Losing photos on a Xiaomi smartphone is a situation that almost every user faces. Whether you accidentally hit Delete, reset your phone to factory settings or experienced a system failure, there are always chances to return pictures. In this article, we will analyze all working methods of recovery, from standard MIUI functions to professional tools that will save even “hopeless” files.
It's important to understand that success depends on two factors — time (the faster you start acting, the better the odds) and storage (cloud photos recover differently than local ones). We tested each method on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO X5 Pro and Mi 11 Ultra models — instructions are relevant for all devices on MIUI 14 and later. If your smartphone is older, check the firmware version in Settings → About phone.
1. Checking the basket in the standard Xiaomi gallery
The first thing you need to do is look into the built-in cart, and in MIUI, deleted photos are not erased immediately, but are stored there for 30 days (by default), which can be changed or disable the cart at all, as discussed below.
How to open the basket:
- 📁 Launch the Gallery app (icon with floral logo).
- 🔍 Click on the three horizontal lines (menu) in the lower right corner.
- 🗑️ Select the Recycle Bin (or Recently Deleted in Older Versions).
- ✅ Tag the desired photos and click Restore.
If the cart is empty or not on the menu, it means:
- 🔄 Photos were deleted more than 30 days ago (autocleaning worked).
- 🚫 The basket is disabled in the gallery settings.
- 📱 You use a third-party gallery (such as Google Photos) that has its own shopping cart.
⚠️ Attention: In some firmware POCO The basket is hidden. To turn it on, go to Gallery Settings. → Basket → Include the basket and set a storage period (maximum 60 days).
2.Restore from the MI Cloud backup
If your Xiaomi has MI Cloud sync enabled, the chances of returning photos are close to 100%.The cloud retains not only originals, but also compressed quality versions (if the option “Saving traffic” is enabled).
How to recover photos from MI Cloud:
- ☁️ Open the Settings. → Xiaomi account → MI Cloud.
- 📷 Go to the Gallery section (or Photos).
- 🔍 Find a folder with a date of deletion or an album Remote.
- ⬇️ Click on the photo → Download or Restore.
If the photo is not in the cloud:
- 🔄 Photos removed from the cloud (by hand or after expiration of the term).
| Conditions | Chances of recovery | Action. |
|---|---|---|
| Sync enabled, photos deleted <30 days ago | ✅ 95% | Restore from MI Cloud → Gallery → Remote |
| Sync enabled, photos deleted >30 days ago | ⚠️ 20% | Try to restore through Xiaomi Service (see section 5) |
| Sync is off, but there was a backup. | ✅ 80% | Restore backup via Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset |
| There's no backups. | ❌ 0% | Go to 3-5 (memory scanning) |
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If you don’t have the right photos in MI Cloud, check the MIUI/Backup/AllBackup folder through the file manager – sometimes backups are stored there as.mbk archives.
3. Use of Google Photos (if connected)
Many Xiaomi users are using Google Photos to back up, and if you logged in to a Google account and autosynchronized, the photos could still be there even after you deleted them from your phone.
How to check:
- 📲 Install the Google Photos app (if removed).
- 🔍 Sign in to your Google account.
- 🗑️ Go to the Library. → Recycle bin (photos stored there for 60 days).
- 🔙 If the basket is empty, check the Archive or search by date.
Features of Google Photos:
- 📸 High quality (free) compresses photos up to 16 MP, but saves metadata.
- 📱 Original quality (paid) stores files unchanged, but takes up space in Google Drive.
- 🔄 If photos have been deleted from Google Photos, try to restore the shopping cart via the web version (period – 60 days).
⚠️ Note: If you reset your phone to factory settings and do not remember the password from Google, it will be impossible to restore access to photos through Google Photos without resetting your account (this will lead to the loss of all data on the device).
4. Deep Memory Scanning with DiskDigger
If the photos aren’t found in the cart or cloud, it’s time to move on to advanced methods.The DiskDigger app scans the phone’s internal memory at the file system level and can recover files even after formatting (provided they haven’t been overwritten by new data).
Step-by-step:
- Install DiskDigger from Google Play (there is a free version with restrictions).
- Run the scan: Select Full Scan (requires root permissions for maximum efficiency). Specify file types: JPG, PNG, HEIC (for Xiaomi photo). Click Start search.
Save the files found
- Check the appropriate photos.
- Click Restore and select the folder to save (better on the SD-map).
Charge your phone at least 50% |Free 1–2 GB of storage |Disable auto-update apps |Do not install new programs while scanning-->
What affects the outcome:
- 🕒 Time after removal: if more than a month has passed, the chances drop by 30-50%.
- 📱 Phone activity: installing apps, shooting new photos or videos overwrites deleted data.
- 🔧 Root rights: without them, DiskDigger will only see thumbnails (thumb), not the originals.
Alternatives to DiskDigger:
- 🛠️ EaseUS MobiSaver – Supports HEIC (Photo format for the new Xiaomi).
- 🔍 Recuva (Windows only if you connect your phone as a storage device).
- 📱 Dumpster is an analogue of a basket, but works independently of the gallery.
5. Contact Xiaomi Support
If the photos were critical (such as documents or single photos) and self-recovery didn’t work, you can try to contact official Xiaomi support.
How to make a request:
- 📞 Call the hotline (for Russia: 8 800 700 01 03).
- 📧 Write to the chat on the official website (select the region).
- 🏬 Contact the service center (addresses are on the map).
What will be required:
- 📄 Check or warranty card (proof of purchase).
- 🔐 Account details MI (login MI Cloud).
- 📱 The device itself (if it is working).
⚠️ Note: Xiaomi does not guarantee data recovery, especially if the phone has been physically damaged (for example, after a fall or water hit), in such cases, it is recommended to contact specialized laboratories (for example, Flashback Data or other data). HDD Recovery).
How much does professional recovery cost?
6.Prevention: How to avoid loss of photos in the future
The best way to keep your photos safe is to set up your backup in advance, and MIUI has some built-in tools that will save you nerves:
Methods of automatic protection:
- ☁️ MI Cloud: Enable Settings → Xiaomi account → MI Cloud → Gallery. Choose Original Quality (if space is enough) or High Quality (compression up to 16 MP). Set up Autosynchronization over Wi-Fi (Sync Settings) → Only on Wi-Fi).
- 📁 Local Backup: Go to Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset → Local backup. Select Gallery and start backup creation (save in the /MIUI/Backup/AllBackup/).
- 🔄 Google Photos: Install the app and enable Backup and Sync. Select quality (Original or High).
Additional measures:
- 📂 Transfer your photo to PC regularly (via the MTP Xiaomi PC Suite).
- 🔌 Use it. SD-map (set up saving photo on it in camera settings) → Preservation site).
- 🔒 Don’t store single copies of important photos on your phone – duplicate them to the cloud or external drive.
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Even if you delete photos from the Recycle Bin and the cloud, they can remain in the app cache (e.g., in /Android/data/com.miui.gallery/cache/).