How to pull data from a broken Xiaomi phone: from simple ways to emergency measures

A broken screen on Xiaomi is not a sentence for your data. Even if the sensor doesn't respond and the display only shows cracks or a black screen, the chances of returning photos, messages and documents remain high. The key is to act quickly and correctly so as not to make things worse. In this article, we'll look at all the possible ways to extract data, from the simplest (connect to a PC) to the most advanced (engineering mode), taking into account the specifics of Redmi, Poco and Mi devices.

It's important to understand that success depends on two things: the health of the phone (whether it's working at all, whether it's responding to charging) and the sync settings that were activated before it broke. If you've previously enabled backup to Mi Cloud or sync with a Google account, the process is simplified by many times, but even without it, there are solutions, from using ADB to connecting hardware to the motherboard.

We warn you right away that some methods require technical skills or special equipment, if you are not confident in your abilities, you should contact the service center, but for most users, there will be enough home funds, as long as you follow the instructions and do not miss important steps.

1. Basic conditions check: what should work to extract data

Before you start saving data, make sure your Xiaomi meets at least one of these criteria:

• 🔋 The phone turns on (vibrates, makes sounds, the charging indicator burns).
• 🔌 Responds to a charging or PC connection (defined as a device).
• 📶 Wi-Fi or mobile network access (even if the screen is not working).
• 🔒 It was on. USB-Debugging or Mi Account before Breaking.

If none of these things are met, the chances of software recovery are minimal, leaving only the hardware method (connecting to the programmer through test points), but it requires disassembling the phone and special equipment. For most users, the best option is to contact a service that has experience with Qualcomm or Mediatek chips (depending on the Xiaomi model).

If you meet at least one condition, you can try one of the ways below: Start with the simplest one: connecting to Mi Cloud or Google if you have synced.

It doesn't turn on at all.|It is turned on, but the screen does not show the image.|The screen is working, but the sensor is not responding.|It works almost normally, but with cracks.|Another option-->

2. Method 1: Recovery via Mi Cloud or Google Account

This is the fastest and safest method if you have previously set up sync. Xiaomi automatically reserves some data to the cloud if the Mi Cloud feature has been activated (located in Settings). → Mi Account. → Mi Cloud, they get in there:

• 📱 Contacts (if synchronization has been enabled).
• 📸 Photos and videos (if you activate the option to Download in Mi Cloud).
• 📝 Notes, calendar notes, SMS (under appropriate settings).
• 🎮 Data from certain games (if cloud-based storage is supported).

To recover the data:

1. Go to i.mi.com (for Mi Cloud) or myaccount.google.com (for Google).
2. Sign in with the same account that was linked to the phone.
3. In Mi Cloud, select Devices → [Your Xiaomi model] → Backups.
4. On Google, check the Data and Personalization sections → Contacts, Google Photos, Google Drive.

If you don’t remember if sync was enabled, try to restore access to your account via email or a linked phone number. Sometimes the data is saved to the cloud even without explicit user confirmation (for example, Google Photos can default to download media files when you connect to Wi-Fi).

💡

If the phone is turned on but the screen is not working, try connecting it to Wi-Fi via WPS (press the WPS button on the router, then bring the phone closer) this will help activate cloud sync if it was disabled due to lack of network.

Method 2: Connect to a PC via USB (if the screen is partially running)

If the Xiaomi display shows an image (albeit with cracks), but the sensor does not respond, you can try connecting the phone to your computer in file transfer (MTP) mode.

1. Connect your phone to your PC through the original USB-cable (better to use port) USB 2.0 on a computer, it works more consistently with MTP).
2. If the screen is even slightly visible, try swiping down the notification bar and select File Transfer mode.
3. If the sensor is not responding, try connecting. USB-keyboard or mouse through OTG-Adapter (works on most Xiaomi models with Android 8)+).
4. On PC, open This computer - the phone should be defined as a removable disk.

If the telephone is not identified:

• 🔌 Try another cable or port. USB.
• 🔄 Restart your phone and PC.
• 🛠️ Install Mi drivers PC Suite (official software from Xiaomi for working with devices).

Important: If a pattern lock is installed on the phone or PIN-code, access to files through MTP In this case, only unlocking (see method 4) will help).

Use the original Xiaomi cable|Try the port. USB 2.0 on PC|Install Mi. PC Suite|Connect OTG-keyboard|Reboot both devices-->

Method 3: Use of ADB (for advanced users)

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is an Android debugging tool that lets you control your phone via the command line.

• 🔓 The phone was on. USB-debugging (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to activate the developer mode, then additionally → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🖥️ Phone is determined by PC (even if the screen is not working).

Instructions for data retrieval through ADB:

1. Download and install Android SDK Platform-Tools (includes adb.exe).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line in the folder with the platform-tools.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the phone is determined, you will see its serial number.
4. Copy the data you need (for example, photos from a folder) DCIM): adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/ C:\Xiaomi_Backup\Photos

If USB-The debugging was not enabled, this method will not work, and then you have to either unlock the bootloader (which will result in a data dump) or use hardware methods.

5. Method 4: Unlocking the bootloader and installing custom recovery

If the phone is locked screen, and USB-debugging is disabled, you can try to unlock the bootloader (bootloader) and install TWRP (It's going to bypass the lockdown and copy the data, but it's a critically flawed technique:

• ⚠️ Reset all data when unlocking the bootloader (if there was no backup copy).
• ⚠️ Risk of a breeze (turning the phone into a “brick”) when firmware errors.
• ⚠️ Loss of warranty (if the phone is under warranty).

If you are prepared for risk, follow the instructions:

1. Apply for unlocking the bootloader through the official Xiaomi website (you will need a tied Mi Account).
2. Download the Mi Unlock Tool and connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power when the phone is off).
3. Once unlocked, run the TWRP for your model (see instructions on XDA Developers).
4. In TWRP, connect your phone to your PC and copy the data via MTP or ADB.

Critical information: On Xiaomi models with a Mediatek chip (e.g. Redmi Note 8/9, Poco M3), unlocking the bootloader can block access to internal memory forever due to activation of Anti-Rollback.

💡

Unlocking the bootloader is an extreme method, only use it if other methods have not worked and you are ready to lose data.

6. Method 5: Hardware connection (for non-functioning phones)

If the phone does not turn on at all, only a direct connection to the memory remains via:

• 🔧 JTAG (For older models with eMMC memory).
• 🔧 ISP (for new models with UFS-accumulator).
• 🔧 Chip-Off (removal of memory chips and reading on the programmer).

These methods require:

For hardware data recovery, contact specialized laboratories (not regular service centers!). Ask if they have experience with Xiaomi based on Qualcomm Snapdragon or Mediatek Helio - this depends on the choice of method.

⚠️ Don’t trust the “masters” who promise to recover data for $1,000 ₽ They're likely to just re-interface the device, which will result in total loss of information.

7. Method 6: Recovery through Engineering Mode (for some models)

Some Xiaomi phones (especially Mediatek chips) have a hidden Engineering Mode that lets you bypass the lock screen.

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the combination Volume up + Volume down + Nutrition (on some models Volume up + Nutrition).
3. Select Engineering Mode (if it appears) from the menu.
4. Go to Connectivity → USB Port Settings and enable MTP + ADB.

If you can activate ADB, follow the instructions in Method 4 for copying data, and note that this method does not work on all models and may vary depending on the version of MIUI.

For Qualcomm chips (e.g., Snapdragon 865/870/888), instead of Engineering Mode, you can try EDL (Emergency Download Mode) mode, which is activated via test points on the board or special cables (e.g., Deep Flash Cable). In this mode, the phone is defined as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008, and data can be extracted via QPST or UFST.

8. Method 7: Contact Xiaomi Service Center

If the self-propelled attempts fail, the last chance is the official Xiaomi service, which in some cases can help with data recovery, especially if:

• 📱 Phone for warranty (but warranty is cancelled after opening).
• 🔐 You have a check and a tied Mi Account.
• 💾 Data critical (photos, documents, work information).

Before the service visit:

1. Check by phone if they are engaged in data recovery (not all centers provide this service).
2. Don’t say you’ve tried to unlock the bootloader or flash your phone – this can complicate the process.
3. Prepare proof of possession of the device (checks, box, tied account).

The cost of the service in the official service is usually from 5 000 to 15 000 ₽, It's 3 to 10 days, and if the data is worth the money, it's the most reliable option.

⚠️ Warning: In informal services, you may be convinced that data cannot be recovered to sell a new phone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data recovery with Xiaomi