Where to look for deleted photos on Xiaomi Redmi 7: from the cart to deep scanning

Losing photos on a smartphone is one of the most frustrating situations for a user, especially if we are talking about Xiaomi Redmi 7, where the standard recovery mechanisms are not always obvious. Many people mistakenly believe that after clicking Delete, the pictures disappear forever, but in fact you have at least 5 locations where they can be saved, from a temporary basket to application system caches. In this article, we will analyze all possible sources, including hidden MIUI folders, cloud backups and even recovery methods without superuser rights.

It's important to understand that search success depends on how long it's been since you deleted it and what actions you've taken with your afterward phone. For example, installing new apps or shooting videos can overwrite the memory sectors where deleted files were stored. So the faster you act, the better the chances of returning lost frames. We'll also reveal the feature of the F2FS file system on Redmi 7, which affects data recovery.

1.The basket in the Xiaomi Gallery: the first step of the search

The most logical place to look for deleted photos is the built-in shopping cart in the standard Gallery app. On Redmi 7 with MIUI 10/11/12, it works on a "soft delete" principle: files are not erased immediately, but moved to temporary storage for 30 days (by default).

• 📁 The cart can be hidden if you use third-party galleries (e.g. Google Photos).
• ⏳ The storage period of files in the basket can be changed in the settings (maximum - 60 days).
• 🔄 If you cleaned the basket manually, this method will not work.
• 📱 Some firmwares call the shopping cart “Recently Deleted” or “Deleted Files».

To check the basket:

1. Open the Gallery app (an icon with a floral logo).
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → select the Recycle Bin (or Remote).
3. Hold your finger on the desired photo → click Restore.

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If the cart is empty but you're sure the photos were deleted recently, try rebooting your phone. Sometimes MIUI doesn't immediately update the contents of the temporary storage.

⚠️ Warning: Recycle bin files take up space in your phone's memory. If you have critically little free space, the system can automatically clear the basket early.

2. Cloud backups: Mi Cloud and Google Photos

If your Redmi 7 has been enabled to sync with the cloud, the chances of returning a photo are much higher. Xiaomi offers two main cloud services:

• ☁️ Mi Cloud is a proprietary cloud with 5GB of free space, automatically backs up photos if you have Settings enabled. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → gallery.
• 📷 Google Photos is a more reliable option, as it offers unlimited storage of compressed photos (until June 2021) and 15 GB for originals.

How to check out Mi Cloud:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Choose the Gallery → Management of backup copies.
3. View the available copies and restore the necessary files.

For Google Photos:

1. Install the app from the Play Market if you don’t have one.
2. Open the side menu → Cart (photos are stored there for 60 days).
3. Check the archive if the photos were hidden rather than deleted.

⚠️ Note: If you manually deleted photos from the cloud (e.g., via the web version of Google Photos), it will not be possible to restore them. Also check if your Xiaomi account was tied to another device - sometimes backups are saved on your old phone.

3. Hidden folders and app cache: where else can photos be stored

The MIUI file system creates many hidden folders that temporarily store thumbnails, cached versions of photos, and even the originals. Redmi 7 is especially worth checking out:

• 📂 /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails — Photo miniatures, sometimes saved even after the originals are deleted.
• 🗃️ /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots — Screenshots that may have contained the desired images.
• 🔍 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.gallery/cache — cache gallery, where sometimes copies remain.
• 📱 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/ExtraScreenShots — If you have used the dual app function or the second screen.

To see the hidden folders:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB (in File Transfer mode).
2. Or use a file manager (such as Mi File Manager) by enabling the display of hidden files in the settings.
3. Manually follow these paths.

Pay special attention to the com.miui.gallery folder, which can store temporary copies of photos deleted less than a week ago, but don’t confuse the cache with the originals: files in this folder often have the.tmp or.nomedia extension and require renaming to view.

4. PC recovery: programs for deep scanning

If previous methods have not worked, it is time to connect Redmi 7 to your computer and use specialized utilities.

• 💻 Recuva (free) – scans internal memory and microSD card, supports.jpg,.png,.heic formats.
• 🛠️ DiskDigger – Works without DiskDigger ROOT, But with the right superuser finds more files.
• 🔍 EaseUS MobiSaver is paid, but with a high percentage of successful recovery for the MIUI.
• 📱 Dr.Fone – Supports recovery directly from your phone (without PC connection).

Step-by-step instructions for Recuva:

1. Download and install the program on PC (official site).
2. Connect Redmi 7 via USB in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. In Recuva, select the type of Image files and specify your phone’s drive.
4. Start a deep scan (may take 1-2 hours).
5. Tag the photos you find and click Restore (save them to your PC, not back to your phone!).

⚠️ Warning: Never save recovered files back to Redmi 7 - this can overwrite the remaining unrecovered data.

If the program does not find a photo, try:

• 🔌 Connect the phone in mode PTP (for cameras instead MTP.
• 🔄 Reboot Redmi 7 before scanning – sometimes it helps the program to “see” more files.
• 📱 Put it on the phone. ROOT-rights (if you are prepared for the risk of loss of warranty).

5. Recovery without ROOT: Alternative methods

Get it. ROOT-Redmi 7 rights are a risky activity, especially if you're an inexperienced user. Fortunately, there are ways to recover photos without hacking the system:

• 📱 Use of the ADB (Android Debug Bridge to access system folders.
• 🔄 Recoil to factory firmware (if backup was created through Mi Cloud).
• 📁 Checking a memory card on another device (if the photos were stored on a microSD).

The ADB method is suitable for advanced users:

adb shell


su




find /storage/emulated/0/ -name ".jpg" -o -name ".png" > /sdcard/recovered_files.txt

This team will create a file. recovered_files.txt A list of all images on your phone, including deleted ones (unless they are already overwritten).

For beginners, it is easier to use restore apps directly on your phone:

• Dumpster creates its own basket for all deleted files.
• Photo Recovery scans internal memory without ROOT.
• GT Recovery – supports recovery from cache applications.

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No ROOT-Recovery software only sees files that haven't been overwritten by new data, and the less you use your phone after deleting, the better the chances of success.

6.If nothing has worked: Professional services

When all the independent attempts are exhausted, you need to turn to specialists. Professional data recovery services (for example, Hetman Recovery or Ontrack) work with the physical memory chip of the phone and can return photos even after formatting.

• 💰 The cost of services starts from 5 000 rubles (depending on the complexity of the).
• ⏳ Recovery time: 1 to 5 days.
• 📱 Redmi 7 with eMMC memory is more likely than with UFS (This model uses the eMMC 5.1).
• 🔒 You will need to provide your phone in person or send it by mail (risk of damage during transportation).

Before contacting the service:

1. Check if they work specifically with the Xiaomi Redmi 7 (some models have unique encryption schemes).
2. Ask about the recovery guarantee – honest companies don’t promise 100% results.
3. Check reviews on independent sites (for example, Otzovic or Yandex.Maps).

⚠️ Warning: Avoid handicraftsmen offering recovery costs of 1,000 to 2,000 rubles. Often these services involve the same software you can run yourself (such as DiskDigger), but with the risk of leaking your data.

7. How to prevent future photo loss

The best way to keep your photos safe is to set up automatic backups. On Redmi 7, you can do this in a number of ways:

• ☁️ Mi Cloud: Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → gallery → Autoboot.
• 📷 Google Photos: Enable “Backup and Sync” in the app settings.
• 📱 Local Copying: Regularly transfer photos to a PC or external drive.
• 🔄 Synchronization with NAS: If you have a home server (e.g., Xiaomi Mi Router with a connected server) HDD).

Additional security measures:

• 📂 Create a Backup folder on a memory card and manually copy important photos there.
• 🔒 Use apps like FolderSync to automatically sync with the cloud.
• 📱 Turn off memory optimization in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery for the Gallery app.

It is also important to remember the physical security of your phone:

• 💧 Avoid moisture – even after drying, data on the eMMC can be damaged.
• 🔋 Do not allow the battery to be completely discharged – this can cause the file system to fail.
• 📵 Do not remove the memory card while recording a photo/video.

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Configure the “Saving Traffic” option in Google Photos (in the backup settings) so that the automatic download does not eat up the mobile Internet.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photo recovery on Redmi 7