How to recover deleted photos in the Xiaomi gallery: step-by-step instructions

Deleting photos from a Xiaomi phone is one of the most painful mistakes for users, especially when it comes to valuable footage: family photos, documents or unique moments that can not be recreated. Fortunately, in most cases, it is possible to recover lost files, even if you have already cleaned the basket or formatted the memory card. In this article, we will analyze all the available recovery methods, from standard MIUI functions to professional tools, and also explain how to avoid irretrievable data loss in the future.

The rule is, the faster you start after deleting, the better the chances of success. Xiaomi stores temporary copies of files in hidden folders, and cloud services can automatically sync photos — but only if these functions were activated in advance. If photos are lost after resetting or memory damage, more sophisticated methods will be required. We will look at options for different scenarios, from accidental deletions to critical crashes.

1.Check the basket at Xiaomi Gallery

The first thing you need to do is to look into the built-in Recycle Bin of the Gallery app, and in MIUI, deleted files don't disappear immediately: they're moved to a temporary storage facility where they're left for 15 to 30 days (depending on the model and firmware version) to return them:

1. Open the Gallery app on your Xiaomi.
2. Slip on three horizontal lines (menu) in the upper right corner.
3. Select the Recycle Bin (or Recently Deleted in New Versions).
4. Click on the photos you want, then select Restore.

If the cart is empty or you don’t find this section, it’s possible:

• 📅 Files deleted more than a month ago and automatically cleared.
• 🗑️ You manually cleaned the cart through Settings → Warehouse → Basket.
• 🔄 On the phone installed custom firmware without the standard gallery Xiaomi.

⚠️ Note: In some models (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3) The basket is hidden by default. To turn it on, go to Gallery Settings. → Basket → Show the basket.

2. Recovery via MI Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

If your Xiaomi has synced with MI Cloud, the chances of returning photos are much higher.The cloud automatically backs up pictures (provided the feature is enabled in the settings).

1. Open Settings → Xiaomi Account → MI Cloud
2. Make sure that the gallery slider is active (green).
3. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
4. In the Gallery section, find the Remote folder or check out the main album.

Important nuances:

• 📱 MI Cloud Stores Deleted Files for 30 Days (After That, They Disappear Forever).

If there are no photos in the cloud, but sync has been enabled, try:

1. Sign in to an account on another device (such as a friend’s Redmi or tablet).
2. Use the web version of MI Cloud on PC.
3. Check the Autoboot folder – sometimes the pictures are saved there automatically.

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If you don't remember your MI Cloud password, restore it via email or phone number linked to your account. Don't use third-party services to "hack" - this can lead to account locking.

3. Using Google Photos to Restore

Many Xiaomi users don't know that Google Photos can be a more reliable backup than MI Cloud. If the phone was enabled to autoload to Google Photos, the photos could be saved there even after being deleted from the gallery.

1. Open the Google Photos app (if not, download from the Play Market).
2. Sign in with the same Google account that was used on your phone.
3. Go to the Library section → Basket.
4. Select the desired pictures and click Restore.

Benefits of Google Photos:

• 🕒 Files are stored in the Recycle Bin for 60 days (twice as long as in the Recycle Bin). MI Cloud).
• 🌐 Available from any device via browser (photos.google.com).
• 📸 Supports backup in original quality (if there was enough space in the account).

⚠️ Note: If you used the Free up space feature in Google Photos, the original photos could have been deleted from your phone after uploading to the cloud, in which case you can’t restore them locally, just through the web version of the service.

4.Recovery programs from internal memory

If you don't save your photos in the trash or the cloud, you'll have a last chance of recovery through your PC, and you'll need a special utility that scans your phone's internal memory for deleted files, and the more you use your phone after you delete it, the better the chances of success, because new data can overwrite old ones.

The best programs for Xiaomi:

• 🖥️ DiskDigger – Supports recovery from ext4 (Xiaomi file system without root rights.
• 📱 EaseUS MobiSaver – specializes in mobile devices, there is a version for Android.

Step-by-step (as in DiskDigger):

Put the debugging on. USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (press 7 times)|Connect your phone to your PC via the original cable|Install Xiaomi drivers (download from the official website)|Launch the program on behalf of the administrator-->

1. Download and install DiskDigger on PC.
2. Connect Xiaomi to your computer in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. In the program, select the disk corresponding to the internal memory of the phone.
4. Specify the types of files to search: JPG, PNG, HEIC.
5. Press Scan and wait until it is completed (may take up to an hour).
6. View the files found and save them to the PC.

⚠️ Note: If the phone requests root access for deep scanning, be careful: unlocking the bootloader on Xiaomi resets all data.

5. Recovery from a microSD card

If the photos were stored on a microSD, the recovery process is simplified: the card can be retrieved and connected to a PC via a card reader, which increases the chances of success, since the card file system (FAT32 or exFAT) is better scanned.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone and remove the memory card.
2. Put it in the card reader and connect it to the computer.
3. Use one of the programs: PhotoRec (free), R-Studio or Wondershare Recoverit.
4. Select the card as your target drive and run a deep scan.
5. Save the recovered files to your PC hard drive (not to the card!).

Which increases the odds:

• 🛑 Do not save new files to the map after deletion.
• 🔋 Don’t format the card – it erases service information.
• 📥 Use a support card reader UHS-I fast-track.

If the card is damaged or undetected, try:

• 🔧 Connect it to another device (e.g. a camera).
• 💾 Use chkdsk utility in Windows (team: chkdsk E: /f, where E: is the letter of the map disk).
• 📦 Contact the Data Recovery Lab (if files are critical).

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MicroSD cards have a limited record life, and if the card is old or used frequently, the chances of recovery are reduced, as the data may be physically damaged.

6.If nothing has worked: professional assistance

When all of these methods fail, there are two options:

1. Official workshops have access to proprietary recovery utilities that are not distributed publicly, but this is only relevant if the problem is related to a software failure (for example, after the MIUI update).

When it is worth contacting professionals:

• 💔 Photographs are of high value (wedding, documents, unique footage).
• 🔧 The phone is not switched on or gives a No Command error.
• 📱 You have performed a hard reset or reflashed the device.

⚠️ Warning: Check reviews and licenses before contacting the service. Fraudsters often promise recovery, but in the end simply format memory, destroying the last chance of returning data.

7. How to avoid losing photos in the future

To avoid the problem of remote images, set up Xiaomi according to these recommendations:

• ☁️ Turn autoload on in MI Cloud and Google Photos: Go to Settings → Xiaomi account → MI Cloud → Gallery. In Google Photos, activate Backup and Sync.
• 📁 Regularly copy photos to PC: Use Mi PC Suite for automatic sync. Connect your phone to your computer once a month and transfer new pictures.
• 🔄 Set up a backup in MIUI: Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset. Create a local copy on a memory card or in the cloud.

Additional advice:

• 📲 Install an alternative gallery (such as Simple Gallery) that supports Recycle Bin with a customizable shelf life.
• 🔋 Avoid storing photos on your phone alone – use the rule "3-2-1": 3 copy, 2 carrier, 1 cloud.

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Even if you’re using the cloud, check periodically that backups are being created. For example, in Google Photos, go to Settings → Backup and see the date of the last sync.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photo recovery on Xiaomi