Where on Xiaomi search for deleted photos: all hidden folders and recovery methods

You accidentally deleted important photos from your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO — and now you don't know where to look for them? Don't panic. Even after clicking "Delete" files don't disappear from your phone instantly. They move to hidden system folders, temporary cache or remain in memory until they are overwritten with new data. In this article, we'll look at all possible storage locations for deleted photos on Xiaomi smartphones, from the standard shopping cart to technical memory partitions, accessible only through ADB or Recovery Mode.

It's important to understand that the chances of recovery depend on how the images were deleted. If you erased them through the MIUI gallery, they could get into the cart. If you used a file manager or third-party applications (like Google Photos), the algorithm is different. And when formatting a memory card or resetting settings without a backup, it will be extremely difficult to return data. We have collected current methods for all Xiaomi models from 2020-2026, including Android 12-14 devices with a HyperOS shell.

1.The basket in the MIUI gallery: the first place to search

The most obvious and affordable way is to check the built-in shopping cart in the Gallery app, which is activated by default on Xiaomi smartphones and stores deleted photos for 30 days (on some models up to 60 days).

1. Open the Gallery app (icon with multi-colored squares).
2. Slip on three horizontal lines (menu) in the lower right corner.
3. Select the Recycle Bin (or Recently Deleted on HyperOS).
4. Find the right photos, highlight them and click Restore.

If the cart is empty or not on the menu, check the settings:

• 📁 Go to Gallery Settings → Recycle Bin and make sure the function is enabled.
• ⏳ Clarify the storage period (by default - 30 days, but it can be increased to 60).
• 🔄 If the photos were deleted more than a month ago, they could have been automatically cleaned.

⚠️ Attention: Recycle Bin in Google Photos works separately! If you deleted photos through this application, look for them in the menu of the Recycle Bin inside Google Photos - there is a storage period of 60 days.

2. Hidden folders: where Xiaomi hides temporary files

MIUI (and the new HyperOS) creates several hidden folders where copies of deleted photos can remain, which are not visible in the standard file manager, but can be accessed through Explorer with hidden files enabled or through a PC.

The main folders for verification:

How to open hidden folders:

1. Use the Mi File Explorer file manager (built into MIUI).
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → Settings → turn on Show hidden files.
3. Follow one of the paths from the table above.

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If your phone doesn’t have a built-in Explorer, install Solid Explorer or FX File Manager – these are better at displaying hidden system files.

3. App cache: an unexpected source of lost photos

Many apps (social networks, messengers, photo editors) store copies of uploaded or processed images in their cache, for example, WhatsApp, Telegram or VK can store photos you viewed or sent, even if the originals are removed from the gallery.

Where to look:

• 📸 Messengers: /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.whatsapp/media (for WhatsApp) or similar folders for other applications.
• 🎨 Photo Editors: Pictures or Download – many applications (e.g. Snapseed, PicsArt) save copies of edited photos.
• 🌐 browsers: /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.android.chrome/cache — There may be thumbnails of uploaded images.

To view the app cache:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (such as the Gallery or WhatsApp).
3. Put Memory on it. → Cash.
4. The system will show the cache volume, but you will need root or specialized utilities (for example, DiskDigger) to access the files.

⚠️ Warning: Clearing the cache through the app settings will delete all temporary files irrevocably. If you suspect that there are photos, first use recovery software (about them in the next section).

Recovery programs: When standard methods fail

If you don't find photos in your cart or hidden folders, you need to connect third-party tools. Both mobile apps and PC versions are suitable for Xiaomi. The main rule is: don't install programs on the same disk where the deleted photos were stored (this can overwrite data).

The best tools for recovery:

Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger (the most popular solution for Android):

Download DiskDigger from Google Play|Launch the app and select the full scan|Specify the memory partition (internal drive or SD-map)|Wait for the scan to be completed (may take up to an hour)|Select the photos found and click Restore|Save files to another medium (not your phone!)

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If the phone is not detected on the PC in MTP mode (for example, after resetting), try:

• 🔌 Connect through ADB (Requires the included debugging USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI — tap 7 times).
• 💾 Use the card reader to extract SD-cards (if the photo is stored on it).

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The faster you start recovering, the better the chances of returning a photo, and every new file saved to your phone can overwrite deleted data.

5. Recovery Mode and ADB: for advanced users

If standard methods fail, the low-level tools remain, such as Recovery Mode and ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which require technical knowledge but allow access to raw memory data where fragments of deleted photos can remain.

Method 1: Recovery Mode (TWRP)

If your Xiaomi has custom recovery installed (such as TWRP), you can:

1. Load into Recovery Mode (turn off the phone, then press Power + Volume up).
2. Select Mount → Enable MTP.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and scan the memory via PhotoRec or TestDisk.

Method 2: ADB Pull

With ADB, you can create a full copy of the /data partition where user files are stored:

adb pull /data/media/0/DCIM C:\Xiaomi_Backup

This command will copy the DCIM folder to your PC's C:\ disk, and then you can scan it with recovery software.

⚠️ Attention: Working with ADB And Recovery can cause you to lose warranty or damage data if you run the commands incorrectly.

6. Cloud Copies: Last Chance to Get Your Photos Back

If local recovery fails, check the cloud services, and many Xiaomi users don’t even know that their photos are automatically synced to:

• ☁️ Google Photos: If autoload was enabled, photos could be saved to the cloud even after being deleted from your phone. check photos.google.com in the Recycle Bin section.
• 📦 Mi Cloud: Xiaomi's service stores gallery backups if you're logged in to a Mi Account. → gallery.
• 💬 Social media: photos sent to VK, Telegram or WhatsApp, can be stored in chats or albums.

How to check out Mi Cloud:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Make sure that the gallery sync function is enabled.
3. Go to i.mi.com, log in and check the Photos section.

If the photos were removed from the cloud, specify the storage time:

• 🗑️ Google Photos: 60 days in the cart.
• 🗑️ Mi Cloud: 30 days (unless manual cleaning was done).

7. How to prevent future photo loss

To avoid the problem of deleted photos, set up automatic backup and follow the simple rules:

Turn on autoload to Google Photos or Mi Cloud|Regularly copy important photos to your PC or external drive |Do not store a single copy of the photo on your phone |Use a Class A2 or U3 memory card for reliability |Regularly check the shopping cart in the gallery for old files

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Additional advice:

• 🔄 Set up sync with Google Drive: in Google Photos, select Settings → Backup and synchronization.
• 📁 Use the Favorites folder in the gallery MIUI: Add important pictures there – they will not fall into the basket if accidentally deleted.
• 🔋 Keep track of memory card health: if the phone is rebooted frequently or the photos disappear by themselves, check SD-Error card (via chkdsk on PC).

Xiaomi's HyperOS (2026) models are now available with a new feature called Cloud Sync, which automatically backs up not only photos but encrypted videos to activate:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Cloud.
2. Select the backup of the device.
3. Turn on the Gallery option and specify the copy frequency (daily or when connecting to Wi-Fi).

FAQ: Frequent questions about photo recovery on Xiaomi