I plugged in a mouse with a usb to micro usb / usbc adapter to my broken Huwawei Nova 2i

This gives a cursor (yes a windows like cursor) on your phone screen that you can move and click which imitates the touch.

I selected my files and sent it over to my computer with WiFi direct. I had to install a 3rd party app on my phone to act it as a server so I can connect from my computer and download.

There are plenty of apps like that on the play store. But I don’t know what I’d have done if the screen was completely broken.

In my case the screen was heavily cracked and touch wasn’t working but it was viewable.