How to Recover Data from Locked Android Device

Balancing between data security and uninterrupted access to your own files can be tricky. We all commonly use phone locks to protect our information, but this approach can backfire in case the screen unlock password is forgotten or the phone is exposed to a virus. There is a possibility that some of your important files remain trapped on a locked device, unavailable for use. So, what to do if you want to access the data in locked Android phone with USB?

It’s good to know that such files are not permanently lost, and can be restored to your control in several ways. Users who regularly back up their content will be able to complete this process very easy, but even if you don’t have the files saved anywhere else you could still find a way to get all of your data out of the locked device.

How to Restore Data from a Backup if the Android Device Was Already Locked?

The most surefire way to protect all of your data from accidental loss is to turn on regular backups on your Android device. If you do this, the phone will automatically send all newly created files into the cloud, and they will be stored in the Google Drive folders. Alternatively, you could manually upload the most important files to Google from time to time, so they are available to download when you happen to need them at a later date.

To transfer the files from a backup location to a new device, just follow those simple steps:

Step 1. Log into your Google Drive account from another device and click on Backups.

Step 2. Review all the backed-up files and choose the ones you want to recover.

Step 3. Right-click on each file and choose Download. This will send the files to the device you used to access Google Drive.

How can I Get Data off my Locked Android Phone?

Resetting your phone to factory reset can help you remove your Android lock, but what you should know is that it will undo all the settings, wipe all the data, and return your Android phone to the manufacturer’s initial settings. That means you would lose some, maybe important, data after the factory reset. 

What’s more, you can only factory reset your phone via Android’s Factory Reset in the Recovery Mode due to your phone is locked. So, you can only press the buttons of your phone to access the recovery mode.

Step 1. Force to turn your phone off by a long pressing of the Power button.

Step 2. Then press and hold the Volume down button and the Power button at the same time until the phone turns on. Then you can see the Android boot screen.

Step 3. Now, you can use the Volume down button to move the option > Choose Recovery mode.

Step 4. Press the power button to initiate the Recovery Mode. You should see an Android robot. Press and hold the Power button, and while doing so, hit the Volume up button once, then let go of the power button.

Step 5. Continue to press the Volume down button to choose the Wipe data/factory reset option > Select it using the Power button.

Step 6. Then hit the Power button to select the “Reboot system now.” Your phone will restore to the form it was when new. And your screen lock will be removed at the same time.

Use DroidKit to Recover Data from a Locked Device.

Another effective way to get back your personal data is through third-party software with strong data recovery features. DroidKit is one of the best products of this kind, and it can salvage many different types of files from the device or an SD card. Since the software has simple and intuitive commands and is compatible with many different brands of Android phones, in most cases it represents the quickest way to get back your data.

When it comes to the issue of recovering deleted files or formatted files, such as pictures from SD cards on Android devices, DroidKit will give you the best results. Even people with no technical knowledge can readily recover data from locked Android devices if they adhere to the following sequence of steps to recover data from sd cards:

Step 1. Download and launch the DroidKit on your PC or laptop. Connect the SD card through a card reader. Now, select the Data Recovery from SD Card mode.

Step 2. Choose Standard Recovery to start the scanning process of the SD card > Tap on the “Next” option.

Step 3. Here, select the SD card and click on the “Next” option.

Step 4. Wait for the SD card scanning > You can preview and recover all data as you need.

Bonus tip: Remove the Lock from Your Device with DroidKit

In addition to recovering data from a locked device, DroidKit can do much more – help you regain control over the Android phone by removing the screen lock without entering the password. It is very effective with this task and can remove even the strongest forms of protection with a high success rate. And then, you can thus fully access your locked Android phone again in minutes. Here are what DroidKit can do for you:

• Multiple password types supported: 4-digit PIN, 6-digit PIN, custom PIN, password, pattern, fingerprint ID, face recognition.
• Multiple Models of Android Phones & Tablets Supported: the locked screen of Samsung, Huawei, Google, LG, Motorola, etc, can be easily removed by DroidKit and you can use your phone again.
• Asks for no skills: With an intuitive UI, and step-by-step wizard, DroidKit makes the complicated unlocking process easy for everyone to follow and no technical knowledge is required.

To remove the lock from your Android phone, just run this software on your computer with a phone hooked in via USB and follow the instructions on the screen.

Step 1. Free download DroidKit on your computer and launch it > Choose the Unlock Screen mode.

Step 2. Ensure the USB debugging mode of your Android Device is turned on and click the Start button.

Step 3. Wait for DroidKit to prepare the configuration file for your Android device > Once the preparing process is completed, the below interface will be displayed, just tap on Remove Now.

Step 4. Follow the instruction to put your device in Recovery mode and Wipe the Cache Partition on your phone.

Step 5. After that, it will start to remove the Android screen lock. Please keep patient.

Step 6. After the removal screen lock process completes, you can access your Android device without entering any password.

The Bottom Line

Most Android phone owners have their data backed up either online or on the SD card, so they can easily get it all back by following the procedure recommended in this article. Using DroidKit data recovery tool provides additional options and lets you unlock the phone without a password or retrieve data with or without backup. This is why downloading the latest version of DroidKit is highly recommended even if you currently have no problems with passwords or other types of device locks.