How to enable USB file transfer to Xiaomi if the screen is broken

When the screen of Xiaomi smartphone is broken, and inside are critical photos or documents, is one of the most stressful for any owner. You can’t unlock the device, swipe to confirm the connection or switch mode USB-The default version is the port. MIUI HyperOS and when connected to a computer choose the “Charge Only” mode for security purposes, which makes the phone invisible to the PC file system.

However, even with a completely non-functioning touchscreen or black image, there are proven ways to activate file transfer. The decision depends on the degree of damage: whether the matrix works (if there is an image), whether the touchscreen responds to touch, and whether debugging is enabled over USB. In this article, we will examine all available methods, from connecting a regular computer mouse to using specialized software tools.

Before you start complex manipulations, you need to prepare the workspace and equipment. USB-cable, computer with installed Mi drivers PC Suite or standard drivers ADB, and possibly a special adapter. OTG. The key factor of success is the presence of at least partial operability of the display or pre-enabled debugging. USB. Without this, some methods may not be available, so it is important to act consistently and carefully.

Using a USB OTG adapter to control a smartphone

The easiest and most effective way to access files if the phone's matrix is intact but the touchscreen doesn't respond to touch is to use OTG (On-The-Go) technology, which is to connect a normal computer mouse to a smartphone through a special adapter, and once the mouse is connected, a cursor will appear on the screen that allows you to fully control the Android interface.

You'll need a USB-OTG adapter that matches your phone's type of connector (Type-C or Micro-USB), connect the adapter to your smartphone, and you'll have a wired USB mouse in it. If the screen works, you'll see a cursor. If the screen is completely black, but the phone responds to action (sound, vibration), this method won't help visually, but will allow you to "touch" to try to get into the right areas, which is extremely difficult without experience.

After connecting the mouse, perform the following actions:

• 🖱️ Unlock the phone by swiping the cursor across the screen and entering PIN-code.
• 🔌 Connect your smartphone with a cable to your computer (you can turn off or use your mouse) USB-hub if there are few ports).
• 📂 Click the mouse on the notification “Charging through” USB» top-of-screen.
• 💾 In the menu that opens, select the File Transfer mode or «MTP».

If you can’t keep both the mouse and the cable connected to your PC at the same time, use the USB-Hub. Connect the hub to the phone, and to it, the mouse and the cable to the computer, so you can control the phone and see the result of the connection in Windows Explorer immediately.

Configure MTP mode through the developer menu

In some cases, the standard USB connection notification may not appear or be available due to system errors, which can be used to help with hidden settings of the developer menu, which requires the screen to display at least some information, and the touchscreen to respond to clicks (or a mouse was connected).

To start, you need to activate the developer mode. Go to Settings, select About Phone and quickly press 7 times on the MIUI Version or OS Version. After the message "You became a developer" appears, go back to the main settings menu.

Follow the instructions:

• 🛠️ Go to the Supplementary → For developers.
• 🔍 Find the item "Configuration" USB default».
• ✅ Select the value of "File Transfer (MTP)».

After that, every time you connect to your computer, the phone will automatically try to establish a connection to transfer data, bypassing the request for mode selection, which greatly simplifies the task when the touchscreen is damaged, since it does not require interaction with pop-ups every time.

⚠️ Warning: Be careful when changing the settings in the developer menu. USB without understanding their function can lead to unstable system operation or problems with connecting accessories.

Use of debugging by USB and ADB

If the screen doesn't work at all, but you've already activated USB debugging in your settings, you get almost complete control of the device through your computer, the most powerful tool for advanced users, allowing you to copy files and even control your phone using the command line.

To work, you'll need an Android SDK Platform Tools (ADB) package on your computer. Connect your phone with a cable to your PC. If debugging is enabled and your computer is authorized (the phone's permission was previously accepted), you'll be able to execute commands.

The main commands for working with files:

adb devices


adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/ C:/Backup/Photos/




adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d file:///sdcard/ -t resource/folder

The first command checks the device's connection. The second command copies the folder of photos from the phone to the computer to the specified directory. The third command can run the file manager on the phone itself, which sometimes helps wake up the interface.

If debugging wasn’t enabled in advance, this method won’t work, because the first connection always requires confirmation on the smartphone screen, and in such cases, you’ll have to rely on hardware methods or cloud services.

Remote access via Mi Cloud and Find Device

When physical access to the interface is limited, cloud services come to the rescue. If your Xiaomi had a Mi Account and sync enabled, you can access some of the data remotely, which won't allow you to copy all the files, but will save contacts, notes and photos.

Go to the official i.mi.com website from any computer and log in to your account. Mi Cloud provides access to the gallery, contacts, voice recorder and notes, you can download them directly in the browser.

Also worth checking out is Google Photos and Google Drive, which is often forgotten that they have automatic photo uploading enabled, and when you log into your Google account, you may find that all the important photos are already saved in the cloud.

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Turn on automatic photo sync in Google Photos and Mi Cloud right now while the screen is intact, which will create a backup of your data that can be accessed from any device in the event of a breakdown.

Comparison of Access Restoration Methods

The choice of the appropriate method depends on the specific situation: what exactly broke (screen, touchscreen, controller) and what settings were made in advance. Below is a table that helps determine the best way to solve the problem.

As you can see from the table, the presence of a mouse and OTG-But if the screen is completely black and the image is missing, it becomes almost impossible to navigate without first setting up blind spots or using a voice assistant.

Use of the USB-A power hub may be necessary if the phone is quickly discharged or does not detect peripherals without additional power.

Software Solutions for Remote Management

There are specialized applications, such as TeamViewer QuickSupport, AnyDesk or AirDroid, that allow you to control your phone from a PC, but their installation and configuration require initial access to the interface.

If the app is already installed and has root or special permissions, you can run a remote session, otherwise, when you first start, the system will ask for permission to record the screen, which you can not give with a broken touchscreen.

However, it is worth trying to run the application through ADB if it is installed:

adb shell am start -n com.teamviewer.teamviewer.market.mobile/.StartActivity

This can run the service, and if a client program is already installed on the computer and a trusted connection is configured, you will get access to the phone’s desktop.

⚠️ Warning: Don't download questionable "screen repair" software from unverified sources.Many of them are viruses or just imitations of activities that could steal your data or damage your system.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The most reliable way to save data from a broken Xiaomi is to use a USB-OTG adapter and mouse for manual control, or pre-configured cloud synchronization.