I'm in a bit of a jam and could really use some help! I have a Samsung Galaxy A51 that I need to retrieve some precious photos and videos from, but the backlight is dead. The screen still responds to touch, but since I can't see anything, I'm stuck. I've thought about connecting it to my Windows computer or my current phone (a Google Pixel), but I'm not sure how to do it without seeing what I'm doing. A local shop quoted me around $200 to replace the screen, which seems like a lot just to access my photos. I'm hoping there's another, less expensive way to get my data off the phone. Any advice would be much appreciated!
1 Answer
One quick tip is to use a bright flashlight! Shine it directly on the screen while you try to unlock your phone. You might be able to make out the icons well enough to choose the 'transfer files via USB' option. If that doesn't work, check if your phone can connect to an external display via HDMI or MHL; you might need an adapter for that. This could save you a trip to the repair shop!
Oh wow, really?! I've never heard of using a flashlight like that. Should I just shine it straight down on the screen, or does the angle matter? Also, I'm not sure if it supports output to another screen either, but I’ll definitely look into that. Thanks for the suggestion!