When the screen of Xiaomi smartphone stops responding to touch or completely goes out, users often perceive as a disaster. However, it is too early to panic: the Android operating system on which the MIUI shell runs, stores all user data separately from the display module. Your task is to find a way to access the internal memory of the device, bypassing the damaged sensor or matrix. In most cases, files, contacts and photos remain intact.
There are several proven methods of extracting information, which range from simple cable connections to the use of specialized software tools. The choice of the particular method depends on whether the phone is turned on, whether the backlight is working, and whether the USB debugging mode was activated before the breakdown. We will look at all the current scenarios so that you can choose the best one for your situation.
Before you start to act, you need to assess the nature of the damage, and if the device responds to sound, vibration or charging, then the motherboard is functioning normally, and the problem lies solely in the display module. This is key, because it allows you to use software-based copying methods, and if the phone does not show signs of life, the situation is more complicated, but even here there are chances.
It’s important to understand that modern Xiaomi smartphones have multiple layers of data protection. Depending on the security settings, when connected to a new computer, the device may require on-screen confirmation that you can’t give, which is why we’ll use workarounds, including management emulation and cloud services that may have been synchronized before.
Use of USB-OTG and computer mouse
The easiest and most efficient way to do this, even if the screen is completely black, but the phone is on, is to use a USB-OTG adapter. You'll need an adapter from a Type-C or Micro-USB connector to a regular USB-A. This adapter is connected to a standard computer mouse. If the display is even slightly light, you'll see the cursor and you can unlock the phone by drawing a graphical key or entering a PIN.
Once successfully unlocked, you can connect to your computer to transfer files, but there's a caveat: if the phone hasn't previously been paired with that PC, it can request permission to access the data in mode. MTP. If the screen is black, you can't press "Allow" in which case the mouse only helps unlock the device, but doesn't confirm the connection. However, for some Redmi and Poco models, there is a lifehack using the use of a "Law" option. USB-hub.
⚠️ Note: When using cheap adapters OTG Your phone may not recognize the periphery due to power shortages. Use high-quality adapters with extra power or short cable.
If you have USB-The hub, the forklift, is changing dramatically, and if you connect the hub to your phone, you can plug both the mouse and the cable that goes to your computer into it at the same time, and in this case, you can control the cursor, not only unlock the device, but you can also physically switch modes. USB in the notification menu or in the settings, selecting "File Transfer".
💡
If the mouse cursor doesn’t appear, try to quickly press 5-7 times with the left mouse button – this sometimes activates debugging or displays menus on some MIUI firmware.
For users who have a partially working screen (there are dead zones), the mouse becomes an indispensable navigation tool, you can gently move files to folders available for cloud sync, or send them to messengers via the web version, opening the browser with your mouse.
☑️ Preparation for connection OTG
Mi PC Suite and Debugging Mode
The official tool from the manufacturer, known as the Mi PC Suite, was once the main way to manage the file system. However, for now, official support for the program has been discontinued, and it does not work well with new versions of Android and MIUI 12/13/14 shells. However, for older models such as the Redmi Note 4, Mi 6 or Mi 8, this method can work faultlessly if debugging was enabled in advance.
The main condition for the operation of any software for managing a phone from a PC is activated mode. USB Debugging (Debugging by Debugging) USB). If you've included this feature in the Developer menu before, your chances of success are close to 100 percent, and the computer will see the device not just as a drive, but as a debugging device, allowing programs like this to be able to work. ADB or custom versions of the Mi PC Suite Gets Full Access to Files.
If debugging mode is turned off, standard programs will likely not be able to break through the lock screen, in which case third-party utilities are often powerless without confirmation on the phone screen. However, there are modified versions of software that try to exploit vulnerabilities of older versions of Android to force debugging, but their effectiveness is unpredictable.
| Method | Requires USB debugging | It works with a black screen. | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB-OTG + Mouse | No. | Yes (if there is an image) | Low. |
| Mi PC Suite | Yes (preferably) | No (code needed) | Medium |
| Google Photo/Disc | No. | Yes (automatically) | Low. |
| ADB Commands | Yes (required) | Yes. | Tall. |
For those who choose to use software methods, it is important to install Xiaomi USB Driver drivers on the computer, without them the system will not be able to correctly identify the connected device, even if it is correct.
Where can I find the developer menu?
Cloud services Xiaomi and Google
Often users forget that their data is already stored in the cloud. Xiaomi tightly integrated with Mi Cloud services, and standard Android syncs with Google account. Before you try to hack your phone with cables, you should check the web versions of these services. This is the safest and fastest way to access contacts, notes and calendar.
To check photos and gallery, go to i.mi.com and log in to your Mi Account. If your phone has enabled gallery sync, all your photos will be available there. Similarly, if you go to photos.google.com, you can find backups of images if the Autoupload feature in the Google Photos app was active.
Contacts and notes are most often saved automatically, and are available on your Google account at contacts.google.com, and notes can be found in the Google Keep app or in the Mi Cloud in the relevant section, allowing you to quickly recover critical information on a new device or spreadsheet.
⚠️ Attention: Cloud services have limits on free space. If your cloud storage is full, new photos may not sync. Always check the date of the last backup.
If you find that sync has been turned off, this is a signal for the future: set up automatic backup immediately after you restore access to your phone. To do this, select the Sync section in your Mi Cloud account settings and activate all necessary items such as Contacts, Messages and Gallery.
Using ADB commands for advanced users
For tech-savvy users, there's a powerful Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool, which is a console utility that lets you give commands to your phone from your computer, and if USB debugging is enabled, you can copy the entire folder with the data in one command without even seeing the images on the screen.
You first need to download the Platform Tools package from the official Android developer site. After unpacking the archive, open the command line in the tool folder. Connect the phone with a cable. If the drivers are installed correctly and debugging is allowed, the adb device command will show the serial number of your device.
adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/ C:/Xiaomi_Backup/PhotosThis command will copy the photo folder (DCIM) from the phone's internal drive to the folder on disk C. You can replace paths to unload WhatsApp, Viber or other directories. The main advantage of the method is the speed and ability to pump data selectively without creating a complete image of the system.
However, if the phone is locked and you haven't given your computer permission to debug before, the ADB won't work. The screen should have a "Let's Debug?" notification, and without the touchscreen, you can't press OK, and in these cases, some users will use the hub to connect with their mouse to click "OK" while the ADB connection command is running.
💡
ADB only works if you have previously been given permission to debug from that particular computer or if you check the box "Always allow from that computer."
Recovery through Recovery and Fastboot
If Android is damaged and the phone doesn't boot to the desktop but is turned on in Recovery or Fastboot mode, options are narrowed. In Fastboot (Mi Bunny) mode, direct access to the file system to copy files is closed for security reasons. You can't just copy photos through Explorer.
Recovery mode (standard or custom type TWRP) provides more features. In standard Recovery Xiaomi usually only has reboot and reset points. However, if you have custom TWRP recovery installed, you can connect the phone to a PC, and it will be defined as an external drive (MTP), allowing you to copy files without turning on the main system.
Installing TWRP on a locked phone with a non-working screen is almost impossible without disassembling the device and using special test points (Test Point) to enter EDL mode. Therefore, this method is relevant only for those who have previously modified their Xiaomi.
EDL (Emergency Download Loader) is a deep firmware mode available through a combination of buttons or circuits on the board, which can be used to try to reflash the phone while saving data (the "Save user data" option), but official firmware often requires an authorized Mi Authorized Account, making the method difficult for the average user.
Hardware methods and display replacement
When software methods are exhausted and data is urgently needed, the only guaranteed option is a temporary replacement of the display module. It is not necessary to buy a new expensive original. To extract data, it is often enough to connect any desktop screen from the same model, even if it has cracks or image defects, as long as the touchscreen functions.
Service centers often go a step further and can connect a test screen to diagnose, at which point you can quickly unlock your phone, allow data access, and copy information to your computer or the cloud, which is the most reliable way, especially if the phone has a complex password or encryption.
⚠️ Attention: Self-disassembly of modern Xiaomi smartphones requires heating the case and using suction cups.Inept actions can damage the battery or plumes, which will lead to complete data loss.
If you don't have repair skills, you should go to the workshop and say "temporary screen connection to take data" -- usually cheaper than a full-fledged glass or display replacement, because it doesn't require sealing and a new frame.