How to Save Data from a Broken Xiaomi Phone: From Simple to Emergency Methods

A broken screen that doesn't respond to touch, or a Xiaomi phone that refuses to turn on at all, is a situation that many people are familiar with. The first thought at this point is, "How do you get back photos, correspondence and documents?" Fortunately, even if your smartphone is physically damaged, the chances of saving data remain high. In this article, we'll look at all possible scenarios, from a phone with a working display but cracked glass to a device that does not show signs of life.

The main rule is: don’t panic and try to “fix” the phone yourself if you are not sure of your actions. Recovery errors can permanently erase data from internal memory. For example, a failed attempt to flash a device through Fastboot often leads to formatting the /data partition where user files are stored. We will focus on methods that minimize risks and are suitable for models from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 13 Ultra.

1.If the screen is broken but the phone turns on and responds to touch

The simplest case is when the display shows an image, but the sensor is not working or reacts randomly, and connecting external input devices will help:

• 🖱️ USB-mouse-wise OTG-Adapter. Most Xiaomi smartphones support peripheral connectivity. USB-C/Type-C → USB-A And you plug in a mouse, and you'll see the cursor on the screen, and you'll be able to control the phone like a computer.
• 🎮 Gamepad. If you don't have a mouse, an Xbox or PlayStation controller will fit (via Bluetooth or PlayStation). OTG). Settings: Go to Settings → Connected devices → Additionally. → Game Controller.
• 🖥️ Connection to TV on the HDMI. models with Miracast support or USB-C → HDMI (for example, Xiaomi 11T Pro) can be displayed on a big screen. Use an adapter and control the mouse.

After connecting the mouse, copy the data to the cloud or computer:

1. Open the files. → Internal memory.
2. Select the folders DCIM (Photos), Download (downloads), WhatsApp/Media (correspondence).
3. Click Copy and select the target: Google Drive, Mi Cloud or OTG-connected drive.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone is under 20%, connect it to charge before manipulation begins.Abrupt power outage during file copying can cause data damage.

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If the mouse is not determined, try restarting the phone with the Volume Up button clamped. + Food – this will reset the temporary settings USB-connection.

2.The screen is not working, but the phone is switched on (there is sound/vibration)

So when the display is completely black or shows artifacts, but the phone is making notification sounds and vibrating, you can use blind control or remote access. Here's a step-by-step plan:

Method 1: Voice Control (Google Assistant)

If you have Google Assistant and voice activation enabled on your phone (OK, Google), try:

1. Say, "OK, Google, open the files."
2. Then: “Select all photos” → “Copy to Google Drive”.
3. To confirm the actions, the Assistant will voice every step.

Method 2: Remote access via Mi Account

The Find Device feature in Xiaomi accounts allows you to not only locate your phone, but also delete data or lock your device. Unfortunately, there is no direct access to files through it, but you can:

• 🔄 Reboot your phone remotely (sometimes helps restore the screen to work).
• 📲 Send a message to the screen (if the display is partially working, you will see text).
• 🔒 Block the device to prevent third parties from accessing data.

For this:

1. Go to account.xiaomi.com.
2. Log in and select Find Device → Device Management.

Method 3: ADB-copy-board

If the phone is enabled debugging via USB (Settings → About Phone → Assembly Number (7 taps) → For developers → Debugging via USB), you can connect to it through your computer and copy files blindly.

Install Android SDK Platform-Tools, connect your phone to your PC and execute:

adb devices

If the device is determined, use:

adb pull /sdcard/DCIM C:\Xiaomi_Backup\Photos

Where C:\Xiaomi_Backup\Photos — file.

⚠️ Warning: Don't use the adb reboot or fastboot command unnecessarily! this can lead to a phone reboot and loss of communication if the screen isn't working.

3. the phone does not turn on, but reacts to charging (vibrates / lights up the indicator)

If Xiaomi doesn’t start, but when connected to charging, the battery indicator shows or vibrates, the problem may be a software failure, in which case the recovery mode (Recovery Mode) or Fastboot will help.

Method 1: Retrieving data through TWRP Recovery

TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) is a custom recovery that allows you to access the file system even on a broken phone. Condition: TWRP must be installed in advance (if you did not install it, skip this method).

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone (press Power + Volume up for 10 seconds).
2. Press Power + Volume up to enter the Fastboot.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and type the command: fastboot boot twrp.img (twrp.img file must be downloaded for your model from twrp.me).
4. In TWRP, select Mount → Enable MTP and the phone will appear as an external drive.

Method 2: Memory reading via eMMC chip (for advanced)

If the phone doesn’t even turn on in the Fastboot, it’s still a direct connection to the memory chip, a method that requires disassembling the device and using a programmer (e.g. EasyJTAG or Medusa Pro).

Step-by-step:

• 🛠️ Take your phone apart, find an eMMC chip, or UFS (It is usually labeled as Samsung. KLUDG4U1EM-B0C1, Hynix H26M64003EQR etc.).
• 🔌 Connect the programmer to the chip contacts (connection scheme depends on the model).
• 💾 Count the memory dump with software like Flash Extractor or ChipGenius.
• 🔍 Recover files from the dump using R-Studio or UFS Explorer.

The cost of such restoration in the service center: from 3 000 to 10 000 rubles, depending on the model.

4.The phone shows no signs of life (no charge, no vibration)

If Xiaomi doesn’t respond to charging and buttons at all, there may be two reasons:

1. Hardware failure (damage to the motherboard, battery or power controller).
2. Full battery discharge (sometimes the phone "goes into a deep sleep" and does not respond to charging).

What to do:

• 🔋 Try lighting up from another battery. If you have a donor Xiaomi of the same model, connect its battery to your phone (requires disassembly).
• ⚡ Use a high-current charger (such as Quick Charge) 3.0/4.0). Sometimes it helps to wake up the power controller.
• 🔧 Check the charge circuit with a multimeter. USB-C must be strained 5V contact VBUS.

If the phone doesn't respond to even these measures, you just have to go to the service center to diagnose the board, and in some cases, you can save the data even from a damaged motherboard, but the cost of repairing it can exceed the cost of the phone itself.

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If the phone doesn’t turn on and charge, DO NOT try to heat it up with a hair dryer or freeze it – this will aggravate chip damage.

5. Data recovery after resetting or firmware

If you've tried flashing your phone through Fastboot or resetting your phone, the chances of recovering your data drop dramatically.

Method 1: Recovery programs

If the phone is turned on but the files have been deleted, use:

• 📱 DiskDigger for Android (requires root rights).
• 💻 EaseUS MobiSaver (works through the ADB).
• 🖥️ R-Studio (for working with a memory dump).

Method 2: Restore from backup

Check if synchronization has been enabled with:

• ☁️ Mi Cloud (Photos, Contacts, Notes).
• 📧 Google Account (Contacts, Calendar, Some Settings).
• 💬 Cloud messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber store backup copies of correspondence).

For recovery from Mi Cloud:

1. Sign in to i.mi.com.
2. Go to the Cloud → Devices → [Your Phone] → Backups.
3. Download the data archive.

6. How to avoid future data loss

To avoid being in this situation again, follow the following simple rules:

Enable automatic sync with Mi Cloud and Google

Regularly copy the photo to your computer or external disk

Use two-factor authentication for accounts

Install TWRP Recovery (for advanced users)

Store backups in multiple clouds (Google Drive + Yandex Drive)

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Pay special attention to the backup settings:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset.
2. Enable Automatic Backup in Mi Cloud.
3. Choose Backup over Wi-Fi and set a schedule (e.g. once a week).

For models with MIUI 14+, the device clone function (Settings → Additional → Device Clone) is available, which allows you to transfer all data to a new phone in a few minutes.

Comparison of data extraction methods

Frequent questions