How to recover data from a broken Xiaomi phone

When Xiaomi, the beloved, suddenly stops responding to touch and the screen is covered by a network of cracks, many users are familiar with the situation. At this point, panic is a natural reaction, because inside the device there can be thousands of important photos, work documents and correspondence that were not saved in the cloud. Recovering data from a broken Xiaomi phone is a difficult process, but often doable with the right approach and the necessary tools.

The first thing to realize is that the faster you take action, the better the chances of success. Modern smartphones use data encryption, and if a device is completely discharged or reset to factory settings in an attempt to "fix" it software, information can be lost forever. There are several methods of extracting information, from using cloud services Mi Cloud to complex manipulation of debugging mode over USB.

In this article, we will take a look at all the options available, from simple software solutions to physical peripheral connectivity. It is important to understand that the success of an operation depends on the motherboard status and whether the debugging mode has been activated in the developer's settings before. Even if the screen is completely black, there is still a chance of returning files if the system is running normally.

Diagnosis of the device state and primary actions

Before you run a specialized software, you need to determine exactly the nature of the damage. If the phone turns on, vibrates when you call or makes notifications, then the motherboard and the processor are functioning normally. In this case, the problem is localized in the display module, and the data is physically available for reading. If the device is silent and does not respond to charging, the situation is complicated by the possible failure of the power controller.

Check if the smartphone is computer-defined. Connect Xiaomi to the PC via USB-And listen to the sound of the device's connection, and even with a black screen, the system can recognize the device as a media device or a charger. ADB Fastboot must be installed in advance so that the computer can communicate with the phone properly at a low level.

⚠️ Warning: If you hear a characteristic connection sound but the screen doesn't light up, do not try to reboot your phone with a combination of buttons unless you are sure of your actions.

If the phone gets very hot in the CPU area when connected to a charge, this may indicate a short circuit, in which case any software recovery attempts should be stopped immediately, as further current supply can finish the memory controller.

For accurate diagnosis, you can use the command adb devices in the command line. If the list shows the serial number of a device marked "device", then the connection with the system is established, and you can move to copy files. If the status is "unauthorized", a request should appear on the phone screen to confirm that when a broken touch screen makes the procedure difficult.

Use of Mi Cloud and Google Photos

The easiest and often forgotten way to get your data back is to check cloud storage. Xiaomi smartphones by default offer synchronization with your Mi Account. If this feature was activated, your contacts, messages, notes and even photos could be automatically uploaded to the company's servers.

Enter your credentials and go to Gallery or Contacts, and often users find backups that they didn't even know existed, syncs in the background when you connect to Wi-Fi, so even if your phone crashed yesterday, the data the day before yesterday may be in the cloud, and it's worth checking Google Photos, which is often the default service.

Access to advanced cloud data may require confirmation via SMS. SIM-The card is in a broken phone and the screen is not working, you will have to remove it. SIM-A card and paste it into another machine to get a confirmation code, which is the standard two-factor authentication procedure that keeps your data secure.

A full copy of the system (backup of the entire phone) to the Xiaomi cloud without a paid subscription is usually not created, so you should not count on a full cloning of the device through the web interface.

Connecting the external periphery through OTG

If the touchscreen does not work, but the image on the matrix is (or you can act on the touch / sound), the USB-OTG adapter will help save the situation. This small adapter allows you to connect a conventional computer mouse to the phone charging connector. The cursor will appear on the screen, which will allow you to unlock the device, enter the pattern lock and copy files.

The process is as follows: connect the mouse through the OTG-Smartphone adapter. If the screen is even partially working, you'll see a cursor. Using the left mouse button as a click, unlock the phone. Then you can either transfer the files to internal memory, or, if possible, connect the flash drive through the second port (or hub) and copy the data there.

• 🖱️ USB-Mouse: allows you to fully manage the interface, open the gallery and forward files to messengers or the cloud.
• 💾 USB-Flash drive: required for physical copying of large amounts of data if there is no Internet access.
• 🎮 USB-hub: if you need to connect both a mouse and a flash drive, you will need a hub with external power.

This is ideal when the touchscreen is broken and the display is intact. However, if the screen is completely black, using the mouse becomes a guessing game, in which case you can try connecting the phone to the TV via a USB-C to HDMI adapter, if your Xiaomi model supports video output (DisplayPort Alt Mode technology).

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Use it. OTG-Adapter with an additional charging port, as connecting the mouse and trying to transfer data can quickly drain the battery, and access to the lock screen you will need.

Working with debugging mode on USB and ADB

The most powerful tool for advanced users is Android Debug Bridge (ADB). If the developer’s settings have enabled USB debugging mode before the phone breaks, you get almost full access to the file system, which allows you not only to copy files, but also to take full screenshots of the screen, displaying them on the computer, even if the phone’s matrix is black.

To get started, install the Platform-tools on your computer. Connect your phone and type in the command line a link check command. If the device is authorized, you can use the command to copy all internal memory. The syntax of the copy command looks like an adb pull. /sdcard/ C:/Backup_Xiaomi/.

adb devices


adb shell ls /sdcard/DCIM/Camera




adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/Camera C:/MyPhotos/

The problem is that when you first connect, the phone always needs to be confirmed on the screen ("Let me debug?") If the screen doesn't work, you can't press OK. However, there's a caveat: if you've previously connected this computer and checked "Always allow this computer," you'll be automatically accessed.

If the debugging mode was not enabled, standard means to activate it through ADB will not work, as it requires interaction with the interface. In such cases, some users resort to installing custom recavators, but this requires an unlocked bootloader, which on modern Xiaomi to do without a working screen is extremely difficult.

Software complexes for recovery: Mi PC Suite and analogues

The official Mi PC Suite (especially the Chinese version) has backup functionality, but like ADB, it requires the phone to be unlocked and debugging mode activated. The interface allows you to see the file system of the device if the connection is successfully installed.

There are third-party programs like Dr.Fone, Tenorshare UltData, or Mobikin that are marketed as a means of recovering data from broken screens. It's important to understand the marketing ploy: they don't work miracles. If debugging mode is turned off, they won't be able to access data because of Android's security. They're only effective in two cases: either debugging is enabled, or the phone has older versions of Android (up to 5.0-6.0), where security vulnerabilities have allowed them to bypass lock.

It's a very careful tool, and often programs ask for aroot license or a special apk file on the phone, which you can't do without a touchscreen, but it's worth trying to run a scan, because some tools can work with corrupted file tables.

⚠️ Warning: Be extremely careful with programs that promise “100% recovery from any phone” and often hide behind this simply siphoning out available media files that are already visible through My Computer or recovering a deleted cache that may be damaged.

For users with superuser rights (Root), the possibilities are much wider: you can use applications like Titanium Backup or Swift Backup to upload data, or even activate remote access to the file system via Wi-Fi, if you installed the appropriate server (for example, FTP Server), which is automatically launched when you turn on.

Radical measures: replacement of the display and contact the service

If software methods fail, and data is critical, the only guaranteed option is a temporary or permanent replacement of the display module. AMOLED-It's almost impossible to replace the glass separately at home without professional equipment.

You can buy a used disassembly screen or the cheapest one on the market, as long as it shows the image and reacts to the touch, and by plugging in a module like this (often just putting it on top of the board and plugging the plumes without sticking them in), you get full access to the phone, and once you unlock and transfer the data, you can either re-submit it or sell it.

• 💰 Economy option: search for used screens on local forums or in service centers (often cheaper than buying a new one).
• 🛠️ Self-replacement: Requires skills to accurately open the case and turn off battery plumes.
• 🏢 Service center: wizards can temporarily connect the screen to take data, charging for diagnosis and work.

Calling a professional data recovery service only makes sense if the board is physically damaged, an expensive procedure involving soldering memory chips to a donor board, and for logical damage (broken screen, phone switches on), a conventional SC screen replacement is enough.

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Temporary installation of a working display is the only 100% way to save data if USB debugging is not enabled and there is no cloud copy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)