The situation when the display of Xiaomi smartphone is broken, but the device continues to work, is familiar to many users. the screen may not show the image (“black screen”) or not respond to touch, but the device often remains fully functional.
Fortunately, the Android ecosystem and Xiaomi service capabilities offer several ways to address this problem: The choice of a particular method depends on whether the USB debugging was enabled in advance, whether the bootloader is unlocked, and what model you have in your hands. In this article, we will discuss all the working options, from simple hardware solutions to complex software methods.
Before you start any manipulation, make sure the device is charged. If the screen is not on at all, connect the phone to the charger for at least 30-40 minutes to prevent sudden shutdowns during the data processing. Next, we will look at step-by-step algorithms of actions.
Use of USB-OTG and computer mouse
The easiest and most effective way to access the interface of a smartphone without a working touchscreen is the use of technology. USB On-The-Go. This method allows you to connect a regular computer to your phone. USB-If the display shows at least a partial image (even cracked), the mouse cursor will help you unlock the phone with a pattern lock or a graphical key. PIN-code.
You'll need a USB-OTG adapter (usually Type-C on USB-A) and a standard mouse, and when you connect, the cursor will appear on the screen, and you can enter a password, open the settings menu, and most importantly, turn on file transfer mode, which is a critical step, because by default, the phone connects to the PC only to charge.
⚠️ Note: If the screen is completely black and you can’t see where you’re clicking, this method will require blind input. Try pressing in the center of the screen (where the unlock button is usually) and immediately after that swipe with your mouse to activate the password input area.
Once you successfully unlock with your mouse, go to the notification curtain. Click on the "Charge via USB" notification and select File Transfer (MTP) mode. Now, when you connect to your computer with a cable, files will be available.
☑️ Preparation for connection through OTG
Not all Xiaomi models support image output, but the mouse control feature is supported by almost all modern Android devices. If you do not have an adapter, it can be purchased inexpensively from any electronics store.
Connection via Mi Unlock and Fastboot
If the touchscreen doesn't work at all and the screen is black, but you just need to save data or reflash the device, you can use Fastboot mode. It's a low-level boot mode that allows the computer to interact with the phone even without an operating system or screen working.
To enter this mode on the phone turned off, press the volume down and power button at the same time. Hold them for about 10-15 seconds until there is a vibration or image of a hare fixing an android (if the screen shows anything). Connect the device to the PC.
The computer will define the device as Android Bootloader Interface. You will need the Mi Unlock Tool to work. However, this method is more suitable for unlocking the bootloader or flashing it than for simply copying files, since direct access to the file system is closed in this mode.
- 🔌 Connect the phone in the off state.
- 🔽 Press "Loudness minus» + «Nutrition».
- 💻 Run the Mi Unlock Tool on your computer.
- ⏳ Wait for the device definition in the program.
What if Mi Unlock can’t see the phone?
It's important to understand that Fastboot won't let you access photos through My Computer. It's a system administration tool. If your goal is files, move on to the next sections.
ADB (Android Debug Bridge)
The most powerful tool for professionals is ADB. If the phone previously had USB Debugging enabled, you can control the device completely from your computer, even if the screen is shattered.
Connect your phone to your computer. Open the command line in the ADB folder. Enter the adb device command. If you've previously checked the phone's screen with the "Always allow debugging from this computer," the device will be determined immediately. If you don't, unlocking it without a screen will be extremely difficult.
adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/ C:/Backup_Photos/This command will copy all the photos from the standard camera folder into the folder. C:/Backup_Photos/ You can copy any folder you want to know where it's going, and you can use the adb shell input tap x y to simulate touches, if you know the exact coordinates of the buttons on the screen.
⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB Be careful when using commands with the prefix rm (delete), as recovery of deleted ones through the ADB Files are almost impossible without root rights.
For easy work with the file system, you can use graphical shells, for example, QtADB or Mi PC Suite (in older versions), which visualize ADB commands.
Remote access via Mi Cloud and Find Device
If your phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile), you can try remote services. Xiaomi's Find Device service allows you not only to track your location, but also to perform some actions with your device.
Sign in to your Mi Account. If you find a device, you'll see it on a map. The functionality is limited: usually only blocking, calling, or clearing data is available. However, some versions of the interface have a command function that can help in rare cases.
Google Find My Device is more efficient, and it also allows you to lock or clean your device, but it doesn't give you direct access to files, but it's a good way to secure your data if your phone is lost or stolen and your screen is broken.
- 🌐 Go to mi.com or google.com/android/find.
- 🔑 Enter the login and password from the account associated with the phone.
- 📍 Select the device from the list.
- 🛡️ Use the available management functions.
Unfortunately, none of the cloud services currently allows you to fully broadcast the screen or manage the file system “out of the box” without first complex configuration of the phone.
Screen broadcasting and control via Scrcpy
If USB debugging is enabled but you don’t want to mess with ADB commands manually, use Scrcpy. It’s a free, open-source program that translates the Android screen to your computer and lets you control your phone with your mouse and PC keyboard.
The program does not require installation on the phone, works through ADB. After running Scrcpy on your computer, you will see the smartphone desktop in the window. Windows/macOS/Linux. This is the perfect way to pull out data if the touchscreen doesn’t work, but the image is there (or it isn’t, but you’re acting at random).
| Parameter | Description | Meaning for Xiaomi |
|---|---|---|
| Bitreit | Image quality | 8 Mbps (by default) |
| Delay. | Response time | 35-70 ms. |
| Permission | Window size | 1920x1080 (max) |
| Management | Mouse/keyboard | Full support |
To start, just enter the scrcpy command in the terminal. If you need to change the resolution to speed up, use the argument. --max-size 1024. This is especially useful if the phone’s processor is weak or the cable is weak. USB 2.0.
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Use the --no-audio argument when connecting if you don't need sound from your phone, which will reduce the load on the data channel and reduce image latency.
Specifics of Xiaomi and Redmi Note models
Xiaomi and Redmi devices have their own features, for example, many models with a MIUI shell or HyperOS require on-screen confirmation when first connected to a new computer ("Let me debug?").
Some older models support USB-C output to HDMI (MHL/DisplayPort Alt Mode).If you have a flagship model (Mi 10 series, Mi 11 series, Xiaomi 12/13/14), you can connect the phone to the monitor via the Type-C -> HDMI adapter. The image will appear on the big screen and you can control the phone if you plug in a Bluetooth keyboard or mouse.
Budget models (Redmi, POCO series) often lack video output support, in which case you can rely only on software methods or a replacement display, and owners of such devices are advised to set up cloud sync in advance.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to disassemble the phone and close contacts on the board for switching on if you do not have experience.This can lead to short circuit and final death of the motherboard.
If nothing works, and data is critical, the only safe option is to temporarily install a desktop screen in a service center, which is more expensive but ensures that the information is safe.
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The most reliable way to save data from a broken Xiaomi is to use a USB-OTG mouse to unlock and then copy files, or use ADB if debugging was enabled in advance.