How to Recover Deleted Data from Xiaomi Phone After Resetting

Resetting your hard reset on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO is a radical way to solve performance problems, viruses, or device pre-production problems. But what if you realize after that that process that important photos, WhatsApp messages, or work documents have disappeared forever? Fortunately, even after fully formatting your internal memory, the chances of recovering data remain — provided you act quickly and correctly.

In this article, we will look at 5 proven methods for recovering lost information, from built-in MIUI features to professional utilities like Dr.Fone or Tenorshare UltData. You will learn which file types are easiest to recover (spoiler: this is not a 4K video), how to circumvent the limitations of Xiaomi encryption, and why using a phone after a reset reduces the chances of success by 2-3 times.

Why data can be recovered after resetting (and when it is not possible)

When you reset your Settings → About Phone → Reset, MIUI doesn't erase the files themselves, it just erases the table of placement -- the table of contents that the phone finds data on -- and in fact, the information stays on the flash memory until new files are written on top of it, which creates a window of opportunity for recovery.

However, there are 3 scenarios when data cannot be returned:

• 🔒 Encrypting the device. If in Settings → Security → Encryption has been activated with File-Based Encryption (FBE), The files are encrypted with a unique key that is erased when reset, and without it, decryption is impossible even with professional tools.
• 📱 Fastboot Firmware Reflash: Installing a new firmware through the Mi Flash Tool completely rewrites the partition /data, erase traces of old files.
• ⏳ Long-term use after reset: Every new photo, installed application or browser cache occupies the memory sectors, overwriting old data. After 2-3 days of active use, the chances tend to zero.

Checking whether encryption was enabled is possible on indirect grounds: if after reset the phone requires you to enter a password from the old Mi Account, most likely, the data is encrypted, in which case only backups are possible (more about this in the next section).

Method 1: Recovery from MIUI backup (the most reliable way)

If you used the built-in MIUI backup before reset, you can return the data in a few minutes. The system automatically saves copies to the Xiaomi cloud or to an external drive (if you manually indicated the path).

1. Cloud backup. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup. This shows all saved copies with date and volume. Choose the right one and click Restore.
2. Local backup. Connect your phone to your PC and check the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder on your memory card or internal memory. Files have the.mbk extension – they can be restored through Settings → Additional → Restore and Reset → Local Backup.

What data can be returned:

⚠️ Note: If when recovering from the cloud, the phone gives an error "Can not restore backup", check:

• Does the Mi Account match the one under which the copy was created?
• Is there enough space on the device (free up at least 10% of memory)
• Has the MIUI version changed after the reset (recovery is possible only on the same or newer firmware).

Method 2: Recovery through Google Account (Contacts, Calendar, Notes)

Even if you didn't use Mi Cloud, some of the data could be synced to your Google Account, which is a method that is suitable for returning:

• 📇 Contacts (from Google Contacts).
• 📅 Calendar (Google Calendar).
• 📝 Notes (Google Keep).
• 🌐 Bookmarks and history of the Chrome browser.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Accounts → Google and select your profile.
2. Activate synchronization for the desired categories (for example, Contacts or Calendar).
3. Wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 10 minutes).
4. Check the data in the relevant applications (Contacts, Calendar, etc.).

⚠️ Note: If you add a new Google account after reset, the old data will not be automatically restored:

1. Delete your current account from Settings → Accounts.
2. Add an old account that was synced to.
3. Re-engineer the sync.

Xiaomi does not sync photos, videos or messages from SMS/Messenger with Google. For these types of files, read the following sections.

Method 3: Data recovery programs (without root rights)

If you don't have backups, you'll have to use third-party utilities, and we tested 5 popular programs and selected the 3 most effective ones for Xiaomi:

Step-by-step instructions for Tenorshare UltData (recommended):

1. Install the program on PC (official site).
2. Connect Xiaomi to USB and enable Debugging via USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times click to activate Developer Mode, then Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging by USB).
3. In the program, select the file types to scan (e.g. Gallery and Messages).
4. Click Scan and wait until it is completed (may take 20–40 minutes).
5. View the files found, mark the necessary ones and click Restore.

🔹 Important nuances:

• 📱 Programs work without root rights, but with root the chances are 30–50 higher%.
• 🔍 The newer Xiaomi model, the more difficult it is to recover (due to hardware encryption).
• 💾 Save recovered files to your PC, not back to your phone!

💡

If the program can’t see the device, try another one. USB-cable (original from Xiaomi) or port to PC. Sometimes it helps to reboot the phone in Fastboot mode (clamp power). + Loudness down when switched on).

Method 4: Recovery through TWRP (for advanced users)

If your Xiaomi has a custom TWRP recavator, the chances of recovery are increased, this method requires technical skills, but allows you to bypass the limitations of standard firmware, Warning: improper actions can lead to a brick (breakdown) of the device.

What you need:

• 📱 Phone with unlocked bootloader and installed TWRP.
• 💻 Computer with ADB and Fastboot.
• 🔧 Archive with the utility diskdump (you can download it on the XDA Developers).

Instructions:

1. Load the phone to TWRP (clamp Power + Volume up when turned on).
2. Connect to your PC and type in the command line: adb shell twrp mount data twrp mount system
3. Create a partition image of /data: dd if=/dev/block/by-name/userdata of=/sdcard/userdata.img (this will take 10–30 minutes depending on the amount of memory).
4. Copy userdata.img on your PC and scan it with Tenorshare UltData or R-Studio.

⚠️ Note: This method does not work on devices with:

• 🔒 Dynamic Partition: All models on MIUI 12+ Android 10+).
• 🛡️ Hardware encryption FBE (see section 1).
• 🔧 Blocked bootloader.

Method 5: Contacting a service center (extreme case)

If the independent attempts failed, it remains to turn to professionals. Xiaomi service centers do not deal with data recovery, but there are specialized laboratories (for example, Flashback Data or DriveSavers) that work with flash memory at the chip level.

Cost of services:

• 💰 Basic recovery (photos, documents): 5,000 to 15,000 ₽.
• 💰 Complex cases (encryption, damaged memory): 20,000-50,000 ₽.
• 💰 Emergency recovery (in 24 hours): +30-50% of the value.

🔹 What to ask the service before contacting:

• 📋 Have you got experience with Xiaomi? MIUI (Not all the centers are using Chinese phones).
• 🔒 Whether data privacy is guaranteed (especially when it comes to working files).
• 🕒 Timeframe for implementation (on average – 3-7 days).

⚠️ Avoid handicraftsmen offering 1,000–2,000 recovery ₽. Often, these "specialists" use the same software as you, but charge for 10 minutes of work. Official labs provide a report on the files found before payment.

💡

Service recovery is the only chance to recover data from encrypted devices or flashing, but the cost often exceeds the price of the phone itself, so evaluate the feasibility in advance.

How to Prevent Data Loss in the Future: Checklist

The best protection against data loss is prevention, and here's the minimum set of actions that will keep you from getting a headache:

🔹 Additional advice:

• 📁 For critical files (documents, archives) use Google Drive or Yandex.Disk with automatic download.
• 📱 Remove before resetting SD-map SIM-map – they are not formatted, but may contain copies of data.
• 🔧 If you plan to sell your phone, make a double reset: first through the settings, then through Fastboot (fastboot erase userdata command).

💡 Hidden function MIUI: B Settings → The phone. → Backup is a local backup option that allows you to create a full system picture to a memory card. This file (.mbk) can be restored even after a reset, but it takes up a lot of space (up to 10-15 GB).

FAQ: Frequent questions about data recovery on Xiaomi