File recovery on Xiaomi: from the MIUI basket to deep scanning

Did you delete important photos from Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 or accidentally clear the folder with documents on POCO X5 Pro? Don't panic - in 80% of cases, files can be returned even if they are not displayed in the gallery. Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI have built-in mechanisms to protect against data loss, and for complex cases there are specialized utilities. The main thing is to act quickly and not write new files to the device, so as not to lose deleted data.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways of recovery, from basic (checking the MIUI basket and cloud copies) to advanced (using ADB and programs like DiskDigger). We will pay special attention to the nuances for different versions of MIUI (12 to 14) and smartphone models where the location of functions may differ. If you use Xiaomi 13 Ultra or budget Redmi A2, the instructions will be suitable for both cases, but with the specifics of iron.

1.Basket check MIUI — first step in recovery

Modern versions of MIUI (starting with MIUI 12) automatically send deleted files to the bin, where they are stored for up to 30 days, including photos, videos, audio and some documents, to check the basket:

1. Open the Files app (folder icon).
2. In the bottom menu, tap on the "Basket" (dumpster icon).
3. Select the desired files with a long tap and click “Restore”.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO M5) The basket can be disabled by default. To activate it, go to Settings. → Warehouse → Recycle Bin and enable the option “Save deleted files».

If the cart is empty or files were deleted long ago, move to the next method. Note that system files (such as application cache) do not get into the cart - their recovery requires other tools.

2.Restore from Mi Cloud backup

Xiaomi offers free cloud storage, Mi Cloud (5GB), which automatically backs up photos, contacts, notes and even some settings. If you've previously enabled sync, the chances of data being returned are high.

To recover files from Mi Cloud:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select a section (such as “Gallery” or “Notes”).
3. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Restore.
4. Enter the backup date and confirm the recovery.

🔹 Important nuances:

• 📱 Photos and videos are restored in original quality, but can take up a lot of space.
• 📝 Contact and SMS Replace current data – export before recovery.
• ⚠️ If you reset your phone to factory settings without a Mi Account detachment, backups may not be available.

If you don’t have the files you need in Mi Cloud, check out other cloud services like Google Photos, Yandex Drive, or Dropbox if they’re connected.

3. Use of third-party programs (without root)

If the built-in methods did not help, it is time to turn to specialized utilities. For Xiaomi, programs that work without root rights are suitable:

📌 Instructions for DiskDigger (on the example of Xiaomi) 12T):

1. Install the program from Google Play.
2. Start and select “Start Basic Scan” (without root).
3. Wait until the process is completed (it can take 10–30 minutes).
4. Tick the required files and click "Restore".
5. Save files to a memory card or cloud (not internal memory!).

Charge your phone at least 50% |Free 1–2 GB of storage |Disable battery optimization for DiskDigger |Do not use your phone while scanning-->

⚠️ Note: If the phone gives you a “No Reading Rights” error, try connecting it to your PC and using the desktop version of the program (such as Recuva or Recuva). 7-Data Recovery: On some models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+) You may need to include a debugging USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times) → Additional settings → Developer parameters.

4. Recovery through ADB (for power users)

If files have been deleted recently and are not erased by new data, you can try to extract them via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that requires command-line skills but does not need root rights.

🔧 Step-by-step instruction:

1. Install ADB Tools on your PC.
2. Connect Xiaomi to your computer and allow debugging over USB.
3. Open the command line (cmd) and enter:

adb shell


su -c "find /storage/emulated/0/ -name '*.jpg' -type f -mtime -1" > C:\recovery\files.txt

This command will find all.jpg files that have been changed in the last day and save the list to files.txt. Replace.jpg with the desired format (for example,.mp4 for video).

💡 If you are looking for a specific file, please give it a name instead of a mask:

adb shell su -c "find /storage/emulated/0/ -name 'IMG_20231015_*.jpg'"

⚠️ Note: Do not use the adb pull commands to copy files directly - this can cause them to be damaged.

5. Recovery after reset to factory settings

If you have done a hard reset (reset via Settings) → The phone. → Resetting, the chances of data recovery are plummeting. But there are a few ways to do this:

• 🔄 Recovery from Mi Cloud (if sync was enabled before reset).
• 💾 Use of backup on PC (if backup was done via Mi) PC Suite).
• 🛠️ Service center – some workshops can extract data using professional equipment (e.g. Chip-Off), but it is expensive (from 5,000 to one) ₽).

Once you reset your settings to Xiaomi, the file system is formatted, but the data stays on the disk until it is overwritten. If you connect your phone to your PC right away and use a program like R-Studio, the chances of returning some files (especially photos) are ~30-40%.

📌 Algorithm of action:

1. Do not set up your phone after a reset – minimize the recording of new data.
2. Connect the device to the PC in the "File Transfer" mode.
3. Run R-Studio or EaseUS Data Recovery and scan the internal memory.
4. Save the files found to the hard drive of the PC.

6.Preventing Data Loss: How to Avoid Future Problems

It is better to prevent file loss than to try to recover it. Here are the key precautions for Xiaomi owners:

• ☁️ Enable automatic synchronization with Mi Cloud (Settings) → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization).
• 📁 Use the basket. MIUI — Check that it is included in the settings. → Warehouse → Basket.
• 🔗 Connect Google Photos to back up your media files (up to 15GB free).
• 💽 Regularly copy important files to a PC or external drive.
• 🛡️ Install an antivirus (such as Avast or Dr.Web) to avoid data loss due to malware.

🔹 Hidden function MIUI: Starting with MIUI 13, Xiaomi introduced the File Protection option, which blocks the accidental deletion of important documents:

1. Open Files → Select File → Tap Three Dots.
2. Select “Protect” and set a password.

💡

Even if the file is deleted from the recycle bin, it remains in the device's memory until it is overwritten, and the faster you start recovering, the better the chances of success.

⚠️ Note: Devices with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip (such as Xiaomi 13 Pro) use a file system F2FS, which is more difficult to restore than ext4. If you often work with important data, consider using an external memory card (such as SanDisk Extreme) to store critical files.

FAQ: Frequent questions about file recovery on Xiaomi