The situation when the beloved Xiaomi or Redmi falls on the asphalt and the screen turns into black porridge is familiar to many. The worst thing at this point is not the cost of replacing the matrix, but the potential loss of important photos, work documents and contacts that were not synchronized with the cloud. If the touchscreen has stopped responding, but the phone is showing signs of life (vibrates, sounds, warms), then the chances of saving information are quite high.
Before you panic and take your device to a service center, where you can charge a fee to extract data, you should try to solve the problem yourself. There are several proven ways, depending on the degree of damage to the display and the security settings of your smartphone. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, from connecting a regular computer mouse to using debugging over USB.
It's important to understand that the success of the operation depends on whether the screen is at least partially turned on and the phone is unlocked. If the gadget is turned off or locked with a password that cannot be entered due to the lack of response of the touch screen, the task is complicated, but still remains solvable with certain tools. Critically, if the screen is completely black, but the phone vibrates when you connect the charge, this is the best scenario for saving data.
Diagnosis of the condition and primary actions
The first step is to determine exactly what the damage is, and a broken display is a broad concept: someone has only cracked the protective glass and the image is clear, others have a matrix filled with ink, but the sensor works, and others have complete darkness, and if you see any distorted colors or backlights, then the matrix is partially intact and the chances of success are maximum.
If the screen is completely black, you need to check if the device is responding to external influences. Connect the phone to the charger: the presence of a connection sound or vibration confirms that Android is working. Also try calling the number of the SIM card installed in the device. If the call passes and the phone vibrates, but the screen does not light up, the problem lies in the display module.
⚠️ Warning: Do not try to push the broken glass with your fingers. The fragments can damage the internal plumes or matrix permanently, making repair impossible even in the laboratory.
In the case of a sensor that reacts chaoticly (phantom presses), you should try to lock the screen or put the device into safe mode as soon as possible to stop the uncontrolled input. If the sensor is dead but the image is there, your actions should be aimed at emulating the touches by external devices. The main thing here is not to waste time until the battery runs out or the device has gone into sleep mode, blocking the inputs.
Use of USB-OTG and computer mouse
The most efficient and easiest way to control a smartphone with a broken touchscreen is to use a USB-OTG (On-The-Go) adapter, which allows you to connect peripherals like flash drives, keyboards and, importantly for us, computer mice to your phone, and most of today's Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models support this feature out of the box.
To implement this method, you will need the adapter itself (often comes bundled with a phone or costs a penny in electronics stores) and a regular wired one. USB-And wireless mice can work, but wired mice are more reliable because they don't require pairing and they use less battery power at a critical moment. And when you plug in your mouse, you'll see a cursor on the screen that allows you to unlock your phone with a pattern lock, or PIN-code.
☑️ Compatibility check OTG
After successful unlocking, you can safely copy files to the connected flash drive (if the mouse is connected via a connected via a computer). USB-A card reader hub, or simply upload a photo to the cloud through a browser, if the screen is partially visible but the sensor is not working, this method becomes the only way to access banking applications or instant messengers that require login confirmation.
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If you have a wireless mouse with USB-But the wired mouse is preferable because it doesn't require power from the phone to run the transmitter, which saves battery life.
Connection to the computer and debugging mode via USB
If you don't. OTG-cable or screen completely black, use a PC connection, but only if debugging has been previously enabled USB (USB Without this option, the computer will see the phone only as a charger or require a confirmation on the smartphone screen that you can not give.
To work with the file system through the computer, you will need Mi PC Suite (the official utility, although rarely updated) or third-party managers like Total Commander with ADB plugin, or ADB AppControl. If debugging is enabled, you can access internal storage via the command line or graphical interface of the program, bypassing the damaged sensor.
The way you connect the phone to your PC cable, wait for the drivers to install (if they don't exist), and try to access the files. On the command line, you type in the adb device command, you should see the serial number of the device. If the number is unauthorized, then there's a permission request window on the phone screen that you can't confirm, in which case this method, alas, won't work without first setting up.
| Screen status | USB debugging | Method of decision | Probability of success |
|---|---|---|---|
| There's an image, no sensor. | Whatever. | USB-OTG + Mouse | 95% |
| Black screen, sound is there. | On. | ADB / Mi PC Suite | 80% |
| Black screen, sound is there. | Off. | USB-OTG (Blind Method) | 40% |
| Total darkness, no reaction. | Anybody | Display replacement/Pike | 10% |
What to do if the debugging is turned off?
Using cloud services Xiaomi and Google
The simplest and most often ignored way to recover is cloud storage. Xiaomi’s ecosystem has a powerful Mi Cloud service that syncs contacts, notes, gallery and recorder by default if you’ve logged into a Mi Account. Even if your phone is broken, your data can already be saved.
To check, go to i.mi.com from any other device (computer or tablet) and log in using your Mi Account and password. If sync is active, you will see your photos, contacts and even your device location. Similarly, check Google Photos and Google Contacts at photos.google.com and contacts.google.com.
Often users neglect the automatic boot setting, but in many cases it is enabled by default when you first start a smartphone.This is especially true for owners of new models Xiaomi 13, Xiaomi 14 or popular Redmi Note, where the system insists on setting up a backup.
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Cloud services are the first point of check, and often the data is there, and you don't have to physically rescue it from a broken phone.
Remote management through Find My Device
Google Find My Device not only allows you to track your phone’s location, but also perform some actions remotely, and while you can’t directly copy files through the service, it can be useful for unlocking or resetting your password if you forget your pattern lock and the touchscreen doesn’t work.
Go to android.com/find from your computer, log into a Google account linked to a broken phone. If the device is online, you'll see it on the map. Lock or Clear won't pull the data here, but Play Sound can help you know if the phone is on if the speaker is also intact. More advanced users can use services like TeamViewer QuickSupport or AnyDesk if they're installed and have the necessary permissions before they break.
However, unless you installed remote access apps in advance, this method is limited.The main value of Find My Device in the context of a broken screen is the ability to remotely lock the device so that data is not stolen if you plan to take the phone for repair to an untested service.
Blind input method and temporary display replacement
If the screen is black, but the phone is responding to charging, OTG-There's no cable on hand, you can try the blind typing method, which only works if you remember the approximate location of the icons on the lock screen and desktop. Once you connect your phone to charging, wait for the unlock sounds (if on), and try entering a pattern lock or PIN-code to the touch, focusing on vibration or sounds.
A more radical, but often the only working method for today's data-encrypted smartphones is to temporarily replace the display. You don't have to buy a new expensive original module. You just have to find any work screen in the service center or the radio market (even if you have a used or image defect, as long as the touchscreen is running and the picture is visible), connect the plume to your phone's board, unlock it, enable debugging over USB or copy the data, and then return the fee back.
⚠️ Warning: Self-connecting the display plume requires care.Do not disconnect the battery plume before connecting the display unless you are confident in your skills to avoid short circuit.
This is a 100% guarantee, because you get a fully functional device for the duration of the procedure. Many services offer a service "connect the screen to capture data" cheaper than a full replacement, because they do not waste a new module and do not seal it permanently.