How to Unlock a Cracked iPhone/iPad and Access It Again?

How to Unlock iPhone/iPad with broken screen and Access It Again?

A cracked iPhone screen is more than a cosmetic problem. When the glass is shattered or the touch layer stops responding, even a correct passcode becomes useless. You may know the password by heart, yet the phone feels permanently locked. For many users, this is the exact moment panic sets in—photos trapped inside, messages unreachable, work apps frozen behind an unresponsive display.

This article doesn’t rush straight into tools. First, we break down why a cracked iPhone becomes locked, then examine what still works internally, and finally walk through three practical unlocking methods—from system-level solutions to professional unlocking software from iDatapp. The goal is simple: regain access safely, legally, and efficiently.

Why a Cracked iPhone Becomes “Locked” Even When You Know the Password

Modern iPhones rely on more than just glass. Beneath the screen is a multi-layer structure: display panel, digitizer, and security interface. When the digitizer fails, iOS still demands input—but can’t receive it.

Common lock scenarios after screen damage include:

• Touch not registering at all
• Ghost touches entering the wrong passcode
• Face ID disabled due to angle or sensor damage
• Touch ID unusable because you can’t reach the Home button properly
• iPhone disabled after multiple incorrect attempts

The system itself is intact. The problem is human-device interaction, not data corruption. That distinction is important—because it determines which unlocking methods still work.

What Still Works on a Cracked iPhone (and What Doesn’t)

Before choosing a solution, understand your phone’s condition:

Usually still functional

• Internal storage and data
• iOS system
• Lightning/USB-C port
• iCloud communication
• Computer trust pairing (in some cases)

Usually compromised

• Touch input
• Face ID alignment
• On-screen passcode entry
• Emergency accessibility gestures

This means unlocking often requires external control, remote authorization, or system-level removal of the lock.

Method 1: Unlock broken screen iPhone/iPad Using iDatapp iPhone Unlocker (Recommended)

Best for:

Completely unresponsive screens, Face ID failures, forgotten passcodes, or disabled iPhones.

When physical interaction fails entirely, the most reliable path is controlled system unlocking via computer software. iDatapp iPhone Unlocker is designed specifically for scenarios where the screen cannot be used at all—including cracked, shattered, or non-responsive displays.

Unlike generic reset approaches, this method communicates directly with the iOS system through recovery protocols. It removes the screen lock cleanly and restores access without relying on touch input, Face ID, or Siri.

This solution is particularly effective because it mirrors Apple’s internal unlocking logic while automating the process for non-technical users.

iPhone Unlocker

Erase/Unlock the passcode for your iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.

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Detailed Steps (Based on the Latest Official Usage Guide)

1.Download and install iDatapp iPhone Unlocker, launch the program and select “Unlock iOS Screen”.

2.Connect your cracked iPhone to the computer using a cable

3.Follow on-screen instructions to enter Recovery Mode

(Button combinations vary by iPhone model)

4.The software automatically detects your device model and iOS version

5.Confirm firmware details and click Start Unlock

6.Wait while the tool removes the lock and restores access

Important Notes

• This process erases the lock screen and resets the device
• Apple ID credentials are required after unlocking
• Works even when the screen is completely black or frozen

Method 2: Unlock a Cracked iPhone Using iCloud Remote Erase

Best for:

iPhones with “Find My iPhone” enabled and stable internet access.

When the screen can’t accept input but the phone is still online, iCloud offers a remote way to remove the lock. This approach doesn’t require touching the phone at all—it relies on Apple’s cloud authorization instead.

The logic is simple: once the device is erased remotely, the lock screen is removed along with it. After rebooting, you can set the iPhone up again.

This method is effective but conditional. It only works if:

• “Find My” was enabled before the screen cracked
• You remember the Apple ID and password
• The iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Visit iCloud.com on a computer or another device
2. Sign in with the Apple ID linked to the cracked iPhone
3. Go to Find My iPhone
4. Select "Erase This Device" from the device list
5. Click Erase
6. Confirm the action using Apple ID verification
7. Wait for the device to reset remotely

Notes

• All local data will be erased
• Apple ID activation lock remains for security
• Not usable if the device is offline

Method 3: Unlock a Cracked iPhone Using iTunes / Finder Recovery Mode

Best for:

Users who previously synced the iPhone with a computer or trust pairing still exists.

This is a traditional Apple-supported recovery method. By placing the iPhone into Recovery Mode and restoring it through iTunes (Windows) or Finder (macOS), the lock screen can be removed without screen interaction.

However, this approach is more fragile. If the device asks for confirmation on the cracked screen—or if trust pairing was never established—it may fail.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1.Connect the iPhone to a trusted computer

2.Force the iPhone into Recovery Mode

3.Open iTunes or Finder

4.When prompted, choose Restore

5.Wait for iOS to reinstall

6.Set up the device after reboot

Important Notes

• Requires Apple ID login after restore
• Data is erased unless you have a backup
• Less reliable than dedicated unlocking software

Data Loss After System Crash on Cracked Devices

Cracked screens don’t just lock phones—they often trigger system instability. Sudden reboots, update failures, and storage corruption are common, especially after impact damage.

One frequent situation:

• The iPhone crashes during an iOS update, reboots into recovery mode, and data becomes inaccessible—even after unlocking.

This is where data recovery becomes more urgent than unlocking.

Recommended Solution: iDatapp iPhone Data Recovery

iPhone Data Recovery

Recover Deleted/Lost Data from you iPhone/iPad/iPod devices

Free Download Free Download Learn more

When iOS crashes or data disappears after unlocking or restoring, iDatapp iPhone Data Recovery helps extract photos, messages, contacts, WhatsApp data, and more—even from devices stuck in abnormal states.

Why this matters for cracked iPhones

• Screen damage increases system error rates
• Unlocking often requires restoration
• Restoration without backup = data loss risk

Using professional recovery tools from the same ecosystem ensures compatibility and avoids further damage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

A cracked iPhone doesn’t mean permanent lockout. By understanding how iOS security works beneath the glass, you can choose the right unlocking method—whether through iDatapp iPhone Unlocker, iCloud, or system recovery—and regain access with confidence.