How to return deleted files from Xiaomi phone: from the basket to deep scanning

Deleted important photos, videos or documents from Xiaomi phone — and now you don't know how to get them back? Don't panic: 80 percent of the time, files can be recovered even if you've cleaned your cart or formatted your memory card. In this article, we'll look at all the current ways, from standard MIUI tools to professional PC utilities that work on models from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

The rule is, the faster you start, the better the chances of success. After you delete files don't disappear instantly — they're labeled as "free space" and can be overwritten with new data. So don't install new apps, take photos, or download files until you try to recover what you've lost.

We tested each method on real devices with a MIUI 14 and MIUI 15 (including) POCO F5 redmi K60), At the end of the article is a table of compatibility of methods with different scenarios (removal from the gallery, formatting). SD-maps, resetting settings).

1. Check the Recycle Bin in MIUI: Where to Look for Deleted Files

The standard MIUI feature is a recycle bin that gets files removed from a gallery, file manager or Photo app, and works by default on all modern Xiaomi smartphones, but many users don’t know where to find it.

To open the basket:

• 📁 Open the Files app** (Folder icon) → Go to the basket tab in the lower menu.

The recycle bin stores files for 30 days (some devices have 15 days), and then automatically deletes them to recover:

1. Check the files with ticks.
2. Press Restore (the arrow icon down).
3. Files will return to the original folder (for example, in DCIM/Camera for photo).

⚠️ Warning: If you've been manually cleaning the basket or using the Clean Everything feature, this won't work.

2.Recovery via MIUI Cloud and Google Photos backups

If your Xiaomi has automatic backup enabled, the chances of returning files increase by up to 90%. MIUI Cloud and Google Photos store copies of photos, videos and documents even if the originals are deleted from the device.

Method 1: MIUI Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

• 🌐 Go to Settings. → Xiaomi account → MIUI Cloud.
• 📂 Select the Gallery or Files section (depending on the type of data lost).
• 🔍 Find the files you want and click Restore. They'll be downloaded back to your phone.

Method 2: Google Photos (if sync is enabled):

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Go to the Library → Recycle Bin (files are stored there for 60 days).
3. Or check the Archive folder – sometimes files get there instead of being deleted.

If the files are not in the cart, try:

• 🔎 In Google Photos, type in a keyword (such as “sea” or “document»).
• 📅 Filter files by date in the Search section → By date.

⚠️ Note: If you have disabled sync with the cloud or deleted files directly from the cloud MIUI Cloud/Google Photos, backups may not be available, in which case you can move on to PC recovery methods.

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To avoid data loss in the future, enable automatic sync in Settings → Google Account → Backup and Settings → Xiaomi Account → MIUI Cloud → Autoboot.

3.Use File Manager: Search for Hidden Copies

Sometimes files are not deleted completely, but remain in hidden folders or app cache, for example, messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) and social networks (VK, Instagram) store copies of downloaded media files.

How to find:

• 🔍 Open the file manager (the Files app»).
• 📂 Go to the Inner Memory → Android → Data (requires access to hidden folders).
• 🛠️ Check folders: com.whatsapp (for WhatsApp) com.telegram (for Telegram) com.facebook.orca (for Messenger)

If you don’t have the right folders, try to turn on the hidden files:

1. In the file manager, click on three points → Settings.
2. Activate the option to show hidden files.
3. Check the folders with a dot at the beginning of the title (for example,.thumbnails – there may be thumbnails of photos).

It's also worth a look at:

• 📁 DCIM/.thumbnails — photo and video miniatures.
• 📁 Pictures/Screenshots — Screenshots (sometimes duplicated).
• 📁 Download – downloaded files from the browser.

4. PC recovery: programs for deep scanning

If the files are not found in the cart or cloud, it is time to connect the phone to the computer, and this will require special programs that scan the device's memory at a low level.

Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger (recommended for beginners):

1. Download and install DiskDigger on PC.
2. Connect Xiaomi over USB in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. Run the program and select your phone’s drive (usually Internal Storage).
4. Press Dig Deep (deep scan) and wait until it is completed (may take 1-3 hours).
5. Mark the files found and click Recover to save them to your PC.

Important nuances:

• 🔌 If the phone is not detected, turn on debugging by USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times, then return to Additional → For developers).
• 📵 Do not save recovered files back to your phone – this can overwrite the remaining data.
• 🛡️ To recover messages (SMS, WhatsApp will be needed ROOT-access.

Enable debugging on USB|Connect the phone in mode MTP|Disable the screen lock (if any)|Don't plug others in. USB-device|Use the original cable-->

Reconstruction of c SD-Maps: Features for Xiaomi

If the files were stored on a microSD, the chances of recovery are higher — the flash memory of the cards is less often overwritten automatically.

• 📱 Xiaomi is formatting by default SD-Cards are used as an internal storage device, which makes recovery difficult.
• 🔍 If the card was used as a portable storage, it can be scanned on a PC as a normal removable disk.

Instructions for a card as a portable storage:

1. Remove the card from your phone and connect it to your PC via a card reader.
2. Run Recuva or PhotoRec (for Linux/macOS).
3. Select a card in the list of drives and start the scan.
4. Save the recovered files to the PC hard drive.

If the card is formatted as internal memory:

• 🔧 You'll need it. ROOT-Access or specialized software like Dr.Fone.
• 📲 V MIUI Go to Settings. → Warehouse → SD-map → Data portability → Disable to unmount the card (data will not be lost).
• 💾 Then connect your phone to your PC and scan through DiskDigger.

⚠️ Note: If you are formatting SD-card via phone, not via PC, MIUI You could create a new file table, and then you could only do a deep scan with signatures (Raw Recovery option in software).

Extreme measures: recovery after resetting settings

If you've done a hard reset, the chances of returning files drop dramatically, but they do, and only low-level scanning using professional tools will help.

What to try:

• 🔧 Chip-Off method: retrieving memory chips and reading data through a programmer (requires a specialist).
• 📡 JTAG: Connecting to test contacts of the board for direct memory access (does not work on all Xiaomi models).
• 💽 Forensics tools: Autopsy or FTK Imager (for experienced users).

For self-recovery after resetting:

1. Install UFS Explorer or R-Studio on PC.
2. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power when turned on).
3. In the program, select the option of scanning by signatures (Raw Files).
4. Search for files by extensions:.jpg,.mp4,.docx, etc.

After resetting, MIUI overwrites partitions, but user data (photos, videos) can remain intact up to 70% of the time if no new files have been written.

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If the phone doesn’t turn on after the reset or asks for a Xiaomi account, unlock it first through the Mi Account Unlock Tool, otherwise programs won’t be able to access memory.

7. How to prevent future data loss

To avoid the problem of deleted files, set up Xiaomi according to these recommendations:

• ☁️ Enable automatic synchronization: Settings → Google account → Backup → Photo upload (for Google Photos) Settings → Xiaomi account → MIUI Cloud → Autoboot (for MIUI Cloud).
• 📁 Set up the basket: In the gallery, click on three dots → Settings → Basket → Increase the storage period to 60 days.
• 🔄 Copy files regularly on your PC: Use Xiaomi PC Suite or AirDroid for wireless transmission.
• 🛡️ Install backup applications: Swift Backup (requires) ROOT). Titanium Backup (for system applications).

Also avoid:

• 🚫 Formatting SD-Cards via phone (better to do this on PC).
• 🚫 Use the “Clear Everything” features in the gallery or file manager.
• 🚫 Installation of questionable memory cleaners (e.g. Clean Master).

FAQ: Frequent questions about file recovery on Xiaomi