How to undo the removal of photos on Android Xiaomi: a complete guide to recovery

Accidentally removing photos from a Xiaomi smartphone is one of the most frustrating situations for a user. Even if you haven’t made backups, the chances of returning photos remain: modern Redmi, Poco and Mi devices use a multi-layered storage system, and Android provides tools for recovery. The main thing is to act quickly: the less time has passed since deleting, the higher the probability of success.

In this article, we will look at all possible ways to return photos, from the standard shopping cart in the gallery to the use of professional utilities, focus on the unique features of MIUI, which are often ignored even by experienced users, you will also learn how to prevent irretrievable data loss in the future and what mistakes Xiaomi owners often make when trying to restore.

⚠️ Critical warning: Do not install new applications or save files to your device after deleting a photo. Each new record in the memory of the smartphone reduces the chances of successful recovery, since the system can overwrite deleted data.

1. Checking the basket in the standard MIUI gallery

The first thing you need to do is to look in the shopping cart of Xiaomi Gallery. Unlike many other manufacturers, MIUI defaults to save deleted photos in a special section for 30 days, which can vary depending on the device model and firmware version.

To find the basket:

If the cart is empty or the storage period has expired, move to the next method. Note: some users confuse the gallery basket with the Google Photos basket - these are different storages! In MIUI, the cart is built directly into the Gallery system application.

2. Restore via Google Photos (if synchronized)

If your Xiaomi has Google Photos enabled, the chances of returning deleted photos are greatly increased, and the service stores photos in the cloud and allows you to restore them even after cleaning the cart on the device.

Instructions for remediation:

• 📱 Open the Google Photos app (if not, download from Play Market).
• 🗑️ Go to the Cart section via the menu in the upper left corner.
• ⏳ Deleted files are stored here for 60 days - select the necessary and click Restore.
• ☁️ If the photo is not in the cart, check the Archive section or search by date.

Important nuance: Google Photos compresses photos by default when uploading to the cloud (High Quality option).If you need to restore the originals in full resolution, make sure you have the Original Quality option activated (requires storage fees).

3.Using backups of MIUI Cloud

Xiaomi offers its own cloud storage, MIUI Cloud, which automatically backs up photos when the feature is activated, and unlike Google Photos, it can restore files even after the phone is reset to factory settings.

How to recover photos from MIUI Cloud:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account.
2. Select MIUI Cloud → Gallery.
3. Click Restore and select the desired backup by date.
4. Confirm the recovery and wait for the process to be completed.

MIUI Cloud only stores backup photos for 90 days, after which they are deleted without recovery. If you don’t remember if sync was activated, check Settings → Mi Account → Cloud – it shows the amount of space occupied and the date of the last backup.

Check the Wi-Fi connection

Make sure there is enough free space on the device.

Charge your phone at least 50%

Remember the password from the Mi Account (required for confirmation)-->

4. Programs for Recovery of Deleted Files

If standard methods don't work, you'll have to use third-party utilities, and Xiaomi will use programs that don't have root rights (although they're more effective), and we recommend the following tools:

Recovery algorithm with DiskDigger (the easiest option):

• 📥 Install an application from the Play Market.
• 🔍 Select Basic Scan (without root).
• 📂 Specify the memory area where the photos were stored (usually) /storage/emulated/0/DCIM).
• 🖼️ After scanning, mark the desired files and click Restore.

⚠️ Warning: Do not save recovered files back to Xiaomi internal memory – use cloud, computer or other devices SD-This will prevent the remaining deleted data from being overwritten.

5. PC recovery (using ADB or specialized programs)

For advanced users, it is possible to recover photos through Xiaomi’s connection to a computer, which requires the installation of ADB (Android Debug Bridge) and basic command line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on your PC (e.g. Minimal ADB and Fastboot).
2. Activate Developer Mode on Xiaomi: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times).
3. Enable USB debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
4. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell su -c "find /storage/emulated/0/DCIM -name '.jpg' -o -name '.png' > /sdcard/recovery_list.txt" This command will create a file with a list of all photos in the folder DCIM, including deleted (unless they are already overwritten).

To recover the files themselves, additional utilities like PhotoRec or TestDisk running through ADB will be required.This method is recommended only for advanced users, since incorrect commands can lead to the loss of other data.

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If you’re unsure of your ADB skills, use the 7-Data Android Recovery program.It has a GUI and automates the scanning process through ADB without manually entering commands.

6. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If the photos are critical (for example, they are the only copies of documents or family photos), and independent attempts to restore failed, you should consider contacting the official service center Xiaomi.

What you need to know before visiting the service:

⚠️ Note: Not all service centers are engaged in data recovery – check this information by phone before visiting. Also avoid “handicraft” workshops: unqualified actions can finally destroy the chances of returning photos.

7. How to prevent future loss of photos

The best way to combat data loss is prevention, and Xiaomi owners have several reliable backup methods available:

Automatic synchronization:

Manual backups:

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Even if you use cloud sync, check periodically that photos are actually loading. For example, in Google Photos, you can see the sync status under Photos → Settings → Backup and Sync.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photo recovery on Xiaomi