How to open personal files on Xiaomi smartphones: from simple to advanced methods

Xiaomi MIUI-based smartphones store users’ personal files in protected memory areas, which sometimes makes them difficult to access. You may have noticed that photos, documents, or downloads suddenly disappeared from the gallery or file manager, even though they occupy disk space, most often due to MIUI privacy settings, Private Mode, or Android system limitations.

In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to access personal files - from basic (through standard applications) to technical (using the use of personal files). ADB We'll focus on the nuances for different versions. MIUI (from 12 before 14) model Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO, where the logic of file storage may differ, and if you're faced with a message that says "No access," "Folder is empty," or "Files are hidden," you'll find a solution here.

⚠️ Warning: Some methods require unlocking the bootloader or root rights, which can result in loss of warranty or unstable operation of the device.Before experimenting, back up the data via Settings → Additionally. → Backup.

1. Verification of standard file storage locations

Before resorting to complex manipulations, make sure that the files are really "hidden." MIUI distributes the data across multiple system folders, and their location depends on the file type and firmware version.

The main ways in which Xiaomi stores personal data are:

• 📁 Internal memory: /storage/emulated/0/ — Here are the Download folders (downloads), DCIM (Photo/video, Documents and more, available through any file manager.
• 🔒 Secure folder. MIUI: /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Private/ — It's used to store files in Private Mode, which requires a password or a fingerprint to access it.
• 📱 Application folders: /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/ — It stores cache and app data (such as files from Telegram or WhatsApp) and visibility depends on Android settings.
• ☁️ Xiaomi Cloud: If sync is enabled, files can only be in Mi Cloud (check through Settings) → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud).

🔍 How to check: Open a standard File Manager (or install Solid) Explorer/FX File Manager), enable the display of hidden files in the settings and manually follow the specified paths. If the Private folder does not appear, then Private Mode is disabled.

2. Access via Private Mode (Incognito Mode)

Private Mode is a proprietary MIUI feature that allows you to hide files from prying eyes, and if you previously activated this mode, your personal data could automatically move to a protected area.

📌 How to turn on/off Private Mode:

1. Open the Settings. → Privacy → Private Mode.
2. Enter your password or use your fingerprint (if configured).
3. Turn on the Private Mode switch – an icon will appear in the upper panel 🔒.
4. Now, the file manager will be visible to the Private folder with your hidden files.

⚠️ Note: If you forget your Private Mode password, you can only restore access through resetting (with loss of data!) or contacting Xiaomi Support with confirmation of ownership of the device.

💡 Tip: To avoid loss of access, link Private Mode to your Mi Account account in the mode settings. This will allow you to restore your password through the cloud.

3.Use of a file manager with root rights

If files are not displayed even after disabling Private Mode, they may be in system partitions that are not available without root rights.

• 🛠️ Root Explorer (paid but reliable)
• 📂 FX File Manager (free version with root support)
• 🔧 Solid Explorer (requires the purchase of the root module)

📝 Instructions:

1. Install one of the managers and give him root access (if requested).
2. Go to the root directory / and open folders: /data/media/0/ — main user storage /storage/emulated/0/ — symbolism /data/user_de/0/ — Application data (requires root)
3. Look for files with hidden attributes or in folders with the.nomedia prefix (e.g.,.thumbnails).

⚠️ Note: Delete or modify files in /data/ without root rights can cause system failure. Do not edit files with.db,.odex extensions or folders /system/.

4. Access via ADB (for advanced users)

Android Debug Bridge (ADB) is a command-line device management tool that allows you to bypass some of the limitations of MIUI, including access to hidden files.

🛠️ What's the matter:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to press to unlock the developer settings → set up USB)
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original)
• 📦 Installed Xiaomi and ADB-tools drivers (download from the official website)

📋 Step-by-step instruction:

1. Connect the phone to your PC and confirm the trusted device on your smartphone screen.
2. Open the command prompt (or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and execute: Adb devices make sure your device appears in the list.
3. Get a list of all files in internal memory: adb shell ls /storage/emulated/0/
4. To copy a file to a PC: adb pull /storage/emulated/0/path/to/file C:\folder to pc\

🔹 Example: To download all photos from the folder DCIM:

adb pull /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/ C:\Xiaomi_Backup\Photos\

If MIUI blocks folders from accessing through ADB, try the command with superuser rights (requires an unlocked bootloader):

adb shell


su




ls /data/media/0/

1. Reinstall Xiaomi drivers manually through Device Manager.

2. Use another USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0).

3. Enable the debugging option in the developer settings USB (Security settings) and Allow debugging (charging only).-->

5. Restoring access through resetting settings

If none of the methods worked and the files are critical, the last option is to reset the settings to factory settings, which will delete all the data from the device, but in some cases, allows you to restore access to files through a backup.

⚠️ Attention: Resetting removes:

• 📸 All photos, videos and documents in internal memory
• 📱 Installed applications and their data
• 🔑 Settings for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and accounts
• 📋 Private Mode (unless linked to Mi Account)

💾 How to save data before resetting:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and copy all available files manually.
2. Create a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup (save to Mi Cloud or to disk).
3. Use Google Photos to automatically upload media files to the cloud.

🔄 How to perform a reset:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose to erase all data and confirm the action.
3. After the reboot, set the phone up as new or restore data from the backup.

❗ Important: If files were hidden due to a failure MIUI, However, if the data was encrypted (for example, in Private Mode without linking to the account), it will be impossible to restore it.

6. Alternative methods: cloud services and third-party applications

If files are blocked at the system level but previously synced to the cloud, check the following services:

🔎 Third-party applications for file recovery:

• 🔍 DiskDigger scans internal memory for deleted files (works without root, but with limitations).
• 📁 Recuva (for PC) – recovers data from a connected phone as an external drive.
• 🛠️ Dr.Fone is a paid tool with high efficiency (requires) USB-debugging).

⚠️ Note: File recovery applications often contain advertising software or require payment for full-time work. 4PDA or XDA Developers.

💡

If files have been deleted recently, don’t write new data to your phone — it reduces the chances of recovery. Use a memory card or other storage device to save the recovered files.

FAQ: Frequent questions about file access on Xiaomi