Recovery of data after resetting settings on Xiaomi Redmi: the full guide

Resetting your settings on Xiaomi Redmi is a radical but sometimes necessary step to solve system problems. However, after it, many users face an unpleasant surprise: the disappearance of photos, videos, contacts, messages and other important files. Data recovery is possible, but success depends on several factors: whether synchronization with MI Cloud was enabled, whether backups were used, and whether files were overwritten after the reset.

In this article, we will discuss 7 proven methods of data recovery, from simple (via the cloud) to complex (using ADB and specialized programs), pay special attention to the nuances of working with the Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/9A/9C and other popular models, and learn how to minimize the risks of data loss in the future and what errors are most often made by users.

The more you start recovering from a reset, the better the chances of success, and each new record on your phone (install apps, take photos) reduces the likelihood of old files being returned.

1. Verification of backups in MI Cloud

The first and most reliable way is to recover data from Xiaomi’s cloud storage, and if your Redmi has been synced, most files can be returned in a few clicks.

How to check for backup copies:

1. Sign in to i.mi.com under the same Mi Account you used on your phone.
2. Go to the Devices section → [Your Redmi model] → Backup copies.
3. Look at the date of the last backup. If it's fresh, you're in luck!

What can be recovered from MI Cloud:

• 📞 Contacts and call log (if sync was included in Settings) → Accounts. → Mi Account).
• 📷 Photos and videos from the gallery (if Autoboot to the Cloud is enabled).
• 📝 Notes and entries from the Xiaomi app Notes.
• 🔄 System settings (Wi-Fi, wallpaper, brightness, etc.).

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Note: If you have already logged in to another Mi Account after a reset, previous backups can be deleted! Xiaomi only stores backups for the last linked device.

To recover the data:

1. On the reset Redmi, log in to the same Mi Account.
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → Restore and Reset → Restore from Backup.
3. Select the last copy and wait for the process to be completed.

2. Restoration through Google Account

If sync with MI Cloud has been disabled, check Google Account. Many of the data (contacts, calendar, some settings) are automatically saved to Google Drive.

What can be returned:

• 📇 Contacts (if in Settings) → Accounts. → Google has been enabled synchronization).
• 📅 Calendar and events.
• 📌 Chrome bookmarks (if the default browser was used).
• 🎵 YouTube Music Playlists (subject to authorization).

Instructions for remediation:

1. On the reset Redmi, add the same Google Account you used earlier.
2. Go to Settings → Accounts → Google → [Your email] → Account Sync.
3. Activate sliders opposite the desired data (contacts, calendar, etc.).
4. Wait until the synchronization is complete (it can take up to 10 minutes).

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Note: Google only stores backups for 14 days after the last sync, and if you haven't used your account for longer, the data may have been deleted.

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Before resetting, always check if sync is enabled with Google: Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync. Even if MI Cloud is disabled, Google often saves contacts and calendar.

3. Use of recovery programs (without root)

If you don't have cloud copies, try specialized utilities, and without root rights, they'll only restore files that haven't been overwritten with new information.

Top.-3 Programs for Xiaomi Redmi:

Step-by-step instructions for Dr.Fone (as in the example of Redmi Note 11):

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Warning: Do not save recovered files back to your phone immediately after resetting! first transfer them to your PC or cloud, or you risk overwriting the remaining data.

Enable debugging on USB|Use the original USB-cable|Charge your phone at least 50 times%|Do not connect other devices to the PC during the process|Download the program from the official website-->

4. Recovery through ADB (for power users)

If the programs didn’t find the right files, try ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that requires command line knowledge, but sometimes saves you even without root rights.

What can be restored:

• 📁 Files from internal memory (unless they were encrypted).
• 📄 Documents and APK-file /data/app.
• 🔑 Some application settings (if not reset).

Instructions:

1. Install ADB Tools on your PC.
2. Connect Redmi to USB and allow debugging.
3. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) and type: Adb devices Make sure the device is defined.
4. Backup your current data: adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab
5. Unpack backup.ab with Android Backup Extractor.

Critical: This method only works if no new data is written to the phone after the reset! otherwise the files will be fragmented and unusable for recovery.

5. Recovery of deleted photos and videos

Photos and videos are often stored in a DCIM or Pictures folder, and even after being reset, they can be returned using specialized tools.

The best programs for recovering media files:

• 🖼️ DiskDigger scans internal memory for image residues.
• 🎥 EaseUS MobiSaver – Restores video in formats MP4, MOV, AVI.
• 📸 Stellar Photo Recovery – Supports RAW-Redmi camera files.

How to increase your chances of success:

• Do not take new photos or videos on your phone after resetting.
• Use a memory card (if the photos were stored on it, not in internal memory).
• Scan your phone immediately after you connect to your PC – every hour of delay reduces your chances by 10-15%.

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Note: If photos were uploaded to Google Photos, check the cart: files are stored there 60 days after deletion. Go to photos.google.com → Recycle Bin.

6. Recovery of contacts and messages

Contacts and SMS are often lost after a reset, but can be retrieved in several ways.

For contacts:

• 🔄 If you are synchronizing with Google or MI Cloud has been enabled, they will be restored automatically when you add an account.
• 📱 Check it out. SIM-Map: some contacts may have been saved on it (see Contacts) → Settings → Imports/Exports → Import with SIM).
• 💾 Use programs like Coolmuster Android Assistant to scan internal memory.

For SMS and call history:

• 💬 SMS Backup & Restore – if backup was made before reset.
• 📞 Check email: Some apps (like Truecaller) send backups of calls to email.
• 🔍 Use it. ADB database-extract SMS (file mmsms.db in /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/).

💡 Tip: If you used messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber), check if backup is enabled in the cloud:

• WhatsApp: Settings → Chat → Backup (copies are stored in Google Drive).
• Telegram: Cloud chats are saved automatically, local secret chats are not.

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If your contacts are synced with Google, you can return them even 2 weeks after the reset, just add an account to your phone and wait for automatic sync.

7. How to prevent future data loss

To avoid the problem again, follow these rules:

Cloud backups:

• ☁️ Enable automatic synchronization with MI Cloud (Settings) → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization).
• 🔄 Set up backup in Google Drive (Settings) → System system → Backup).
• 📱 Install Titanium Backup (requires root) for full backups.

Local copies:

• 💾 Regularly copy photos and videos to a PC or external drive.
• 📁 Use a memory card to store media files (in Settings) → Select the vault. SD-map as default save location).
• 🔄 Before reset, make a manual backup through Settings → The phone. → Backup.

What not to do:

• ❌ Do not reset settings without prior backup.
• ❌ Do not use your phone immediately after resetting (risk of overwriting data).
• ❌ Do not store important files only in internal memory.

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Note: Xiaomi Redmi with MIUI 13/14 has enabled Data Protection, which encrypts backups. To restore them, you will need a password from Mi Account!

FAQ: Frequent questions