cloud . If not I may just fix it for 219