Accidentally deleting important photos, documents or videos on a Xiaomi smartphone is a stressful situation that many users face. Fortunately, the Android operating system and the MIUI shell (or HyperOS) provide several layers of data protection, allowing information to be returned even after cleaning. File recovery is possible if you act quickly and know where to look for backups.
The first thing to do when you find a missing person is to stop writing new information to the device. The memory sector where the deleted file was stored is marked as free, but the data stays there until you physically overwrite it. If you start actively shooting videos or downloading heavy games, the chances of a successful return are reduced to almost zero. Below we will discuss all the available methods, from built-in functions to the use of specialized software.
Checking the system basket in the Gallery and the Conductor
The easiest and often ignored way is to check the built-in cart. In modern versions of MIUI, deleted media files are not erased instantly, but moved to a buffered storage area, where they can stay for up to 30 days, after which the system automatically destroys them. To access them, open the Gallery app and go to the Album tab, scrolling the list to the bottom.
The same is true of documents and archives: Open a standard Explorer (File Manager) and find a folder called Recycle Bin or Recently Deleted. It stores files of various formats:.apk,.doc,.pdf. If you find the desired object, just highlight it and press the recovery button.
- 📸 Open the Gallery, go to the Albums → Scroll down. → Basket.
- 📂 Launch the Conductor → Menu (three stripes) → Basket.
- ⏳ Files are stored here for 30 days, then deleted irrevocably.
It's important to note that the bin is limited, because if you deleted gigabytes of data, the system could have already cleared the oldest files to make room, and then standard methods might not work, and you'd have to resort to more complex solutions.
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If you delete a file and immediately realize the error, do not take new photos – this can overwrite the memory sector where the deleted shot lay.
Use of the Mi Cloud cloud service
Owners of smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO They have built-in access to the Mi Cloud cloud storage, and if sync was enabled in advance, your contacts, messages, notes and photos could be automatically saved to the company's servers. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
You can remotely manage data from your browser on your computer by going to i.mi.com. This is especially convenient if your phone is damaged or screen is broken. The web interface has sections to restore contacts, calendar and even device location. Synchronization is often on by default for the gallery, but it's worth checking the settings manually.
Please note that free space in the Mi Cloud is limited to 5 GB. If the limit was exceeded, new files may not be downloaded. In the Storage Management section, you can see what data is taking up space and when the last sync was performed.
⚠️ Note: When you delete a file from the Mi Cloud, it disappears from all synchronized devices. Be careful when cleaning the storage through the web interface.
Recovery via Google Photos and Google Drive
Google's ecosystem is an alternative to Xiaomi's services. Google Photos is often installed on your smartphone by default and can automatically back up your photos. Open the app, tap the profile avatar in the upper right corner and select Recycle Bin. This is where files are stored for 60 days, and if this is a photo from Google Photos for up to 30 days.
For documents and other files, check the Google Drive app. The menu on the left (or profile button) also has a Recycle Bin section. Deleted files are there for 30 days. PDF-documents or tables that you accidentally erased from your phone’s memory.
- 🌐 Google Photos Remotely Stored for 60 Days (For Original Photos).
- 💾 Google Drive saves files in the Recycle Bin for 30 days.
- 🔄 Recovery occurs instantly when you press the “Return” button».
If automatic sync has been disabled, this method will not work, but it is worth checking whether the Save Space feature was enabled, which could upload photos to the cloud and delete originals from the device earlier.
Search for backups in local MIUI backups
Shell MIUI And the new HyperOS has a powerful built-in local backup feature that creates full snapshots of the system, applications and data on the internal drive or SD-You can find backups like this on the way. MIUI → backup → AllBackup.
If you have previously created a restore point, you can return data through the settings menu. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore (or Advanced Settings). Here, select the desired backup file by date and click Restore.
Where to find the hidden backup folders?
Local backups take up a lot of space, so users often delete them manually. If you've been cleaning your phone's memory recently, check if you've deleted the AllBackup folder. It's also worth checking out Google Drive, where the system could have unloaded that backup automatically.
⚠️ Attention: Recovery process from full backup MIUI It can take a long time and requires a sufficient battery charge (minimum 50%).
Using a computer and recovery software
When built-in techniques don't work, a PC comes to the rescue. Connect your smartphone to your computer through a computer. USB-cable and select File Transfer Mode (MTP). Sometimes deleted files can be found in hidden system folders or app cache if they have not been deleted.
For deep scanning, specialized utilities are used, such as Dr.Fone, DiskDigger (requires root rights for full access) or Recuva (for the purpose of the application). SD-Root rights give programs access to system partitions, which greatly increases the chances of success, but deprives the device of guarantees.
Let’s compare the recovery methods:
| Method | Conditions required | Efficiency | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI basket | File deleted less than 30 days ago | Tall. | Low. |
| Mi Cloud / Google | Synchronization enabled | Medium | Low. |
| Local backup | Presence of a previously created backup | Tall. | Medium |
| Specialty software (PC) | Root rights or debugging over USB | Low/Mediocre | Tall. |
When using third-party software, be careful: many "free" programs only scan the phone, and for recovery require payment. APK-Files can lead to infection of the system with viruses.
☑️ Preparing for recovery via PC
Data loss prevention and important findings
The best way to combat data loss is to back up regularly. Set up automatic photo sync in Google Photos or Mi Cloud. Periodically copy important documents to an external hard drive or to an alternative cloud, such as Yandex Disk or Dropbox.
Do not store all data only on the internal storage of the smartphone. SD-A map is a good option for multimedia, but it can also fail «3-2-1»: three copies of data, on two different media, one of which is located elsewhere (cloud).
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Regular cloud sync is the only 100% reliable way to protect against accidental removal or breakage of a smartphone.
In conclusion, file recovery on Xiaomi is a process that depends on your response speed and the availability of pre-configured tools. Don’t ignore notifications about a lack of space in the cloud and periodically check the sync services.