How to delete photos on Xiaomi Redmi 9: a step-by-step guide with pictures

Why Removing a Photo on Redmi 9 Needs a Special Approach

Smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 9 It's become one of the most popular budget devices because of its combination of performance and functionality. MIUI It has media-related features that often confuse users, such as photos that are deleted through a gallery, which can remain in a folder. DCIM/.thumbnails, And if you've used Google Photos or Mi Cloud, files can be duplicated in the cloud even after you clean the device.

In this article, we will discuss 5 methods of removal - from the basic through the standard gallery to advanced methods using ADB And we'll focus on the hidden folders. MIUI, which are not cleaned by standard means and can be eaten before 1-2 GB memory in old photos. You will also learn how to avoid the error "Inadequate rights to delete", which often occurs when working with files on the computer. SD-map.

The most obvious method is to use the built-in Gallery app, but even here, there's a nuance: MIUI hides system folders by default, and deleted files can stay in the trash for up to 30 days.

  1. 📱 Open the Gallery app on the main screen.
  2. 📂 Go to the album All photos or select a specific folder (for example, Camera).
  3. 🖼️ Click and hold the desired photo (for several - tick the boxes).
  4. 🗑️ Slip on the basket icon in the bottom menu and confirm the action.

⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Account, deleted photos can stay in the cloud to clear them:

  1. 🌐 Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → gallery.
  2. 🔍 Find the "Basket" section and clean it manually.

DCIM/.thumbnails folder (hidden thumbnails)

Recycle Bin in Mi Cloud (if synchronization is enabled)

Pictures/Screenshots folder (if screenshots were deleted)

Memory. SD-cards (if the photos are stored there)-->

Method 2: Cleaning through a file manager (including hidden files)

The standard MIUI gallery doesn't show all the folders of the photo, like screenshots stored in Pictures/Screenshots, and the thumbnail cache stored in DCIM/.thumbnails, to delete everything without leaving any trace:

  1. 📁 Open Files (Folder Icon) or install Solid Explorer from Google Play.
  2. 🔍 Enable the display of hidden files: Manager settings → Show hidden files
  3. 🗃️ Go to the folders: 📸 DCIM/Camera — camera 🖥️ Pictures - screenshots and downloads 👁️ DCIM/.thumbnails — cache of miniatures (can weigh up to) 500 MB!) 📱 Android/data/com.android.gallery3d — gallery-cash

"Delete"

💡 Useful advice: If files are not deleted from SD-Check the maps, check it for errors:

  1. 🔧 Go to Settings. → Memory. → SD-map → Settings (⋮) → Check for errors.
  2. 🔄 Wait for the check to be completed and repeat the deletion.

💡

Before mass deletion, back up important photos on your PC or in the cloud. Use the Settings function → Additional → Backup to MIUI.

Method 3: Delete Google Photos (if synchronization is enabled)

If your Redmi 9 is synced to Google Photos, deleting through the MIUI gallery may not work. The photos will remain in the cloud and take up space in your Google account. Here's how to clear them completely:

  1. 🌐 Open the Google Photos app (if not installed, download from the Play Market).
  2. 🔍 Go to the Photos section and select the desired shots (hold for multiple selections).
  3. 🗑️ Click on the basket icon and confirm the removal.
  4. 🔄 Be sure to clean up Google Shopping Cart Photos: Menu (☰) → Basket → Clean the basket.

⚠️ Note: Deleted files from Google Photos are not restored after cleaning the Recycle Bin! If you use Google One with a limited volume (15 GB), this will free up space in the cloud.

Action.The result on the phone.The result is Google Photos
Delete through the MIUI GalleryFile disappears from folderStays in the cloud.
Delete via Google PhotosFile stays on the phone*Removed from the cloud
Delete through the file managerThe file goes missing completely.Stays in the cloud.
Cleaning up Google Photos Recycle Bin—Files are deleted forever

If sync is disabled, the file will remain only on the phone.

Method 4: Uninstall without phone access (via PC)

If the Redmi 9 screen is broken or the phone is not turning on, but you need to delete the photo urgently (for example, before selling), you can connect it to your computer.

  • 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux
  • 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original)
  • 🔑 Unlocked screen (if the phone is switched on)

Instructions for Windows:

  1. 🔌 Connect Redmi 9 to your PC via USB.
  2. 📱 On your phone, select File Transfer Mode (if the screen is running).
  3. 🖥️ On PC, open "This Computer" - the phone will appear as a removable disk.
  4. 📂 Go to Internal Storage folders → DCIM or SD Card → DCIM.
  5. 🗑️ Delete unnecessary files (use Shift) + Delete for removal without basket).

🔧 If the phone does not turn on: you will have to use the Fastboot mode and ADB. It's a complex method that requires unlocking the bootloader.

How to delete a photo if the phone is not turned on?
If Redmi 9 doesn’t respond to the power button, but is detected by a PC in Qualcomm 9008 mode, you can try flashing clean firmware through the Mi Flash Tool. However, this will delete all data from the device, including photos. The alternative is to remove the memory chip and connect it to the programmer (requires special equipment and skills).

Method 5: Advanced Methods (ADB and Resetting)

If standard methods don’t work (e.g. files are protected or your phone is locked), you’ll have to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) or reset, which is suitable for power users.

Removal via ADB:

  1. 🖥️ Install. ADB Tools on PC.
  2. 📱 Put the debugging on. USB Redmi 9: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Tap 7 times) Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB
  3. 🔌 Connect your phone to your PC and execute the commands: Adb devices adb shell rm -rf /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/*.jpg (replace *.jpg with the desired format)

⚠️ Attention: Rm teams -rf Files are permanently deleted, and a mistake on the way can erase important data!

Resetting (Hard Reset):

If you need to delete all photos and data (for example, before selling your phone):

  1. 🔄 Turn off Redmi 9.
  2. 🔘 Press the power button. + Loudness up before the appearance of the Mi logo.
  3. 📛 In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
  4. 🔄 Confirm the reset and wait for the reset.

💡

Hard Reset is the only way to guarantee that you will delete all the data, including photos in hidden folders, but after this procedure, the phone will return to factory settings, and all the applications will have to be installed again.

How to Recover Accidentally Deleted Photos

If you delete important photos, don't despair - they can be returned within 30 days (if you haven't cleaned the cart).

  • 🗑️ Basket MIUI: Open the Gallery" → "Basket" → Choose a photo → "Restore".
  • ☁️ Google Photos: Go to the Recycle Bin in the web version or app and recover files.
  • 💾 Recovery software: Use DiskDigger or Recuva (requires root rights for deep scanning).
  • 🔧 Backup copies MIUI: If automatic backup is enabled, check Settings → Additionally. → Backup.

⚠️ Important: The less you use your phone after deleting, the better the chances of recovery.New files can overwrite old data!

📌 Advice for the future: Set up automatic sync with Google Photos or Mi Cloud to avoid data loss.Redmi 9 does it this way:

  1. ☁️ Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
  2. 📸 Enable the option "Synchronization of the gallery".
  3. 🔄 Select “Wi-Fi Only” to avoid wasting mobile traffic.

Through the standard gallery

I'm using a file manager.

Delete via Google Photos

I'm connecting to the computer.

I'm not deleting, I'm just archiving.-->

FAQ: Frequent questions about deleting photos on Redmi 9

🔹 Why do you see them again after you delete the photo through the gallery?
This is because you sync with Mi Cloud or Google Photos, disable autosynchronization in the cloud settings, or clear the cart in the relevant service, and check the DCIM/.thumbnails folder, which can store thumbnails of deleted photos.
🔹 How to remove a photo from a protected SD-map?
If the files are SD-The map is not removed, try it: 📱 Format the card via phone (Settings) → Memory. → SD-map → Format). 🖥️ Connect the card to the PC through the card reader and delete files from there. 🔧 Check the card for errors (Settings) → Memory. → SD-map → If the card is protected from writing, check the physical Lock switch on its case.
🔹 Can I delete a photo without going to the gallery?
Yeah, there are a few ways: 📁 Through the file manager (folders) DCIM or Pictures). 🖥️ Connecting the phone to the PC in file transfer mode. 🤖 Through ADB (power-user). 🧹 Using cleaning apps (e.g. Files by Google).
🔹 Why you can’t remove the photo from the lock screen?
In Redmi 9, the gallery widget on the lock screen only shows a preview: 🔓 Unlock the phone. 📱 Open the gallery and find the right picture. 🗑️ Delete it in the standard way (see Method 1). If the widget shows a photo that is not in the gallery, clear the cache of the Lock Screen application in the settings.
🔹 How to permanently delete photos so they can not be restored?
For irrevocable removal, do the following: 🗑️ Delete the photo through the gallery or file manager. ☁️ Clean the cart in Mi Cloud and Google Photos. 🔄 Fill your phone’s memory with other files (such as videos) to overwrite deleted data. 🧹 Use irrevocable erasure applications (e.g. Secure Delete). Reset settings for maximum certainty (see Method 5).