Have you accidentally deleted an important video from Xiaomi — a birthday video, a work presentation or a single video from a trip? Don't panic: 80 percent of the time, files can be recovered even if they aren't displayed in the gallery. Redmi, Poco and Mi smartphones store deleted data in hidden memory for up to 30 days, and some methods work even after formatting.
In this article, 5 proven ways to return videos, from simple (check the cart) to advanced (use ADB and root access).
- 🔍 How does the file removal mechanism work? MIUI Why the video doesn’t disappear immediately
- 📁 Where to search for deleted videos in standard Xiaomi apps (Gallery, Files, Google Photos)
- 🛠️ Which programs actually restore video and which ones are a waste of time
- ⚠️ What can not be done after deletion, so as not to lose data forever
Important: the effectiveness of the methods depends on the phone model (on Xiaomi 13 Pro with MIUI 14 algorithms are different than on Redmi Note 10 with MIUI 12.5) and the type of memory (internal vs. memory card).
1.Check the cart in the standard Xiaomi Gallery
The standard Gallery app on MIUI has a built-in bin where files are stored for up to 30 days (some firmware for 15 days), the first and fastest way to return a video.
How to open the basket:
- Launch the Gallery app (an icon with colored squares).
- Tap it on three points (⋮) top-right → pick the basket.
- Find the right video, click on it and select Restore.
⚠️ Warning: If you were manually cleaning the cart or using features like Memory Optimization in Settings → Memory, video could be permanently deleted, and the Recycle Bin doesn't work for files deleted through Explorer or third-party file managers.
Make sure the video is not deleted until 30 days ago | View all folders in the cart (sometimes the videos fall into "Other Files") | Check the free space on the phone (if the memory is <10%, the cart can self-clean)
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2. Recovery through the File Manager application
Xiaomi’s Files app (in some firmware, Explorer) has a hidden function to find deleted files, it only works for internal memory and does not support microSD cards.
Instructions:
- Open Files (Blue folder icon)
- Go to the Category section → Video.
- Tap it on three points (⋮) → Settings → Enable the option to show hidden files.
- Return to the Video section and scroll down – sometimes deleted files are shown in gray.
If the video is not visible, try searching by name:
- 🔎 In the search bar, enter a part of the video title (for example, VID_2026).
- 📂 Check the.trash or.recycle folders in the root directory (they are hidden).
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If the video was recorded in the Camera app, look for it in /DCIM/Camera or /DCIM/Screenshots folder. Sometimes the files are simply moved to subfolders like /DCIM/.thumbnails.
3.Use Google Photos to Restore
If your Xiaomi enabled automatic sync with Google Photos, the videos could be saved to the cloud, which works even if the file was deleted from your phone months ago, provided that the sync was active.
How to check:
- Open the Google Photos app (if not installed, download from the Play Store).
- Sign in with the same account as on your phone.
- Go to the Library → Recycle Bin (the path may be different in Android 13+).
- Deleted videos are stored here for 60 days. Select the ones you want and click Restore.
⚠️ Note: If you manually cleaned your Google Photos Recycle Bin or turned off your backup, the files could have been deleted forever. Also check the Archive folder - sometimes videos get there instead of the Recycle Bin.
| Recovery method | Max. Shelf life. | Does it work for a memory card? | Need the Internet? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gallery basket | 15-30 days | ❌ No. | ❌ No. |
| Google Photos (basket) | 60 days | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. |
| Conductor (hidden files) | Before the re-recording | ❌ No. | ❌ No. |
| MI Cloud | Unlimitedly. | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. |
4.Recovery via MI Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)
MI Cloud is Xiaomi’s cloud storage that automatically backs up photos and videos if the feature is enabled. Unlike Google Photos, files are stored indefinitely (subject to subscription or free space).
How to restore:
- Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → MI Cloud.
- Select Gallery or Backup Copies.
- Find the video and download it back to your phone.
If the video is not in the cloud:
- 🔄 Check if synchronization has been enabled: Settings → Xiaomi account → MI Cloud → Synchronization of the gallery.
- 📅 Files deleted from the cloud are stored in the Recycle Bin MI Cloud 10 days.
- 💾 If the cloud space ran out, old files could be deleted automatically.
What if the MI Cloud doesn’t show a video?
5. Deep memory scanning programs
If standard methods don't work, you'll have to use third-party tools that scan raw memory sectors and recover files even after formatting.
- 🛠️ DiskDigger – works without root, finds video by signatures (free version shows preview, you need root to save).
- 🔧 EaseUS MobiSaver – Supports MIUI, Recover files from memory cards, but requires a connection to a PC.
- 📱 Dumpster is an analogue of the basket, but works as a separate application (you need to install it in advance).
Instructions for DiskDigger (without root):
- Install DiskDigger from the Play Store.
- Select a full scan (it will take 10–60 minutes).
- After scanning, filter the results from the video.
- View previews and save files to the cloud or other media.
⚠️ Warning: Do not save recovered videos to the same phone - this can overwrite the remaining data snippets. USB-OTG flash-drive.
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The faster you start recovering from deletion, the better the chances of success, and each new file you write to your phone reduces the chance of returning old data by 10 to 15 percent.
6 Advanced Methods: ADB and root access
If video is critical, and previous methods have failed, there is a low-level recovery, which requires technical skills and can damage the system if used incorrectly.
Method 1: Through ADB (without root)
ADB allows you to access system folders where temporary copies of videos can be stored.
adb shell
su
find /data -name ".mp4" -o -name ".mov" -o -name "*.3gp"If the team returns paths to the files, copy them to the PC:
adb pull /data/.../video.mp4 C:\Backup\Method 2: With root access
Root gives you access to /data/data and /cache, where fragments of deleted files sometimes remain. Use Root Explorer or TWRP to search by signature:
- 🔍 Look for files with extensions.mp4,.mov,.mkv.
- 📁 Check the folders. /data/media/0/DCIM/.thumbnails — There could be miniatures.
⚠️ Note: Incorrect commands in the ADB Deleting system files from root can make your phone down. If you're not sure, contact Xiaomi's service center.
What not to do after removing the video
Errors in the first hours after removal reduce the chances of recovery by 70%.
- 🚫 Record new videos/photos – they will overwrite deleted data.
- 🚫 Install or update applications – they take up space on the internal drive.
- 🚫 Formatting a phone or memory card – this erases the file system tables.
- 🚫 Use the "Waste Cleanup" function in Settings → Memory.
- 🚫 Connect your phone to your PC in File Transfer mode – Windows can create new files on your device.
If the video was on a microSD:
- 🔋 Don’t remove the card from your phone – it can damage your contacts.
- 🔄 Do not use the card in other devices (cameras, recorders).