How to Access Photos on a Bootlooped LG G4 Phone

Are you struggling with an old LG G4 phone that has been stuck in a boot loop and is unresponsive to both your computer and its own buttons? This can be a frustrating experience, especially when you know that you have important photos stored on the phone's internal memory. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to attempt to access those photos. In this article, we will explore some of the methods that you can use to retrieve your precious memories.

Understanding the Issue

The LG G4 and LG V10 models were unfortunately plagued by a significant design flaw, which resulted in the common occurrence of boot loops. These boot loops were primarily caused by CPU overheating, which led to gradual damage to the phone over time. LG initially offered to fix these issues for free, but it is likely that you have missed the deadline for that service.

Contacting LG Customer Support

It is always worth a try to contact LG's customer service and inform them that your LG G4 is experiencing a boot loop. In some instances, they may still offer to repair the phone at no cost. If you have the opportunity to attempt this, it is highly recommended to reach out to them as early as possible. Even if you are late to the repair window, their assistance could still potentially save your data.

Checking for a Micro SD Slot

If your LG G4 phone has a micro SD slot, there is still a chance that you can access your photos. Often, default settings on LG G4 models save photos directly to the internal memory, but some phones may also store them on the micro SD card. If this is the case for your phone, you can follow these steps:

Remove the micro SD card from the phone, if it is located there. Insert the micro SD card into a card reader. Connect the card reader to your computer via USB. Your computer should recognize the SD card and allow you to view the photos stored on it.

Accepting Data Loss

In cases where the boot loop is so severe that the motherboard is permanently damaged, the likelihood of retrieving photos diminishes significantly. If your phone is no longer responding even to the SD card, you will need to accept that your data is lost. Unfortunately, attempting to manually retrieve the data from the damaged phone would require advanced engineering skills far beyond the average user.

Preventative Measures and Future Fixes

When discussing the LG G4 and its boot loop issue, it is important to note that LG has since addressed and fixed this defect in their subsequent smartphone models. If your older LG devices are also experiencing boot loops, it is crucial to keep an eye on any new updates or service notices from the manufacturer, as they might provide solutions to these issues.

Performing a Hard Reset

One of the only ways to resolve a boot loop issue is by implementing a “hard reset,” also known as a factory reset. This process will erase all data from your phone, so it is crucial to back up your data before proceeding if you can. Here's how to perform a hard reset on an LG G4:

Disconnect the phone from any power source. Press and hold the Volume Up button and the Power button simultaneously for several seconds. A text prompt should appear, asking if you want to factory reset the device. Confirm the action. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset process.

It is important to note that a hard reset will erase all personal data and settings from your phone, so make sure to back up your important information beforehand.

In conclusion, if your LG G4 is stuck in a boot loop and you are unable to access your photos, it is advisable to try contacting LG's customer support and checking if there is a micro SD slot on your device. If neither of these solutions works, accepting data loss may be the only option. At the very least, performing a hard reset might allow you to regain access to your phone's functionality.