Database Users

[Q] Shattered N4 - How Do I Retrieve Data?

I dropped my N4 on the ground this past weekend and it now has both a shattered front and back glass. The digitizer does not work so I can't use the touchscreen at all.
Here's what I can share about the status of the phone:
It is still on, I can see the screen, and is fully charged receiving messages.
The power button and two volume buttons work.
The phone's storage is encrypted with the stock android encryption.
I have a 4-digit PIN enabled on the lock screen.
The phone did not have USB debugging enabled when this occurred.
I've tried to mount it to a computer to get the files, but nothing shows up as I believe I need to unlock it with the PIN before it will mount.
I can install apps remotely from the Play store.
I have the Sophos mobile app installed and configured but I don't believe there are any commands to UNLOCK the device, only to lock it and wipe it.
Honestly, I just want my data off of the phone and would rather not replace the screen and continue using it. I love the phone but it is way too fragile. Is there any way to transfer my data? I looked into connecting a mouse to the usb and using that to enter the PIN, but the N4 does not support mice. Since USB debugging was not turned on, I can't connect via ADB. Is there some sort of app I can remotely install from the play store to turn on USB debugging? Is there some sort of app I can remotely install to remotely unlock the device with my 4-digit PIN? If I let it die and then try to boot into recovery, will ADB work then? If so, how would I get the data off of the device if it is encrypted? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

Is it running a custom recovery?
If yes, just go into recovery and do a nandroid, boot back into android and copy the backup.
If no, there's a thread somewhere with instructions on how to unlock your bootloader WITHOUT wiping your phone.

Unfortunately this is the only android phone I've ever owned that I haven't touched and left completely stock... No custom recovery, no custom ROM. I'll try to look for the instructions on how to unlock the bootloader without wiping the phone, but if I do a nandroid and boot back into android how will I transfer the data? I'd be stuck at the screen where I have to type in my encryption password, and even if I got past that I still can't mount the device in Windows to transfer the data?

Anyone?

Exousia said:
Unfortunately this is the only android phone I've ever owned that I haven't touched and left completely stock... No custom recovery, no custom ROM. I'll try to look for the instructions on how to unlock the bootloader without wiping the phone, but if I do a nandroid and boot back into android how will I transfer the data? I'd be stuck at the screen where I have to type in my encryption password, and even if I got past that I still can't mount the device in Windows to transfer the data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only way I can think is flash an advanced version of cwm (if it doesn't already have one) that has a file manager and make a backup, and copy the recovery to a location on the SD. Then mount USB storage and copy everything over.
Edit: actually, you could mount USB storage in cwm to copy files over, then make a backup through adb on to your computer, there's some tutorials on how to do that
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

do you have adb installed? cant you copy the files in bootloader mode to the computer? havent tried yet, and im on my work laptop right now, cant try it.

zakoo2 said:
do you have adb installed? cant you copy the files in bootloader mode to the computer? havent tried yet, and im on my work laptop right now, cant try it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
as far as I know no. In bootloader mode is only fastboot, not adb
Sent from Halo.

what i dont understand is how you cannot connect the phone with mtp... that should work without debugging.
EDIT: sorry, youre right, when the device is encrypted, you have to unlock it before mounting.
looks like you made pretty damn sure there is no way for you (or anyone else) to get access to the data on your device :/
although i dont know about unlocking without wiping. maybe that could work.
sent from my Nexus 4...

Google search a program called Motorobo; equivalent to what service providers use.
Sent from a neXus device

[Q] Backup Nexus 4 with broken digitizer

Hello
Yesterday, I shattered my glass and digitizer though the lcd and phone are correct.
I'm wondering how much does lg or google charge for repair and is it lengthy process.
Also I'd like to know what are my option to backup the phone. USB debuging is disabled but the phone is rooted and unlocked.
I don't think there is a remote control app that can be installed without user input and I don't think I can enable USB debuging without screen input.
So I guess, I'm stuck with a nandroid backup though I'm not sure what is included. I believe it includes everything but the USB storage ?

Caddish said:
Hello
Yesterday, I shattered my glass and digitizer though the lcd and phone are correct.
I'm wondering how much does lg or google charge for repair and is it lengthy process.
Also I'd like to know what are my option to backup the phone. USB debuging is disabled but the phone is rooted and unlocked.
I don't think there is a remote control app that can be installed without user input and I don't think I can enable USB debuging without screen input.
So I guess, I'm stuck with a nandroid backup though I'm not sure what is included. I believe it includes everything but the USB storage ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, a nandroid includes everything but the data/media folder.
You could however blindly boot in recovery, then use adb to copy the data/media/0 folder (the sdcard).
Soo, boot in recovery, and use this command
adb pull data/media/0 C://NexusSD

Thanks

Cracked screen, digitizer dead, how to access USB?

I have a Nexus 4 with a cracked screen. LG Decided to sandwich the digitizer in the glass so now the digitizer is dead as well.
How can I access the storage to recover my files? MTP won't work without unlocking the phone but I cannot get past the lock screen as the touch doesn't work.
I'm sure I'm not the first one to deal with this so what's the solution here?

You can Use adb.
If you have a custom recovery, you can enter into the recovery and then type (on your pc cmd):
adb pull /sdcard/ C:/User/Desktop (Example Directory)
this Command will copy the contenent of the media folder into the desktop.
Have a good day

That was my first thought, however, ADB never seems to work through recovery for me even with my older phones. It says device not found even though it would work perfectly if I'm loaded into a ROM. I'll reinstall drivers and try again.

Help with Broken Touch Sensor

Ok so yesterday my phone was dropped down the stairs in my house, and it looks like the touch sensor has stopped working. I'm not too worried about it since I was able to get the purchase reimbursed and my new one is on the way.
However, as of right now I have my old phone which apart from the touch screen is still perfectly functional. Is there a way for me to extract any data from it? I have a lock screen and since I can't unlock it I was wondering if there were any alternatives to do this. If that's not possible, would there be a way to factory reset the device without the touch screen via adb or fastboot?

Does a USB OTG Cable plus a regular USB Mouse work? It works for me out of the box, and may for you.
Also, is your bootloader unlocked?

PythonNut said:
Does a USB OTG Cable plus a regular USB Mouse work? It works for me out of the box, and may for you.
Also, is your bootloader unlocked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have a USB OTG cable, so I can't really do that, but yes the phone is bootloader unlocked and rooted. I'm not sure if there's a way to use twrp without the touch screen though.

HaggisIV said:
I don't have a USB OTG cable, so I can't really do that, but yes the phone is bootloader unlocked and rooted. I'm not sure if there's a way to use twrp without the touch screen though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TWRP should start up adb by default. Just give it about 10 or 20 seconds after boot. You should be able to adb pull anything you want off the phone without any touches.

jason2678 said:
TWRP should start up adb by default. Just give it about 10 or 20 seconds after boot. You should be able to adb pull anything you want off the phone without any touches.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright thank you so much. I'll give this a try then.

HaggisIV said:
Alright thank you so much. I'll give this a try then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just flashed a new kernel and had to boot into TWRP to reflash SuperSU. I confirmed it starts up adb by default. It seemed to make internal and external storage available by MTP too, but I didn't transfer any files to make sure it was working.
Good luck. :good:

Touchscreen not responding -- How can I access and backup my files?

I'm having an issue where my touchscreen completely stopped responding to touches, but the physical buttons still work. I'm rooted and have TWRP installed. I'm trying to backup my files before reformatting. I have an OTG cable which i tried using with a mouse but it doesn't work. I'm not sure if it's because OTG isn't enabled by default? I'm currently able to unlock my phone using fingerprint and I'm already on wifi. I haven't restarted the phone yet because I'm afraid of getting stuck at the startup encryption screen that requires me to physically draw the unlock pattern.
I've had something similar happen a few months ago where I rebooted and wasn't able to get into the phone because of the startup lock screen. I followed a thread to delete the lock files but it ended up completely locking me out of the phone (due to new android security i guess) and in the end I had to reformat everything and lose all my data .
What's the best way to go about this now and either be able to get the OTG/mouse working or at least be able to access and backup all my data? Is there anything I should do before restarting while I can still access my phone using fingerprint unlock?

twrp should allow you to activate usb (think its on by default), that way you can make a nandroid and copy it to pc, as well as copy any photos etc from the internal storage

yusuo said:
twrp should allow you to activate usb (think its on by default), that way you can make a nandroid and copy it to pc, as well as copy any photos etc from the internal storage
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah.. thanks, I will try that!

Hi,
I have the same issue: my touchscreen stopped working a couple days ago, and I'm not able to enter my pattern. I have a USB-C mouse, TWRP 2.7.3 installed, my bootloader is unlocked, but for some reason I'm not able to use the mouse in TWRP. Any ideas?
Many thanks!

I found a solution to backup your data, even if USB OTG is disabled.
First, you need a mouse and an adapter. Personally, I bought this one from Amazon (France).
Second, you need to download the latest version of TWRP for cheeseburger.
Finally, plug your device to a computer and boot into fastboot. Open a terminal and type 'fastboot boot C:\path\to\twrp-cheeseburger.img'.
Your device reboots into recovery, and the USB mouse is working. Enter your pattern, mount Data and plug back the phone to your computer: you should see your data!
Hope this help.

adb backup -apk -shared -all -f backup-file.adb
adb restore backup-file.adb