{"id":179,"date":"2016-01-28T17:55:12","date_gmt":"2016-01-28T17:55:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.digitalforensicscorp.com\/blog\/?p=179"},"modified":"2024-12-11T19:28:59","modified_gmt":"2024-12-11T19:28:59","slug":"extracting-data-from-a-locked-android-device","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.digitalforensics.com\/blog\/software\/extracting-data-from-a-locked-android-device\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Access Files on a Locked Android"},"content":{"rendered":"

Losing access to the <\/span>important data<\/span> saved on your <\/span>locked Android phone<\/span> or tablet can feel scary. You may have lost access to your phone or device because of a <\/span>broken screen<\/span>, forgotten <\/span>passcode<\/span>, or a need to access the <\/span>internal storage<\/span>.<\/span>
\n<\/p>\n

Luckily, your <\/span>important data<\/span> is still stored in your device and there\u2019s a chance the important information has been backed up, stored on external storage, and the files can be accessed using a few methods.<\/span><\/p>\n

For some, a <\/span>factory reset<\/span> is out of the question when trying to unlock a <\/span>locked Android phone<\/span>. Getting access to the device to use it again in its used state and <\/span>factory reset<\/span> are not the same thing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A <\/span>factory reset<\/span> will make <\/span>data recovery<\/span> impossible, restoring the phone or tablet to the way you received it when you first bought the device. <\/span>Data recovery<\/span> can be successfully performed on a device without the need for a reset or formatting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Instances where a phone or tablet screen is broken or a device is potentially in disrepair could still allow you to gain access. However, a cracked screen would likely need to be fixed before the <\/span>Android device<\/span> and its data can be retrieved by the user.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll be covering some more advanced methods to unlock a locked Android smartphone or device.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Is It Possible To <\/span>Recover Files<\/span> on a Locked Android?<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

Traditionally, you would need to unlock your phone or tablet by entering your secure PIN or <\/span>phone password<\/span> to access it. Using a <\/span>USB cable<\/span> and treating the device like a plug-in device would be ineffective unless the phone or tablet has been set to do so.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A locked <\/span>Android device<\/span> that is inaccessible to the user by entering the PIN can still have its files recovered. The data you\u2019re looking to access may be stored internally, externally, or tied to an accessible account that allows you to unlock the device without the PIN.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With more advanced methods where the PIN and account credentials are unavailable, the key is to <\/span>enable USB debugging<\/span> mode before the device needs to be accessed. Below, we will cover the methods professionals use to <\/span>recover files<\/span> that would otherwise be lost.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, is it possible to unlock a locked Android smartphone? The answer is \u201c<\/span>yes<\/span>\u201d with a but, depending on whether the device is yours and what levels of access you have. If the first few methods don\u2019t work or aren\u2019t applicable, you\u2019ll need some experience with computers, a <\/span>USB cable<\/span> compatible with your phone, and some light knowledge of SQL (databases).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re fairly familiar with computers but not sure about SQL, we\u2019ll only be touching on it briefly; however, a small introduction to it may help you perform the needed procedure.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Getting Started<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

Before we jump into making changes to the database of your phone it\u2019s a good idea to ensure that the <\/span>Android device<\/span> is truly inaccessible. This means you\u2019ve tried to unlock it through one of the following methods:<\/span><\/p>\n