Recovery of data from a broken Xiaomi phone: from simple to emergency methods

Your Xiaomi stopped turning on after a crash, upgrade or factory reset? The screen remains black, the device is getting stuck on the MIUI logo, or the phone does not respond to charging at all? The situation is critical, but not hopeless: even from a broken smartphone you can extract photos, contacts, messages and documents. The main thing is to act quickly and correctly so as not to aggravate the problem.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods for data recovery with Xiaomi (including the Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5, Mi 11/12/13 and others) that do not turn on or work unstable. From simple methods (via Mi Account and the cloud) to complex ones (disassembly and work with the memory chip).

Before you start, answer two key questions: 1. Does the phone respond to charging (vibrates, lights up)? If so, the chances of data recovery are higher. 2. Was sync enabled with Mi Cloud or Google Account? This will simplify the process by many times.

If the answers are negative, don’t panic: even in such cases, there are solutions.

|Self-based firmware |Sweeping water |Other reasons-->

Recovery via Mi Cloud (if synchronized)

The fastest and most secure way is to recover data from Xiaomi's cloud storage, which works if the phone had Mi Account enabled and synced, and even if the smartphone was no longer turned on, files could be saved to the cloud automatically.

What can be returned via Mi Cloud:

• 📱 Contacts and call log
• 📸 Photos and videos (if Auto Sync was enabled in the Gallery)
• 📝 Notes and Records from the Appendix Notes
• 📍 Communications (SMS and chat rooms from Messages)
• 🔄 System settings (Wi-Fi, wallpaper, brightness)

How to check and download data:

1. Go to i.mi.com from a computer or other phone.
2. Sign in under the same Mi Account that was tied to a broken Xiaomi.
3. In the Cloud section, select the category you want (e.g. Gallery or Contacts).
4. Click Export or Download to save files to your device.

⚠️ Note: If two-factor authentication was enabled on the phone and access to SMS Lost - restore access to your account through backup email or recovery codes. Without this, you will not be able to access your Mi Cloud data.

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If you don’t have the right files in Mi Cloud, check Google Photos and Google Contacts, which could automatically sync, and go to Google Photos and Google Contacts under the same account as Xiaomi.

2. Connect to PC in Fastboot mode (if phone is detected)

If Xiaomi is not turning on, but is responding to the charging connection (vibrates, lights up), try to switch it to Fastboot mode. In this mode, you can access the device’s memory through your computer, even if the screen is not working.

How to log in to Fastboot:

1. Turn off the phone (if it freezes, press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Press the Power button + Volume Down at the same time and hold for 5-10 seconds.
3. Release the buttons when the image of a rabbit in a hat appears on the screen. If the screen is black, but the phone vibrates, the mode is activated.

Next, connect Xiaomi to the PC through USB-cable and follow the following steps:

• 🖥️ Install Mi Flash Tool drivers (download from official website).
• 🔍 Open Device Manager on PC and check if your phone is defined as Android Bootloader Interface.
• 📁 Use the Mi program. PC Suite or Dr.Fone to scan device memory.

⚠️ Note: If the phone is defined in Fastboot, but the programs do not see the files, data encryption may be enabled (by default in the Fastboot). MIUI 12+). In this case, without unlocking the bootloader (Unlock Bootloader) to recover data will not work.

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC| Download Mi PC Suite or Dr.Fone| Connect phone in Fastboot | Check device definition in Task Manager-->

3. Data extraction via TWRP Recovery (for advanced users)

If your Xiaomi has a custom TWRP recavator installed, you can connect your phone to your PC and manually copy files from internal memory.This method requires an unlocked bootloader and pre-installing TWRP, but allows you to bypass screen lock and system errors.

Step-by-step:

1. Enter Recovery Mode: Press Power Button + Volume Up until the TWRP logo appears.
2. From the TWRP menu, select Mount → Enable MTP (this will allow the PC to see the phone as a flash drive).
3. Connect Xiaomi to your computer via USB.
4. Open the Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) – the phone should appear as a removable disk.
5. Copy the files from the folders: /data/media/0/DCIM – photos and videos /data/media/0/Download – downloads /data/media/0/WhatsApp – backups of chats

Do not modify or delete files in /system or /data folders unnecessarily – this can permanently bring the phone down.

If the TWRP is not installed, but the bootloader is unlocked, you can try flashing it through Fastboot:

fastboot flash recovery twrp.img


fastboot boot twrp.img

But this method is risky – if you make a mistake, the phone can turn into a “brick”.

4. Hardware recovery (disassembly and work with the memory chip)

If software methods don't work, and data is critically important (like single photos or work documents), the last option is to physically extract the memory chip and read it through a programmer.

• 🔧 Phone Disassembly (Risk of Charge Damage).
• 💾 Special equipment (programmer for the eMMC/UFS).
• 💻 Software like Flash Extractor or Chip-Off Tool.
• 👨‍🔧 Experience with soldering equipment.

How the process works:

1. The phone is disassembled, a memory chip (eMMC or UFS) is removed from the motherboard.
2. The chip is connected to the programmer via an adapter.
3. With the help of the software, a memory dump is read (a full copy of all data).
4. The necessary files are extracted from the dump using hex-editors or specialized utilities.

The cost of such a recovery in service centers: from 5 000 to 20 000 rubles, depending on the Xiaomi model and the complexity of the work. For example, for the Redmi Note 10 Pro (UFS 2.2 chip), the price will be higher than for the Redmi 9A (eMMC 5.1 chip).

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi’s self-disassembly will void the warranty (if it’s still valid), and if it’s soldered carelessly, it can damage the memory chip, making it impossible to recover data even in a service center.

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Hardware recovery is the only way to get data back if the phone is not detected in any mode (Fastboot, Recovery), and sync with the cloud is disabled.

5. Recovery after reset or firmware (unless data is overwritten)

If the phone is running after being reset to factory settings or flashing, but the old files are gone, don't despair. When you surface reset (via Settings → Reset), the data often stays on the disk, just becomes unavailable to the system, and can be restored with specialized utilities.

The best programs for recovery after reset:

• 🛠️ DiskDigger scans internal memory for deleted files.
• 🔍 EaseUS MobiSaver – Supports Recovery from eMMC/UFS-chip.
• 📱 GT Recovery (for Android) – works without root, but with limitations.

How to increase your chances of success:

• 🚫 Do not install new apps or save files to your phone after a reset – they can overwrite old data.
• 🔌 Use the original. USB-cable to connect to a PC – cheap cables can interrupt data transmission.
• ⏳ Start recovery as soon as possible – the chances of success decrease over time.

Example of working with DiskDigger:

1. Install the program on your PC and connect Xiaomi in MTP mode (like a flash drive).
2. Select the Deep Analysis scan.
3. Wait until the process is completed (may take a few hours).
4. Mark the files you need and click Restore.

What do you do if nothing helps?

If all of these methods fail, there are two options:

1. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center. 📍 Addresses of official SCs: mi.com/global/service. 💰 Cost of diagnosis: from 1 000 before 3 000 ruble. ⏳ Recovery period: from 3 days 2 week-long.

• 🔬 Companies: HDD Recovery, Flashback Data, LabData.
• 💰 Price: from 10 000 rubles (depending on the complexity).
• ✅ Recovery warranty: up to 90% for physically fit chips.

Before contacting the service:

• 📋 Make a list of lost data (what to recover).
• 📎 Bring a box and checks (if the phone is guaranteed).
• 🔋 Make sure the battery isn’t swelling – this can make repairs more difficult.

FAQ: Frequent Data Recovery Questions on Xiaomi