How to return deleted videos on Xiaomi smartphone: from the cart to deep scanning

Removed videos from Xiaomi by mistake or after resetting? Don't panic, the chances of recovery are much higher than you think. Today's Redmi, POCO and Mi smartphones store deleted files in hidden memory for up to 30 days, and some models automatically back up in the cloud. In this article, we'll look at all the working methods, from the standard shopping cart to professional tools like DiskDigger.

It's important to understand that success depends on two things: time after deleting (the sooner you start, the better) and memory actions after file loss. If you've recorded new videos, installed apps, or cleared your cache, the odds are lower, but even in such cases, there are solutions — like scanning through a PC or accessing Mi Cloud services.

We tested all methods on current MIUI 14/15 firmware (including HyperOS) and compiled step-by-step instructions tailored to Xiaomi’s features: No water, just proven steps, risk warnings, and answers to frequent questions.

1. Checking the basket in the Xiaomi Gallery

The first thing you need to do is to look into the built-in Recycle Bin of the Gallery app, where the deleted files are stored for up to 30 days in MIUI (some models up to 15), which works even without root rights and does not require third-party software installation.

How to open the basket:

• 📱 Open the Gallery app (icon with floral logo).
• 🗑️ Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → pick the basket.
• 🔍 Find the right video, click on it and select Restore.

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If the basket is empty, check the settings: in some firmwares it must be turned on manually. Go to Gallery Settings → Recycle Bin → Enable the basket

Note: the Recycle Bin is automatically cleaned when memory is scarce or after manually running Cleanup in your phone settings. If you recently optimized your device through Security, the videos may have been permanently deleted.

⚠️ Note: Recovered files from the basket are saved to the folder DCIM/Camera If the video doesn’t show up after recovery, check these directories through any file manager (e.g. Files from Xiaomi).

2.Search in Mi Cloud backups

If your Xiaomi has Mi Cloud sync enabled, chances are that the video has been saved to the cloud, a method that is especially relevant for owners of Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 and other models with automatic media backup.

Instructions for checking the cloud:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Make sure that the gallery synchronization slider is active.
3. Go to the gallery. → Albums. → Mi Cloud.
4. Look for videos in the Video or Autoload folders.

If there are no files, try to recover them through the web version of the cloud:

• 🌐 Go to i.mi.com and log in.
• 📁 Open the Gallery section → Recycle Bin (it stores files for up to 60 days in the cloud).
• 🔄 Click Restore next to the desired video.

3.Using File Managers for Hidden Folders

Sometimes videos are not deleted completely, but moved to hidden system folders, such as after a MIUI update or a Camera application crash, you will need a file manager with access to the root directory (for example, FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer).

Where to look:

• 📂 /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails — thumbnails and temporary files.
• 📂 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.gallery — gallery-cash.
• 📂 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Extra — backups of multimedia.
• 📂 /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots — Sometimes the videos are saved as screencasts.

If folders don't show up, turn on the hidden files in the manager settings. Please note that files in these directories may have custom extensions (such as.tmp or.nomedia). Try renaming them.mp4 or.mov.

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⚠️ Note: Do not delete files with the.db or.idx extension in the gallery folders - these are thumbnail databases.

4. Recovery via Google Photos

If your Xiaomi has Google Photos installed, check its shopping cart and archive. Even if the sync was disabled, some videos could have been saved in the cache.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Google Photos and go to the Library → Recycle Bin.
2. Check the storage period: in the free version, files are stored there for 60 days.
3. If the video is not in the shopping cart, try searching by date or keyword (e.g., “video 2026”).
4. To restore, click on the video → Restore.

If you previously enabled Backup and Sync, the videos could be saved to Google's cloud to check:

• 🌐 Go to photos.google.com.
• 🔍 In the search box, type:video.
• 📅 Filter results by date of removal.

Enable backup in the settings|Check the basket folder"|Search by date of shooting|View archive albums|Export the found files to the device-->

Important: Google Photos compresses video when downloading if the option is "High quality" enabled. To restore the originals, check the backup settings - there should be selected "Original quality".

5. Deep memory scanning programs

If standard methods don't work, it's time to plug in specialized utilities that scan internal memory at the binary data level and can find fragments of deleted files.

• 🛠️ DiskDigger – works without root, finds video by signatures.
• 🔍 EaseUS MobiSaver – supports recovery from memory cards.
• 📱 Dumpster – an alternative shopping cart for Android (you need to install in advance).

Instructions for DiskDigger (the most effective option):

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Run a full scan (requires root permissions for maximum results).
3. Select the type of video files (MP4, MOV, AVI formats).
4. Wait until the process is over (it can take up to an hour).
5. Tick the files found and click Restore.

Without root rights, DiskDigger will only find thumbnails and snippets. Full recovery will require unlocking the bootloader and obtaining superuser rights (the instructions for Xiaomi are available on the 4PDA forum).

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The faster you start a scan after deleting, the better the chances of recovery, and each new recorded file reduces the probability of success by 10-15%.

6. PC Connection and Analysis via Recuva

If the video was recorded to a memory card or internal memory, you can try to restore it through a computer, you will need a program Recuva (free) and a card reader (for microSD).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Download and install Recuva.
3. Start the program and select the type of video files.
4. Specify the path to the phone’s memory (e.g., This computer → [Device Name] → Internal Storage).
5. Press Analysis and wait for the results.
6. Mark the files found and click Restore.

For memory cards:

• Remove the microSD from the phone and insert it into the card reader.
• In Recuva, select a removable disk instead of internal memory.
• After recovery, do not save files to the same card – use a different drive.

⚠️ Note: If Xiaomi is not defined on PC, check out: 🔌 Cable (use the original USB-Type C). 🔄 Connection mode (in the phone notification curtain, select File Transfer). 🖥️ Drivers (download Mi) PC Suite from the official Xiaomi website).

7. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If the video was critical (e.g., court evidence or unique footage) and the self-propelled attempts failed, you can contact Xiaomi's authorized service center, and they have specialized hardware to extract data from flash memory.

What you need to know before your visit:

• 📋 Bring a check or purchase confirmation (for warranty devices).
• 🔒 If your phone is locked, provide a password or Mi Account account.
• 💰 The cost of data recovery starts from 3 000 rubles (depending on the model and complexity).
• ⏳ Term of implementation - from 2 to 7 days.

List of official Xiaomi service centers in Russia:

• 📍 Moscow: 10 centers (including the Belorussian and Warm Stan metro stations).
• 📍 St. Petersburg: 5 centers (Marshall Govorov Street, Engels Avenue).
• 📍 Regions: check out Xiaomi's website.

FAQ: Frequent questions about video recovery on Xiaomi