How to recover deleted photos on Xiaomi phone: from cart to deep scan

Deleting photos on a Xiaomi smartphone is a situation that almost every user faces. One careless click in the gallery, a factory reset or even a system failure can deprive you of valuable images. Fortunately, in most cases, files are recoverable — if you act quickly and correctly. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to return deleted photos, from standard MIUI functions to professional tools, taking into account the features of Redmi, POCO and the Mi line.

It's important to understand that recovery success depends on two factors: time (the earlier you start, the better the odds) and the method of deleting photos that were erased through the gallery basket are easier to return than those that disappeared after formatting internal memory or resetting through Fastboot. We structured instructions from the simplest to the most complex so that you could choose the best path without unnecessary actions.

Note: If you use Xiaomi with custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), some standard MIUI features may not be available, in which case skip the embedded tools section and move on to general-purpose methods (cloud services, PC programs).

1.Check the basket at Xiaomi Gallery

The first thing you need to do is to look into the shopping cart of the standard Gallery app, where in MIUI, deleted photos are stored there for up to 30 days (by default), after which they are permanently erased, and this method works even if you delete the photos through third-party apps (for example, Google Photos), but only if they were stored in the internal memory of the phone.

How to open the basket:

• 📱 Open the Gallery app (icon with colored squares).
• 🗑️ Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → pick the basket.
• 🔍 View the list of deleted files. To return a photo, click on it. → Restore.
• 📤 For Mass Recovery: Press Management → select the files you need → Restore.

⚠️ Note: If you were manually cleaning the cart or using features like Memory Optimization in the Recycle Bin MIUI, The photos may have been deleted permanently, in which case you can proceed to the following methods.

On some Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro or the POCO X3 Pro), the cart can be hidden to enable it:

1. Open the gallery. → Settings (cogs).
2. Find the Recycle Bin partition and activate the switch.
3. Set a storage period (maximum 60 days).

2. Recovery via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

If your Xiaomi has enabled sync with Mi Cloud, the chances of returning photos are much higher. The cloud automatically saves copies of images (provided that the function is activated in the settings), even if you delete photos from your phone, they can stay in the cloud for up to 60 days.

How to check:

• 🌐 Go to i.mi.com from any device and log in to your Mi Account.
• 📁 In the Gallery section, find the Remote or Cart folder.
• 🔄 Select the photos you want and click Restore. They'll be back in the main gallery on your phone the next time you sync.

If the photos aren't in the cloud cart, try looking for them in the main folders, sometimes the photos are saved in automatically created albums, for example:

• 📸 Screenshots – if the deleted photo was a screenshot.
• 🎥 Video - if the photo is removed and the video.
• 📂 Downloads – if the photo was downloaded from messengers.

⚠️ Warning: If you don't remember whether Mi Cloud was enabled, check your phone settings: Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → If the synchronization is off, this method won't work.

On Xiaomi models with MIUI 13/14, cloud sync can run in the background even without a Wi-Fi connection (if mobile data is enabled in Mi Cloud settings), which increases the chances of success.

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If the photos were taken on your phone’s camera but are not displayed in the cloud, check the DCIM/Camera folder in the Files section of the Mi Cloud website.

3. Use Google Photos (if sync was enabled)

Many Xiaomi users use Google Photos in parallel for backup. If you have this app installed and autoload enabled, deleted photos could be saved to the Google cloud, the main advantage is that the storage period in the cart is 60 days (versus 30 in the Mi Cloud).

Instructions:

1. Open the Google Photos app or go to photos.google.com.
2. Sign in with the same Google account that is linked to your phone.
3. In the menu (three lines at the top left), select the Recycle Bin.
4. Find the right photos, highlight them and click Restore.

If the photos are not in the shopping cart, try searching them through the search bar in Google Photos.

• 🏞️ Places (e.g., type "sea" or "mountains").
• 👤 Persons (if recognition is enabled).
• 📅 Dates (e.g. "June 2023").

On Xiaomi with MIUI 12+, Google Photos can conflict with the standard Gallery if both sync photos at the same time. In this case, check both baskets - in MIUI and Google Photos.

Make sure Mi Cloud is enabled | Check the cart in Google Photo| View the Remote folder on i.mi.com| Check the autoboot in the gallery settings-->

4. PC recovery: programs for deep scanning

If you can't find it in the baskets and the clouds, you'll need to plug in the computer.

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS.
• 📱 USB-cable (preferably original from Xiaomi).
• 🔧 Recovery software (e.g. DiskDigger, Recuva, EaseUS MobiSaver).

Step-by-step (as in DiskDigger):

1. Connect your phone to your PC in File Transfer mode (when you see a request on your phone, select this option).
2. Download and install DiskDigger (there is a free version with restrictions).
3. Start the program, select your phone in the list of devices.
4. Press Full Scan (full scan) – it will take from 10 minutes to several hours.
5. After scanning, mark the photos you want (usually marked as.jpg or.png) and click Recover.
6. Save the files to your PC and then transfer them back to your phone.

Important nuances:

• 🚫 Do not save recovered files to the same phone – this can overwrite the remaining data.
• 🔋 Make sure your phone is at least 50% charged – interrupting the scan reduces your chances of success.
• 📁 If the phone is not detected by the PC, turn on Debugging by USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times) → Additional settings → For developers.

⚠️ Note: Programs like Recuva or EaseUS can recover files with corrupted metadata (for example, no shooting date or geotags). If location and time information is important, use DiskDigger, which saves better. EXIF-data.

For Xiaomi owners with a microSD card, if the photos were stored on the memory card, remove it and connect it to the PC through the card reader. Scan the card - this will speed up the process and increase the chances of recovery.

5. Recovery via TWRP (for advanced users)

If your Xiaomi has a custom TWRP recap installed, you can try to restore photos through a Nandroid backup or file manager, which is only suitable for those who have previously done backups or are ready to work with system partitions.

Instructions:

1. Turn off your phone and boot into TWRP (usually a Power + Volume Up combination).
2. Select Mount → Mark System and Data.
3. Go back to the main menu and select Advanced → File Manager.
4. Go to /data/media/0/DCIM/Camera (or /sdcard/DCIM for memory card).
5. Find files with the.jpg or.png extension that are marked as deleted (they may have the. prefix).
6. Copy them to an external drive or to the cloud via ADB.

If you have a Nandroid backup:

• In TWRP, select Restore.
• Specify the path to the backup (usually /TWRP/BACKUPS).
• Select the Data partition and restore it. Attention: this will overwrite the current data!

⚠️ Attention: Working with TWRP It can cause data loss or soft-brick phone if you get the partitions wrong. If you're not sure about your actions, skip this method or consult a specialist.

Some Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi K40 or Mi 11) require you to unlock the bootloader via Fastboot to access the TWRP. This erases all data, so the method is only relevant if you already have a backup.

6. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If all previous methods have failed and photos are critical (such as documents or unique footage), you can contact the official Xiaomi service center, they have specialized equipment to recover data from internal memory, including eMMC and UFS chips.

What you need to know:

• 💰 The cost of the service starts from 3 000-5 000 rubles (depending on the model and complexity).
• ⏳ Recovery period – from 1 to 5 working days.
• 📄 Proof of ownership (checks, box, binding to Mi Account) will be required).
• 🔒 In some cases, the data is partially restored (for example, without file names or with damages).

How to find a service center:

1. Go to the site. mi.com/ru/service.
2. Select the Service Centers and specify your city.
3. Check the reviews about the center – some are not engaged in data recovery, but only repairs.

Alternatively, data recovery labs (e.g. HDD Recovery or Flashback Data) work with any device, but the cost can be higher (from 10 000 rubles).

⚠️ Warning: If the phone is drowned, crashed or not turned on, do not try to repair it yourself. Any manipulation of the board (for example, heating with a hairdryer) can irrevocably destroy the data.

7.Prevention: How to avoid loss of photos in the future

To avoid the problem of deleted photos, set up automatic backup on Xiaomi:

• 📱 Mi Cloud: Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → gallery → switch on sync.
• ☁️ Google Photos: Open the app → Settings → Backup and synchronization.
• 💾 Local Backup: Use apps like FolderSync to copy photos to your PC or external drive.
• 🔄 Check regularly: Clean your gallery cart once a month, but make sure important photos are saved to the cloud before you do.

Additional advice:

• 📁 Avoid storing photos only on a memory card – microSD is more likely to fail than internal memory.
• 🔋 Do not use the garbage cleaning function in MIUI — They can delete temporary files needed to restore the.
• 📱 If you plan to reset your phone to factory settings, pre-extract the memory card and copy the data to the PC.

Xiaomi models with MIUI 14 have a Cloud Album feature that automatically groups photos by event and saves them to Mi Cloud.

1. Open the gallery. → Cloud album.
2. Click Settings (cog) → Autoboot.
3. Select Wi-Fi and mobile network (if copy speed is important).

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The most reliable way to avoid losing a photo is to combine cloud backup (Mi Cloud + Google Photos) with a local backup on your PC every 1-2 months.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photo recovery on Xiaomi