220-1101 Mobile Devices Practice Question
A user's Android smartphone was dropped, causing the glass to shatter. The display still shows images correctly, and touch input works in most areas except for a small region near the top-left corner. The user wants to back up all internal data before taking the phone to a repair shop. Which of the following is the BEST method for the technician to back up the device's data immediately?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers assume a broken screen makes the device completely unusable for data backup, overlooking the USB-OTG mouse workaround, or they incorrectly assume ADB debugging is always enabled on a user's personal device.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use a USB-OTG adapter to connect a mouse
A USB-OTG (On-The-Go) adapter allows the technician to connect a physical mouse to the Android device, providing an alternative input method to navigate the partially broken touchscreen. This enables the user to unlock the phone, access settings, and initiate a backup (e.g., to cloud storage or a connected USB drive) without needing the damaged touch area. It is the fastest and most reliable method when the display is still functional but touch input is compromised in a small region.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Use a USB-OTG adapter to connect a mouse
Why this is correct
A USB-OTG (On-The-Go) adapter places the smartphone into host mode, allowing a standard wired mouse to function as an input device. The OS renders a cursor on the display, enabling you to navigate through the broken-glass zones, unlock the device, and start a backup to the cloud or a PC. This works immediately because only the digitizer is damaged; the touch controller, USB port, and logic board remain fully operational. Therefore, connecting a mouse via OTG is the fastest, most reliable way to regain control and back up data without replacing the screen.
- ✗
The device cannot be backed up until the screen is replaced
Why it's wrong here
The assertion that the device cannot be backed up until the screen is replaced is incorrect because the display and digitizer are not the data storage medium. The smartphone's data resides on NAND flash chips, which remain intact and accessible through other interfaces. If the device powers on and its USB or Wi-Fi radios are functional, you can use a USB-OTG mouse, a cloud backup service that was previously configured, or a computer connection to extract the data. Replacing the screen should only be necessary if you need to visually operate the device normally, not as a prerequisite for data recovery.
- ✗
Use ADB from a computer, assuming USB debugging is already enabled
Why it's wrong here
ADB backup from a computer is only possible if USB debugging was enabled beforehand in Developer Options, which is disabled by default on Android. With a cracked touchscreen that cannot respond to input, you cannot navigate to Settings to turn on USB debugging or approve the computer's RSA authorization dialog on the phone. Even if USB debugging is already enabled, the 'adb backup' command does not have unrestricted access to app data on modern Android versions without root privileges, making it an unreliable and conditional method. In contrast, an OTG mouse works immediately without needing preconfigurations or privileges.
- ✗
Remove the microSD card and copy data via a card reader
Why it's wrong here
This method only copies data stored on the external SD card, such as photos or documents that were saved there. It does not back up internal app data, contacts, or messages, which are likely the user's primary concern.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1101 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1101 exam.