Where are the deleted photos on Xiaomi: 5 places where you can find them

Why photos “disappear” with Xiaomi and whether they can be returned

Did you accidentally delete important photos from your Xiaomi smartphone and now you don't know where to look for them? Don't panic - MIUI-based devices have several built-in protections against irretrievable data loss. Even if you didn't turn on backup, the chances of recovery are still high.

Unlike many other Android devices, Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark models) use their own MIUI shell, which automatically saves deleted files in a hidden bin. In addition, the system is integrated with the Mi Cloud cloud service, which can store backups without your knowledge. But there are pitfalls: for example, photos deleted through some third-party applications, bypass these mechanisms.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible places where deleted images can be stored, from obvious (gallery cart) to obscure (.thumbnails system folders and app cache), and you’ll learn how to recover photos if they’re not saved in any of the standard storages.

1.Basket in the standard MIUI gallery: first place to search

The most logical place to look for deleted photos is the built-in Recycle Bin in the Gallery app, which works on the principle of “soft removal” at MIUI: files are not erased immediately, but moved to temporary storage, where they remain from 15 to 30 days (depending on the model and version of the firmware).

To check the basket:

• 📱 Open the Gallery app (image with multi-colored squares).
• 🗑️ In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and pick the basket.
• 🔍 View the list of files – there can be both photos and videos.
• 🔄 To restore, select the desired files and click Restore.

If you don't see the basket item on the menu, it means:

• 🔧 The function is disabled on your device (see the next section).
• 📱 You've got an old version. MIUI (10th), where there was no basket.
• 🗃️ Photos have been deleted via another application (e.g. Google Photos or file manager).

⚠️ Note: Files in the cart take up space in the device's memory. If there is less than 10% free space, the system can automatically clear the cart ahead of schedule.

2. How to turn on the basket if it is not in the gallery

If you don't have a Recycle Bin item in your gallery, it doesn't mean that the function is permanently disabled. In MIUI 11 and later, you can manually activate it:

1. Open the gallery. → ⋮ → Settings.
2. Find the Recycle Bin (or Manage Files in Older Versions) section.
3. Activate the switch Turn on the basket.
4. Set a storage period (by default - 15 days).

Note: Some models (e.g. POCO F3 or Redmi Note 10 Pro) may have different paths. If you don't find a setting, try:

• 🔍 Enter the word “basket” in the search for settings».
• 📁 Check the Memory section → Storage settings.

If the cart never came, your version of MIUI doesn't support it, so move on to the next section, Mi Cloud search.

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After turning on the cart, do a test: delete the unnecessary photo and check if it appears in the cart.

3.Mi Cloud Cloud Storage: Photo Backups

Mi Cloud is a cloud service from Xiaomi that automatically syncs photos, contacts and other data. If your device was enabled sync, the deleted images could be saved to the cloud.

1. Open the Settings. → Xiaomi Account (or Mi Account).
2. Select Mi Cloud → Gallery.
3. View the synced photos list. Deleted files can be displayed marked Remote or can be found in the Cloud Recycle Bin section.

Features of Mi Cloud:

• 📸 Only photos taken on the main camera are synchronized (screenshots and downloads from the Internet are usually not saved).
• ☁️ Free storage – 5 GB (about 1500 high-quality photos).
• ⏳ Photos are stored in the cloud for 30 days after deleting from the device.

⚠️ Note: If you logged out of your Xiaomi account or reset your phone to factory settings, the data in Mi Cloud could have been deleted.

4. Hidden system folders: where Xiaomi hides thumbnails and cache

If the photos are not found in the cart or in the cloud, it is worth looking into the hidden system folders. MIUI creates several service directories where you can store:

• 🖼️ Miniatures (smaller copies of photos for quick download).
• 🗃️ Cash galleries (temporary files, sometimes containing originals).
• 📂 Backups from third-party apps (e.g. Google Photos).

To access these folders:

1. Connect your phone to your PC or use a file manager (such as Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
2. Enable the display of hidden files: On PC: in Explorer, click View → Hidden elements in Mi File Manager: ⋮ → Settings → Show hidden files.

/storage/emulated/0/

DCIM/.thumbnails


Pictures/.cache




Android/data/com.miui.gallery/cache




Miui/Gallery/cloud

What you can find in these folders:

• 📷 In.thumbnails – miniature photos (size) ~100-300 CBs that can be increased by special programs.
• 🗑️ V /cache — Temporary copies, sometimes with original permission.
• ☁️ V /Miui/Gallery/cloud — Local copies of photos from Mi Cloud.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from the.thumbnails and.cache folders manually, this can cause a gallery to crash.

5. Recovery through third-party programs: When nothing worked

If standard methods don't work, the last chance is data recovery software, which scans the device's memory at the file system level and can find photos even if they were deleted months ago.

Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger (without root):

Download the app from Google Play|Start and select Start basic scanning|Wait until it is completed (may take a while). 10-30 minute)|Tag the desired photos and click Restore|Save files to a memory card or cloud-->

Importantly, the less you use your phone after deleting a photo, the better the chances of recovery. New files (photos, videos, updates) can overwrite deleted data.

What to do if the program does not find a photo:

• 🔌 Connect your phone to your PC and scan through Recuva or EaseUS – they analyze memory more deeply.
• 📵 If the photo was on SD-map, remove it and connect it through the card reader.
• 🔧 Try to turn on the developer mode and debugging on USB (In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI press 7 times).

6. Features of recovery on different models Xiaomi

The algorithm for searching for deleted photos may vary depending on the model and version of MIUI. Here are the key nuances for popular devices:

• 📱 Redmi Note 9/10/11: The shopping cart in the gallery is stable, but sometimes requires a reboot after turning on. Mi Cloud only syncs photos taken to the main camera (not screenshots).
• 📱 POCO F3/4/5: The basket is disabled by default, you need to activate manually. DCIM/Camera Temporary files with the.tmp extension can remain.
• 📱 Xiaomi Mi 11/12/13: Supports HEIF-format - these photos are restored only through Mi Cloud or programs. → Local area where copies can be stored.
• 📱 Black Shark: Game Launcher can block access to system folders - use Solid Explorer with root rights. Photos from Game Mode mode are stored in the game's file. /Games/Screenshots.

Advice for owners of old models (until 2019):

On devices with MIUI 9-10 (such as the Redmi 5/6 or Mi A1/A2), there is no basket in the gallery.

• Check the /DCIM/.recent folder – there may be temporary copies.
• Use Google Photos: If the app was installed, it could automatically back up.

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On newer models (2022 and later), the basket is more reliable, but cloud sync is often turned off by default. Always check both options!

7 How to Prevent Photo Loss in the Future: 5 Ways to Work

To avoid losing important images, set up automatic backups. Here are 5 proven methods for Xiaomi:

• ☁️ Mi Cloud: Enable autosynchronization in Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Gallery. Install Download only over Wi-Fi so as not to waste mobile traffic.
• 📁 Google Photos: Download the app and enable Backup and Sync. Choose High (free) or Original (paying for storage).
• 💾 Local Backup: Use Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset → Local backup. Save copies to SD-card.
• 🔄 Autoexport to PC: Connect your phone to your computer and set up automatic photo uploads via Windows Autoplay or Mac Image Capture.
• 📧 Email: Set up automatic sending of important photos to your mail via email IFTTT Tasker.

Additional precautions:

• 🔒 Check the folder regularly DCIM Duplicate (Files by Google will help you find them).
• 📵 Don’t just keep your photo on your phone – use the rule. 3-2-1: 3 copy 2 carrier, 1 house-bound.
• 🔄 Before resetting your phone to factory settings, be sure to make a backup through Settings → The phone. → Backup.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photo recovery on Xiaomi