When a smartphone screen is broken or the sensor is no longer responsive to touch, it always takes you by surprise. It's especially frustrating if you have important information inside, such as phone numbers, family photos, instant messengers and documents. Many Android device owners mistakenly believe that if a physical breakdown of the matrix, the data is lost forever. But it's not. Today's operating systems and Xiaomi's ecosystem offer several effective ways to save information.
Before you start to take action, you need to make an initial diagnosis of the condition of the gadget. If the device turns on, emits notification sounds or vibrates when you connect the charger, then the motherboard is intact. In this case, the transfer of data to the new Xiaomi smartphone is quite real. The main thing is to understand what type of damage you have: only the touch screen (sensor), a completely black screen, or the device does not turn on at all, and the choice of recovery method depends on this.
In this article, we will look at the most relevant ways to migrate data using standard MIUI tools and proven third-party solutions. We will discuss options for both phones with a working screen and devices with completely impaired control. Follow the instructions carefully so that you do not damage the file system.
Primary diagnostics and equipment preparation
The first step is to check the functionality. USB-This is a critical parameter for controlling your phone from your computer if the sensor is not working, unless you've activated developer mode before and turned on debugging. USB In the settings menu, the methods that allow you to directly manage files over your PC may not work, so you have to rely on cloud services or peripheral connectivity.
To perform a successful operation, you will need a stable power source, and a broken screen often leads to increased power consumption, especially if the internal plumes of the backlight are damaged. Connect the device to the original charger and make sure the battery is charged at least 60-70%. Also prepare a quality USB-A cable that is guaranteed to transmit data, not just current.
⚠️ Warning: If the battery of the device is swollen or the phone is overheated when connected to the network, immediately stop charging attempts.
You may need a computer with Windows or macOS, a mouse or keyboard with a USB interface (or a USB-OTG adapter), and a new Xiaomi smartphone with the Mi Mover app installed. Free up space in advance on a new device or in the Google Account cloud storage.
☑️ Preparation for data portability
Using a USB-OTG adapter to control your phone
If the phone's display is intact, but the touchscreen doesn't respond to touch, the easiest solution is to use a USB-OTG adapter. This small adapter allows you to connect a normal computer mouse or keyboard to your smartphone. Once you plug in the manipulator, a cursor will appear on the screen that allows you to fully control the Android interface.
Once you have your mouse connected, unlock the device (by entering a pin or pattern lock with your cursor) and go to settings. You need to activate file transfer or enable debugging over USB if required for further copying. With your mouse, you can launch the Settings application → About Phone → Reserve and Restore to create a local copy of the data.
This is ideal for those cases where the image on the screen is clearly visible, you can visually control the process by selecting the right folders and files, but if the screen is black, but the phone is working (sounds are heard), this method will not help, and you will have to move to more complex options using the PC.
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Use a wired one. USB-It's a mouse instead of a wireless mouse, and it can require pairing to run a wireless mouse via a Bluetooth adapter, which is very difficult to do without a touchscreen.
Transfer data through computer and file manager
Connecting a smartphone to a computer is a classic way of retrieving information. If the device previously allowed file transfer mode (MTP) for this computer, when you connect the cable in Windows Explorer, you immediately display folders with data, you can copy photos from the DCIM folder, documents and music just by drag and drop.
If the computer only identifies the device as a charger, you'll need a confirmation on the phone screen, and here's the OTG adapter with the mouse again. Connect the phone to the PC, then click "Allow Data Access" in the pop-up window, and then the file system will be read and copied.
For more advanced users who have been enabled USB-Debugging, there are tools like ADB (Android Debug Bridge. With the command line, you can unload contacts, text and even make a full backup of applications. /sdcard/ C:/Backup/ copy the contents of the internal memory to the specified folder on the computer.
| Type of data | Location in memory | Retrieval method |
|---|---|---|
| Photos and videos | /DCIM/Camera | Copying folders through the Explorer |
| Contacts | Internal base or SIM | Export to.vcf or Google Sync |
| Messages (SMS) | Systemic database | Backup or ADB applications |
| Documents | /Download or /Documents | Manual copying of files |
Remember that when copying large amounts of data (e.g., video to 4K), the process can take a long time.Do not turn off the cable until the operation is complete to avoid corruption of the file system.
Synchronization through Google Account and Cloud Services
The most reliable way to save data, which is often forgotten until the moment of breakdown, is automatic synchronization. If a broken device was active login to Google Account and enabled synchronization of contacts, calendar and notes, then this data is already in the cloud. You just need to enter your login and password on a new Xiaomi smartphone.
Use Google Photos to recover your photos. Open the app on your new phone, log in to the same account, and all the images stored in the cloud will automatically be uploaded to the gallery. Similarly, synchronization with Xiaomi Cloud works if you've used the Chinese manufacturer's ecosystem.
You can check what data is already stored in the cloud through your browser on your computer. Go to contacts.google.com or photos.google.com. If you have your data on it, the transfer to the new device will take only a few minutes after authorization, which eliminates the need to mess with cables and adapters.
⚠️ Note: Sync only happens when you have a Wi-Fi connection (unless otherwise configured).If the phone was crashed long before it was retrieved and lay without a network, the latest changes may not have time to load into the cloud.
Application of specialized software Mi Mover
Xiaomi has developed its own Mi Mover app, which makes it much easier to switch from any Android device. Although the app requires interaction with the screen, in some situations (for example, when working through a USB-OTG or partial touchscreen) it is the fastest way to transfer.
To get started, install the app on both devices. On the new Xiaomi phone, select "I am the recipient" and on the old one (mouse-controlled or partially desktop-controlled) select "I am the sender." Scan. QR-code that appears on the screen of a new smartphone to establish a connection.
What to do if the Mi Mover is frozen?
The app allows you to select categories of data: contacts, messages, call log, images, video, audio, documents, and even installed applications. Once you select, click "Send." Transfer speeds depend on the amount of data and the quality of the wireless connection, but they are usually high enough for rapid migration.
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Mi Mover is a native solution that is best optimized for transferring data to devices with a MIUI shell, while maintaining the folder structure and application settings.