Recovery of deleted photos on Xiaomi: from the cart to deep scanning

Losing photos on a smartphone is one of the most frustrating situations for users, especially when it comes to valuable footage, whether it's family photos, documents or unique moments that can't be recreated. Fortunately, Xiaomi offers several built-in data protection mechanisms, and third parties have developed tools to recover even after complete deletion, but the effectiveness of these methods depends on how the files were deleted and how long it has been since they disappeared.

In this article, we will look at all the current ways to return photos, from basic (checking the cart and cloud storage) to advanced (using a PC and specialized software), and pay special attention to the nuances for different models (for example, Redmi Note 12 vs Mi 11 Ultra), as well as typical errors that reduce the chances of success to zero. If you act quickly (in the first 24-48 hours after deleting), the probability of recovery is up to 85% – but only with the right approach.

1. Checking the basket in the Xiaomi Gallery

The first thing you need to do is to look into the Gallery's built-in application cart, and in most MIUI firmware (starting with version 12), deleted photos are stored there for 30 days, then permanently erased, which works even without an Internet connection and requires no additional software.

How to open the basket:

• 📱 Open the Gallery app (image with multi-colored squares).
• 🗑️ In the upper right corner, press three dots (menu) → pick the basket.
• 🔍 Scroll through the list or search by date.
• ↩️ Select the right photos → Click Restore (Icon with an arrow up).

⚠️ Note: If the Recycle Bin is empty, it doesn’t always mean that the photos are permanently deleted, but it may have been erased through a file manager (like Explorer) or a third-party application, in which case you can move on to the following ways.

2. Recovery via Mi Cloud (cloud storage)

If your Xiaomi has enabled sync with Mi Cloud, the chances of returning a photo are much higher. The cloud automatically saves copies of the images (provided that the function is activated in the settings), the main advantage of this method is the ability to recover even after resetting the phone to factory settings.

Instructions for checking the cloud:

1. 🌐 Go to i.mi.com from any device.
2. 🔑 Sign in with the same Xiaomi account that was used on your phone.
3. 📂 In the Gallery or Photos section, find the Remote folder (if any).
4. 💾 Select the files you need. → press Restore.

⚠️ Warning: Mi Cloud only provides 5GB of free space. If the limit is exhausted, new photos will not sync. Check if there were notifications about the lack of memory in the cloud - this explains why some of the images may not have been saved.

3. Use of Google Photos (if backed up)

Many Xiaomi users set up automatic uploads of photos to Google Photos — this is a standard recommendation when you first start a phone. If you confirmed backup, there is a chance that the pictures are saved there. Unlike Mi Cloud, Google Photos offers more flexible search and recovery tools.

How to check:

• 📱 Open the Google Photos app (if removed, install from the Play Market).
• 🔍 In the search bar, enter keywords (for example, “sea”, “document”, date).
• 🗑️ Go to the Recycle Bin (available 60 days after removal).
• 🔄 Click on the photo → Restore.

💡 Useful tip: Google Photos has Archive feature, which sometimes includes photos instead of baskets. Also check the Screenshot folder - sometimes users accidentally delete important pictures (such as checks or tickets) from there, thinking that these are unnecessary pictures.

4. PC recovery: programs for deep scanning

If the photos are not found in the cart or clouds, it is time to connect the computer. Special programs (for example, DiskDigger, Recuva, EaseUS MobiSaver) scan the internal memory of the phone at the file system level and can find files that have not yet been overwritten by new data, this method works even if:

• 🗃️ Photos were deleted via file manager (not from gallery).
• 🔄 The phone was reset to factory settings.
• 📱 folder DCIM (where the images are stored has been formatted.

Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger (free version):

1. 🖥️ Install DiskDigger on PC from diskdigger.org.
2. 📱 Connect Xiaomi to your computer in File Transfer mode (in the notification curtain, select this option).
3. 🔍 Run the program. → Select your phone’s disk → Press Dig Deep (deep scanning).
4. 🖼️ After the scan is completed, mark the desired photos (filter format:.jpg,.png) → Recover Selected Files.

⚠️ Warning: Do not save recovered photos back to your phone – use another drive (a flash drive, cloud or PC hard drive) or the new data may overwrite the files that have not yet been restored.

Disable Wi-Fi and mobile data on your phone

Charge your phone at least 50%

Use the original USB-cable

Do not connect your phone to other devices during scanning

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5. Recovery via TWRP (for advanced users)

If your Xiaomi has a custom TWRP recap installed, you can try recovering photos directly from the /data partition.This method requires an unlocked bootloader and is only suitable for power users, as improper actions can lead to the loss of all data.

Algorithm of action:

1. 📱 Load the phone in mode TWRP (clamp down on power. + Loudness up).
2. 🔧 Go to Advanced. → File Manager.
3. 📁 Find the file. /data/media/0/DCIM (or /sdcard/DCIM).
4. 💾 Copy it to an external memory card or connected USB-accumulator.

🔍 Important: B TWRP files may be displayed with "bit" names (e.g, IMG_2023*.They can be renamed manually or use programs like PhotoRec to restore the structure.

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Use TWRP only if other methods have failed, which is an extreme measure that requires technical skills.

6. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If the photos are critical (for example, they are the only copies of documents or evidence), and independent attempts to restore failed, you should consider contacting the official service center Xiaomi.

What you need to know before your visit:

• 💰 The cost of the service starts from 3 000 rubles (depending on the model and complexity).
• ⏳ Recovery period – from 1 to 5 working days.
• 📄 Passport and phone check (to confirm possession).
• 🔒 In some cases, it may be necessary to unlock the bootloader, which will reset all data.

⚠️ Note: Not all service centers are engaged in data recovery - check this by phone before visiting. Also avoid "handicraft" workshops: unqualified actions can finally destroy the chances of returning a photo.

7.Prevention: How to avoid loss of photos in the future

The best way to combat data loss is to prevent it, and here are proven methods to avoid repeat incidents:

💡 Useful tip: Set up dual backups, such as syncing with both Mi Cloud and Google Photos, so you will be protected even if one of the services fails.

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Create a hidden folder in the gallery for the most important photos: highlight the photos → click “More” → “Hide.” They will remain on the phone, but will not be visible in the main album.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photo recovery on Xiaomi