iPhone SE (3rd generation) and Apple Care

[GFA86]

I dropped my phone a few days ago and the screen shattered to the point where I can't make out anything on it.
It's either got black spots or glitching visuals.

I have Apple Care but they don't want to do a screen replacement and instead want to replace the whole phone (for a reason which seems like ******** to me but I digress), I had to order a replacement to be shipped to my home since they don't carry SE at the stores, and I am having to wait about 3 days for it to get here.

In the meantime I am trying to figure out how to potentially back up my phone.

I pay the 99c for extra storage but since about a year ago started getting emails saying I needed to pay more because my storage had run out.

I kept putting it off so now I was trying to pay for extra storage and do a back up from my computer on my icloud account, but when I want to purchase more storage, I am told to give the Ok on my phone, which of course I cannot tap on although it is still working and the diagnostics at the Apple store showed it is working perfectly minus the screen.

I do have a spare screen at home and was wondering if it is advisable, especially since Apple doesn't seem to care about the phone at this point and just wants to give me a new one, to put the new screen I have on the phone, so I can complete the process of getting more storage and backing up my phone, and then put the broken screen back on.

Apple put a hold of $600 on a credit card until they get the phone with the broken screen back, so I am scared that if they realized I opened the phone (even if there will be no foreign parts on it) that they will not honor Apple Care and keep $600 for an iphone SE that they don't even carry in stores anymore because it's "old".

Any thoughts?

I am really put off by Apple's entire way of doing business and the way their systems work, wish we had some reliable competitors to choose from... anyway that's just a personal grievance.

 

[mblm85]

Do you have a Mac or Windows computer? If so, worth connecting it directly and doing a backup onto that machine, using either Finder or Apple's suite for Windows.

 

[Andy_2341]

I agree with @mblm85. Backing up to the internal computer ssd is your best bet here. Unfortunately, you’d have to confirm on the phone. So, this is a bit of a stuck place. Still, give the computer back up a try.

 

[GFA86]

Do you have a Mac or Windows computer? If so, worth connecting it directly and doing a backup onto that machine, using either Finder or Apple's suite for Windows.

Yes, I have a mac and tried to do that yesterday but nothing shows up on the Finder, and when I open iTunes, I also see no prompts. My guess is that it is waiting for me to tap "Trust this computer" on my phone🥴

 

[GFA86]

I agree with @mblm85. Backing up to the internal computer ssd is your best bet here. Unfortunately, you’d have to confirm on the phone. So, this is a bit of a stuck place. Still, give the computer back up a try.

Correct, it's asking me to confirm (both trusting the computer or buying more storage) on my phone, and of course with the broken screen I can't do much.

I thought of calling Apple again and explaining the situation and seeing what they think about me swapping screens on the phone just so I can complete the back up... but ultimately Apple is a corporation and figured best to not tip them off.

My main concern is backing up my phone (Especially messages and some photos) but I am also concerned about not doing anything that would give Apple an excuse to keep $600

 

[mblm85]

I think I would risk being honest with the Apple store about the situation to see if they can help.

 

[Bigwaff]

I do have a spare screen at home and was wondering if it is advisable, especially since Apple doesn't seem to care about the phone at this point and just wants to give me a new one, to put the new screen I have on the phone, so I can complete the process of getting more storage and backing up my phone, and then put the broken screen back on.

I advise against this. You most likely won't get the cracked/shattered display off the phone in one piece, which means you won't be able to put it back. You will have to send Apple your damaged device and they'll definitely know you voided AppleCare warranty by removing the display. Be patient. When you get the new iPhone, set it up as new device, login to your Apple Account and pay/renew the storage subscription. Hopefully, your old phone will begin to sync a backup, which you can verify by reviewing iCloud > Backup > All Device Backups on the new iPhone. You should see your old iPhone listed and you can review when its last backup occurred. Once last backup verified, Erase All Contents and Settings on new iPhone, and setup again, this time restoring from the backup.

 

[Andy_2341]

I advise against this. You most likely won't get the cracked/shattered display off the phone in one piece, which means you won't be able to put it back. You will have to send Apple your damaged device and they'll definitely know you voided AppleCare warranty by removing the display. Be patient. When you get the new iPhone, set it up as new device, login to your Apple Account and pay/renew the storage subscription. Hopefully, your old phone will begin to sync a backup, which you can verify by reviewing iCloud > Backup > All Device Backups on the new iPhone. You should see your old iPhone listed and you can review when its last backup occurred.

That’s a good idea. It should begin a backup once it has space, though it will probably be a large one. And then from there I guess you sign out of your Apple ID/reset to factory settings on the new device once you know the old one has synced, and the set it up from that back up.

 

[GFA86]

I think I would risk being honest with the Apple store about the situation to see if they can help.

I will try buying storage from the new phone as instructed by a comment below. If that doesn't work, then I'll call Apple and see what they say... though from an experience I had with an imac needing back up, I don't know that they will care... but hopefully buying storage and backing up my old phone from the new phone will work.

 

[GFA86]

I advise against this. You most likely won't get the cracked/shattered display off the phone in one piece, which means you won't be able to put it back. You will have to send Apple your damaged device and they'll definitely know you voided AppleCare warranty by removing the display. Be patient. When you get the new iPhone, set it up as new device, login to your Apple Account and pay/renew the storage subscription. Hopefully, your old phone will begin to sync a backup, which you can verify by reviewing iCloud > Backup > All Device Backups on the new iPhone. You should see your old iPhone listed and you can review when its last backup occurred. Once last backup verified, Erase All Contents and Settings on new iPhone, and setup again, this time restoring from the backup.

Okay, this sounds like a solid approach.

I will try it and update on results. Thank you!

 

[NUFC2025]

Can you not buy extra storage from the Mac and then see if the phone backs up.
I don’t use a Mac but I think this might be possible.

 

[GFA86]

Can you not buy extra storage from the Mac and then see if the phone backs up.
I don’t use a Mac but I think this might be possible.

That's what I did but when I click on purchasing more storage, it asks me to confirm on my phone. So, very counter intuitive. I don't even see what the point is for Apple to set it up this way.

As though someone might be buying more storage for me without my consent... oh noe!

 

[GFA86]

I advise against this. You most likely won't get the cracked/shattered display off the phone in one piece, which means you won't be able to put it back. You will have to send Apple your damaged device and they'll definitely know you voided AppleCare warranty by removing the display. Be patient. When you get the new iPhone, set it up as new device, login to your Apple Account and pay/renew the storage subscription. Hopefully, your old phone will begin to sync a backup, which you can verify by reviewing iCloud > Backup > All Device Backups on the new iPhone. You should see your old iPhone listed and you can review when its last backup occurred. Once last backup verified, Erase All Contents and Settings on new iPhone, and setup again, this time restoring from the backup.

Alright, so I followed the instructions and although when I am logged into my icloud on the computer, I no longer get the alert for not enough storage, and the last update is shown as having been a few hours ago, when I try to set up the new phone with the icloud back up, the most recent back up is from 2 years ago...

Now, I was able to blindly tap on the broken screen of the old phone and I am pretty sure I tapped my passcode just right, so I connected the phone to the computer in hopes I can back it up through itunes.

I again, tapped blindly on the screen in hopes I tapped 'Trust this computer" but no luck yet as the phone is not showing up on Finder or iTunes...


Would you happen to have any tips for attempting to back up the phone through iTunes when the phone screen is broken 🥴

 

[brilliantthings]

Do your phone and Mac support iPhone Mirroring?

 

[brilliantthings]

You could also use a Lightning to HDMI adaptor to connect it to a display. You'll need to find some screenshots of the two "Trust this Device" screens so you know where to press but then you'll be able to complete the iCloud backup.

 

[GFA86]

You could also use a Lightning to HDMI adaptor to connect it to a display. You'll need to find some screenshots of the two "Trust this Device" screens so you know where to press but then you'll be able to complete the iCloud backup.

That's a great option! I'm looking for adaptors right now because I don't own one.

Yeah, initially I looked for images of the Trust this Computer notification so I'd know where to tap lol

I gotta check about the iPhone mirroring thing... I have done mirroring of the computer to the smart TV, and mirroring of my phone to the smart TV, but not from iphone to computer... and if it needs bluetooth to be on.. then that would be even harder to turn on without a working screen.

The adaptor sounds like a solid option. I was also seeing on the Apple forums that a wired keyboard for the phone could work...

 

[brilliantthings]

Just don't get a cheap adaptor. Get a proper one from the Apple Store and return it after you've used it if you don't need it.

 

[GFA86]

What about this? USBhttps://www.bestbuy.com/site/sandis...one-ipad-black-silver/6423197.p?skuId=6423197

Would something like that work?

 

[GFA86]

What about this?
Would something like that work?

 

[brilliantthings]

That looks like a flash drive. That wouldn't help.

 

[brilliantthings]

What about this? USBhttps://www.bestbuy.com/site/sandis...one-ipad-black-silver/6423197.p?skuId=6423197

Would something like that work?

I think you can back up photos with this but not the whole phone

 

[GFA86]

Alright, just an update. Not that anyone is losing sleep over this.

I went to get the Lighting to Digital AV adaptor and HDMI cable.

Tried it on my computer monitor and nothing... I then tried it on the projector in my room, and for some reason, when the phone registered the charger, the screen lit up and I could make out some visuals, which said:

"Not available until 7 hours and 14 minutes"

lmao so I guess when I was blindly trying to enter my passcode, it stopped making the click sound, not because I got it right, but because I got it wrong so many times, it locked me out of my phone lmao

ugh...😫🔫
good thing I at least know now to not keep clicking around until 7 hours and 14 minutes from now.

I'm just wondering if that's the reason why I am getting no visuals on the monitor? or if i am doing something wrong on top of that🥴

 

[GFA86]

Alright, the phone should be unrestricted now and I have tried to connect it again to the monitor or the projector, but both show nothing.

I have watched videos on how to connect the phone to a monitor, even though it's rather self explanatory, and I can't tell that I am doing anything wrong.

I also checked again to see if the icloud back up showed as updated and then noticed for some reason my phone (the old one) now doesn't play a sound when I click Find My, it just stays waiting forever and says it will connect once it gets internet... but it connected fine yesterday in the afternoon when it last shows has having been registered...

Also, was wondering if Apple making the phone "Ready for Repair" could be the reason it's not showing on the monitor?

Would it be advisable to go to a cellphone repair shop and ask for them to access the screen and try to solve this with them?

I am also in a bit of a time crunch from Apple to send the old phone back to them... so... trying to solve this asap, plus I haven't had a phone in a week.

 

[GFA86]

Looks like I've been on my own before then.

For anyone that might encounter a similar issue:

Apple had no answers about the HDMI cable not working, the only thing I could find online is that apparently iphones 16 and up (which mine is not) are blocked from doing this (because I guess buying a $400+ phone does not grant the buyer the privilege of seeing their phone screen on a larger screen...) and the representative over the phone basically wanted me to buy yet another $50 cable.

When I asked to just return the new phone so I could keep my old phone and figure it out on my own, they said because I opened the box the phone came in, it cannot be returned... and therefore my $600 is being held hostage.

And basically "just keep trying".

When I brought up how I am prevented from "trying" new approaches every day due to the small window of time I have to return the old phone to Apple so I can get $600 back... crickets.. or to be more exact "Uhm, right, yeah..."

No attempt at trying to work with me on anything (despite being misled by Apple from the start).

Once at the store today to inquire about the new cable, I asked for a second opinion and was told by someone at the "Genius" bar that actually that cable won't work either.

Then they suggest I do what I have thought of doing from day one: swap screens, click on trust computer, back up through iTunes, swap screens again, send to Apple.

I brought up my concern about "breaking terms and conditions" and getting my $600 back, and this guy said unless I sent the phone back with a part that is not from Apple, they really don't look at phones that closely...

Then I get home and test just lifting the broken screen myself to make sure I do so with care and that it can be done in one piece:

It came off the phone like butter off a hot knife.

The whole narrative that the back of the phone was gonna crack, according to the first "Genius" is total horse **** as I initially assessed. Just a way for Apple to up sell as much as they can because why change a screen for $30 when you can sell a new phone for $100

This new guy told me he would have actually repaired the screen initially without an issue but that now that I have been sent a replacement phone, he cannot repair the old phone due to policy.

Basically there is no uniform m.o. at Apple, or general knowledge, you are throwing the dice and depending on who you get, depends what can be done to solve your problem. Lovely.

So, misled by Apple at the store, then misled by Apple over the phone, and then told something completely different at the store today... Surely makes it easy for me to make a decision with confidence... so glad to ask the "professionals" for guidance.

Apple is not only made in China now, it runs its business with the same sketchy tactics that I have only seen in chinese owned street stands in the alleys of downtown LA.

Last Apple product I ever buy.

 

[Andy_2341]

Wow. That is really, really annoying and concerning.I had planned to have my SE3's battery replaced at an Apple Store here in about a year. Now I'm less confident in their abilities.