Deleting an important video on a Xiaomi smartphone is a familiar situation. Whether you accidentally clicked Delete, formatted your memory card or lost files after resetting your settings, there are chances of recovery. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to return deleted video files on devices with MIUI, including hidden firmware functions, cloud services and third-party utilities.
The key is the speed of the reaction. The faster you start to act after deleting, the more likely you are to succeed. Video files do not disappear from memory instantly - they are marked as "free space" and can be overwritten with new data. So the first rule: immediately after you find a video lost, stop writing new files (photos, videos, installation of applications) and start restoring.
We analyzed the experience of users of Redmi, POCO and Mi series, tested tools on different versions of MIUI (from 12 to 14) and identified 5 most effective methods, including little-known firmware chips.
1.A check of the basket at MIUI Gallery
Modern versions of MIUI (starting with MIUI 12) have a built-in bin where videos are taken down after being deleted, which works similarly to the Recycle Bin on a PC, but has storage time limits.
To check the basket:
- 📱 Open the standard Gallery app (non-third-party file managers!).
- 🗑️ Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → pick the basket.
- 🔍 Scroll through the list for deleted videos. They're marked with a video player icon.
- 🔄 To recover, click on the video → Restore.
Important nuances:
- ⏳ The videos are stored in the cart for 30 days (by default) and then deleted permanently.
- 📊 Recycle bins are limited to 5% of total memory, and if the limit is exceeded, old files are automatically cleaned.
- 🚫 The Recycle Bin does not work for videos deleted through a file manager (such as Mi File Manager) or from a memory card.
⚠️ Warning: If the video has been deleted from the bin or 30 days have passed, move on to the next method: Attempting to recover files through the bin after cleaning it is useless - they are physically deleted from memory.
2.Recovery through MIUI backups
Xiaomi offers two types of backups that can contain deleted videos: local (on the phone) and cloud (in the Mi Cloud).
Local backup:
- Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
- Check for backups with a date before the video is deleted.
- Select the desired copy → Restore (select only Gallery or Multimedia, so as not to erase other data).
Cloud Backup (Mi Cloud):
- 🌐 Go to Settings. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Backup of the device.
- 📅 Make sure that the Authorization function has been enabled before the video is deleted.
- 🔙 Choose a backup with the desired date → restore the gallery data.
The critical point is that cloud copies in Mi Cloud only store video if the option “Reserve Media” has been enabled, without it, only contacts, messages and settings will be in the backup.
| Type of copy | Where it's stored | Max, video volume | Storage period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local. | Phone Memory (/MIUI/backup/AllBackup) | Limited to free space | Before hand cleaning. |
| Mi Cloud (free of charge) | Xiaomi's Cloud | 5GB (total limit) | 30 days from the date of creation |
| Mi Cloud (premium) | Xiaomi's Cloud | Up to 200GB. | Before cancelling a subscription |
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If Mi Cloud doesn’t have the right backup, check Google Photos (if you’ve synced) and the videos can be stored there in the Archives or Recycle Bin (60 days).
3.Using file managers with recovery function
If the video is removed past the cart (for example, through Mi File Manager or adb), deep memory scanning will help, specialized applications will do, but it is important to choose a reliable tool without malware.
Top.-3 Proven applications for Xiaomi:
- 🛠️ DiskDigger – scans internal memory and microSD, supports video recovery in formats.mp4,.mov,.3gp.
- 🔍 EaseUS MobiSaver – Deep scan with preview of found files.
- 📱 GT Recovery – Optimized for the MIUI, It does not have root rights (but with restrictions).
Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger:
Install the app from Google Play|Run and select Full Scan (requires root for internal memory)|Check the box Videos in the filters|Wait until the scan is completed (may take a while). 1-2 hour)|Select the files you need and click Restore|Save the video to another medium (not the one where it was deleted)!-->
Limitations of the method:
- 🔒 Without root rights, applications only see a portion of deleted files (those that have not been overwritten).
- 💾 MicroSD video is easier to recover – no root rights are needed.
- 🎥 The quality of the recovered videos can deteriorate if the files were fragmented.
⚠️ Warning: Do not install recovery applications on the same memory as the deleted video, which increases the risk of overwriting data. Use cloud storage or another phone to download the utility.
4. PC Recovery: Professional Utilities
For maximum efficiency, connect Xiaomi to your computer and use desktop programs. They offer deeper scanning and support more video formats.
Recommended programmes:
- 💻 Recuva (free) – a simple interface, scans both internal memory (with root) and microSD.
- 🛒 Wondershare Dr.Fone – Recovers videos from damaged sections.
- 🔧 7-Data Recovery - Supports HEIF/HEVC (Video from Xiaomi in high resolution).
Instructions for Recuva:
- Connect your phone to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
- Start Recuva → select the type of video files.
- Specify location: For internal memory: This device → Internal storage (requires root). For microSD: select a removable drive.
Analysis
Restore
The nuances of working with PC:
- 🔌 Xiaomi’s internal memory often requires bootloader unlocking and root access.
- 📁 Videos can be displayed under original names (e.g, VID_20231015_123456.mp4) or File001.mp4.
- 🚫 Do not save the recovered files back to your phone until the process is complete.
What if the PC can’t see the phone in MTP mode?
5. Manual recovery via ADB (for power users)
If the video has been removed recently and you are ready to work with the command line, ADB (Android Debug Bridge will help you extract files directly from memory. USB-debugging.
Preparation:
- Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times).
- Turn it on. USB-debugging → Additionally. → For developers.
- Install ADB on your PC (for example, through Google’s Platform Tools).
Recovery process:
adb devices # Checking the connection
adb shell
su # Requires root rights
cd /sdcard/DCIM/Camera # Video folder (may differ)
ls -la # View files (including hidden files)
dd if=/dev/block/mmcblk0pX of=/sdcard/recovered.video bs=4096 count=Y
# Replace X with the partition number, Y is the number of blocks (calculated based on the size of the video)Transcript of commands:
- mmcblk0pX is a memory partition (defined by adb shell mount).
- bs=4096 is the block size (standard for Xiaomi).
- count=Y is the number of blocks (video size in bytes / 4096).
⚠️ Note: Incorrect use of dd can lead to loss of all data on the partition. If you are not sure about the commands, use graphical utilities (for example, 7-Data Recovery) or consult a specialist.
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ADB-If the video is critical (e.g., a single copy of an important event), trust the recovery to professionals – acting alone can make things worse.
6. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center
If all of these methods didn’t work, and the video is of high value (such as family archives or work materials), contact Xiaomi’s authorized service center.
What you need to know before your visit:
- 📋 Provide the most accurate information: when the video was removed, its approximate size, format.
- 💰 The cost of recovery depends on the complexity (from 1,500 to 10,000). ₽).
- ⏳ The process can take from 2 days to a week.
- 🔒 Service centers do not guarantee 100% results, especially if the memory has been overwritten.
How to find the official service:
- Go to the site. mi.com/ru/service/center.
- Enter your city → select a center marked Authorized.
- Check by phone if they are engaged in data recovery (not all services provide this service).
Alternatively, data recovery labs (such as HDD Recovery or Data Recovery) work with any device, but the cost is higher than Xiaomi’s service centers.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When trying to recover a video, users often make critical mistakes that reduce the chances of success to zero, and let's take a look at some of the most common ones.
Error 1: Continuing to use your phone after deleting it
- 📸 New photos/video taken.
- 🎮 Installation of games or applications.
- 🗃️ Cleaning cache or memory through Settings → Warehouse.
Consequences: New data overrecords deleted videos, making recovery impossible.
Mistake 2: Using Unreliable Software
- 🚫 Install applications from unknown sources (outside Google Play).
- 💣 Programs that require root without explanation.
- 📥 Downloading “hacked” versions of paid utilities.
Risks: Viruses, data theft, file system damage.
Error 3: Recovery to the same carrier
- 🔄 Restore Recovered Videos Back to Internal Memory or MicroSD.
- 📁 Moving files within a partition (for example, from a folder) DCIM download).
Consequences: Re-recording the remaining snippets of the video.
| Mistake. | What's going on? | How to do the right thing |
|---|---|---|
| Formatting a memory card | Completely clean the file table, videos are lost irretrievably. | Don't format the media! Use recovery software. |
| MIUI Update | Overwriting system partitions can erase temporary files. | Delay the update until the video is restored. |
| Use of factory reset | Resetting to factory settings erases all user data. | Try all recovery methods before resetting. |