How to recover deleted video on Xiaomi smartphone: from the cart to deep scanning

Why are the videos disappearing from Xiaomi and can they be returned?

Deleting video from a Xiaomi smartphone is a situation that one in five users encounter, according to statistics from the brand’s service centers. The causes of file loss range from accidental clicking “Delete” to failures in the MIUI file system or virus attacks. But most importantly, 80% of video can be recovered if you act quickly and correctly.

Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO F5, Xiaomi 13 Ultra) use their own MIUI shell, which has built-in data protection mechanisms. For example, the Recycle Bin feature saves deleted files for up to 30 days. However, not all users know how to use it. Moreover, if the video was deleted through third-party applications (for example, Google Photo or Gallery Go), the recovery algorithm will be different.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to return deleted videos – from basic (check the cart) to advanced (use ADB and specialized software), and you will learn how to prevent irretrievable data loss in the future by setting up automatic backup in MI Cloud or Google Drive.

Regularly (once a month or more)

Sometimes (every 3-6 months)

Very rarely (once a year or less)

Never lost.-->

Method 1: Checking the built-in MIUI basket

The easiest and fastest method is to search for video in the MIUI shell Recycle Bin, which is available on all Xiaomi smartphones released after 2019 (starting with MIUI 11), and the Recycle Bin stores deleted files for 15-30 days (depending on the model and firmware version), after which they are deleted irrevocably.

To check the basket:

• 📁 Open the standard Gallery app (Gallery).
• 🗑️ Tap it on three points (⋮) In the upper right corner and select “Trash” or “Last Deleted).
• 🔍 Scroll through the list of deleted files. Videos are marked with an icon. 🎬.
• 🔄 Select the files you need and click “Restore).

⚠️ Note: If you were manually cleaning the cart or using third-party memory cleaner applications (such as Clean Master), the files may have been permanently deleted.

Check other folders in the Gallery (such as Screenshots or Downloads)

Make sure that the video is not moved to the cloud (MI Cloud/Google Photo)

Do not write new files to your device – this reduces the chances of recovery.

Try connecting your smartphone to your PC and scanning your memory-->

Method 2: Recovery via MI Cloud or Google Photos

If your Xiaomi has automatic backup enabled, videos could have been saved to cloud services. MI Cloud (Xiaomi’s built-in cloud) and Google Photos are two main tools worth checking out.

For MI Cloud:

1. Open Settings → Xiaomi Account → MI Cloud
2. Select “Gallery” and check the list of synchronized files.
3. If you have a video, download it back to the device.

For Google Photos:

1. Launch the Google Photos app.
2. Go to the Recycle Bin (available 60 days after removal).
3. Find the video and restore it.

⚠️ Note: Cloud services store deleted files for a limited time:

• MI Cloud - up to 30 days.
• Google Photos – up to 60 days (if the storage space is not over)

If the deadline has expired, try the following method.

💡

To avoid future data loss, enable autosynchronization in MI Cloud: go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → MI Cloud → Gallery and activate the Sync option.

Method 3: Using third-party recovery software

If the video can not be found in the cart or cloud, it comes to specialized software. Programs like DiskDigger, EaseUS MobiSaver or Dr.Fone scan the internal memory of the smartphone at the file system level and can restore data even after formatting (provided that new files have not overwritten the old).

Instructions for DiskDigger (free version):

1. Download and install DiskDigger from Google Play.
2. Start the application and select “Full Scan”.
3. Wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 1 hour).
4. Tag the video you found (.mp4,.mov,.3gp) and click Restore.

⚠️ Warning: Don't install recovery software on the same memory as the deleted files! This reduces your chances of success. Use OTG-cable SD-map for storing recovered data.

Method 4: Recovery through ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t work and video is critical, you can try low-level scanning through Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires command-line skills and root rights (on most Xiaomi smartphones, you can get them through unlocking the bootloader).

Step-by-step:

1. Install ADB Tools on PC (download from the official website).
2. Connect your smartphone to your computer in “Debugging by USB” mode (includes in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version → 7 times tap the build number → return to Settings → Additional → For developers).
3. Open the command prompt (cmd) and type: Adb devices Make sure the device is defined.
4. Follow the command to create a memory image: adb shell su -c "dd if=/dev/block/mmcblk0 of=/sdcard/recovery.img" (replace mmcblk0 with an actual partition, such as userdata).
5. Download the image on your PC and scan it with PhotoRec or Autopsy.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB It can lead to data loss or a device being knocked out. If you're not sure what you're doing, you should consult a specialist.

💡

The ADB method is only suitable for power users. If you don't have root rights or command line experience, skip this method and move on to the next one.

Method 5: Contact Xiaomi Service Center

If all previous methods have failed, the last chance is professional data recovery. Xiaomi service centers (or third-party labs) use specialized hardware to read memory at the physical level.

• 💥 The video was deleted a long time ago (more than 30 days ago).
• 🔧 The device is not switched on or has memory damage.
• 🔒 There was a password on the smartphone and you can’t access the data.

The cost of the service varies from 3 000 to 15 000 rubles depending on the complexity. For example, in Moscow, data recovery on Xiaomi in the Data Recovery laboratory will cost an average of 5 000 rubles.

• Is there a guarantee of successful recovery?
• Whether the confidentiality of the data is maintained.
• Is a report on the found files provided before payment.

⚠️ Warning: Avoid dubious services that offer “100% recovery” at a low price, often using illegal software or being scams.

How to Prevent Video Loss in the Future: 5 Tips

The best way to combat data loss is to prevent it, and by following simple rules, you'll minimize the risks.

1. Enable automatic sync with MI Cloud or Google Photos, and even if the video is removed from the device, a copy of it will remain in the cloud.
2. Use two. SIM-card SD-Backup card. Set up video saving directly to external media in camera settings (Camera settings) → Preservation site).
3. Clean the basket manually regularly, but check the contents before doing so. Autocleaning can delete important files.
4. Install an antivirus (such as Avast or Bitdefender) to prevent data loss due to malware.
5. Create local backups on your PC using Xiaomi PC Suite or manually through Explorer.

💡 Useful Lifehack: If you often shoot important videos (for example, for work or personal archive), set up a double record – simultaneously on your smartphone and an external recorder (for example, for a personal recorder, DJI Osmo Pocket or GoPro).

FAQ: Frequent questions about video recovery on Xiaomi