A black display and lack of response to touches when the speaker and vibration are working means a critical failure of the touchscreen, requiring an immediate reset of Android to factory settings to unlock the device or delete personal data.
However, the standard path is through the menu Settings becomes unavailable. Fortunately, the ecosystem Android provides several hardware and software methods to perform this operation without involving a touch display. We will look at methods from simple use of physical buttons to complex manipulations with a computer and USB debugging.
Before proceeding, it is important to understand: any of the methods described below will completely delete all information from the internal memory of the phone. Photos, contacts and messages will be lost forever if they were not synced to the cloud in advance. Therefore, if there is even the slightest opportunity to save data by connecting a mouse or displaying an image on an external monitor, it is worth trying to do this before formatting.
Method of hardware buttons (Hard Reset via Recovery)
The most universal and reliable way to bring the device back to life without using a sensor is to enter the mode Recovery Mode. This is a special service environment, loaded from a separate memory partition, which allows you to manage the system at a low level. For navigation, only physical volume and power buttons are used here, which is ideal when the display is not working.
The login procedure may vary depending on the manufacturer of your gadget. Most often, you need to hold down the Power button and Volume Up button at the same time until the logo appears. On some models Samsung or Xiaomi you may need to connect the USB cable to the computer when you press the buttons. If the screen is completely black, you will not see the menu, but the device can still enter the desired mode.
Once you get to the recovery menu, navigation is as follows: the volume buttons move the cursor up and down, and the power button confirms the selection. You need to find the item containing the phrase Wipe data/factory reset. Selecting this item initiates the cleaning process.
- 🔘 Hold the button combination for about 10-15 seconds until the device vibrates.
- 🔘 If the screen is black, blindly press the volume down button 3-4 times, then the power button to confirm (this will work if the menu is standard).
- 🔘 On devices with a button Home (old Samsung models), use a triple combination: Volume Up + Home + Power.
⚠️ Attention: On new versions of Android (11 and higher), to enter recovery mode, you often need to first connect the phone with a cable to a running computer or another phone. Without connecting, the cable may simply reboot the device into normal mode.
After confirming the reset, the system will ask for final consent, since the action is irreversible. Usually you need to select item Yes or Factory data reset. The process will take a few minutes, after which the Reboot system nowoption will appear. Selecting this item will reboot the phone in a clean state.
☑️ Ready for Hard Reset
Using a mouse and OTG adapter
If the touchscreen is broken, but the matrix partially displays the image, or the sensor simply does not respond, you can try to control the interface using a regular computer mouse. To do this, you will need OTG adapter (an adapter from USB to microUSB or USB Type-C), which is inexpensive and sold in any electronics store.
When you connect the mouse to your smartphone, you will see a cursor on the screen (if the matrix is intact). This will allow you to unlock the device, enter a pattern or PIN code and go to the reset menu in a standard software way. Even if the screen is black but the backlight is on, moving the mouse can activate the display, allowing you to navigate by beeps or intuitively.
This method is especially effective if you need to not only reset the phone, but also try to save data before doing so. You can copy files to your computer or upload them to the cloud using the familiar Explorer interface, which is controlled by mouse clicks.
If you don’t have an OTG cable, but have a powered USB hub, you can connect a mouse and keyboard at the same time. This will give you a better chance of entering the unlock password if the keyboard supports entering numbers.
It is worth noting that not all smartphones support the USB Host function, which is necessary for the operation of the peripheral. Budget models from older years may ignore the mouse connection. In this case, the cursor will not appear, and you will have to move on to other methods.
| Connector type | Required adapter | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
| USB Type-C | USB-C to USB-A | High (Android 6.0+) |
| MicroUSB | MicroUSB to USB-A | Medium (depending on the model) |
| USB Type-C | USB-C Hub (with HDMI) | For image output |
Reset via computer and USB debugging (ADB)
The most advanced method, requiring a personal computer and installed drivers. If the function USB Debugging (USB Debugging) in the developer menu was activated on your smartphone before the screen broke, you can send a reset command directly from the PC.
To implement this method, you need to download platform tools Android SDK Platform-Tools from the official Google website. After unpacking the archive, open a command prompt or terminal in the tools folder. Connect the phone to the computer with a cable and enter the connection test command.
adb devicesIf the serial number of your device is displayed in the list, then the connection is established. Next, enter a command to reboot into recovery mode, from where you can perform a reset, or a direct command to format (does not work on all devices due to security restrictions).
⚠️ Attention: ADB commands only work if debugging permission has previously been confirmed on this computer. If you connect the PC for the first time and the screen does not work to confirm the fingerprint, this method will not work.
Command for a full reset via ADB
In some cases, the "adb reboot recovery" command works, after which the phone will reboot into the recovery menu. Next, you need to operate the volume buttons blindly, as described in the first section. The direct command "adb shell recovery --wipe_data" may be blocked by the manufacturer.
Using adb has the advantage that you can first try to extract important data with commands adb pullbefore destroying the information. This makes the method preferable for those who want to maximize the chances of saving files.
Remote reset through Google and manufacturer services
If the phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network) and is logged into your account Google, you can use the service Find My Device. This tool is designed to find lost smartphones, but also has a complete data clearing function.
Go to google.com/android/find from any other device and log in with the same account as on the locked phone. The system will try to determine the location of the gadget. In the control menu, select the option Erase device (Erase Device).
- 🌐 The device must be turned on and have access to the network.
- 🌐 Your Google account must be active and synchronized.
- 🌐 The "Search for device" function must be enabled in the security settings.
Manufacturers have similar services: Samsung Find My Mobile, Xiaomi Cloud, Huawei Cloud. They often provide even more options, allowing you to unlock the screen remotely without resetting the data if this function was configured in advance.
Remote reset is the only way to clear the phone if neither the screen nor the buttons work, but you have access to the Internet and account.
After sending the command, the phone will receive a signal to perform a factory reset. This will happen automatically as soon as the device contacts the server.
The nuances of working with FRP protection
Modern devices based on Android are equipped with an anti-theft system. After resetting the settings using any of the methods described above, when you first boot, the system will require you to enter the details of the Google account that was synchronized with the phone before the reset.
This is done so that an attacker who stole the phone cannot simply erase it and sell it as new. If you do not remember the password for your account, the device will turn into a “brick” that cannot be activated legally.
Therefore, before you blindly press the reset button, make sure that you remember your login and password. If the screen partially works, try changing the password in advance to a simpler one or writing it down. In case of complete darkness of the screen, this check becomes critical.
⚠️ Attention: Resetting via Recovery or ADB does not remove the FRP lock. On the contrary, it triggers its activation. A remote reset via Google's website also requires you to enter a password afterwards.
If you plan to sell a phone with a broken screen, the new owner will be faced with an activation screen. Honestly warn the buyer about the need to enter your account for the initial setup, or log into the account blindly (if possible) and log out before the sale, although this is extremely difficult without visual control.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to reset the phone if it does not turn on at all?
No, if the phone does not respond to connecting the charger and does not show signs of life (vibration, sound, LED), a soft reset is not possible. In this case, the problem is hardware (burnt out board, battery) and repairs are required at a service center.
Will information be deleted from the SD memory card during a reset?
Usually the standard procedure Wipe data/factory reset affects only the internal memory of the device. The memory card remains untouched. However, for complete safety, it is recommended to remove the SD card before starting any manipulations.
What should I do if, after resetting, the phone asks for an account that I don’t remember?
You will have to use the procedure for restoring access to your Google account on another device through the website. If access cannot be restored, you will not be able to legally unlock the phone due to FRP protection.
Does the mouse method work on phones with a completely black screen?
The mouse can work even if you cannot see the cursor. You can try blindly clicking on the expected locations of the unlock buttons and menu, focusing on the sound signals of pressing the keyboard (if connected) or vibration.
How long does the reset process via Recovery take?
The formatting procedure itself usually takes from 2 to 5 minutes depending on the amount of internal memory and speed drive. However, preparing and entering the mode may require additional time.