When the screen of a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone stops responding to touch or goes out completely, but the device itself continues to work, causes panic in most users. The main fear is not so much the loss of the gadget itself, but the inability to extract important contacts, photos and documents. Fortunately, the Android ecosystem and the MIUI shell provide several technical opportunities for bypassing a broken touchscreen.
Before you start to act, you need to clearly define the nature of the damage. If the display shows an image but does not respond to the finger, your chances of success are close to 100%. In the case of a complete absence of the image (black screen), but with sound signals or vibration, you will need to use external interfaces to control. If the device is completely lifeless and does not emit sounds when connecting to a charge, software methods for connecting to a PC are useless - hardware repair is required.
In this guide, we will look at proven ways to connect Xiaomi to a computer or control it without tactile input. We will use the capabilities of the USB protocol, OTG technology and specialized software. It is important to understand that the success of an operation often depends on whether debugging over USB was enabled in advance, but there are methods for cold connection.
Diagnosis of the state of the smartphone and preparation
The first step should always be a thorough diagnosis. Connect your smartphone to your computer through a standard USB-C cable. If the PC emits a characteristic sound of the new device's connection, then the power controller and motherboard are functioning normally. In Windows Device Manager, you can see new hardware, even if the phone screen is black.
Note the charge indicator. If you connect to the network, you light up an LED or you see the Mi logo, that's a good sign. However, if the screen is so broken that you can't see the image, but the touchscreen is partially working, try the blind input method. Sometimes it helps to repeatedly press the area where the unlock or confirmation button is usually located.
⚠️ Warning: If the smartphone battery is completely drained, no software methods will work. 30-40 minutes, even if the screen does not light up before trying to connect it to the PC.
You'll need some tools to do this further, and having the original cable is critical, because cheap ones often only support charging, not data transmission, and also check if there's moisture in the charging port, which could have caused the touchscreen to short and fail.
Use of the USB-Hub and mouse for control (method) OTG)
The most reliable way to access data if the touchscreen doesn't work, but the screen is there (or you're willing to act at random) is to use an OTG (On-The-Go) adapter, which allows you to connect a normal computer mouse or keyboard to your smartphone, and if the screen is completely black, this method works in conjunction with the voice assistant, or if you know exactly where the interface elements are.
You'll need a USB-C to USB-A adapter or a full-fledged USB hub with power. If you plug in your mouse, you'll see a cursor on the screen (if the matrix is intact), which will allow you to unlock the device, enter a pattern lock or pin code, and copy files. In the case of a black screen, connecting a keyboard can help you enter an unlock password if you remember it by heart.
☑️ Preparation for connection through OTG
If you have a modern Xiaomi with a MIUI 12/13/14 shell, the system should automatically determine the periphery. The mouse cursor will appear on the screen, and you can drag and drop files or open the desired applications for data transfer, this is the most “clean” way, without requiring additional software installation on the PC.
- 🖱️ Connect the adapter. OTG smartphone-charging connector.
- 🔌 Put it in. USB-mouse in adapter (or hub).
- 🔓 If the screen is visible, use the cursor to unlock and enable file transfer mode.
- 💾 Connect your smartphone with a cable to your computer to copy data.
It’s worth noting that some budget models may not support video output or full peripheral work through the charging port, but for Xiaomi this is a standard feature. If the mouse is undecided, try using an externally powered hub, as the phone port may not be enough to power the device.
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Use it. USB-hub with additional power, if the usual mouse is not determined - this compensates for the lack of current in the port of the smartphone.
Connection via Mi PC Suite and cloud services
The official Mi PC Suite (or its modern counterparts, as support for the original version is dwindling) allows you to manage the content of your smartphone. However, the first connection often requires confirmation on the phone screen. If you previously connected this PC to your phone and ticked the “Always Allow” box, the connection will be automatically.
The alternative is to use cloud services. If your Xiaomi has enabled Mi Cloud or sync with Google Photos, your data may already be online. Go from your computer to mi.com or photos.google.com, log in to your account and check for backups.
For users who previously enabled Find My Device or remote control, there is an option to access via a web interface. Google’s Find My Device service sometimes allows you to lock a device or output a message, but direct access to the file system through a browser without pre-installed Agent Apps (TeamViewer Host, AnyDesk) is not possible.
| Connection method | Screen access required | Preliminary adjustment is required | Efficiency of data transmission |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB-cable (MTP) | Yes (for confirmation) | No. | Tall. |
| OTG + Mouse | Preferably (for navigation) | No. | Tall. |
| Mi Cloud / Google | No. | Yeah (synchronization) | Medium (Photo/Contact only) |
| Debugging over USB (ADB) | No. | Yes (includes on menu) | Maximum |
Don’t expect the miracles of standard Windows drivers if the connection mode was not selected earlier. Android defaults to Charge Only mode for security reasons. Which is why the OTG mouse method is often the only way to activate MTP mode.
Use USB and ADB debugging (For Advanced)
If you were a prudent user and you activated the developer mode in advance, you have a golden key to the device. USB Debugging (Debugging by Debugging) USB) It allows the computer to give commands to the phone without a screen confirmation. ADB (Android Debug Bridge).
To get started, download Platform Tools from the official Android developer site. Unpack the archive on C:\adb for convenience. Open the command line (cmd) on behalf of the administrator in the utility folder. Enter the adb device command. If a device with device status appears on the list, you are lucky to have access.
adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/ C:/Backup_Photos/This command will copy all the photos from the standard Camera folder to your computer in a folder. C:/Backup_Photos. You can pull out any other directories in the same way, and if the device's unauthorized status and the screen doesn't work, you can't confirm access, and this method, alas, won't work without some additional manipulation of the hardware.
⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB Be very careful when entering paths so that you don't delete or overwrite important system files instead of copying data.
There are also graphical shells for ADB, such as Minimal ADB and Fastboot or various GUI-interfaces that make it easier to type commands, and they let you click on the "Copy Photo" or "Scan a Screenshot" buttons, which is more convenient for beginners, but the point is the same: you need to pre-enable debugging.
The “Blind” Unblocking Method and HDMI-exit
Some flagship models Xiaomi and Black Shark support displaying images via a USB-C port to an external monitor or TV (DisplayPort Alt Mode). If you have a USB-C to HDMI adapter, connect your phone to a TV. The image from your phone will appear on a large screen and you can control it if a mouse is also connected to the hub.
If the screen is completely black and HDMI is not working (because there is no signal from the matrix or the function is not supported by the budget model), then the method of blind input remains. It is based on knowing the location of the elements. For example, on a locked screen, the PIN input field is often in the center. By entering the code on the connected keyboard and pressing Enter, you can unlock the device.
The secrets of blind input
Another trick is with the voice assistant, and if you have a Google Assistant or Si Xiao AI set up on your phone, try running them with a voice command (if the microphone is working) or a long press of the home/power button. Commands like "Open Settings" or "Enable Bluetooth" can be done by voice, allowing you to switch the device's modes.
Hardware solutions and temporary screen replacement
When software is exhausted, there's only hardware left. If data is critical, the most effective solution is to temporarily install the desktop screen. You don't have to buy a new display assembled; service centers often have used matrices or screens with chipped but a touchscreen that can be connected by weight.
The procedure takes 10-15 So, the wizard takes off the back cover, turns off the plume of the broken screen, and plugs in the test module, and when you plug in, you get a fully functional phone, plug it into your PC, copy the data, and put the broken screen back in place, and it costs less than replacing the display completely.
- 🛠️ Find the nearest service center or private workshop.
- 💬 Explain the situation: You just need to drop the data, the screen does not change».
- 🔌 Ask to connect the test display for 10 minutes.
- 💻 Copy all data to a flash drive or to the cloud.
Trying to disassemble yourself without experience can damage the plumes or the battery, which will make it impossible to restore data. If you are not sure of your abilities, you should trust this operation to professionals, arguing that it is necessary to save information.
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The fastest way to save data with a completely broken screen is to temporarily connect a working matrix in the service center.