Where and how to find hidden videos on Xiaomi smartphone: from system folders to recover deleted files

Are you sure your Xiaomi doesn't have hidden videos, but suspect the opposite?Maybe files are hidden in system folders, archived by gallery apps, or even deleted by mistake.Redmi, POCO and other brand models often hide media files from the user's eyes - sometimes by default, sometimes due to viruses or third-party programs.

In this article, we will explore all possible ways to find hidden videos, from checking standard folders to using specialized utilities, you will learn how to find videos that are not displayed in the gallery, how to recover deleted files and what to do if the video is hidden by a virus. The instructions are relevant for all Xiaomi devices based on the MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS.

1. Checking standard folders with hidden files

The first thing to do is to look at the system directories, where MIUI is hiding some media files by default, and many users are unaware of the existence of these folders, even though they are accessible through any file manager.

Open the built-in Explorer (or install Solid Explorer, FX File Manager) and follow the path:

/storage/emulated/0/

Please note the following directories here:

• 📁.thumbnails – video and photo miniatures (sometimes contain full-size copies).
• 📁 MIUI → Gallery → cloud - cache of the cloud gallery.
• 📁 Android → data → com.miui.gallery – standard gallery service files.
• 📁 DCIM →.thumbnails – hidden previews for quick viewing.

If folders don’t show up, turn on the hidden files in Explorer settings (usually called “Show Hidden Files” or “Show Hidden Files”). In MIUI 14 and HyperOS, hidden folders can be shown semi-transparent – don’t miss them!

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If you use a memory card, check similar folders in the directory. /storage/XXXX-XXXX/ (where XXXX-XXXX — ID SD-map).

2.Search through Xiaomi Gallery Settings

The standard Gallery app on Xiaomi is able to hide media files at the request of the user. If you (or someone else) previously hid videos through the gallery menu, they can be returned back.

Instructions:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Tap it on three points (⋮) top-right → select "Albums".
3. Scroll down and find the Hidden Albums section (or the "Private Safe" section in HyperOS).
4. Enter your password (if you have set it) or confirm it with your fingerprint.

If there are no hidden albums but you are sure the videos were hidden, try another way:

• 🔍 Go to Settings. → Annexes → gallery → Memory.
• 🔍 Click Cache Clear – Sometimes it helps you get back lost thumbnails.
• 🔍 Reboot your phone and check the gallery again.

3.Use of a file manager with root rights

If standard methods don’t work, and video is critical to find, you can use file managers with superuser rights (such as Root Explorer or Mixplorer), which will allow you to scan all memory parts, including system ones, where conventional applications do not have access.

Important: this is root access, and if it's not, skip this section, because doing something wrong can cause you to lose data or lock your phone.

Instructions for users with root:

1. Install Root Explorer from Google Play.
2. Open the application and grant root rights.
3. Go to the root directory (/) and check the folders: /data/media/0/ is the main repository of user files. /data/com.miui.gallery/ is the cache and temporary gallery files. /sdcard/ is a symbolic link to internal memory.

.mp4

,

.mov

*.3gp

⚠️ Note: Do not delete or edit files in folders /system/, /vendor/ or /boot/ — This can cause the phone to fail and the need to flash it.

4. Recover deleted videos with PC

If the videos have been deleted but not overwritten with new files, they can be restored using specialized programs for Windows or Mac.

• 💻 Recuva (free, easy to use).
• 💻 DiskDigger (there is a version for Android, but it is better to use desktop).
• 💻 EaseUS Data Recovery (paid but with high recovery percentage).
• 💻 PhotoRec (free, works via command line).

Step-by-step instructions for Recuva:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Start Recuva and select the video file type.
3. Specify the disk corresponding to the phone’s memory (usually a removable drive with the letter E:, F:, etc.).
4. Start a deep scan (may take several hours).
5. Look at the files found and restore the ones you need.

Important: Don't save the recovered videos to the same drive you're scanning from! Use a different drive (like a PC hard drive) to avoid overwriting the data.

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The faster you start recovering from deletion, the better the chances of returning the video to its original quality, and each new file recorded on the phone reduces the likelihood of a successful recovery.

5. Checking for viruses and malware

One common scenario is when a video hides a virus or adware, often disguised as useful utilities (such as “memory cleaners” or “charging speeders”) and hides files to blackmail the user.

Signs of infection:

• 🛡️ The gallery has unknown albums with names in Chinese or random characters.
• 🛡️ The phone began to display ads in unexpected places (for example, in settings).
• 🛡️ There were notifications about “blocked files” with a demand for payment.
• 🛡️ Video folders are renamed.nomedia or.secure.

How to check and clean your phone:

1. Install antivirus: Malwarebytes, Dr.Web Light or Bitdefender.
2. Start a full scan (not fast!).
3. If a virus is found, follow the antivirus instructions to remove it.
4. After cleaning, check the /storage/emulated/0/ folders for files with the.nomedia extension – they can be deleted (they block the display of media in the gallery).

⚠️ Warning: Some viruses masquerade as system applications (e.g. com.android.system) and manually remove them is dangerous - only use proven antiviruses.

6. Search through cloud services and backups

If the video isn't found on your phone, check the cloud storage where MIUI could automatically upload files.

• ☁️ Mi Cloud (Integrated Cloud) by Xiaomi).
• ☁️ Google Photos (if synchronization was enabled).
• ☁️ Yandex.Disk or Mail.ru Cloud (if used).

How to check out Mi Cloud:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Sign in if you're not in.
3. Select "Gallery" or "Backups".
4. View the available files and download the necessary ones.

For Google Photos:

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Go to the Recycle Bin - there the files are stored 60 days after deletion.
3. Use a date or keyword search (e.g., “2023 video”).

If you regularly backed up your files via Settings → System → Backup, try recovering data from there. Note: Restore will rewrite your current files, so save important data to another medium first.

7. Alternative methods: ADB and technical support

If all previous methods have failed, there are two radical options left: using ADB (the Android debugging tool) or appealing to Xiaomi for support.

Method 1: Search through ADB

This will require:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• 🖥️ Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → Tap 7 times, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🖥️ Google's Platform Tools utility.

Video search teams:

adb shell


su




find /storage/ -name ".mp4" -o -name ".mov" -o -name "*.3gp"

This command will recursively scan all folders for video files, save the results to a text file for analysis.

Method 2: Appealing for Xiaomi

If the videos are critical (such as court evidence or unique recordings), contact official support for:

• 📞 On the phone: 8-800-775-39-69 (Russia), 400-100-5678 (China).
• 📧 By mail: support@xiaomi.com (English).
• 💬 via chat: in the official Mi Community app.

Please indicate when applying:

• Phone model and MIUI version.
• Approximate dates of creation/deletion of the video.
• Any suspicious activity (viruses, failures, etc.)

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi does not guarantee the recovery of deleted files, but in some cases it can help with the analysis of system logs if the video was deleted due to a software failure.

Check all folders manually|Take screenshots of errors (if any)|Prepare. IMEI phone|Describe the problem situation in as much detail as possible-->

FAQ: Frequent questions about hidden videos on Xiaomi