How to find all files on Xiaomi Redmi 7A: hidden, system and remote

Xiaomi Redmi 7A — One of the most popular budget smartphones, but its file manager by default hides a lot of important data from the user. Have you ever tried to find a downloaded document that disappeared after an update, or searched for backup copies of messages but could not find them? The problem is not you, the problem is Android and MIUI hide some files to protect the user».

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can search for files on Redmi 7A, from standard tools to advanced methods using ADB and third-party applications. You’ll learn where your system log files are stored, how to recover deleted photos, and why some folders become invisible after resetting. And how to get around the limitations of MIUI, which don’t show.nomedia files or hidden system directories.

Why files are “disappearing” on Xiaomi Redmi 7A

If you notice that some files have been lost from the gallery or file manager, it may be the following:

• 📁 Hidden system folders — MIUI The default does not show directories with a point at the beginning (e.g..thumbnails or.data).
• 🔍.nomedia files – if there is an empty.nomedia file in the folder, the gallery and the music player will ignore its contents.
• 🗑️ Basket MIUI — Deleted files can be stored in a temporary bin for up to 30 days, but not everyone knows where to find them.
• 🔄 File system errors after incorrect extraction SD-A card or update failure may cause some files to get lost in damaged sectors.

Redmi 7A also uses internal (/data) and user (/sdcard) memory separation, and many applications (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) store data in private folders that don’t appear without root rights, but there are workarounds to go through.

Nearby (once a week) |Sometimes (once a month) |Sharp (only after updates) |Never lost |I don't know where to look-->

Method 1: Standard file manager MIUI

Let's start with the simplest one, the built-in Files app, which can show hidden files, but you have to manually enable this feature:

1. Open the Files app.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → “Settings”.
3. Activate the “Show hidden files” switch.
4. Go back to the root directory (/storage/emulated/0/) and check the folders: Android – this is where app data is stored (for example, YouTube cache or game saves); DCIM – photos and videos (including the hidden folder.thumbnails with thumbnails); Download – downloads from the browser; MIUI – system firmware files (for example, bugreport log files).

If you don't have the file you want, try searching (a magnifier at the top of the screen). Enter a part of the name or extension (e.g.,.pdf or.apk). Please note that the search only works by file names, not by document content.

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If you're looking for photos that don't show up in the gallery, check the DCIM/.thumbnails folder. Sometimes thumbnails are saved even after the originals are deleted.

Method 2: Searching for PCs (USB-debugging MTP)

Connecting Redmi 7A to your computer often helps you find files that aren’t visible on your phone.

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB-cable (preferably original).
2. On your phone, select File Transfer (MTP) mode in the connection notification.
3. On your computer, open either “This Computer” (Windows) or “File System” (macOS/Linux).
4. Go to the folder of the smartphone – it should appear as a removable disk (for example, Redmi 7A).

If the folders are empty or not open:

• 🔌 Check the cable – cheap wires may not support data transmission.
• 🔄 Reboot your phone and PC, then reconnect.
• 🛠️ Update Xiaomi drivers via Mi PC Suite (you can download it on the official website).

Through the PC, you can see all the files, including those hidden from view in MIUI, such as the Android/obb folder with additional game data or Alarm with alarm melodies.

Method 3: Using Third-Party File Managers

Xiaomi’s standard Files app is limited in functionality, and for deep search, it’s better to use alternatives:

To find hidden files in these applications:

1. Open the manager's settings.
2. Find the option to “Show hidden files” (in Solid Explorer, it’s Settings → Display → Show hidden files).
3. Go to the root directory (/) and manually check the folders: /data — System data (requires root). /sdcard — user files. /storage/emulated/0 — storage.

Enable the display of hidden files|Go to the root directory|Check the folders. /data and /sdcard|Use the built-in search for extension|Exporting Found Files to PC-->

Method 4: Search for deleted files (without root)

If the file has been deleted, you can try to restore it. On Redmi 7A, this is possible without root rights, but with restrictions:

• 📸 Photos and videos – recover best thanks to thumbnail cache.
• 📄 Documents – the odds are lower because they are not cached by the system.
• 🎵 Audio files – sometimes remain in the folder Android/data/com.android.providers.media.

The best recovery programs:

1. DiskDigger scans internal memory for file residues, and the free version shows previews, but doesn't save files.
2. Recuva (via PC) – works with a connected phone in MTP mode, but requires Windows.
3. EaseUS MobiSaver is paid, but with a high recovery rate.

Important: Don't save the recovered files to the same drive from which they were deleted! SD-card.

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The faster you start recovering from deletion, the better the chances of returning a file, and each new record to the disk reduces the likelihood of success.

Method 5: Advanced Search through ADB (no root)

If standard methods don't work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool to interact with the system via the command line, which doesn't require root rights, but gives you access to hidden folders.

Instructions:

1. Download. ADB-drivers from the official website.
2. Turn on USB Debugging on your phone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → Tap 7 times, then Settings → Additional → For Developers).
3. Connect Redmi 7A to your PC and open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
4. Enter the commands in order: adb devices (should display your device), adb shell (go to the phone shell) ls /sdcard (view the contents of internal memory)

To find a specific file, use:

find /sdcard -name "file name.*"

For example, to search for all PDFs:

find /sdcard -name "*.pdf"

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If ADB doesn’t see the device, try reinstalling drivers via Zadig (a USB driver replacement utility).

Method 6: Search for system log files and backups

Redmi 7A automatically creates log files and backups that may contain useful information.

• 📜 Logs of the system — /sdcard/MIUI/debug_log or /sdcard/log. This is where error reports are stored (e.g. bugreport-*.zip).
• 🔄 Backup copies MIUI — /sdcard/MIUI/backup/AllBackup. Contains archives with settings and application data.
• 📱 Google Data – If sync is enabled, check Google Drive (backup folder).

To view log files, use applications like Logcat Reader or aLogcat, which convert technical data into a readable format.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When searching for files on Redmi 7A, users often face typical problems:

⚠️ Warning: If you connect your phone to your PC and see empty folders, don't format the drive! MTP-Try restarting both devices or using a different cable.

• 🚫 «No folder access, so you don't have permission (/data) root.
• 🔍 «File not found" - check the correct name (registration is important!) Use the symbol to search by mask (e.g..jpg).
• 📵 «Phone is not detected – turn off “Debugging by” USB» and turn it on again, then confirm the trust of the PC on the smartphone screen.

If you are looking for files after resetting, remember: data from /data and /sdcard folders are deleted irrevocably. The only chance is to recover through specialized services (for example, Ontrack), but it is expensive and does not guarantee the result.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use garbage cleanup applications (such as Clean Master) – they often delete important cache files, causing programs to malfunction.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions