Delete important photos from Xiaomi Redmi 9T and don't know how to get them back? Don't panic - even if files are gone from the gallery, they can still be stored in the device's memory or backups. In this article, we'll discuss all working methods of recovery, from simple (check the basket) to complex (use of PC and specialized programs).
Redmi 9T
MIUI
Mi Cloud
not record new data
We tested each method on Redmi 9T with MIUI 12-14 firmware and Android 10-12, and it will work for other Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO models, but with the nuances of their file system in mind.
1.Check the basket at MIUI Gallery
The first thing you need to do is to look in the gallery basket, and in MIUI, deleted photos are stored there for 30 days (by default), and then they are permanently erased.
- Open the standard Gallery app.
- Tap it on three points (⋮) top-right → pick the basket.
- Find the right photos, click on them → Restore.
If the cart is empty or files are not there, go to the next method. On Redmi 9T, the cart may not appear if the photos were deleted through a file manager or third-party applications (for example, Google Photos).
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To increase the storage time of files in the Recycle Bin to 60 days, go to Gallery Settings → Recycle Bin → Storage Period.
2. Recovery via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)
Xiaomi automatically syncs photos to the Mi Cloud cloud if the feature is enabled.
- 📱 Open the Settings. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud.
- 🔍 Make sure the switch opposite the Gallery is active.
- 🖼️ Get in to Mi Cloud. → Gallery through browser or application.
- 🗑️ Check the Recycle Bin folder in the cloud (photos are stored there for up to 30 days).
If sync has been disabled, try manual date search, such as searching 2023-12 to find a photo from December 2023.
⚠️ Warning: Mi Cloud only provides 5GB for free. If the space is out, new photos won't sync. Check the free space in Settings → Mi Cloud → Warehouse.
How to increase space in Mi Cloud for free?
3. Use Google Photos (if backup was enabled)
If the Redmi 9T has Google Photos installed and backup enabled, the chances of recovery are high.
- Open Google Photos (if removed, install from Play Market).
- Sign in with the same Google account that was previously linked.
- Go to the Library → Recycle Bin (photos are stored there for 60 days).
- If the basket is empty, check the Archive or search by date/place.
Google Photos retains the original photo quality if the original copy was enabled, but if the High Quality mode was used, the images can be compressed.
| Storage method | Deadline in the basket | Max. Free seat. | Compression photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Cloud | 30 days | 5GB | No. |
| Google Photos (Original) | 60 days | 15 GB (total) | No. |
| Google Photos (High) | 60 days | Unlimited* | Yes (up to 16 MP) |
| MIUI Local Basket | 30 days | — | No. |
* Since June 1, 2021, Google has restricted free unlimited storage in High Quality mode.
4.Search for hidden folders and backups in phone memory
Sometimes photos are not deleted completely, but moved to hidden system folders. On Redmi 9T, check the following directories (use a file manager, such as Files by Google or Mi File Manager):
- 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/.thumbnails — photo-picture.
- 📁 /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails — gallery-cash.
- 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.gallery/cache — time-file.
- 📁 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Backup/AllBackup — backup MIUI.
If the photo was transferred to the memory card, check the folders:
/storage/XXXX-XXXX/DCIM/Camera
/storage/XXXX-XXXX/Pictures(where XXXX-XXXX — identifier SD-map).
⚠️ Note: Do not delete files with the.nomedia extension, they hide folders from the gallery. If you have one in the directory with a photo, delete it and the images will be visible again.
Enable the display of hidden files in the file manager settings |
Check DCIM, Pictures, Download| folders
Look for files with extensions.jpg,.png,.heic|
Try renaming files without extension (add.jpg)|
Check the root folder of internal memory (/storage/emulated/0/)-->
5. Recovery with PC and software (no ROOT)
If you can't find your photos in the clouds and in the cart, connect Redmi 9T to your computer and use memory scanners.
- 🖥️ Recuva is a simple program with deep scanning.
- 🖥️ PhotoRec - works with RAW-Partitions, restores even damaged files.
- 🖥️ DiskDigger – supports scanning without ROOT (but with limitations).
Step-by-step instructions for Recuva:
- Connect Redmi 9T to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
- Start Recuva, select the type of Image files.
- Specify your phone’s drive (usually a removable drive).
- Press Analysis, then Deep Scan (it takes 10–30 minutes).
- Tag the photos you find and click Restore (save to PC, not phone!).
Redmi 9T with MIUI 13+ may require unlocking USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (7 times) → Additional → For Developers → Debugging over USB.
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Deep scanning increases the chances of recovery, but takes longer. Don't interrupt the process, it can damage the file system.
6. Recovery through ADB (for advanced users)
If the photos were recently deleted, you can try to retrieve them through ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method requires command line skills, but doesn’t need any ROOT-rights.
Instructions:
- Install ADB on your PC (download Google’s Platform Tools).
- Connect Redmi 9T to a PC with USB Debugging enabled.
- Open the command line in the folder with ADB and type: adb shell su (if there is ROOT) cd /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Camera ls -la | grep ".jpg"
- If you find files, copy them to your PC: adb pull /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Camera/photo.jpg C:\Backup\
If the command line returns the Permission denied error, you don't have permission to access the folder. ROOT-Use of specialty utilities such as Dr.Fone.
7. Contact Xiaomi Service Center (extreme case)
If all methods have been tried, and the photos are critical (for example, they are the only copies of documents or family photos), you can contact an authorized Xiaomi service center.
The cost of such services starts from 3 000-5 000 rubles, and the recovery period - from 1 to 3 days. Please note that not all services are taken for such work, especially if the phone is physically damaged.
⚠️ Attention: If Redmi 9T If you've been dropped in water or mechanically damaged, self-recovery efforts can make things worse.
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Before visiting the service center, make sure that the Factory Reset function via Mi Cloud is disabled on the phone (Settings → Password & Security → Erase device).