us Technology & digital loss broken phone screen • cracked screen can’t unlock • touchscreen not working • phone locked and can’t type passcode • passcode known but can’t enter it • can’t access banking app • can’t access authenticator app • can’t get into email on phone • locked out of 2fa codes • phone screen black but phone on • display works touch doesn’t • phone unresponsive at lock screen • urgent access to accounts • phone repair access problem • prevent account takeover • lost access to digital wallet • can’t approve login prompt • broken screen emergency access

What to do if…
your phone screen is broken and you cannot enter your passcode to unlock key apps

Short answer

Secure your accounts from another device first (email + Apple/Google + bank), then choose the least-destructive way to regain access — avoid wiping the phone until you’re sure you can recover your logins.

Do not do these things

Don’t factory reset/erase immediately — you can lose access to authenticator apps, photos, and app-based security you’ll need to get back in.
Don’t keep trying passcodes “just in case” — lockouts slow everything down.
Don’t give your phone and passcode to an unknown repair counter or “online support” that reached out to you.
Don’t click links in texts/emails claiming to be “Apple/Google/bank verification” while you’re locked out — it’s a common scam moment.
Don’t turn off 2-factor authentication in a panic unless you have a safe, verified backup method already working.

What to do now

Stabilize: confirm the phone is with you
- If it’s lost/stolen, go straight to Step 4 (remote lock/erase) and Step 6 (carrier/bank).
- If it’s physically with you, keep it powered on and in a safe place.
From a computer (or trusted spare device), secure the accounts that unlock everything
- Log into your primary email and change the password.
- In security settings, sign out of other devices/sessions and turn on sign-in alerts if available.
- Change the password for your Apple Account or Google Account, and sign out other sessions/devices there too.
Protect money access while the app is unreachable
- Use online banking on a computer (or call the bank using the number on the back of your card / the bank’s official website) to:
  - review recent transactions,
  - lock/freeze cards if needed,
  - set transfer alerts,
  - and flag the account for extra verification while you’re locked out of the app.
- If your phone is your only 2FA method for banking, ask the bank what temporary alternatives they support (they may offer in-branch ID, call-back verification, or other supported methods).
If there’s any chance of compromise, remote-lock it
- Android: go to android.com/find (Google’s Find service / Find Hub) from a browser to locate/lock/erase.
- iPhone: use iCloud Find Devices (icloud.com/find) or the Find My app on another Apple device to mark as lost / lock / erase.
- Use erase only if you’re confident you can sign back into your Apple/Google account afterwards (otherwise you can get stuck in account-recovery loops).
Try to regain access without wiping (if your phone supports it)
- Android: try connecting a USB or Bluetooth mouse/keyboard to enter the passcode and open key apps (many Android devices support this).
- Some phones (notably certain Samsung models) can work through an external display + mouse/keyboard with the right adapter/hub.
- iPhone: pointer-device control typically depends on accessibility settings that usually must already have been enabled. If you didn’t set that up beforehand, it may not help at the lock screen.
Lock down your phone number (so recovery codes stay yours)
- Contact your mobile carrier and ask to add stronger protections such as:
  - an account PIN/passcode (required for changes),
  - port-out / number transfer protection (sometimes called a “number transfer lock”),
  - and immediate blocking if the phone is lost/stolen.
- If you suspect you’re already a victim of a SIM swap/port-out, treat it as urgent: carrier first, then bank/email.
If you cannot unlock at all and reset becomes unavoidable
- Android: official guidance often requires erasing the device if you can’t unlock it, then signing back in with the same Google account to restore what you had backed up.
- iPhone: Apple’s supported restore/reset paths generally erase the device.
- Before you do this: confirm you can sign into your Apple/Google account on a computer and that you have access to the recovery email/phone.
If you think identity theft or account takeover might be involved
- Use the FTC’s IdentityTheft.gov steps to create a recovery plan and record the incident.
- Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze with the major credit bureaus if financial identity theft is possible.

What can wait

You don’t need to decide today whether to replace the phone, upgrade plans, or change every password.
Non-essential app recoveries (shopping, entertainment, social) can wait until email + Apple/Google + bank access is stable.
You can postpone “perfect security” work until you’re calm — first aim for control and containment.

Important reassurance

This is a common modern emergency: one broken screen can block access to everything. If you secure your key accounts first and avoid panic-wiping, you usually prevent the worst outcomes and buy yourself time to recover access in a controlled way.

Scope note

These are first steps only. Repair logistics, insurance, data recovery, and longer-term security improvements can be handled later when you’re not in crisis mode.

Important note

This is general information, not legal or professional advice. If you suspect fraud, prioritize contacting your bank and carrier using trusted contact routes, and use official identity-theft reporting resources.

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What to do if…your phone screen is broken and you cannot enter your passcode to unlock key apps