How to Delete All Photos on Xiaomi: Safe Techniques

Deleting all photos on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones may be necessary in different situations: before selling the device, to free up memory or after importing duplicates. However, standard allocation of files one at a gallery takes hours, and the risk of accidentally leaving personal photos remains. In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods, including mass removal through hidden MIUI functions, file manager and even Windows command line.

It's important to understand that simply removing from a gallery doesn't always clear up memory completely. Files can stay in the Recycle Bin, app cache, or Mi Cloud backups. We'll show you how to delete photos irrevocably without going through the Recycle Bin, and what to do if the system blocks deleting secure folders (e.g. DCIM/.thumbnails).

Method 1: Mass removal through the standard MIUI gallery

The most obvious, but not always effective, method is to use the built-in Xiaomi gallery, which is suitable if the photos are stored in the main folders (DCIM/Camera, Pictures) and are not password protected.

Open the Gallery app and go to All Photos. Click on the Highlight icon (usually in the upper right corner). MIUI 14+ has a "Select All" option, use it. If there is no such button, tap the first photo and hold your finger down the screen for group selection. Then click "Delete" (basket icon).

• ✅ Pros: does not require additional programs, works without the Internet.
• ❌ Cons: does not delete files from hidden folders (for example,.nomedia), can freeze with a large number of photos.
• ⚠️ Limitation: c MIUI 12 and below mass allocation works only for photos in one folder.

⚠️ Warning: After deleting through the gallery, the files are stored in the bin for 30 days. To erase them permanently, open the basket (Albums section). → Recycle bin) and press "Clean».

Close all apps that use the gallery (Instagram, Telegram)

Connect the charger (the process can take 10-30 minutes)

Check if sync with Mi Cloud is enabled (Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Gallery)

Backup important photos on your PC or cloud

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Method 2: Delete via file manager (including hidden folders)

Xiaomi’s File Manager (the “Conductor”) allows you to delete photos directly from folders, including system directories that the gallery does not show, a method that is suitable for cleaning folders like DCIM/Screenshots, Pictures/Telegram or.thumbnails (miniatures).

Open Explorer and go to Internal Drive → DCIM. This is where the main photos are stored.

1. Hold your finger on any folder (like Camera) and select the others in the list.
2. Click "Delete" in the lower menu.
3. Confirm the action by selecting “Finally delete” (bypassing the basket).

To see hidden folders (starting from a dot), click on the three dots in the top right corner → Settings → turn on “Show hidden files.” Careful: deleting files from the.data or.system folders may disrupt MIUI.

⚠️ Note: If you delete the folder DCIM There is an error "Inadequate rights", which means that the files are protected by the system (ADB) Or connect the phone to the PC.

Method 3: Cleaning via PC (Windows/macOS/Linux)

Connecting Xiaomi to a computer gives you more control over files, especially if there is little space on the phone or a computer. MIUI You're gonna need it. USB-cable (preferably original) and enabled mode "File Transfer» (MTP).

Connect your phone to your PC and do:

1. On the phone in the notification curtain, select File Transfer (not Charging).
2. On a PC, open “This Computer” (Windows) or “Finder” (macOS) – the device will appear as a removable disk.
3. Go to the internal drive. → DCIM (or SD-map, if there's a photo).
4. Select folders with photos (for example, Camera, Screenshots) and click Shift + Delete (non-return deletion).

For complete cleaning, use the Ctrl + A key combination (select everything) → Shift + Delete. If files are not deleted, check:

• 🔌 Connection to USB: Try another cable or port.
• 🔒 Permissions: on the phone in Settings → Additionally. → Developer settings include “Debugging by” USB».
• 🛡️ Antivirus: temporarily disable protection on PC (sometimes blocks access).

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If your PC can't see your phone, try restarting both devices and using the cable from the bundle. Cheap cables often don't support data transfer.

Method 4: Delete via ADB (for hidden and protected files)

If the photos are stored in system folders or MIUI blocks their removal, Android Debug Bridge (ADB) will help. This method requires USB debugging enabled and is suitable for power users.

First, prepare the phone:

1. Go to Settings. → About the phone and 7 times click on the "Version" MIUI» (Unlocks the Developer’s Options»).
2. Return to Settings → Additional → Developer settings and turn on “Debugging by USB”.
3. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.

Now install ADB Tools on your PC and execute commands in the command line (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux):

adb devices

(Your device serial number should appear.)

adb shell


su




rm -rf /sdcard/DCIM/Camera

This command will permanently delete all photos from the Camera folder. For other folders, replace the path (e.g. /sdcard/Pictures/Screenshots).

⚠️ Attention: Rm teams -rf They don't send files to the trash. Error on the way (e.g., rm) -rf /sdcard/ If you don't specify a folder, it can erase all the data on your phone!

Method 5: Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If you have photos scattered across hundreds of folders or you sell a phone, it's easier to do a complete reset, which deletes all data, including photos, videos, contacts and apps. Xiaomi offers two options for resetting:

• 🔄 Through Settings: Settings → The phone. → Resetting settings → Delete all data. You'll need to enter a password from your Mi Account if it's tied.
• 🛠️ Using Recovery: Turn off your phone, then press the power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.

Once reset, the phone will go back out of the box. Importantly, if Mi Cloud was turned on, the photos could sync with the cloud. To delete them, go to i.mi.com → Gallery → highlight files → Delete.

Once a month

Six months

Just before the phone is sold.

Never clean.

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How to Recover Accidentally Deleted Photos

If you've erased important images, don't panic -- they can be returned within 30 days (if they were in the cart) or with special programs.

1. Check the cart: open the gallery → Albums → Recycle Cart → restore the necessary files.
2. Use Mi Cloud: If sync was enabled, photos could be saved to the cloud. Check at i.mi.com.
3. Recovery software: DiskDigger, Recuva (root needed) or EaseUS MobiSaver are suitable for Android. Connect your phone to your PC and scan the memory.

The chances of recovery are higher if:

• 📱 You have not written new files after deletion (they can overwrite deleted data).
• 🔋 The phone is not running out of power (this can damage your memory).
• 💾 The photos were stored in internal memory, not in the SD-map (cards are recovering worse).

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The faster you start recovering from deletion, the better the chances of returning files, and after 72 hours, the probability of success drops by 50%.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photos removal on Xiaomi