How to recover deleted photos on Xiaomi: from the cart to deep scanning

Deleting photos from a Xiaomi smartphone is a situation that almost every user faces: one careless tap, reset or a gadget malfunction - and valuable footage disappears from the gallery. Fortunately, in most cases, files are not erased from the device's memory instantly: they can be returned if you act quickly and correctly.

In this article, we’ll look at all the recovery options available, from standard MIUI features to professional utilities that work even after formatting. It’s important to understand that success depends on several factors: time since deletion, memory type (internal or microSD card), and whether data was overwritten after an incident, such as photos deleted a month ago from a actively used smartphone, it’s almost impossible to recover, because new files have already taken their place.

We will focus on the nuances for different Xiaomi models, from the budget Redmi to the flagship Mi 13 Ultra. Some methods (for example, working with ADB) require an unlocked bootloader, while others only install the application. To avoid wasting time, start with the simplest method and move to complex only when necessary.

1. Checking the basket in the standard MIUI gallery

The first thing you need to do is to look into the Gallery's built-in application basket, where in MIUI, deleted photos are not erased immediately, but are sent to a temporary storage facility where they are kept for up to 30 days (some models have a shorter time to 15 days), which is the fastest and most reliable way to return photos if a little time has passed.

How to check the basket:

• 📱 Open the Gallery app on your Xiaomi.
• 🗑️ Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select Recycle Bin (or Remote on older versions) MIUI).
• 🔍 View the list of files: photos are sorted by date of deletion.
• 🔄 Select the desired pictures with a long tap and press Restore.

If the basket is empty or the photos are not in it, go to the following method. Note: files from the basket are automatically deleted after the expiration of the storage period or during manual cleaning.

⚠️ Warning: Do not manually clean the shopping cart unless you are sure of the contents! File recovery after that will be impossible without specialized programs.

2.Recovery via Mi Cloud and Google Photos backups

If your Xiaomi has been enabled to sync with the cloud, the chances of returning photos are much higher.The manufacturer offers two main services for backup: Mi Cloud (branded cloud Xiaomi) and Google Photos. Even if you do not remember whether the feature was activated, check both options.

Method 1: Mi Cloud

• 🌐 Go to Settings. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud.
• 📁 Select Gallery or Photos section (name depends on version) MIUI).
• 🔍 View available backups. If photos have been uploaded, they can be downloaded back to the device.

Method 2: Google Photos

• 📲 Open the Google Photos app (if not installed, download from the Play Market).
• 🔄 Select Recycle Bin from the menu – here files are stored for 60 days (longer than in the standard gallery).
• ☁️ Check the Archives or Backups section if synchronization was enabled.

An important nuance: Mi Cloud only provides 5GB of free space by default, so if memory is full, new photos may not be saved. Google Photos had unlimited storage for compressed shots until June 2021, but quotas are in place now. Check your account settings to make sure backups were created.

⚠️ Note: If you manually deleted photos from the cloud (e.g., via the web version of Mi Cloud), it will not be possible to recover them".

3.Use of third-party recovery applications

If the photos aren't found in the trash or the clouds, the next solution is specialized utilities, which scan the internal memory or microSD card for traces of deleted files, and the principle is that when you delete the photo, it's not physically erased, but only marked as free space, and as long as those sectors are not overwritten with new data, the chance of recovery remains.

The best apps for Xiaomi:

• 🛠️ DiskDigger – supports deep scanning, works without root rights (but with restrictions).
• 🔍 Recuva (via PC) – a classic utility for Windows, requires connecting a smartphone in drive mode.
• 📱 Dumpster – an alternative basket that saves deleted files (you need to install in advance!).
• 💾 PhotoRec is a powerful tool for experienced users, working through ADB.

Instructions for DiskDigger (the most versatile option):

1. Download the app from the Play Market (there is a free version with restrictions).
2. Run and select Full Scan (it takes longer, but more efficiently).
3. Specify the file type – mark JPG, PNG, RAW (if necessary).
4. Wait for the process to be completed and highlight photos for recovery.
5. Save files to a memory card or cloud (not internal memory!).

Important: Don't install recovery software on the same memory that the files were deleted from! This reduces the chances of success. If you're scanning your internal drive, use a microSD card to save the results.

Charge your smartphone at least 50%|Connect to Wi-Fi (scanning takes up a lot of traffic)|Free up space on a microSD card|Do not run other applications during the process-->

4. PC Recovery: ADB and Professional Utilities

For users who are ready for more complex manipulations, the method using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or professional programs like EaseUS MobiSaver is suitable, if:

• 📵 Photos removed a long time ago (more than a month ago).
• 🔧 Bootloader unlocked on smartphone (for deep scanning).
• 💻 You have access to a computer with Windows or macOS.

Method 1: EaseUS MobiSaver (without root)

1. Download and install the program on PC (official site).
2. Connect Xiaomi to USB in File Transfer mode.
3. Run the scan – the program will automatically determine the model and offer recovery options.
4. Select the photos and save them to your computer.

Method 2: ADB (for experienced users)

If you have superuser rights (root), you can try to extract files through the console:

adb shell


su




cd /data/media/0/DCIM/




ls -la

This command will show hidden files in the photo folder, and you'll need to manually copy them or use dd to work with raw partitions to recover them.

⚠️ Note: Incorrect commands in the ADB This can cause data loss or system failure. If you're not sure what you're doing, call a specialist.

5. Features of recovery from a microSD card

If the photos were stored on a microSD, the recovery process is simplified – the card can be removed and connected to the computer through a card reader, which increases the chances of success, as the internal memory of the smartphone is more actively overwritten by system processes.

Step-by-step:

1. 🛑 Remove the card from your smartphone immediately to avoid overwriting data.
2. 💻 Connect it to your PC via an adapter (don’t use your smartphone as an intermediary!).
3. 🔍 Run a recovery program (such as Recuva or PhotoRec).
4. 📂 Select a microSD card as your target drive and start scanning.
5. 💾 Save the recovered files to the hard drive of the computer.

Important nuances:

• 🔋 MicroSD cards of exFAT formats or NTFS They recover worse than FAT32.
• 📸 Photos in format RAW (Xiaomi cameras 12S Ultra, Mi 11 Ultra require special utilities.
• ⚡ If the card is physically damaged (not detected by a PC), recovery is possible only in the laboratory.

For SanDisk and Samsung memory cards (often bundled with Xiaomi), manufacturers offer branded utilities:

• SanDisk RescuePRO (free for SanDisk cards)
• Samsung Data Recovery (paid, but with a trial period)

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If you have recovered photos from a map, but they open with artifacts (strips, blur), try converting them to another format through Photoshop or online services like iLoveIMG.

6.When restoration is not possible: alternative solutions

Unfortunately, there are situations where you can't even return photos with professional software.

• 🗃️ Files were deleted more than 6 months ago from a actively used smartphone.
• 🔄 The device memory is completely overwritten (for example, after resetting to factory settings).
• 💥 MicroSD card physically damaged (burnt, bent, exposed to water).
• 🔒 Full encryption is enabled on the smartphone (for example, on Xiaomi with a MIUI 12+ and activated function Data Protection).

In such cases, two options remain:

1. Contact a service center – some labs recover data from damaged memory chips, but it is expensive (from 5,000 to five years). ₽) It does not guarantee 100% results.
2. Try to find copies of photos in other sources: 📧 Emails in the mail (you may have sent pictures to friends). 💬 Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber – check the archives of chats). 🌐 Social networks (Vkontakte, Instagram, Facebook – sometimes photos are uploaded automatically).

If the photos were of particular value (for example, they were the only shots of a major event), consider contacting professionals. Companies like Hetzner or ACE Data Recovery specialize in recovering data from mobile devices, but before sending them, check if they work with Xiaomi models (some services are focused only on Samsung or iPhone).

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If photos were deleted after the MIUI update, try rolling back to the previous firmware version via Fastboot.Sometimes this returns lost files, but the risk of "bricking" the device is high - do this only if you have experience.

7. How to prevent future loss of photos

The best protection against data loss is prevention, and even if you have managed to recover photos now, follow these guidelines to avoid problems in the future:

Backup settings:

• ☁️ Enable automatic sync in Mi Cloud and Google Photos. Go to the settings of both services and check that the autoboot option is active.
• 📅 Set up regular copying on your PC (for example, plug your smartphone once a week and transfer new photos to a folder on your hard drive).
• 🔄 Use dual redundancy: cloud + local storage (external storage) SSD or HDD).

Memory work:

• 📱 Don’t store photos only on internal memory – use microSD (preferably class) A2 or U3 speed).
• 🗑️ Clean the gallery basket regularly, but check its contents before doing so.
• 🛡️ Install a shopping cart application (such as Dumpster) that will duplicate the standard one.

Additional measures:

• 🔐 Encrypt backups (Google Photos has a feature Block folder for confidential photos).
• 📡 Avoid public Wi-Fi for sync – use mobile internet or home network.
• 📋 Keep a log of important photos (for example, in Google Tables) where you will note which pictures and where copied.

For Xiaomi owners with high-resolution cameras (for example, Mi 11 Ultra with a 50 MP sensor), it is especially important to keep track of backups: RAW files take up to 50-100 MB each, and their loss is more critical than compressed JPEGs.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photo recovery on Xiaomi