How to delete photos from Xiaomi: all ways + reinstatement

Delete photos on Xiaomi, Redmi or smartphones POCO It seems like a simple task, until you get into nuances, and some files stay in the bin, some sync to the cloud, and some disappear altogether from the gallery, but continue to take up space on the device. In this article, we will analyze all ways to delete photos - from the basic swipe in the gallery to complete erasure through the ADB, We also tell you how to return accidentally deleted photos.

Feature of firmware MIUI It actively caches media files and duplicates them in different folders (for example, in the case of the file, DCIM/Thumbails or Pictures/Screenshots). So just clicking Delete doesn't always clear the memory. We tested all the techniques on Xiaomi models. 13 Ultra, Redmi Note 12 Pro+ and POCO F5 — instructions are relevant MIUI 14/15 Android 13/14.

1.Removal through the standard MIUI gallery

The most obvious way is to use the built-in Gallery app, and there are two options: quick deletion (the photo will be in the cart) and complete erasure. Let's take both of them apart.

To remove one or more photos:

• 📷 Open the Gallery app** and find the album you want (e.g. Camera or Downloads).
• 🔘 Select a long tap to select a photo (a tick will appear). To select a few pictures, swipe your finger through the thumbnails.
• 🗑️ Click on the basket icon at the bottom of the screen, and the photos will be moved to the basket folder (stored there for 30 days).

For complete removal without basket:

1. Select the photo as described above.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → «Delete irrevocably»**.
3. Confirm action. Photos will be erased from the device immediately and without the ability to recover through standard means.

⚠️ Note: If you have Mi Cloud sync enabled, photos may remain in the cloud even after you have deleted them from your phone. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → gallery.

2. Cleaning through File Manager: Where to Look for Hidden Doubles

Firmware MIUI creates copies of photos in multiple folders that don't show up in the gallery, like sketches (.thumb) or messenger cache, to manually delete them:

Open the Files app** (Folder icon) and go to:

• 📁 Internal memory. → DCIM →.thumbnails — these are the thumbnails that you can quickly download, and you can remove them (they will automatically recover).
• 📁 Android → data → [The name of the messenger package] — for example, for Telegram it is org.telegram.messenger.
• 📁 Pictures → Screenshots – screenshots that are sometimes duplicated in DCIM/Screenshots.

Important: Some folders (for example, Android/data) To see them, tap three dots in the file manager. → «Settings» → Enable "Show hidden files».

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Before you delete files through the manager, back up important photos on your PC or cloud. Android/data may contain application data, the removal of which will lead to failures.

3. Delete via Mi Cloud: how to erase a photo from the cloud

If your Xiaomi has Mi Cloud sync enabled, removing photos from your phone won't cause them to disappear from the cloud.

Method 1: Using the "Mi Cloud" app on your phone:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select "Gallery» → «Photo management».
3. Select the unwanted photos and click "Delete" and they will be placed in the "Cloud Recycle Bin" (stored for 60 days).

Method 2: Using the Mi Cloud web version (if the phone is not available):

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select the Gallery section**.
3. Click on the basket icon next to the photo or use mass selection.

⚠️ Note: Photos deleted from Mi Cloud cannot be recovered using standard means after cleaning the cart. If Auto Download option is enabled**, new photos will sync again with the cloud.

Automatic synchronization is disabled?|Is the backup of important photos taken?|Check the cloud basket for the right files?|Is the cache of the gallery removed after cleaning?-->

4. Complete removal without possibility of recovery

If you need to erase a photo (for example, before selling a phone), standard deletion is not enough - files can be restored with special programs.

Method 1: Formatting a memory card

If the photo is stored on a microSD:

1. Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
2. Choose your memory card → «Format» → «Clean and format».
3. Confirm action. All data on the map will be permanently deleted, including hidden files.

Method 2: Use of ADB (for power users)

For low-level erasure of internal memory:

adb shell


su




dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/block/mmcblk0 bs=1M count=100

⚠️ This command will destroy all the data in the partition. Use it only if you understand the risks!

Method 3: Encryption and resetting

Alternative for devices with encryption support:

1. Enable encryption in Settings → Security → Phone Encryption.
2. After the process is complete, reset to factory settings (Settings) → The phone. → Resetting settings).

5 How to Recover Accidentally Deleted Photos

If you deleted the photo by mistake, there are several ways to return it:

Method 1: The basket in the gallery

The photos are stored in the basket for 30 days to recover:

1. Open the Gallery» → «Basket” (batch in upper right corner).
2. Select the desired photos and click "Restore"**.

Method 2: Mi Cloud (if synchronized)

Check the cloud cart (storage up to 60 days):

1. Open the Settings. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → gallery → Basket.
2. Restore files or download them to your device.

Method 3: Third-party programs

Recovery from internal memory (unless the photos are overwritten):

• 📱 DiskDigger (there is a free version, restores) JPG/PNG).
• 💻 Recuva or EaseUS Data Recovery (for recovery from PC after connecting your phone to mode) MTP).

⚠️ Warning: The more you use your phone after deleting, the lower your chances of recovery. New files overwrite old data. Shut off the Internet and don't install programs until you recover.

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The most reliable way to avoid losing a photo is to back up to the cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud) or to an external drive. Set up automatic sync in Settings → Accounts. → Autoboot.

6. Optimization of photo storage: how to free up space

Deleting a photo isn't always the best way to free up memory. Here are alternative methods:

1. Compression photo

V MIUI It has a built-in compression function:

1. Open the Gallery»** → select the album.
2. Tap on three points. → «Squeeze»**.
3. Select quality (e.g., High cuts size by 50% without losing any visible quality).

2. Transfer to a memory card

If you have a microSD:

1. Open the Files»** → Internal memory. → DCIM.
2. With a long tap, select the Camera folder. → «Move it»** → Select a memory card.

3. Automatic cleaning

Enable the function in Settings → Warehouse → Cleanup:

• 🧹 «Autocleaning – deletes unnecessary files (cache, duplicates) once a week.
• 📸 «Gallery optimization** - compresses old photos.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When deleting a photo on Xiaomi, users often face typical problems:

Error 1: Photos deleted, but memory not released

Reason: Files stay in the bin or cache. Solution:

• 🗑️ Clean the gallery basket ("Gallery") → Basket → Clean up»**).
• 🧹 Remove the gallery cache in Settings → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

Mistake 2: Deleted photos appear again

Reason: Sync with Mi Cloud or Google Photos enabled. Solution:

• ☁️ Turn off autoboot to the cloud (Settings) → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → gallery).
• 📱 Check the settings of Google Photos (if installed).

Error 3: You can't delete a photo in a protected folder

Reason: Files are blocked by the Secure Folder function** Solution:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Secure folder.
2. Enter your password and delete the photo from there.

Error 4: Gallery app fails to respond

Cause: A damaged cache or conflict with other applications.

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 🛠️ Clear the gallery data (Settings) → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the data. Attention: this will delete all application settings!

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Before mass deleting a photo, turn off mobile internet and Wi-Fi to avoid automatic cloud sync, which is especially important if you are selling or transferring your phone to another person.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions