How to Save Data with Xiaomi Broken Screen: From Mi Cloud to ADB

A broken screen on Xiaomi is not a sentence for your data. Even if the display is completely black, the sensor does not respond, and the phone only emits notification sounds, the chances of returning photos, correspondence and documents remain high. The main thing is not to panic and not try to “fix” the screen yourself until you copy the information. In this article, we will analyze 5 proven ways that work on models from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra, including devices with a locked bootloader.

The first thing to do is to assess the extent of the damage. If the screen shows an image (even if it's cracked), but the sensor doesn't work, some methods are appropriate. If the display is completely dead, but the phone makes sounds when you connect to charging, others. We'll look at the options for both, and we'll also tell you how to bypass MIUI protection if the phone is locked with a password. Important: some methods require pre-tuning (for example, USB debugging enabled), so if you're reading this "for the future," prepare the device in advance.

1. Method: Connect via Mi Cloud (if synchronization was enabled)

The easiest and most secure method is to recover data from the Mi Cloud cloud storage, which will work if the phone has been activated sync before the screen breaks, and see if this option is right for you:

• 🔄 You logged into Mi Account on your phone and turned on backup.
• 📶 The device had internet access (Wi-Fi or mobile network) before the breakdown.
• 🔒 Remember the username and password from Xiaomi account.

To obtain data:

1. Go to i.mi.com from a computer or other phone.
2. Sign in with the same account as the broken device.
3. In the Devices section, select your Xiaomi model.
4. Click Find the device → Backup copies.
5. Download the necessary files (contacts, notes, photos from the gallery).

⚠️ Note: Not all data is saved by default in Mi Cloud, for example, photos are only synced if you have enabled the option to Autoload in Mi Cloud in the gallery settings, correspondence from WhatsApp or Telegram to the cloud does not get — they will have to be restored in other ways.

2. Method: Connect to a PC via USB (if the screen is even slightly visible)

If the display shows an image (albeit cracked) but the sensor doesn’t respond to touch, you can try connecting the phone to your computer in file transfer mode (MTP), a method that works even without debugging via USB, but requires the phone to unlock the screen (or you know the pattern lock/password).

Instructions:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC through the original USB-cable (better to use port) USB 3.0 on a computer).
2. If the screen is partially working, try swiping your finger down from the top edge (even if the sensor is not responsive).
3. In the notification menu, select Charge via USB → File Transfer (it may take several attempts).
4. The computer will open a conductor with folders on the phone, copy the data to the hard drive.

If the sensor doesn’t work at all, but the screen is visible, try connecting it. USB-mouse-wise OTG-Adapter: Many Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note) 12 or POCO X5) They support cursor control. USB-C/OTG (worth ~200₽) And plug in the mouse. Then you can do it:

• 🖱️ Unlock the phone (if you know the password).
• 📁 Enable file transfer mode.
• ⚙️ Activate debugging by USB (if necessary).

Make sure the cable is working (try another one)

Use the original USB-Xiaomi cable

Connect to the back port of the PC (they are more reliable)

Try swiping your finger several times on the screen to call notifications-->

Method 3: Use of ADB (for advanced users)

Android Debug Bridge (ADB) — It's a tool for controlling your phone through a computer, and it allows you to copy files, install apps, and even unlock the screen if you've turned on the phone. USB. The disadvantage of the method: setting ADB It requires technical knowledge, and if you have never worked with the command line, it is better to choose another method.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 📱 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 🔧 Installed drivers Xiaomi and ADB Tools.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and unpack Platform Tools (for Windows).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command prompt in the ADB folder (click Shift + right mouse button → Open the PowerShell window here).
3. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the phone is determined (the serial number will appear), move to the next step. If not, install the drivers or try another cable.
4. Copy files (for example, all photos): adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/ C:\Xiaomi_Backup\Photos
5. To copy contacts, use: adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/contacts2.db (the contact2.db file can be opened by DB Browser for SQLite).

⚠️ Note: If the phone is enabled data encryption (by default in new Xiaomi models), ADB You can't copy files without unlocking the screen, and that's where you can just take the phone apart or repair the screen.

4. Method: Connecting an external drive via OTG

If the sensor doesn’t work, but the screen displays a little, you can try copying the data to a flash drive or external hard drive via an OTG adapter, a technique that is suitable for USB OTG-enabled models (virtually all Xiaomi after 2018).

What to do:

1. Buy it. OTG-adapter (e.g, USB-C → USB-A modern-model).
2. Connect to the adapter flash drive (formatted in FAT32 or exFAT).
3. Put the adapter in your phone. Wait for the notification of the drive connection.
4. If the screen is partially working, try opening Explorer and manually moving files to the flash drive.
5. If the sensor is not responding, plug in USB-mouse (as described in method 2) and control the cursor.

Important: Some Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi 9A or POCO M3) may not recognize OTG without additional settings. If the flash drive is not detected, try another adapter or check if the OTG option is included in the engineering menu (code # #864##).

5. Method: Disassembling the phone and connecting to the programmer

If the screen is completely dead, and the previous methods didn't work, the last thing you can do is physically extract the memory, which requires soldering skills and special equipment, so you better go to the service center.

Inside Xiaomi, data is stored on an eMMC or UFS chip (in new models) to extract it:

1. Take your phone apart (see YouTube or iFixit for instructions for your model).
2. Find a memory chip (usually labeled Samsung, Hynix, or Micron).
3. Connect it to a programmer (e.g. EasyJTAG or Medusa Pro).
4. Read the data in.bin or.img format.
5. Use programs like UFS Explorer or R-Studio to recover files.

⚠️ Warning: Disassembly may damage the fee, and then data recovery will be impossible. If you've never soldered chips, you'd better trust the professionals.₽ model-wise.

💡

Before disassembling, take a picture of the location of all the plumes and screws - this will help to properly assemble the phone back.

What do you do if nothing helps?

If none of these methods work, you have three options:

1. Screen repairs: In most cases, it's cheaper to replace the display than to recover data through a programmer. For example, the screen for the Redmi Note 11 costs a lot of money. ~5 000₽, And the replacement work is more. ~2 000₽. After the repair, you can copy the data using standard methods.
2. Call the lab. Special centers like HddSurgery or Data Recovery recover data even from damaged chips, costing 10,000 to 30,000.₽.
3. Reset your phone. If the data isn't critical, you can do Hard Reset via Recovery Mode (press Power + Volume up when you turn on). All files will be deleted!

If you want to repair the screen yourself, consider:

• 🛠️ For models with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi 13) require special glue and glue tools.
• 🔋 Turn off the battery before changing the screen to avoid short circuits.
• 📱 After the display is replaced, the sensor may need to be calibrated (made through an engineering menu).

💡

If encryption is enabled on the phone, it will be impossible to recover data after a reset or replacement of the board. Always check the security settings in advance!

FAQ: Frequent questions about recovering data from a broken Xiaomi