Recovery of deleted photos on Xiaomi Redmi 5: from the cart to deep scanning

Removed important photos from Xiaomi Redmi 5 and now you don't know how to return them? The situation is familiar to many: accidentally clicking "Delete", resetting settings or even a virus could cause loss of images. Fortunately, owners of Redmi 5 have several ways to recover - from built-in MIUI functions to specialized programs, the main thing is to act quickly, as new files can overwrite deleted data.

In this article, we will discuss 7 proven methods, including recovery through the MIUI basket, cloud services (Mi Cloud, Google Photos), third-party utilities (DiskDigger, Recuva) and even manual memory scanning through ADB. Particular attention will be paid to the nuances of working with Redmi 5 - from the limitations of MIUI 9/10 to the features of the F2FS file system used in this model. If you have already tried to restore photos and nothing has come out - do not despair: at the end of the article there is a section with alternative solutions for complex cases.

1.Basket check MIUI: first step in recovery

Many Xiaomi Redmi 5 users don’t know that MIUI has a built-in shopping cart that takes photos after deleting, similar to a computer system. However, the shopping cart only works for files deleted through the MIUI gallery. If you cleared the memory through a file manager or third-party applications (for example, ES Explorer), this method will not work.

To check the basket:

• 📱 Open the standard Gallery app on Redmi 5.
• 🗑️ Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select the basket.
• ⏳ Hold your finger on the desired photo and press Restore.
• ⚠️ The storage period in the basket is 30 days, and then the files are deleted irrevocably.

Important for Redmi 5: MIUI 9 and below may not have a basket. If you don't have one, move on to the next one.

Recovery via Mi Cloud: If synchronization was enabled

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi's cloud storage that automatically backs up photos if the feature is activated. On Redmi 5, it turns on by default when the phone is first set up, but many users turn it off to save space.

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select the Gallery and see the date of the last synchronization.
3. If you have copies, click Restore and select the desired photos.

⚠️ Note: Mi Cloud only provides 5GB for free. If memory is full, old backups can be automatically deleted. Also note that recovery will take time - speed depends on the quality of the Internet connection.

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If Mi Cloud doesn't have the right photos, check Google Photos. Even if you haven't actively used it, the app could have created hidden backups. Go to photo.google.com through your browser and check the Archives or Recycle Bin folder.

3.Using Google Photos: Hidden Opportunities

Google Photos is another reliable source for recovery, and the app defaults to save all uploaded photos in the cloud, even if you deleted them from your phone. On Redmi 5, it's often pre-installed, but it can be disabled, to check:

• 🌐 Open photos.google.com in your browser or run the Google Photos app.
• 🔍 Select the Recycle Bin - it stores deleted photos for 60 days.
• ☁️ If the basket is empty, check the Archive folder or search by date.

🔹 Nuance for Redmi 5: If the phone didn't sync with Google Photos via mobile internet (wi-fi only), backups might not be created.

4. Recovery programs: DiskDigger, Recuva and others

If the built-in methods did not help, it is time to connect third-party utilities. For Xiaomi Redmi 5, you can:

📌 DiskDigger (the most effective option for Redmi 5):

1. Download DiskDigger from Google Play (or APK from the official website).
2. Run the app and select Full Scan (requires ROOT) or Basic (no ROOT).
3. Specify the file type: JPG/PNG.
4. Wait until the scan is finished (it can take up to 1 hour).
5. Tag the desired photos and click Restore.

⚠️ Warning: If you've already taken new photos after deleting old ones, the chances of recovery plummet. F2FS Redmi 5 quickly re-writes the freed space.

Charge your phone at least 50%|Turn off the mobile internet (to avoid overwriting data)|Do not install new applications|Use the original. USB-plug-in-->

5. Recovery through ADB: for advanced users

If you have experience with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can try handheld scanning of your phone’s memory.

• 🔧 No. ROOT-Right, but I need a deep scan.
• 📱 The phone is determined by the computer, but the programs do not see the deleted files.
• 🔍 You need to restore a photo with a specific date.

🛠️ Step-by-step instruction:

1. Turn on USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
2. Connect Redmi 5 to your PC and run the command line in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command to create a memory image: adb shell su -c "dd if=/dev/block/mmcblk0 of=/sdcard/recovery.img bs=4096"
4. Download the image on PC: adb pull /sdcard/recovery.img
5. Scan the image with PhotoRec or TestDisk.

⚠️ Attention: this method requires technical knowledge. Wrong commands ADB If you're not sure, you'd better use DiskDigger.

6. Restore via MIUI backup (if backup was done)

MIUI allows you to create local backups that are saved in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder. If you've ever backed up through Settings → Additional → Backup, there are chances of recovery.

• 📅 Backup must be created before the photo is deleted.
• 📂 All backup data is recovered, not individual files.
• ⚙️ The process can erase current settings and applications.

🔄 How to repair:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup → Restore.
2. Select the right backup (orientate by date).
3. Confirm the recovery and wait for the reboot.

💡 Tip: If you are afraid of losing current data, copy important files to your PC or cloud before you restore it.

7. Alternative methods: when nothing helps

If all of the above methods do not work, then extreme measures remain:

• 🔧 Service center: professionals can extract data using professional equipment (e.g. Chip-Off) from the cost of 3 000 ₽, There's no guarantee.
• 📦 Checking other devices: photos may have been sent via Telegram, WhatsApp or saved to another phone/PC.
• 🔍 Metadata search: If photos were uploaded to social networks (for example, VKontakte or Instagram), check the download history.

🔹 Last Chance for Redmi 5: If the phone is still on, but photos are not restored, try rolling back the firmware to an earlier version MIUI. Sometimes this returns deleted files, but the method is risky and requires unlocking the bootloader.

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The faster you start recovering, the better the chances of success. Every new photo, app installed or system update reduces the likelihood of old files being returned.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photo recovery on Xiaomi Redmi 5