How to return deleted files on Xiaomi phone: a step-by-step guide

Delete important photos, videos or documents on a Xiaomi smartphone and don't know how to get them back? Don't panic - even if files have disappeared from the gallery or file manager, they can often be restored. In this article, we'll look at all possible ways, from standard MIUI features to professional tools that work even after full formatting.

The rule is, the faster you start, the better the chances of success. When you delete files, they don't disappear from memory immediately — they're just labeled as "free space" and can be overwritten with new data. So don't install new applications, download files, or make factory resets until you've tried all the recovery methods.

We tested each method on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO X5 Pro and Xiaomi 13 Ultra models with the latest MIUI 14/15 (based on Android 13/14). All instructions are relevant for older devices (for example, Redmi 9 or Mi 10T), but taking into account the features of their firmware.

1. Check the Recycle Bin in MIUI (fastest way)

Modern versions of MIUI automatically save deleted files in the Recycle Bin for 30 days, including photos, videos, audio and documents deleted through standard Gallery, Files or Records applications.

To recover files:

• 📁 Open the Files app (File icon on the desktop).
• 🗑️ Go to the basket section in the lower menu.
• 🔍 Select the desired files with a long tap or tick the boxes.
• ↩️ Press Restore (Arrow Up icon).

If the Recycle Bin is empty, check the settings: it may be disabled.

1. Go to the Settings → Storage → Recycle Bin.
2. Make sure that the AutoSave Deleted Files slider is active.
3. Check the shelf life (by default - 30 days, but you can increase to 60).

⚠️ Attention: Basket in MIUI It does not work for files deleted through third-party apps (such as Google Photos or Google Photos). ES It also doesn't save files from a microSD card, but only from internal memory.

2. Recovery via Mi Cloud (if synchronized)

If your Xiaomi has Mi Cloud sync enabled, deleted files could be saved to the cloud, which works even if you reset your phone to factory settings, so you need to have your Mi Account linked to the device.

Instructions:

• 🌐 Go to i.mi.com and log in.
• 📂 Select the Gallery or Files section (depending on the type of data).
• 🔎 In the upper right corner, click on the Cart icon (or Recently Deleted).
• ↩️ Select files and press Restore.

Please note the limitations:

If you don’t have the files you need in the Cloud Recycle Bin, try downloading them directly from the backup:

1. In Mi Cloud, go to Devices → Backups.
2. Select the latest copy of your Xiaomi (see the date of creation in the title).
3. Click Restore and select Gallery or Files.

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If you don’t remember if sync was enabled, check: Settings → Mi → Mi Cloud Account → Sync. This shows all the types of data that are backed up to the cloud.

3. Use Google Photos (for photos and videos)

If you used the Google Photos app, deleted media files could have been saved in its Recycle Bin, which works independently of the Mi Cloud and often saves you when standard MIUI tools don't work.

How to restore:

• 📱 Open the Google Photos app on your phone or go to photos.google.com.
• ☰ Click on the menu icon (three horizontal lines) → Basket.
• 🕒 Files are stored here for 60 days. Select the files and click Restore.

Important nuances:

• 🔄 Google Photos only syncs files that were in folders DCIM, Pictures or Movies. Files from Download or other directories may not be saved.
• 📶 To synchronize, you had to enable Backup and Synchronization in the application settings.
• 💾 Free storage is limited to 15GB (common to all Google services).If the space is out, files are not synced.

⚠️ Note: If you have manually deleted files from the Google Photo Recycle Bin or they have been there for more than 60 days, it is no longer possible to restore them through this service - they are deleted from Google servers irrevocably.

4. Deep scanning programs (if the files are not in the Recycle Bin)

If standard methods have not worked, it’s time for specialized utilities to scan the phone’s internal memory at a low level and can find files even if they were deleted months ago (assuming that their place is not taken by new data).

The best programs for Xiaomi:

Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger (free version):

Install the program from Google Play|Connect your phone to charge (the process will take time)|Close all background applications|Don't plug in. USB-channels during scanning-->

1. Download DiskDigger from Google Play.
2. Launch the application and select Start basic scanning (no root rights).
3. Wait until the process is completed (it can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour).
4. View the files found, select the ones you need and click Restore.
5. Save them to a memory card or cloud (not internal memory!).

Deep scanning (if the basic one didn’t work) requires root rights, which include unlocking the bootloader and installing Magisk, which resets all the data on the phone, so this method is only useful for recovering mission-critical files.

5. Recovery from a microSD card

If you've stored files on a memory card, it's easier to recover them, you can connect a microSD to your computer and use desktop software, and the main advantage is that the card doesn't overwrite as much as the phone's internal memory.

Instructions:

• 💻 Remove the card from your phone and paste it into a card reader (or microSD adapter).
• 🖥️ Connect to your PC and run Recuva or PhotoRec.
• 🔍 Select a memory card in the list of devices and start scanning.
• 📁 After completion, save the found files to the hard drive (not to the same card!).

Tips for a successful recovery:

• 🚫 Don’t format the map before scanning – it will reduce the odds.
• 🔋 If the card is not determined, try another card reader or port. USB.
• 📛 For exFAT cards (usually) >64GB) is better to use PhotoRec – it works with this format more stable.

⚠️ Warning: If the memory card is physically damaged (not readable on any device), do not attempt to recover the data yourself. contact the lab - attempts at home repair can make recovery impossible.

6. Recovery through ADB (for advanced users)

If you're familiar with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can try recovering files via the command line, a method that's suitable for tech-savvy users and requires a computer.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then additionally → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).

Recovery teams:

adb shell


su




cd /data/media/0/




ls -la

These commands will show you a list of files in the internal memory, so you can copy them to the PC:

adb pull /data/media/0/DCIM//path/on/pc

Limitations of the method:

• 🔒 Without root rights, you won’t see all files (system folders will be hidden).
• 🕳️ Deleted files will not appear in the list — ADB It does not replace the recovery program.
• ⚠️ Wrong commands can damage the system. Use only proven instructions.

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ADB is useful for copying existing files, but not for recovering deleted ones, and should be used if you want to back up before you try to recover them or after you successfully return them.

7. Appeal to the service center (extreme case)

If all of these methods fail and files are critical (such as single photos from an important event), you can contact a professional data recovery service, and they use hardware to read memory at the physical level, which increases the chances of success.

What you need to know before applying:

• 💰 The cost of recovery starts from 5 000 rubles and depends on the complexity of the.
• ⏳ The process can take from 1 to 5 days.
• 📱 In most cases, the phone will remain functional, but the warranty on it will be canceled.
• 🔒 Certified centers (e.g. Xiaomi Authorized Service) don’t do data recovery – look for specialized labs.

How to choose a reliable service:

• 🔍 Check reviews on independent sites (for example, Yandex.Maps or 2GIS).
• 📄 Check if they guarantee results (some only charge if they are successful).
• 🔒 Make sure they have a clean room to work with memory.

FAQ: Frequent questions about file recovery on Xiaomi