How to Retrieve Data from a Broken Screen Xiaomi Phone: From Simple to Complex

Xiaomi's broken screen is a situation that almost every smartphone owner of this brand has faced. According to service centers, 68% of screen damage is due to falls from a height of less than 1 meter, and 32% of cases are due to blows to hard surfaces. But the main problem is not the broken display itself, but the fact that there is valuable data under it: photos, correspondence, documents and contacts. How to extract it if the phone does not respond to touch or does not turn on at all?

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods, from the simplest (connecting a mouse via OTG) to advanced (using ADB and Fastboot mode). Importantly, the effectiveness of each method depends on the Xiaomi model (for example, the Redmi Note 10 Pro supports USB OTG, and the POCO F3 may require unlocking the bootloader) and the degree of damage. If the screen is completely black, but the phone vibrates when turned on, the chances of success are higher than if the motherboard is physically damaged.

1. Connect the mouse or keyboard via OTG (the fastest way)

If Xiaomi’s screen responds to touch, but the sensor doesn’t work because of cracks, USB OTG-The adapter will be your lifesaver.This method works on 90% of models released after 2018, including the Redmi series, POCO And Mi, you're gonna need it:

• 🔌 OTG-Adapter (Type-C or Micro-USB depending on the model)
• 🖱️ Wired or wireless mouse (keyboard fits, but less convenient)
• 🔋 Charged phone (minimum 20% battery)

Connect the adapter to your phone and the mouse to your adapter. If the device recognizes a mouse (cursor catches fire), follow these steps:

1. Unlock your phone with a password/pattern lock (if the screen displays a little).
2. Connect your phone to your PC via cable and select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. Copy the necessary data to the computer.

Check it out. OTG-adapter on another device

Reboot the phone.

Try another mouse (wirelessly connect to the OTG via Bluetooth adapter)

Update the firmware (if the phone is switched on)-->

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi 11 Ultra) feature OTG It's disabled by default. To activate it, you need to go to Settings. → Additionally. → USB OTG. If the screen doesn’t respond, this method won’t work – move on to the next method.

2.Use of Mi Account (if synchronization is enabled)

If your Xiaomi has activated your Mi Account and synced, some of the data can be retrieved remotely.

• 📱 Contacts (synchronized with Mi Cloud automatically)
• 📷 Photo and video (if you have enabled the option to download in Mi Cloud)
• 📝 Notes and Records from the Mi Notes app
• 🎵 Music (if Mi Music is used)

Instructions for remediation:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. In the Devices section, select your smartphone.
3. Check the available data in the Cloud → Gallery/Contacts/Notes menu.
4. Download the files you need to PC.

Critical: If you have Find Device enabled on your phone, you can remotely lock the device or erase the data, but it will irreversibly destroy all the information that is not stored in the cloud. Use this feature only as a last resort!

Yeah, because of the broken screen.

Yeah, for another reason.

No, I always do backups.

I don't know, I haven't.-->

3. Connect to PC in Fastboot mode (for power users)

If Xiaomi's screen is completely black, but the phone is determined by the computer in Fastboot mode, you can try extracting data through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires pre-activating USB Debugging in the developer's settings. If you haven't turned it on, it won't work.

Step-by-step:

1. Install Android SDK Platform-Tools on your PC.
2. Connect your phone to your computer by holding the Volume Down + Power button (to log in to Fastboot).
3. Open the command line in the folder with platform-tools and type:

fastboot devices

If the device is determined, perform:

fastboot boot twrp.img

(where twrp.img is a custom recavator file for your Xiaomi model).

After uploading to TWRP:

1. Select Mount → Enable MTP.
2. Connect your phone to your PC and copy the data.

⚠️ Attention: The wrong commands in Fastboot can permanently block the Xiaomi bootloader. For example, the fastboot oem lock team will return the phone to a factory lock state, and it will be extremely difficult to unlock!

4. data extraction through the service center (guarantee nuances)

If the self-help methods didn't work, going to the service center is the last chance to save the data, but there are a few pitfalls:

• 🔧 Cost: In official Xiaomi services, data extraction costs 3-7 thousand rubles (depending on the model and complexity of work).
• ⏳ Timeline: 1 to 5 days (if you need to order spare parts, such as a flexible screen plume).
• 📄 Documents: Passport and purchase check (for warranty devices) required).
• 🔒 Privacy: 20% of the time, services refuse to share data on hand, citing security policies.

What the service does:

1. Connect the phone to the programmer through test points on the board.
2. Read data directly from memory (eMMC or UFS).
3. Store information on an external storage device.

Important: If the phone was warranty-free, disassembling to extract data will cancel the warranty for the entire device. Some services offer "cosmetic repair" (replacing the screen without opening the case), but it is more expensive by 30-50%.

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Before contacting the service, check reviews on 2GIS or Yandex.Maps. Pay special attention to the comments on privacy - there were cases when customer data "accidentally" got into the network.

5. Alternative methods: from JTAG to chips

For phones with a completely dead screen and debugging on USB, extreme measures remain:

• 🔌 JTAG: Connecting to test contacts on the board for direct memory access works on 80% of Xiaomi models, but requires special equipment (the cost of the service is from 5 thousand rubles).
• 💾 Chip-off: Removing the memory chip and reading data on the programmer. the risk of damage to the chip is 15%. Price: 8-15 thousand rubles.
• 🔄 Screen replacement: If the problem is only in the display, the replacement will cost 2-6 thousand rubles (depending on the model.

JTAG is suitable for devices with corrupted firmware or a locked bootloader, for example, if you tried to flash Xiaomi through Fastboot, but the process stopped, and now the phone does not turn on, in which case JTAG can restore access to the file system.

The chip-off is critical to the state of the memory chip, where if the phone falls into the water or is hit hard, the chances of a successful readout are reduced to 50%, and services usually do a diagnostic before work begins (free or for 500-1000 rubles) to assess the feasibility of the procedure.

💡

JTAG and Chip-off are the only ways to extract data if the screen is not turned on, USB debugging is disabled, and Mi Account is not synchronized, but they require professional equipment and skills.

What NOT to do with a broken screen

Attempts to save data often lead to their irretrievable loss.-5 Mistakes that users make:

• 🔥 Overheating phone: Connecting to charging for a long time or using "folk methods" (such as drying with a hairdryer) can damage the memory controller.
• 💦 Self-disassembly: Without experience, it is easy to damage plumes or chips, making data recovery impossible.
• 🔄 Hard Reset: Pressing Volume Up + Power will lead to reset to factory settings and delete all data.
• 📴 Using dubious software: Programs like Wondershare Dr.Fone often don’t work with Xiaomi because of blocking MIUI.
• ⚡ Connecting to unstable power sources: Power surges can damage the board, especially if the phone has already been in water.

If the phone is in water, don't turn it on or charge it! Remove the battery immediately (if possible) and contact the service. Moisture oxidizes the contacts, and every hour of delay reduces the chances of data recovery by 10%.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data extraction with Xiaomi