Help How to transfer SMS Data to PC (SCREEN DEAD)

[Deleted User]

So, the title says it all mostly. I have a Samsung Galaxy S5, Model SM-G900T, in which the LCD screen is totally busted and unusable. Phone is still operational from I can tell (can turn it on, all physical buttons work, can turn off, etc.).

I found some support software, but I'm a little nervous about installing a bunch of programs on my PC to try and find one that supports my model. The only one I tried only supports the AU version of the phone, and said if the version doesn't match, it could brick. I don't know how true this is, so...

I have a Galaxy S7 I could transfer the files back over to, so I'm not worried about it being a readable file on my PC so long as it can transfer back. I just really need some old messages for references.

Thanks for any help!

 

[Hadron]

Can you tell whether the touchscreen still works (i.e. whether it's just the display or whether the digitiser is also dead)?

If you have a way of mirroring the display to a TV or monitor and the touchscreen is working then it shouldn't be too hard to install a message backup app (push it from the Play Store website), take a backup, then copy that via usb, WiFi or just using the SD card to transfer it. Some will let you back up to the cloud.

A quick search tells me that the S5 is mhl compatible. This means that you can use an mhl adapter to connect it to a TV or monitor. Check compatibility before buying, as Samsung use a different adapter to other mhl-compatible devices. You should just have to plug it in to the microusb socket (and connect a charger to the adapter) then connect a VGA or HDMI cable as appropriate.

It's more fun if the touchscreen doesn't work either. You can drive a phone using a usb otg adapter and a usb keyboard or mouse, but that uses the microusb socket as well. So in that case you can operate the phone, or see what you are doing, but not both! I've recovered data from a phone in this state, but it took trial and error, swapping cables a lot, and patience! The breakthrough was when I managed to pair it with a Bluetooth keyboard, after which I could leave the mhl adapter plugged in and use the keyboard to operate the phone. So hopefully it's just your display that is dead and the digitiser still works, as that would make things much simpler.

 

[svim]

If you're nervous on trying to find which programs may or may not be safe or compatible, use Samsung's own 'Smart Switch' on your PC. It's by-design focused on Samsung devices so you don't need to be wary of it.
https://www.samsung.com/us/smart-switch/
Also, not knowing just which applications you were referring to, if they're file recovery utilities, those are more for restoring lost or deleted files, not so much file transfers, which better matches your situation. The issue with texting messages is they are not stored as just random, individual files, they exist inside a mini-database file that's not normally user-accessible.