What to do if you break your phone — and how to make sure your information is never lost
Breaking your phone is stressful enough. Not being able to access your accounts afterwards is even worse. Here's how to make sure you're always prepared — the old-fashioned way.
We see it all the time. Someone comes to us with a cracked screen or a phone that won't turn on, and the first thing they say isn't 'can you fix it?' — it's 'will I lose everything?' The good news is that with a little preparation, the answer is almost always no.
The most important thing iPhone users can do is make sure their iCloud account is set up and backing up regularly. Go to Settings, tap your name at the top, then iCloud, and make sure iCloud Backup is switched on. Your photos, contacts, messages, and app data will all be saved automatically when your phone is charging and connected to Wi-Fi.
But here's the part most people overlook — and it's the most important bit. Write down your Apple ID email address and password somewhere safe. Old style. On paper. Keep it somewhere you'll actually be able to find it, like in a drawer at home or tucked inside a notebook. If your phone is broken or stolen, you won't be able to look it up on the device itself. Without your Apple ID login, even a brand new replacement phone won't be able to restore your data from iCloud.
The same applies to your iCloud recovery key or trusted phone number. Apple uses these to verify your identity if you ever get locked out. If your only trusted device is the broken phone in your hand, having a backup recovery method written down could save you hours of frustration — or worse, permanent loss of access to your account.
Android users should do the same with their Google account details. Make sure Google Photos backup is enabled, and write down your Gmail address and password somewhere safe at home. Your contacts, photos, and app data are all tied to that account.
It might feel a bit old-fashioned to write passwords down on paper, but for something as important as your phone account login, it's genuinely the safest approach. A piece of paper in your home can't be hacked. Just keep it somewhere private — not stuck to the fridge.
If you're ever unsure whether your backup is working, or you want help setting it up before something goes wrong, just ask us when we come to do your repair. We're always happy to take a look and make sure everything is in order.
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