How to pull 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 didn't turn on after a fall, is a familiar situation, and the main problem in these cases is not so much the device itself, but the valuable data: photos, correspondence, documents and contacts that are left inside. Fortunately, even if the smartphone has turned into a brick, the chances of saving information are there.

In this article, we’ll look at all possible scenarios, from phones with broken but functioning displays to devices that don’t show signs of life, and focus on Redmi Note, POCO and Xiaomi 12/13/14 flagships, because their architecture is nuanced, and learn what errors lead to irretrievable data loss in 80% of cases and how to avoid them.

Importantly, the methods vary in complexity and the tools required, starting with the simplest ones that don't require disassembly of the phone or special skills.

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

The most optimistic scenario is when Xiaomi launches, but the sensor does not work due to a cracked glass or a damaged digitizer, in which case you can do without connecting to a PC or disassembling.

The first thing to try is to connect the USB- with the OTG- adapter. Almost all Xiaomi models (starting with the Redmi 4X and later) support this function.

• 🔌 Buy a OTG- adapter (type-C or microUSB depending on the model) and a regular USB- mouse.
• 🖱️ Connect your mouse to your phone via an adapter. The cursor should be on the screen in 5-10 seconds.
• 📁 Move through the menu with your mouse, copy the files you want to use to the cloud (Mi Cloud, Google Drive) or external drive.

If the mouse is not identified, check:

• ⚡ The OTG- adapter state (try another one).
• 🔋 Phone Charge (at low USB- ports may be turned off).
• 🔧 Developer Settings: Sometimes you need to enable Debugging using USB (but without a desktop, this is problematic).

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If the mouse doesn’t work, try a wireless touchpad keyboard – some Xiaomi models are better at recognizing them as pointing devices.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use cheap OTG- adapters without short circuit protection. A damaged USB- port of the phone can disable the connected device.

2. Methods for phones with a broken sensor, but a serviceable display

If the screen shows an image but does not respond to touch, and the OTG- did not help, there are several options:

Control via Mi Remote (only for TVs and some smartphones)

Little-known feature: Some Xiaomi models (such as the Mi 10 or Redmi K30 Pro) can be partially controlled via the Mi Remote app on another phone.

1. Install Mi Remote on the second smartphone.
2. Select your Xiaomi model from the list of devices.
3. Use a virtual remote to navigate the menu (does not work on all firmware).

2.2.The Google Assistant Voice Assistant

If you have Google Assistant enabled and voice activation on your phone, you can try:

• 🎤 Say “OK, Google” (the phone must be connected to the internet).
• 📤 Ask the assistant to open Google Photos or Files and upload the data to the cloud.
• 🔍 Clarify the commands: "Open folder DCIM", "Upload all photos to Google Photos".

Limitation: This method only works if voice access has been configured and the phone is connected to a Wi-Fi/mobile network.

3. Connection to a computer: what to do if the phone is not detected

If the screen doesn’t work at all or the phone is stuck on the logo MI, You'll have to connect to a PC, but here's the problem: without the debugging pre-on. USB (USB Debugging: Access to files will be restricted.

What can be done:

If USB debugging has been enabled before, follow the instructions:

1. Install Android SDK Platform-Tools on your PC.
2. Connect the phone to the computer.
3. Enter in the command line: adb devices If the device is displayed, copy the data by the command: adb pull /sdcard/ C:\Xiaomi_Backup\

⚠️ Warning: On models with MIUI 12+ and a locked bootloader, the adb pull command may not work due to security limitations, in which case only unlocking the bootloader (erase all data!) will help.

4. Retrieval of data from a phone that is not turned on

If Xiaomi is not showing signs of life (it is not vibrating, it is not warming, the charging indicator is not burning), the reasons can be different from a dead battery to damage to the motherboard, in which case radical measures will be required.

Checking power and charging

Before disassembling the phone, make sure the battery isn’t the problem:

• 🔋 Try charging your phone with another cable and power supply (preferably original).
• ⏳ Leave on charging for 30-60 minutes - sometimes the power controller slowly "wakes up."
• 🔌 Check if the USB- ports are oxidized (clean carefully with alcohol).

The method of “hot connection” (for experienced users)

If the phone doesn't turn on but it responds to charging (for example, an indicator appears), you can try connecting the hard drive directly.

1. Take your phone apart (see YouTube or iFixit for instructions for your model).
2. Remove the eMMC or UFS chip (depending on the model).
3. Connect it to a programmer (e.g. EasyJTAG or Medusa Pro).
4. Read the data using software like Flash Extractor.

This method requires:

• 🛠️ Skills soldering (circuits soldered to boards).
• 💰 Programmer (cost from 5,000 ₽).
• ⚠️ Understanding the risks: An incorrect connection can erase data forever.

5. Data recovery through backup copies

If you've previously set up sync, there's a good chance that some of the data is already stored in the cloud.

• ☁️ Mi Cloud: Photos, contacts, notes, SMS (if synchronization was enabled).

How to recover data from Mi Cloud:

1. In the Devices section, select your Xiaomi and download the backup.

⚠️ Warning: Only the last backup is stored in the Mi Cloud by default. If you haven't synced for a long time, the data may be outdated.

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Even if your phone crashes completely, check cloud storage – up to 80% of the information you need is there in 60% of cases.

6. When to contact the service center - and how to choose a reliable one

If you don't do it yourself, you have to go to the professionals, but not all service centers are going to extract data, and many of them are just replacing the screen or the board.

Criteria for choosing the service:

• 🔍 Specialization: Look for centers that mention data recovery.
• 📜 Reviews: Check on Yandex.Maps or 2GIS for real customer stories.
• 💰 Cost: Recovery from a damaged board costs between 3,000 and 15,000 ₽ (depending on complexity).
• 🛡️ Warranties: Trusted centers provide a receipt/transfer act with a list of files for recovery.

What to avoid:

• 🚫 Services that promise 100% results (this is not possible without diagnosis).
• 🔧 Garage masters without a license (risk of data leakage).
• 💸 Prepayment for work (payment must be after the result).

Average prices for services in Moscow and the regions (2026):

7. How to avoid future data loss

A broken phone is easier to prevent than to fix, and here are 5 rules that will save your data:

• ☁️ Automatic sync: enable backup in Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud and Google Account.
• 🔄 Local Copies: Once a month, connect your phone to your PC and copy folders DCIM, Downloads, and Documents.
• 📱 Backup apps: Swift Backup (requires root) or Titanium Backup even store application data.
• 🔒 Encryption: In Settings → Security, enable device encryption (slows down but protects data when stolen).
• 🛡️ Protective glass + case: 90% of screen damage is caused by falls from a height of less than 1 meter.

For Xiaomi models with MIUI 14+, there is a useful Second Space feature that creates an isolated profile, and even if the main system is damaged, the second space can remain available.

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Set up automatic downloads over the mobile network (not just Wi-Fi) in Google Photos, which will save photos if the phone crashes on the trip.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data recovery