How to recover deleted photos from the basket on Xiaomi smartphones: the complete guide

Have you accidentally deleted valuable photos on Xiaomi and now you panic? Don't despair - 90% of the time, files can be returned even if they are already in the basket. In this article, we will analyze all working methods of recovery, from standard MIUI tools to professional utilities. It is important to act quickly: the longer the photos are in the basket, the higher the risk of their permanent loss when cleaning the memory.

Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark) use a unique media storage system where deleted files first enter the temporary bin. Depending on the version of MIUI (12-14) and the device model, the storage period in the basket varies from 15 to 30 days, we will tell you how to check this period, how to restore photos without root rights, and what to do if the basket is already cleared.

We will pay special attention to the nuances:

• 🔍 Where to look for a cart in different versions MIUI (including HyperOS)
• ⏳ Removed files and how to extend them
• ☁️ Cloud backups in Mi Cloud and Google Photos
• 🛠️ Third-party utilities for deep memory scanning

1. Where is the basket on Xiaomi and how to open it

Unlike iPhone or Samsung, where the basket can be hidden in the settings, Xiaomi has it integrated directly into the standard Gallery, but its location depends on the firmware version:

• 📱 MIUI 12–14 / HyperOS: Open the Gallery app → three-point (⋮) top-right → Select a basket. In some models (Redmi 10, POCO M4) This item may be called Recently Deleted.
• 🔄 Old versions (MIUI 11 and below: Get in the Albums → Scroll down to the Control section. → pick the basket.
• 🚫 If no item: Maybe the cart is disabled in the settings. Go to Settings → Annexes → gallery → Memory. → Turn on the basket.

In the basket, you will see all the files deleted in the last 15-30 days, grouped by date. 📷, video — 🎥. Note the countdown timer next to each file, which shows how many days are left before the automatic deletion.

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If the cart is empty but you're sure you've deleted the photo recently, try rebooting your phone. Sometimes MIUI doesn't update the cart contents in real time.

2. Recovery of photos from the basket by standard means

The easiest way to return deleted images is to use the built-in MIUI tools.

1. Open the Gallery and go to the Recycle Bin (as described above).
2. Select the necessary photos, holding your finger on one of the files (a tick will appear). ✅).
3. Press the Restore button (usually at the bottom of the screen) Photos will return to the album All photos.
4. If you need to restore the entire contents of the basket, tap on three points (⋮) → Restore everything.

Important nuances:

• 📲 Recovered photos will keep the original time stamps (EXIF) geotagged.
• 🔄 If the file was manually deleted from the recycle bin, it is impossible to return it by standard means - third-party utilities will be required.
• 📁 The restored photos are not duplicated. If the picture is already in the gallery, it will not create a copy.

Make sure there is enough free space in the cart|Check the storage period of files (does not expire)|Turn off automatic cleaning of the basket in the settings|Sync data with Mi Cloud (in case of a crash)-->

3. How to extend the storage period of files in the basket

By default, MIUI stores deleted files in the Recycle Bin for 15 days (on some models, 30 days), which can be extended or disabled by automatically cleaning:

1. Open the gallery. → three-point (⋮) → Settings.
2. Select Recycle Bin (or Memory Management in older versions).
3. Click on the Shelf Life and select the maximum value of 30 days.
4. Turn off the Auto Clean option if it is active.

On models with HyperOS (for example, Xiaomi 14 or Redmi Note 13 Pro+), the path may differ: Settings → Memory → Recycle Bin → Storage options.

4. Recovery via Mi Cloud (if synchronization was enabled)

If your Xiaomi has Mi Cloud sync enabled, the chances of returning photos are much higher. The cloud keeps backups of media even after you have deleted it from your device.

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Make sure the gallery sync switch is on (green).
3. Go to i.mi.com from your computer or phone.
4. Sign in with the same Mi Account as you do on your smartphone.
5. In the Gallery section, find the Recycle Bin folder or Recently Deleted.

The limitations of Mi Cloud:

• ☁️ A free account only provides 5GB of cloud storage.If the space is out, old backups can be deleted.
• ⏳ Photos are stored in the cloud basket for 30 days (not to be confused with the local basket on the phone!).
• 🔒 You will need access to your Mi Account to recover. If you forget your password, use the recovery service.

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Mi Cloud is the only way to get your photos back if they were deleted from the cart more than a month ago and not saved to Google Photos.

5. Using Google Photos to Restore

If you use Google Photos to back up, check its Recycle Bin - it works independently of the MIUI Recycle Bin.

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Slip on the profile avatar. → Basket.
3. Select the desired photos and click Restore.

Comparison of Mi Cloud and Google Photos:

⚠️ Note: If you deleted a photo from Google Photos more than 60 days ago, it will be permanently lost, in which case only scanning the phone memory with specialized programs (see next section).

6. Deep recovery programs (if the basket is cleaned)

If the photos were deleted from the cart or they expired, you need third-party tools that scan the internal memory of the phone at the file system level and can find fragments of deleted files. Importantly, the less you use the phone after deleting, the better the chances of success.

Top.-3 Xiaomi:

• 🛠️ DiskDigger (free version): Supports recovery JPG, PNG, HEIC. Works without root rights (but with root you will find more files.
• 🔍 Recuva (for PC): Requires the phone to be connected to your computer in File Transfer mode (MTP). Deep scanning takes 1-2 hours, and it can even restore damaged files.
• 📱 Dumpster: Works as an extra basket, intercepting deleted files. Stores data indefinitely (until manually cleaned) Supports video and document recovery.

Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger:

1. Install DiskDigger from Google Play.
2. Launch the app and select Start a simple scan.
3. Wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 30 minutes).
4. Check the photos you found and click Restore.
5. Save files to the cloud or to the cloud SD-Card (Do not restore to internal memory!).

⚠️ Note: When using root-rights-free software, recovered photos may lose some of the metadata (date of shooting, geotagged). EXIF-Data, you will have to get root access, but this will cancel the warranty Xiaomi.

7 What to do if nothing helps: extreme measures

If all of these methods fail, there are radical solutions that require technical skills or a service center.

• 🔧 Root access + Specialized utilities: Get root with Magisk or KingRoot. Use PhotoRec or TestDisk for low-level scanning. Risk: loss of warranty and possible device blink.
• 💾 Removal of memory chip: The service center can remove the memory chip and read it on the programmer. Cost: from 3000 to 10 000 rubles (depending on the model: ~70% with a physically fit chip.
• 📧 Support for Xiaomi: If the photos were critical (e.g. documents), write to official support describing the situation, and add proof (screenshots of the basket, phone checks). The chances of help are minimal, but in exceptional cases can provide access to backup copies.

⚠️ Warning: If you plan to bring your phone to a data recovery service, don't turn it on after you delete the photo. Each boot of the system overwrites memory sectors, reducing the chances of success.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photo recovery on Xiaomi