The first thing I do whenever I get a new phone (or OS update on an old phone) is enable USB debugging, plug it into my computer, and then click trust this device. It's insurance for the time when the phone screen inevitably dies, because then I can plug it back in and immediately drive it using scrcpy. It's saved me twice so far.

With newer android versions, you might want to check the "disable adb authorization timeout" option too. Otherwise, phone will "forget" your computer's adb key after a week.

Not using this tool, but actually to use this tool. My nexus device had a cracked screen like yours and I ended up running an android emulator to find where to blindly click to finally allow adb

This is a very clever advice. Thanks you. Have to try this out.

You can use mouse with usb otg.

still have to hit an invisible button

Once the authorization popup is on the screen, press Tab, Enter, Tab, Tab, Enter (of course, it's more difficult if USB debugging is not enabled at all).

Thank you. I haven't tried this either. This sounds very doable. Can try this first in emulator.

It's worth learning how to use TalkBack anyway because of the insight it gives you into how accessibility tooling works, and also it's perfect for this use-case.

Can I turn the talk back on blindly? This phone is a pixel 2. Again, this does sound like a very good advice which I can try on emulator first. Thanks.

I'm not sure, but I feel like if a feature for blind people couldn't be turned on blindly, that would be problematic.

Most phones seem to have the default accessibility shortcut set to enable TalkBack -- I've needed to turn it off (for someone with dyspraxia) more than I've needed to turn it on.

Try holding down the two volume buttons down together for a few seconds, it might well activate.

if you have access to your phones files (or the phone backs up photos automatically ) you could try to use screenshots to guide you, or screenshare

Can you explain a bit more please. I do have some random screenshots backed up in Google photos. How does that help?

You take screenshots to navigate your dead screen phone