How to recover data after resetting settings on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Resetting your Xiaomi smartphone settings is a radical but sometimes necessary step to solve system problems. However, after the procedure, many users face an unpleasant surprise: the disappearance of photos, videos, contacts and other important files. Even if you did not back up in advance, there is still a chance to recover lost data.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven recovery methods, including built-in MIUI features, cloud services and specialized programs, and focus on the nuances for different models, from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 14. Importantly, the effectiveness of each method depends on how quickly you started recovering from the reset and what settings were activated before.

Before you get to the instructions, remember: the less you use your phone after a reset (don't install new apps, don't take photos), the better the chances of success. ext4/f2fs, Which Xiaomi uses in its devices.

1.Recovery via Mi Account: Xiaomi Cloud Storage

If you have synced to your Mi Account before resetting on your Xiaomi, some of the data can be returned in a few clicks.

• 📇 Contacts (from the "Contact" appendix")
• 📅 Notes (if the standard appendix "Notes" was used")
• 📸 Photos and videos (if the Xiaomi Cloud function was activated")
• 🔧 System settings (wallpaper, sound profiles, etc.)

To recover the data:

1. Sign in to the phone under the same Mi Account that was used before the reset.
2. Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
3. Select the data category (e.g., “Contacts”) and click “Sync”.
4. For photos and videos, open the Gallery app → Cloud → select files for recovery.

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If sync is not enabled automatically, check the Backup section in Mi Cloud, which may store archives from the past 30 days.

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Does not restore files that were not uploaded to the cloud (such as downloaded documents or music).
• ❌ If you are logged in to another account after the reset, your previous profile data will not be available.
• ❌ Xiaomi’s Free Cloud Only Provides 5GB – When You Exceed the Limit, Old Files Are Deleted.

2.Local Recovery through MIUI Backup

Local Backup in MIUI allows you to create data archives directly on your device or external memory card, and if you backup before reset, you can recover it even without the Internet.

How to check for a backup copy:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open internal memory through a conductor.
2. Go to MIUI/backup/AllBackup.
3. If there are files with the.mbk extension, then the backup exists.

For recovery:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Select the desired archive (sort by date of creation).
3. Click "Restore" and confirm the action.

Make sure there is enough space on the phone (the backup can weigh 1-3GB)|

Connect the charger (process takes 10-30 minutes)|

Do not interrupt the recovery – it can damage the archive.|

After recovery, restart the phone.

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Important nuances:

• 🔄 Recovery will replace the current data on the phone with data from the backup (contacts, SMS, application settings).
• 📱 In some models (POCO F5, Redmi K60) The path to the backup may be different: MIUI/backup/{IMEI_device}.
• 🔐 If the backup is password protected and you forgot it, you will not be able to restore the data.

3. Programs for Recovery of Deleted Files

If previous methods didn't work, third-party utilities will come to the rescue, scan the device's memory at the file system level and can find data that hasn't been overwritten yet. We tested 3 programs that showed better results for Xiaomi:

Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger (recommended for photo / video):

1. Install the program on your PC and connect Xiaomi via USB (in file transfer mode).
2. Select the phone disk in the program interface.
3. Start a deep scan (it will take 30-60 minutes).
4. Mark the files found and click "Restore".
5. Save your data to your PC or external drive (not your phone!).

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Without root rights, only photo and video thumbnails will be restored, and full recovery will require unlocking the bootloader and obtaining root rights.

Warnings:

⚠️ Warning: Do not install recovery software directly on your phone after a reset, this can overwrite deleted data. Always use a PC or external memory card.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14+ filesystem f2fs The chances of recovery are lower than on older versions ext4. This is due to the features of data encryption.

4. Recovery via Google Account (for contacts and calendar)

If your Xiaomi account was linked to Google, contacts and calendar events could sync automatically, and this method works even if you didn’t set up the Mi Cloud.

How to restore:

1. After resetting the first time you start your phone, log in to the same Google account.
2. Open the Contacts app and wait for automatic synchronization (it can take up to 10 minutes).
3. For a calendar, open Google Calendar → Settings → Restore Calendars.

What's recovering:

• 📇 Contacts (including numbers, email and notes)
• 📅 Calendar events (including reminders)
• 📝 Notes from Google Keep (if used)

Limitations:

• ❌ Not regenerating. SMS, call-up.
• ❌ If the synchronization was manually disabled, the data may not be saved.
• ❌ For devices with multiple Google accounts, check each profile.

5. Manual recovery via ADB (for power users)

If none of the above methods worked, you can try extracting data through the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires technical skills and only works if:

• 🔧 The phone was on debugging. USB before discharge.
• 🔐 You have access to a PC with Xiaomi drivers installed.
• 📱 Device is defined in the system (not "unknown device").

Instructions:

1. Download and install Android SDK Platform-Tools.
2. Connect Xiaomi to your PC and run the command line in the adb folder.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the device is displayed, continue.
4. Use the command to create a section image of /data: adb pull /dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/userdata userdata.img
5. Scan the resulting userdata.img file using DiskDigger or PhotoRec.

Risks of the method:

• 🚨 Incorrect commands can result in complete data loss or device “brick.
• 🔒 On new models (Xiaomi) 13T, Redmi Note 12 Pro+) section /data encrypted and without a key, recovery is impossible.
• ⏳ The process can take several hours (depending on the amount of memory).

6. Contact Xiaomi Service Center: When Nothing Helps

If the independent attempts failed, the last chance is to contact the official service center. Xiaomi provides data recovery services in a limited number of cases:

When to apply:

• 📱 The device shall not be switched on after discharge ("brick").
• 🔐 The data is encrypted and you don’t remember the password.
• 💾 The phone had critical information (e.g., work documents) on it).

What you need to know:

• ✅ The service center uses professional equipment (such as UFi Box or EasyJTAG) that can extract data even from damaged memory chips.
• ❌ The cost of the service starts from 5 000 rubles and depends on the model.
• ⏳ Recovery period - from 3 days to 2 weeks.
• 📌 Official Xiaomi services in Russia work through partners (for example, "Svyaznye Service"). mi.com/ru/service.

Documents for circulation:

• 📄 Passport of the owner.
• 📱 Box and checks (if the phone is guaranteed).
• 🔑 Mi Account Information (if proof of ownership is required).

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Before visiting the service center, make a full copy of the phone’s internal memory on your PC – this will help specialists diagnose the problem faster.

Frequent errors in data recovery

Many users make things worse by making common mistakes after a reset, and here's what you can't do if you want to get the data back:

Additional risks:

• 🔋 Discharge of the phone to 0% during recovery can lead to loss of chances of data return.
• 🌡️ Overheating of the device (for example, during prolonged scanning) also adversely affects the process.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions