When our phone screen breaks AndroidSometimes it seems like all is lost. However, there's a very simple trick that, if the screen turns on and you can see what's happening, allows you to control everything on your mobile and even rescue your data Before repairing it or changing devices. Besides that mouse and OTG trick, nowadays there are many more ways to continue using a mobile phone with a damaged screen, take advantage of voice assistants, mirror the screen on another device, or access it from a PC.
What do you need for this hack
Most likely, you use a case for your mobile in your day-to-day life. We all want to keep our mobile phones protected to prevent them from breaking. We try to take care of it and that it does not suffer damage. However, sometimes it is unavoidable, accidents happen and the touchscreen is broken.
Here we find several cases and various levels of damage, that go from The corner is slightly scratched to It seems that a hammer with the force of a thousand suns has struck this screen. For the method that concerns us today, however, we only depend on two conditions:
- Does the screen turn on?
- Can you see what's happening on the screen? even though the touch functions have disappeared?
If the answer is yes in both cases, you are in luck, because you will be able to continue using your phone Android Very simply put, if the screen is unresponsive but the phone vibrates, rings, and behaves as if everything is working, it's most likely that only the screen is damaged. touch panel or digitizer and not the rest of the hardware. For more information, see Is it safe to use a mobile phone with a broken screen?.
How to control your Android mobile with a broken screen but it turns on
The only thing you need to control your Android with a broken screen is a USB OTG adapter y a USB mouse. Yes, a mouse, like the one you use to control your computer. If you are wondering what USB OTG is, it is an adapter that allows you to plug USB connectors into micro USB or USB Type-C connectors. For example, in our unboxing of the Samsung Galaxy S9 You can see a USB Type C USB OTG that comes in the box. If you need to buy an adapter, they are available on Amazon.
Therefore, all you have to do is connect the OTG to Android mobile and connect USB mouse to the OTG port. Outcome? You will see a pointer appear on your screen. A pointer that works like a charm and that will allow you to control your mobile as if it were a PC.
El left click it's like tapping with your finger, holding down the same, etc ... right button It acts as the back button and the home button. The roulette allows you to move up and down the menus in a comfortable and worry-free way. Depending on the screen, it is also valid to move from one side to the other.
Now imagine that your screen has broken and you don't know how to recover your data: now it's easy. Connect the mouse to your mobile and start making backups of what you need to save. You can access all your mobile, so you can control it as usual. It is a super simple trick that works in most versions of Android and that will save you from more than one trouble, just like apps like Vysor.
Other methods for using an Android phone with a broken screen
While an OTG mouse is the quickest solution when you can see the screen but it's unresponsive to touch, it's not the only one. Depending on the screen's condition (whether it displays a message, responds, or is completely black), you can combine different methods. voice assistants, external keyboards and mice y remote control apps to continue using your mobile phone or at least save your data.
Use voice assistants when touch doesn't respond
When the screen isn't working or only responds in some areas, it's a good time to use the mobile voice assistantOn Android phones, that means calling the Google Assistant with the voice command (if you had it activated) or, if you can still, hold down the home button or the power button depending on the model.
Google Assistant can perform many actions for you: calls, reply messages, open appsSet alarms or even dictate notes. If you have the accessibility feature installed VoiceAccess (Voice access) allows you to control almost any action on your mobile phone with spoken commands, from scrolling through lists to zooming, which greatly reduces dependence on the touchscreen.
Connect keyboard and mouse via Bluetooth or cable
In addition to OTG with a USB mouse, you can also connect a Bluetooth keyboard and/or mouse If you've already paired them or if the screen allows you to complete the pairing. With them, you can control most of your phone's functions and apps, enter passwords, navigate menus, or compose long messages.
If you can't use Bluetooth, the USB-OTG cable is once again your ally: No prior configuration is required.Simply plug in your mouse or keyboard to start using them. On many mobile phones, you can even use a combination of mouse + keyboard to navigate the system, enter your SIM PIN or unlock an Android phone with a broken screen as if it were a PC.
Mirror your screen and control your mobile device from another device
If the screen is so damaged that You see nothingBut if the phone is still on (rings, vibrates, receives notifications), a good solution is to use remote control apps that project the screen onto another device: another Android, a PC, or even a TV.
There are multiple tools available on Android for View and control your mobile phone from your computer., such as Vysor, Mobizen, AirDroid, or TeamViewer Host. Each has its own particularities, but the common idea is the same: you install the client on the PC, the app on the mobile phone, and, if you had remote access configured before the accident (or you can still complete it with a mouse), you will see the mobile screen in large format and be able to control it with the computer's mouse and keyboard.
Some manufacturers also offer their own suite for connecting the mobile phone to the PC, such as HiSuite on Huawei or equivalent tools from other brands. These solutions typically facilitate backups, photo and document transfers, and in some models, even allow full touch control from the team.
Mirroring a broken Android screen on another Android device
Besides the PC, there are apps designed specifically for Mirroring a broken Android screen on another AndroidThey are useful if you want to use your new phone to view and control your old one with a broken screen:
- AnyViewerIt allows you to share your screen and remotely control your damaged phone from another Android device. It's also compatible with Windows and iOS, so you can use it to access your phone from various types of devices.
- ApowerMirrorDesigned to mirror the screen between mobile phones and computers. It offers high image quality And, if both devices are on the same WiFi network, the connection process is very simple.
- Screen Share: focused on mirroring between phones, it allows you to connect and control the broken Android from another Android, with extra features such as voice chat or drawing on the shared screen.
In all these cases, the key is that the mobile phone with the broken screen can still be used authorize connection (Sometimes with a tap, other times by accepting permissions beforehand). If you had it set up before the break, your chances of success increase significantly.
Check the actual condition of the screen and prevent further damage
Before you start connecting cables and accessories, it's a good idea to identify which part of the screen is damagedA display typically consists of the outer glass, the middle layer with the digitizer (which detects touch), and the panel where the image is projected. Sometimes only the glass cracks, other times the touch function stops working, and in the most severe cases, the display goes completely black.
If the glass is badly chipped, there is a risk of cuts on the fingers or that small fragments may enter the terminal. Place a screen saver Removing the broken part can help you continue using your phone with less risk and prevent more pieces from breaking off. And if you suspect the break is due to a swollen battery or notice a deformed chassis, the wisest course of action is stop using the device to avoid dangerous short circuits or overheating.
Thanks to all these options—OTG mice, voice assistants, external keyboards and mice, screen mirroring apps, and remote access tools—an Android phone with a broken screen ceases to be a useless brick and becomes a device you can still use. extract its information and key functionsPrepare yourself with backups, enable remote access, and know these alternatives before the accident happens—and know How much does it cost to replace the screen?— makes the difference between losing everything or having your content under control.
