How to view deleted photos and videos on Xiaomi: from the cart to deep scanning

Deleting photos or videos on Xiaomi’s smartphone is a situation that almost everyone faces, and files are often lost after accidentally tapping, resetting settings, or migrating data. Fortunately, the manufacturer has provided several protections, from a standard shopping cart in the gallery to hidden backups in the Mi Cloud, but even if these methods do not work, specialized programs remain to restore data.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to return deleted media files, from the simplest (check the cart) to the most complex (use ADB and root access), pay special attention to the nuances of working with different models of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, and explain why some methods may not work on new versions of MIUI 14/15.

1. Checking the basket in the standard Xiaomi gallery

The first thing you need to do is to look in the gallery cart, where in MIUI, deleted files are not erased immediately, but are stored for up to 30 days (some models have up to 15 days), which works even without the Internet and requires no additional software.

How to open the basket:

• 📱 Open the Gallery app (icon with colored squares).
• 🗑️ Click on three dots in the upper right corner → pick the basket.
• 🔍 View the file list: photos and videos will be marked with different icons.
• ↩️ Select the required files with a long tap → press Restore.

If the bin is empty or there are no files, then move on to the next method. Note: on some firmware (e.g., the global version of MIUI for POCO), the basket may be called "Recently Deleted".

2. Recovery via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud Storage)

Mi Cloud automatically syncs photos and videos if this feature was enabled before deleting files. You can check for backups through the web version or mobile application. The main condition is the presence of a Xiaomi account and an active Internet connection.

Instructions for remediation:

• 🌐 Go to i.mi.com and log in.
• 📁 Select the Gallery section → Recycle Bin (or Archive if files were moved there).
• 🔄 Press the file. → Restore or Download.
• 📲 Alternative way: in the Mi Cloud mobile app go to Storage Management → Backup copies.

Important: Mi Cloud only provides 5GB of free space. If the backup wasn't created due to space constraints, this method won't work. Also check if the sync in settings: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Gallery Sync has been disabled.

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If you don’t remember if sync was enabled, check the date of the last backup in Mi Cloud → Devices → [your model] → Backup.

3. Using Google Photos to Restore

Many Xiaomi users are installing Google Photos as an alternative to the standard gallery, and it also has its own shopping cart and backup feature, and if you've used it, the chances of returning files are high.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Slip on the profile avatar. → Basket.
3. Select the necessary files → click Restore.
4. If there is nothing in the cart, check the Archive or Backups in the same menu.

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Files are only stored in the bin for 60 days (as opposed to 30 days in the bin). MIUI).
• 📶 To recover from the backup, you need access to the same Google account that was used previously.
• 📱 On some Xiaomi models (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) Google Photos may not sync automatically due to manufacturer restrictions.

4. Data recovery programs (without root)

If the previous methods didn't work, you'll have to use third-party utilities. Xiaomi is suitable for programs that scan internal memory without superuser rights (root).

How to use DiskDigger (for example):

1. Download the program from Google Play.
2. Start and select Start a simple scan (without root).
3. Wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 30 minutes).
4. View the files found → highlight the necessary → click Restore.
5. Save files to a memory card or cloud (not internal memory!).

⚠️ Warning: Do not install recovery software on the same memory as the files you deleted! This can overwrite them irrevocably. Use a memory card or other phone.

5. Recovery with ADB (for power users)

If the standard methods do not work, you can try to extract files through the ADB (Android Debug Bridge. This method requires skills to work with the command line and enabled USB-Suitable for Xiaomi models where internal memory is not encrypted (e.g. Redmi) 9A, POCO X3 NFC).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap 7 times.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and activate USB-debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and install ADB Tools.
4. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) and type: Adb devices Make sure the device is defined.
5. Download files from the folder DCIM (Where the video is usually stored: adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/ C:\Xiaomi_Recovery\

Limitations of the method:

• 🔒 On the new models (Xiaomi 13, Redmi Note 12) internal memory is encrypted — ADB I won't see the files.
• 🛠️ PC and basic command line knowledge required.
• ⏳ The process can take several hours with a large amount of data.

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ADB-This method is only suitable for unencrypted devices and power users. If you are not sure about your skills, use the programs in the previous section.

6. Restoration with root access (maximum efficiency)

If you have root rights, the chances of returning deleted files are much higher, and Root allows programs like DiskDigger or Undeleter to scan system partitions that standard utilities do not have access to, but this method has risks:

⚠️ Attention: Getting root rights voids Xiaomi's warranty and can lead to a device blink (completely inoperable) if it fails (MIUI 14+) Unlocking the bootloader erases all data! How to recover files from root: 🔓 Install Magisk or SuperSU to get root. 📱 Download DiskDigger Pro or GT Recovery from Official Sources. 🔍 Start a deep scan (may take several hours). 💾 Save the recovered files to a memory card or PC. The alternative is to use TWRP Recovery to create a section image /data It's the most time-consuming, but also the most effective method, especially if the files were deleted long ago. ✅ Backup of current data (through the TWRP Mi Cloud) ✅ Make sure the battery is charged > 50% ✅ Download the official versions of Magisk and DiskDigger Pro ✅ Prepare a memory card to save recovered files --> 7.Data loss prevention: Checklist for Xiaomi users To avoid the problem of deleted files in the future, follow these recommendations: ☁️ Enable automatic sync with Mi Cloud or Google Photos: Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization of the gallery. 🗃️ Regularly transfer important files to a memory card or PC (via Explorer or Mi) PC Suite). 🔄 Set up backup in Settings → System system → Backup (select Local or Cloud-based"). 🚫 Avoid using memory optimizers (such as Clean Master) that can accidentally delete files. 📱 For models with MIUI 14+ Check your storage settings: some updates reset folder permissions. Additional tip: if you often work with important media, consider buying an external drive (e.g. Xiaomi) USB-C Flash Drive or Mi Cloud Premium subscriptions (50GB per user) ~100 rubles/month). FAQ: Frequent questions about file recovery on Xiaomi: Can you restore files deleted more than a year ago? The odds are extremely low. Without backups in Mi Cloud or Google Photos, files could be overwritten with new data. Try deep scanning software (e.g. EaseUS MobiSaver) but there are no guarantees. Why is the shopping cart in the Xiaomi gallery empty even though I haven't deleted anything? Possible reasons: Files were deleted more than 30 days ago and automatically cleared. You used the Recycle Cart Cleanup function manually. Update MIUI Reset the gallery settings (check the folder) DCIM/.thumbnails Can you recover videos from Stories in the Xiaomi Gallery? Yes, if they were saved to the Gallery? → Albums. → Stories. These files also end up in the recycle bin and can be restored in standard ways. If Stories didn't save automatically, you can't get them back. Will resetting the settings help you get the deleted photos back? No, factory reset (Settings). → The phone. → Resetting) deletes all user data, including photos. This is the worst option when trying to recover! Which Xiaomi models do not support recovery through the ADB? Starting with Xiaomi 12 Redmi Note 11 (s MIUI 13+) internal memory is encrypted by default, and this blocks access to files through ADB Restrictions also apply to dynamic partition devices (e.g, POCO F4 GT).