This write-up is specific to the Pixel 6. It may be applicable to other Android phones. Pixel 6 does not support USB-C to HDMI, but you can use scrcpy to display the phone’s screen on your computer. Scrcpy can also be used to pass input to your computer’s keyboard and mouse/touchpad to your phone.
This write-up has three main sections: (i) enabling TalkBack on your phone, (ii) enabling USB debugging on your phone (if needed), and (iii) using scrcpy to view your phone’s screen. USB debugging must be enabled for scrcpy to display your phone’s screen.
Enable TalkBack
T1. Try to enable Talk Back. TalkBack is the Google screen reader included on Android devices. It will read off what is on your screen and allow you to navigate your screen using a keyboard.
T2. On phone, hold down the volume up and down keys for three seconds. Alternatively, you may be able to say “Hey Google, enable Talk Back.” If TalkBack is enabled, you should feel a small “buzz” vibrate and maybe hear a chime sound. TalkBack may also begin to read out what is on your phone’s screen. If these do not work, you may need to unlock your phone to enable TalkBack.
T3. If TalkBack does not seem to be enabling, you may need to unlock your phone first. Proceed to steps U1-U4 of the “Enable USB debugging” section.
Enable USB debugging
U1. You will need to have USB debugging enabled on your phone to use scrcpy. This option is not enabled by default. Developer options must first be activated before you can activate USB debugging. If you are not sure if USB debugging is enabled you can check using scrcpy as discussed in step S5 of the “Use scrcpy to view phone screen on computer” section.
U2. Connect a keyboard to the phone. You can either use scrcpy or a keyboard with a USB-A to USB-C adapter. If using a keyboard without scrcpy, proceed to step U3.
U2.a. Install scrpy and connect to your phone as discussed in steps S1-S4 of the “Use scrcpy to view phone screen on computer” section.
U2.b. Enter "scrcpy --otg" in terminal
(Scrcpy should connect to the phone and a new window will pop up on your computer with the Android symbol.)
(If using Windows and Terminal (e.g., not Command Prompt), must preface the command with “.\” such as “.\adb devices”).
U3. Unlock phone using your pin.
U3.a. If fingerprint lock is enabled, you will need to bypass this and get to the pin entry screen. Perform the following steps:
1) Shift + tab
2) Space
3) enter pin
4) hit enter
U3.b If fingerprint lock is not enabled, you may be able to press Space, enter pin, and hit enter. I have not tested this scenario.
U4. Enable TalkBack as discussed in step T2.
U5. Open the Settings app. The easiest way is to use Google Assistant by saying "Hey Google, open Settings.” However, this will not work if your digital assistant is set to use Gemini instead of Google Assistant. At the time of this writing, Gemini cannot control apps on your phone. You can also navigate to the Settings app using TalkBack, as discussed below.
(You may be able to skip to step U6.b by saying "Hey Google, open About phone.”)
U5.1. Navigate to the home screen of your phone by pressing Alt + Ctrl + h. (On Mac, Alt is Option.)
U5.2. Open the app drawer by pressing Ctrl + a. The app drawer is the listing of all your apps.
U5.3. Navigate to the Settings app using the arrow keys on your keyboard. TalkBack will read out the app name as you highlight it. The list will be alphabetical, and the apps are laid out in a grid format (e.g., 5 apps wide). Use the down arrow until you get to the apps starting with “S.” When you get to the apps that are alphabetically before and after Settings, go to the app that is before and press the right arrow keys until you highlight Settings. Alternatively, you may be able to select Search (may be the first thing that is selected when opening the app drawer) and type in “Settings” and hit Enter.
U5.4. Press Alt + Enter to open the Settings app.
U6. Enable Developer Options in the Settings app.
U6.a. Press Alt + right arrow to navigate to “About phone” and hit Alt + Enter when highlighted. (Alt + right arrow will go down to the next item in the list. Alt + left arrow will go up one.) Alternatively, you may be able to select “Search settings” and type in “About phone” and hit Alt + Enter.
U6.b. Press Alt + Enter until “Build number” is highlighted. Press Alt + Enter seven times to activate Developer Options. A window will pop up and you will need to enter your pin to complete the activation. TalkBack will read back what’s on the screen for you.
U.7. Enable USB debugging.
U.7.a. If you just enabled Developer options, go back one screen by pressing Alt + Ctrl + Backspace.
U7.b. Navigate to the “System” option in the Settings app. If you just went back one screen after enabling Developer options, press the up arrow once until “System” is highlighted. Press - to open the System options.
U7.c. Navigate to “Developer options” and hit Alt + Enter.
U7.d. Enable the “Use developer options” toggle if it is not. Talkback will let you know what the status of this toggle is. A window may appear after enabling the toggle. You may need to check a box and hit an “OK” button to complete enabling of developer options. Navigate the box using Alt + right arrow. TalkBack will read back what’s on the screen for you.
U7.e. Navigate to the “USB debugging” toggle and enable. A window may appear after enabling the toggle. You may need to check a box and hit an “OK” button to complete enabling of USB debugging. Navigate the box using Alt + right arrow. TalkBack will read back what’s on the screen for you.
Use scrcpy to view phone screen on computer
S1. Install scrcpy on computer (preferably use Mac or Linux as Windows may have issues with the proper drivers)
S2. Connect phone to computer using cable
S3. Open Terminal or Command Prompt on computer
S4. Change directory to folder where scrcpy is (if needed)
(e.g.: CD C:\Users\user\Downloads\scrcpy-win64-v2.6.1\scrcpy-win64-v2.6.1)
(this step is not needed on Mac)
S5. Check if USB debugging is enabled on phone. Enter "adb devices" in Terminal.
(If using Windows and Terminal (e.g., not Command Prompt), must preface the command with “.\” such as “.\adb devices”).
(If there is nothing listed under “List of devices attached” then USB debugging is not enabled. Proceed to step U2.b of the “Enable USB debugging” section to enable USB debugging.)
(If there is a device under “List of devices attached,” then proceed to step S6.)
S6. Check if the phone is authorized. If unauthorized, the Terminal will return something like:
INFO: 24011FDF6001K2 unauthorized
In the example, 24011FDF6001K2 is the phone’s serial number and the phone is unauthorized. You would need this to authorize the phone to connect to it.
(If the phone is unauthorized, proceed to step S7 to authorize it.)
(If the phone is authorized, proceed to step S8 to use scrcpy to connect to your phone.)
S7. Authorize the phone.
S7.a. Enter “scrcpy --otg --serial={SERIAL}" in Terminal, replacing {SERIAL} with the serial shown after entering “adb devices.” Continuing with the above example, you would enter “scrcpy --otg --serial=24011FDF6001K2" in Terminal.
S7.b. A pop up may be displayed on the phone asking for authorization. Use TalkBack and your keyboard to check the allow USB debugging checkbox, move to the OK button, and click OK.
S8. Enter "scrcpy --turn-screen-off --stay-awake" in Terminal to connect to the phone and show the phone’s screen on your computer. The “--turn-screen-off” turns off the phone screen to prevent any glitching from syncing with the phone screen (the screen is broken after all). The “--stay-awake” prevents the phone from going to sleep and locking you out.
S9. At this point, you're in and running. Other options you may want to consider are disabling TalkBack, disabling your phone’s pin, connecting to a Bluetooth device (e.g., keyboard, mouse, headphones), setting up casting to a Chromecast, setting up access to Google Messages on web browser, or enabling scrcpy wireless connection (to allow you to connect the broken phone to a new Pixel and transfer everything).
S10. Pull all the files you need from your phone NOW! I did not do this and my phone eventually stopped charging and then got caught in the “Pixel is starting” boot loop. Now my files are lost.
Helpful Resources
TalkBack keyboard cheat sheet
Helpful TalkBack shortcuts (may also work to navigate phone using a keyboard without TalkBack enabled)
How to enable USB debugging
Switch Digital Assistant between Gemini and Google Assistant
Connecting to scrcpy wirelessly
Another good write-up on enabling USB debugging
Another good write-up on connecting to scrcpy
Other useful threads
This section discusses how to set up a new phone and apply your backed up Google profile. The challenge is that Google texts your phone number for two-factor authentication to verify your Google log in on the replacement phone. You can’t get texts before your phone is set up, and you can’t import your Google backup profile before your phone is set up. Hence, we have a catch 22.
Assumptions:
Background:
Steps: