Accidental deletion of important images is a stressful situation familiar to every owner of a Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone. Often the user realizes that he has deleted too much after cleaning the folder “Recently deleted.” You should not panic at this point, since the Android operating system does not erase data instantly and permanently. Physically, the information remains on the media until new files take its place.
Recovery of media files on devices with a shell MIUI or the new HyperOS has its own nuances, different from the standard Android. Xiaomi security system actively blocks access to system folders, which complicates the process, but does not make it impossible. In this article, we will discuss proven methods of returning images without having to carry the phone to the service.
Analysis of the folder “Recently deleted” in the Gallery
The first and most obvious place to look is the built-in shopping cart, where on Xiaomi smartphones, deleted photos don't disappear immediately, but move to a special album, where they are stored for exactly 30 days, after which the system automatically destroys them to free up space.
To find them, open the standard Gallery app and go to the Albums tab. Scroll down to the bottom of the list where the Other Albums section is located. That's where the "Recently Deleted" folder hides. If you deleted the photo less than a month ago, it'll be there.
Pick the right shots, click the Restore button, and they'll go back to their original albums, and if the folder is empty or the right file isn't there, it's been too long or someone's already cleaned the basket manually.
⚠️ Note: If you delete photos from the recently deleted folder inside the gallery, standard system means to return them will not work.
📊 Have you recovered your photo from the cart before 30 days have passed?
Yeah, I always do.
No, I often forget.
I didn't know about this function.
I'm always on autosynchronization.
Checking the cloud storage Mi Cloud
Mi Account holders have access to the Mi Cloud cloud service, and if Gallery Sync is enabled on your device, copies of all photos are automatically uploaded to Xiaomi servers, the most reliable way, regardless of the phone’s physical memory status.
To check, log in to i.mi.com from your computer or other device. Sign in using your Mi ID and password. From the menu, select Gallery, which displays all the photos that have been synced, even if they have been deleted from the phone itself.
If you find the right photos, you can download them back to your device or computer, and it’s also worth checking the “Deleted” section already inside the cloud web interface, since they store files separately from the local phone basket.
What to do if the synchronization is turned off?
If you didn't turn on sync beforehand, this method won't work. However, sometimes users will accidentally activate it when they first set up the phone, check the status in your account settings, maybe your photos are already there. Many Android users default to Google Photos for backup. Even if you deleted a picture from Xiaomi Gallery, a copy of it could have been saved to Google Cloud. Open the app and check the Library section» -> «Remote objects in Google Photos are stored for 60 days for most accounts, twice as long as a standard gallery. MIUI. In addition, Google often offers a “Recover” feature even for files deleted from the Recycle Bin if it’s been a while since deleting. And don't forget about other services, like Yandex.Disk or Dropbox, if you have their apps installed with autoload enabled. Often users forget about the once-configured backup, which becomes a salvation at a critical moment. 📸 Google Photos: Remote 60 days, high probability of success. ☁️ Mi Cloud: Stores remotely for 30 days, requires enabled synchronization. 📂 Local Recycle Bin: Stores for 30 days, works without the Internet. Recovery through computer and file managers If cloud services did not help, you can try to find traces of files in the device's memory through the computer. USB-cable and select file transfer mode (MTP). In some cases, deleted files may remain in hidden cache folders or system directories. Use advanced file managers on PCs such as Total Commander or Android File Transfer. Try searching for files by creation date or extensions of.jpg,.png in root directories. Sometimes photo thumbnails last longer than the originals. However, modern versions of Android (11, 12, 13 and above) severely limit direct access to the file system. Without obtaining permissions, deep scanning through the cable may not be available. Specialized data recovery software When standard methods are exhausted, programs for the help of the software for deep data recovery are considered to be the market. In Rootless mode, it does "Basic Scanning," finding thumbnails and cached versions of photos. The quality of these images may be lower than the original, but the content is often saved. Full scanning requires superuser rights. PC programs like Dr.Fone require a cable connection and drivers to be installed. They scan the memory more deeply. However, the effectiveness of such programs on modern Xiaomi smartphones with data encryption is often low without first unlocking the bootloader. ☑️ Algorithm of actions during recovery Check the cart in the Gallery Go to Mi Cloud and Google Photo Connect to PC to search for copies Install DiskDigger for scanning Contact a pro if the data is critical: 0 / 5 To make it easier for you to choose the right method, we have systematized the probability of success and complexity of each method. Note that time is against you: the earlier you start recovery, the better the chances are. Method Necessary Conditions Probability of Success Gallery Cart Difficulty Past < 30 days 100% Low Mi Cloud / Google Included Synchronization 90% Low DiskDigger (without Root) Installed Application 40-60% (Miniatures: Average PC Software (Dr.Fone) USB-cable, drivers 30-50% High Service Center Physical Access Depends on the case of the Pro, Why not to delay and what to do next, the main enemy of recovered data is new information. When you delete a file, the system marks the space as free. Once you take a new photo, download a movie or update an app, the system can write new data on top of the deleted ones, then restore it becomes impossible. If the photos are really important, immediately stop using your smartphone actively. Do not install new applications, do not shoot videos and preferably turn on the “In the plane” mode to stop background synchronization and downloading of messengers. ⚠️ Warning: Never save recovery software directly to the phone you're losing data from. This can overwrite the memory sector where your photos are stored. Use a PC or cloud. 💡The highest chance of returning a photo is cloud services (Mi Cloud, Google Photos), local recovery without backup on modern Android smartphones is extremely difficult due to encryption. To avoid this problem regularly, set up automatic synchronization. In your Google or Mi Account settings, make sure that the Sync Gallery item is activated. This will take a couple of minutes, but will save thousands of nerve cells in the future. It's also recommended to back up important photos once a month to an external hard drive or computer. Data duplication is the golden rule of digital hygiene. Use different media: cloud to access from anywhere and hard drive to archive. Check sync regularly. Sometimes, due to an application error or lack of space in the cloud, new photos stop loading and you mistakenly believe that they are protected. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Can I restore the photo after a factory reset? Recovery after a full reset is extremely difficult. When I reset, new photos stop downloading, new photos stop downloading them from being physically using the chips, even if they are not used for free software? Free versions often have limitations: they can show a file preview, but they will require payment to save it. Also, download the software only from official developer sites so as not to infect the phone with viruses. Are photos deleted from the cloud if I delete them from the phone? If synchronization is enabled, deleting the photo from the phone and from the cloud (via the basket). To save the photo in the cloud, but delete from the phone, you first need to turn off the sync or move the photo to a hidden folder that is not synchronized with the cloud. How much the deleted photos weigh in the phone?