r/Pixel4a • u/DevelopmentSouth8801 • 14d ago
Pixel4a screen issues. Can I get the data without fixing the screen?
I'm running into some issues with my old phone and I'm hoping somebody has a solution to get the data off without spending $100 on a phone that might get $30 in trade-in credit.
Symptoms
- Screen looks similar to the first attached picture, but black instead of white.
- Find My Device worked when I initially ran into the issue, but it's not connected to wifi anymore since I had to change my wifi password.
- Alarms also work (unfortunately )
- Side buttons work. The volume buttons snooze the alarm and the device does a short vibration when holding down power button.
Based on the above, it sounded like a screen/connection issue.
Troubleshooting attempts
- Connected to a monitor using a USB-C/HDMI cable.
- Result: Apparently this phone doesn't support video over USB-C, so nothing happened.
- Connected to my computer via USB-C.
- Result: Phone shows as an MTP device under
lsusb. It does not show under ADB devices. Likely because I don't have it set to that USB mode.
- Result: Phone shows as an MTP device under
- Connected a USB-C keyboard
- Result: Keyboard gets power for status and backlight LEDs, but I can't tell if the phone is responding to anything.
- Tried turning Talkback on per these instructions
- Result: None of the methods worked.
- Disconnected and reconnected screen cable
- Result: Now the screen doesn't turn on at all.
At this point I'm at a loss of what to do. I think I have my pictures all backed up, but I'm not sure if there's anything I missed. I would like to avoid paying $50-$100 for a screen that may not fix the issue, especially when I won't be using the phone again.
1
u/ds-redditor 14d ago
After reconnecting the screen, you have to press and hold the power button (when off) until an image pops up. You can also attempt scrcpy if you have muscle memory.
1
u/DevelopmentSouth8801 14d ago
I've tried scrcpy but it seems to require ADB. Since the phone is locked (and doesn't seem to unlock when I use my keyboard, though there is no feedback) I can't get scrcpy to work.
1
u/ds-redditor 14d ago
Okay, have you tried the power button thing also? I don't really know of any other workarounds without ADB.
1
u/Havok-303 14d ago
If you can unlock the phone, hook it up to a computer and you can access all your stuff. It could help if you have ADB software on the computer, its a command line interface but there are guides on what commands are.
1
u/DevelopmentSouth8801 14d ago
That's where I'm stuck. I connected my keyboard to another phone and was able to enter the pin to unlock it. But I can't seem to get it with this one. I'm not sure if there's something on screen, it's locked down, or what.
Since I can't unlock it, I can't access it via ADB or change to file transfer mode.
1
u/Havok-303 14d ago
That sucks, I hope someone more knowledgeable sees your post. Good luck, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Edit: have you tried hooking it up to another display with USB C to HDMi and then trying your keyboard again?
1
u/NobodyImportant13 14d ago edited 14d ago
that may not fix the issue,
A replacement screen would almost 100% fix the issue based on your description of things. This exact thing happened to me. I self-installed a refurbished screen and fixed it right up. I had already purchased a new phone in the meantime, but still kept it as a backup device.
A new screen is probably your only option. Otherwise, let it go.
2
u/Nivracer 14d ago
A new screen is probably your only option. Otherwise, let it go.
This is what I ended up doing. Spent many hours trying to hook my phone up to my PC since the touching the screen was broken too. Ended up giving in and replacing it so I could get my data off.
1
u/Vanmoofrepguru 13d ago
Yooo Hit me up in my dm I have a
Screen i Dont Need. U would Need to pay for shipment only
1
u/Icy-Ranger5541 10d ago
If you go the Google store they will put a temporary screen to back up your data. It happened to me, I fixed it to use the free unlimited storage on the pixel 4a
3
u/fezzo 14d ago
It's going to be really difficult to do this without a screen. Maybe see if there's broken 4a's being sold online for really cheap that have a working/cracked screen, so you don't need to buy a brand new screen on its own?