Where are the albums with photos on Xiaomi: 7 proven ways to find files

Have you taken hundreds of photos on a Xiaomi smartphone but can't find them in the gallery? Or have the albums disappeared from the usual folders after the MIUI update? The problem is familiar to many users - the Xiaomi file structure is different from standard Android, and the MIUI shell adds its nuances. In this article, we will analyze all possible places to store photos, from obvious folders to hidden system directories and cloud backups.

Xiaomi is a big part of the company’s use of its own services (e.g. Mi Cloud) and duplicates media in multiple locations, which makes it harder to find, but also increases the chances of recovering lost images. We analyzed the storage structure on models from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra (MIUI 12-14) and identified 7 key places where your albums can lie.

Importantly, if you're looking for photos after resetting or deleting, you can immediately go to the recovery section, and for the rest of us, let's start with the basic methods.

1.Standard folders of Xiaomi Gallery

By default, all photos taken with Xiaomi’s camera are saved in the DCIM/Camera folder, but the MIUI shell creates additional directories for different types of images:

• 📷 Main photos: /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Camera/ — Here are the pictures taken with the standard camera app, and the folder is divided into subfolders by date (e.g., by date, 2026-05).
• 🎥 Screenshots: /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/ — It is automatically created at the first screenshot.
• 📥 Uploaded images: /storage/emulated/0/Download/ or /Pictures/ — Here are photos from messengers and browsers.
• 🔍 Hidden albums: /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Gallery/cloud/private/ — Photos hidden through the standard gallery (available only after entering the password).

To open these folders:

1. Open any file manager (e.g., Mi File Explorer or Total Commander).
2. Go to the Device or Internal Memory section.
3. Follow the path above. If you don't have a folder, turn on the hidden files in the manager's settings.

⚠️ Note: Do not rename the folder DCIM — This can cause the camera to malfunction. If it's gone, restore it through Settings. → Annexes → Camera. → Warehouse → Drop it.

2. Features of the MIUI Gallery: where else can there be photos

The Gallery app in Xiaomi doesn’t just display files from folders – it aggregates media from a variety of sources, including:

• 🌐 Cloud Albums: Photos from Mi Cloud and Google Photos are displayed in the Cloud section (if sync is enabled).
• 📁 Messenger folders: Pictures from WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber are automatically grouped into albums with app logos.
• 🔒 Protected Albums: In MIUI 13+ The Private Album feature (available on the PIN-This photo is not displayed in the file manager!
• 🗑️ Recycle Bin: Deleted photos are stored here for 30 days (path: Gallery) → Basket).

How to check out all the albums in the gallery:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → Albums.
3. Scroll down: All categories will be displayed here, including Screenshots, Downloaded, Private and Cart.

In MIUI 14, the album "Private" may not appear in the list - to see it, pull the screen down (as when updating the page).

Check the Albums section.

Open the Recycle Bin (deleted files)

Find the messenger folders (WhatsApp, Telegram)

Pull the screen down for hidden albums (MIUI 14)

Check out cloud services (Mi Cloud, Google Photos)-->

3. Hidden and system folders with photos

Xiaomi creates several hidden directories where temporary copies of photos can be duplicated or stored, and these folders are not visible in the standard file manager, but can be opened through Total Commander, FX File Explorer or ADB.

To see the hidden folders:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Solid Explorer).
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.
3. Follow one of the paths from the table above.

⚠️ Note: Deleting files from.thumbnails or.cache folders can slow down the gallery!

4. Cloud Storage: Mi Cloud and Google Photos

Xiaomi defaults to sync photos with Mi Cloud, the company's own cloud. If the feature was enabled, your albums could automatically download there. Many users also use Google Photos, which duplicates photos in the background.

How to check cloud copies:

• 🖥️ Mi Cloud: Open Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Gallery, check if sync is enabled, if so, photos available on i.mi.com (enter username/password from Mi-account).

Google Photos:

1. Open the Google Photos app or go to photos.google.com.
2. Check the Photos section on the device and the Recycle Bin (photos are stored there for 60 days).

How to find these folders:

1. Open the file manager.
2. Go to /storage/emulated/0/.
3. Look for folders with app names (such as WhatsApp, Telegram).
4. They usually have Media or Images subfolders inside them.

Tip: If you can't find a folder, search the file manager. Type in the keywords: Images, Pictures or Media.

💡

Photos from messengers are often duplicated in the MIUI gallery, but the originals remain in the application folders. If you deleted a picture from the chat, check these directories - the files may have been saved.

6. Recovery of deleted photos

If photos have been deleted but no backups, try to restore them with specialized utilities. Importantly, the faster you start recovering, the better the chances of success (after deleting files are not erased immediately, but marked as free space).

Recovery methods:

• 🔧 PC software: Recuva (free, for Windows); DiskDigger (there is an Android version); EaseUS MobiSaver (paid, but with a trial period); Instruction for Recuva: Connect Xiaomi to your PC in File Transfer mode. Launch Recuva, select Image file type. Specify your phone's drive (usually Internal Storage). Press Analysis and wait for the results.
• 📱 Android apps: Dumpster (works as a Remote File Recycle Bin). GT Recovery (requires root rights for deep scanning).

⚠️ Warning: Do not install recovery software on the same disk (or memory partition) where deleted photos were stored! This can overwrite data and make it irrecoverable. Use a PC or other media.

If the photos were on SD-map:

1. Do not save new files to the map.
2. Connect it to the PC through the card reader.
3. Use PhotoRec (a free deep scanning utility).

7. Backups and alternative search methods

If you regularly take backups, the chances of finding lost photos are much higher.

How to make a backup photo in the future:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Select Gallery and click Backup.
3. Save a copy for SD-map.

Alternatively, use Google Photos with Autoload and Sync. It automatically saves all new images to the cloud with original quality (up to 15 GB free).

Frequent Questions (FAQ)