Recovery of data from broken Xiaomi phone: from broken screen to brick

A broken Xiaomi is not a verdict on your data. Even if the screen crashes, the phone doesn't turn on after a fall or hung on the MIUI logo, the chances of returning photos, correspondence and documents remain high, the main thing is to act systematically and avoid common errors that permanently erase information from the device's memory.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods for data recovery, taking into account different types of breakdowns, from physical (broken screen, broken touchscreen) to software (cyclic reboot, Fastboot error). Particular attention will be paid to the hidden features of MIUI that allow you to bypass the lock screen, and tools like ADB or Mi Flash, available even for beginners.

Importantly, not all methods are universal. For example, on Xiaomi smartphones with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra), recovery through EDL requires an authorized account, whereas on older models like the Redmi Note 8 this method works without restrictions.

1.Preparation: What to do immediately after a breakdown

The first hours after an incident are critical, and the wrong actions can irrevocably erase the data or make it harder to recover it.

Do not try to turn on the phone if it fell into the water | Turn off the power (battery), if the body is deformed | Do not connect to charging if the screen is broken and internal components are visible | Write down IMEI (on the box or under the battery) to identify the device-->

If the phone turns on but the screen doesn't respond to touch, try connecting it to your computer via USB. In 60 percent of cases, MIUI is recognized as an external drive, and you can copy files manually.

1. Connect your phone to your PC with the original cable.
2. On your computer, open this computer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
3. If the phone is defined as Xiaomi, go to the Internal Storage folder.
4. Copy important data (photos in DCIM, documents in Downloads, etc.) to the hard drive.

⚠️ Warning: If your phone requests to unlock the screen when you connect to your PC, don't enter the password at random. After 5 wrong attempts MIUI Can lock the device for 24 hours or erase data.

For models with AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro or Redmi) K50) And there's a trick: the backlights often stay in place even when the glass is broken. Try to light the screen with a flashlight at an angle, so you can see the menu and enter the password.

2. ADB recovery: if the phone is turned on but the screen is not working

Android Debug Bridge (ADB) is an official tool from Google that allows you to control your smartphone via the command line.The method works if the phone previously had USB debugging enabled (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap → Additional → For developers → USB debugging).

If debugging is activated, follow the instructions:

1. Download Google’s Platform Tools and unpack the archive.
2. Connect your phone to your PC, open Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac/Linux) in the ADB folder.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the phone is determined (the serial number will appear), proceed to the next step.
4. Copy the data on PC: adb pull /sdcard/ C:\Xiaomi_Backup\ (substitute C:\Xiaomi_Backup\ on my file).

If USB debugging wasn’t enabled, try activating it blindly:

⚠️ Attention: On models with MIUI 14+ (for example, Xiaomi 13T) for ADB-You need to get it on your phone, and if the screen doesn't work, it won't work, go to the Fastboot.

Not defined at all |Defined as "Unknown Device" |Defined as "Xiaomi [model]" |Defined but requested unlock-->

3. Data extraction via Fastboot: if the phone is stuck on the logo

Fastboot is an emergency boot mode that is available even on phones with damaged firmware, allowing you to access the device’s memory without fully loading MIUI.

• 🔄 The phone is cyclically restarted (bootloop).
• 📱 It is based on the Xiaomi or Redmi logo.
• 🔌 It doesn’t respond to charging, but the computer can see it».

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button + volume up for 10 seconds).
2. Press Power + Volume Down to enter Fastboot.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and check it with your team: fastboot devices
4. Download the Mi Flash utility and unpack the archive.
5. In the command line, type: fastboot oem edl (this will put the phone in EDL mode, where you can flash a modified boot image to access data).

For models with a Qualcomm chip (most Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco) after logging into EDL, you can use the QFil utility or Mi Flash Pro to retrieve the userdata partition where personal files are stored.

• 🔧 Authorized Xiaomi Account (for new models).
• 📄 Firehose file for your model (see here) XDA Developers).
• 💻 Knowledge of working with Hex-editors (data from userdata is extracted in encrypted form).

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If the phone isn’t included in the Fastboot, try holding the Power + Volume buttons up/down until vibration (some models take 15-20 seconds).

4. bypass screen locking via Mi Account and Find Device

If the phone is on but locked with a pattern lock or PIN-And you can try to unlock it through Xiaomi, and this method works under three conditions:

1. The phone is connected to the Internet (via Wi-Fi or mobile network).
2. It has a Mi Account (you have been in it before).
3. The Find Device function (Settings → Mi Account → Find Device) has been activated.

Steps to unlock:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select your phone from the list of devices.
3. Press Unlock and confirm the action.
4. Wait 5-10 minutes – the phone should be unlocked remotely.

If Find Device is disabled, try an alternative way by resetting your Mi Account password:

• 📧 Go to the password recovery page.
• 🔑 Enter the email or phone number associated with your account.
• 📩 Confirm the change of password through mail or SMS.
• 🔄 After changing the password, the phone can be automatically unlocked (on models with a MIUI 12 and newer).

⚠️ Attention: On phones with MIUI 13+ After 3 failed attempts to enter the Mi Account password, the device may require a 30-minute pause before trying again.

5. Physical memory extraction: when software methods fail

If the phone doesn't turn on, isn't detected by the computer, and doesn't respond to charging, the last chance is to remove the memory chip and connect it to another device.

• 🔧 Skills of rations or contacting a service center.
• 💰 Special equipment (e.g. eMMC Reader for memory chips).
• ⏳ Time (the process can take from 2 hours to several days).

How it works:

1. Take your phone apart (youtube has disassemblies for each model, for example, the Redmi Note 10).
2. Find a memory chip (usually labeled as eMMC or UFS).
3. Unplug the chip and connect it to the eMMC Reader via an adapter.
4. Using Flash Extractor or ChipGenius, you can read the data.

Cost of service in service centers:

⚠️ Attention: On encrypted phones FBE (File-Based Encryption, which is used in the MIUI 12+, The data on the memory chip is encrypted with a hardware key binding, and even after the chip is removed, it's impossible to decrypt the files without the phone's original processor.

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If the phone falls into water, don't dry it with a hair dryer or on a battery, it will speed up the corrosion of the memory contacts. Optimally, put the device in a silica gel bag for 24 hours, and then contact the service.

6.Alternative methods: cloud backups and third-party utilities

If none of the above methods worked, check to see if your data is stored in the cloud. Xiaomi automatically reserves some information if the Mi Cloud feature was enabled:

• 📁 Contacts and notes are synchronized by default.
• 📷 Photos – only if you have enabled the option to boot in Mi Cloud.
• 📱 SMS and call log – backed up when manual backup is started.

How to recover data from Mi Cloud:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select the Cloud Backup section.
3. Find the latest backup and download the necessary files.

If Mi Cloud wasn’t used, try third-party utilities:

Warning: Most of these programs require root access that cannot be obtained on a locked phone.

• 📱 The phone is switched on and determined by PC.
• 🔓 It had debugging on it. USB.
• 🔧 You are prepared for the risk of data loss (some utilities may overwrite memory).

FAQ: Frequent questions about data recovery with Xiaomi