Recovering deleted files on Xiaomi: from the Recycle Bin to deep scanning

Delete important photos from Xiaomi by mistake? Or after resetting the documents are missing? The situation is familiar to many: one wrong tap and files disappear from the gallery. Fortunately, in 90% of cases, data can be returned even if you did not make backups. In this article, we will discuss all the current recovery methods for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, including the models of 2020-2026.

The rule is, the faster you start, the better the chances of success. When you delete files, they don't disappear instantly from memory, they're labeled "free" and can be overwritten with new data. So don't install new apps, shoot videos, or download files until you try to recover what you've lost. Next, step-by-step instructions for different scenarios, from simple returns from the basket to complex scans via the PC.

1. Check the cart in standard Xiaomi apps

Many users don't know that MIUI has a built-in recycle bin where files are stored for up to 30 days after being deleted, the first and easiest way to get back what's lost.

Where to look:

• 📷 Gallery: Open the Gallery app, tap on three dots in the upper right corner → This is a basket, and there's photos and videos that have been deleted in the last 30 days.
• 📄 Files: Launch the Files app (folder icon), go to the Category tab → The basket, the documents are stored here, APK file.
• 🎵 Music: There is no Basket Music app, but deleted tracks can be found through Files → Audio, if they have not been overrecorded.

To restore:

1. Check the required files.
2. Press Restore (the arrow icon down).
3. Files will return to the original folders (DCIM/Camera for photos, Download for downloads, etc.).

⚠️ Attention: The basket is cleaned automatically after 30 days or when manually cleaned in the settings. If you have already cleaned the basket, proceed to the following methods.

2.Recovery through MI Cloud backups

If your Xiaomi has enabled sync with MI Cloud, the chances of returning files increase by up to 95%.

• 📸 Photos and videos (if you have enabled the option to download to the cloud).
• 📱 Contacts, notes, SMS (If the synchronization has been activated).
• 📁 Documents and APK (If you manually upload them to the cloud).

How to check and restore:

1. Open Settings → Xiaomi Account → MI Cloud
2. Sign in if you have logged out of your account.
3. Check the sections: Gallery - for photos and videos; Files - for documents; Notes - for texts.

Download

Restore

If there are no files in the cloud, check:

• 🔄 Was autoboot enabled: Settings → Xiaomi account → MI Cloud → gallery → Autoboot.
• 📅 Last synchronization date (bottom of the screen) MI Cloud).
• 💾 The amount of available space (free is given 5 GB, the rest is by subscription).

⚠️ Note: If you reset your phone to factory settings without detaching your Mi Account, the data in the cloud can be blocked.

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MI Cloud is the only way to recover files after a complete phone reset if there were no local backups.

3.Use of third-party applications to scan memory

If the files are not in the trash or in the cloud, you just have to scan the phone's internal memory, and you have to use specialized tools to do that, and the important thing is, don't install them on the same smartphone that you deleted the files from, which will reduce your chances of recovery, and you'll want to use a PC or another phone.

Top.-3 proven Android apps:

Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger:

1. Install the app on another smartphone or PC.
2. Connect the problematic Xiaomi via USB (in File Transfer mode).
3. Run DiskDigger and select Basic Scan (without root).
4. Wait for the scan to be completed (may take up to 1 hour).
5. Mark the files found and click Restore.

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Without root-rights, applications only see thumbnails of photos (full versions – no).
• 🔍 Videos and documents are getting worse due to fragmentation.
• ⏳ The longer it has been since the removal, the less chance.

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If USB scanning doesn’t work, try removing the memory card (if you have one) and connecting it to your PC via a card reader, which will increase the recovery speed by 2-3 times.

4. Recovery via PC with Windows software

Xiaomi's best way to deep-scan internal memory is to use desktop utilities, which work directly with partitions, which increases the chances of success, and the main condition is that the phone should be defined as a removable drive.

The best PC programs:

• 💻 7-Data Recovery - Supports FAT32/exFAT/NTFS, restore 500 format.
• 🖥️ Wondershare Recoverit – user-friendly interface, file preview.
• 🔧 TestDisk is a free utility for experienced users (works through the command line).

Instructions for 7-Data Recovery:

1. Download and install the program from the official website.
2. Connect Xiaomi to your PC via USB by selecting File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. Run the program and select the phone drive (usually Internal Storage).
4. Click Scan and wait until it is completed (may take several hours).
5. View the files found, mark the necessary ones and click Restore.

Important nuances:

• 🔌 If the phone is not defined as a drive, turn on Debugging by USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap the version → Return to the Additional Settings → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🛡️ Do not save recovered files to the same disk from which the scan is being conducted!
• 📉 If the phone’s memory is heavily fragmented (for example, after multiple recordings/deletions), the chances of recovery fall to 30-40%.

5. Recovery after reset to factory settings

Hard Reset is one of the most difficult situations, in which files are permanently deleted from memory if there were no backups.

Method 1: Checking local backups

MIUI automatically backs up some data to find it.

1. Connect the phone to the PC.
2. Go to the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder on the internal drive.
3. Check files with the.bak extension – you can open them through an archiver (for example, 7-Zip).

Method 2: Restore through Google Account

If you have a Google Account linked to your phone, check:

• 📧 Google Photos: photos.google.com – there can be synchronized photos.
• 📄 Google Drive: drive.google.com – check the Backups section.
• 📱 Contact and SMS: They are automatically restored when you first log in to your account after resetting.

Method 3: Contacting a Service Center

If data is critical (e.g., work documents or unique photos), you can try chip-off recovery.

• 🔬 Removing memory chips from your phone.
• 💾 Direct reading of data through the programmer.
• 💰 Cost: from 5 000 to 20 000 rubles (depending on model and complexity).

⚠️ Attention: Chip-off recovery is a last resort, only suitable for phones with a physically healthy memory. If the chip is damaged (for example, after a fall or a circuit), data cannot be returned.

6.Preventing Data Loss: How to Avoid Future Problems

The best way to avoid losing files is to take care of their security in advance. Here is a checklist of mandatory actions for Xiaomi owners:

| Monthly copy important files to a PC or external drive

| Use a memory card (if the model supports) to store photos/video

| Install an automatic backup application (e.g. Swift Backup)

|Periodically check the cart in the Gallery and Files-->

Additional advice:

• 🔄 Regularly sync your contacts with your Google Account or MI Cloud. Go to Settings for that. → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization.
• 📁 Separate files into folders: DCIM/Camera — Photos from the camera; Downloads from the Internet; Documents - important documents.
• 🔋 Keep your memory healthy. If your phone often slows down or makes errors when writing files, check the memory through Settings. → Memory. → Diagnostics.

Critical information: Xiaomi smartphones with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Redmi K60 Pro) use UFS 4.0 technology, which is less retrievable after formatting, and the chances of returning files without a backup are reduced by 40-50% compared to older devices.

7.Frequent mistakes that interfere with recovery

Many users themselves reduce their chances of success by making common mistakes, and this is what you can't do after you delete your files:

Also avoid:

• 🔌 Connecting to unstable power sources (such as weak charging) can interrupt the recovery process.
• 📲 Updates MIUI The update can overwrite critical memory sectors immediately after file loss.
• 💾 Removing a memory card during scanning will damage the file system.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions