Recovering Deleted Photos in WhatsApp on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide with Guaranteed Methods

Deleting WhatsApp photos on Xiaomi smartphones is a problem that thousands of users face daily. Unlike iPhones, where backups are created automatically via iCloud, on Android (and especially on devices with MIUI firmware), the recovery process has its nuances. The main difficulty is that WhatsApp does not store media files in the cloud by default — they are only stored locally on the device or in Google Drive, if you specifically set up a backup.

In this article, we will look at all possible ways to return deleted photos, from standard messenger functions to using third-party utilities. Particular attention will be paid to the specifics of Xiaomi: where exactly WhatsApp files are stored in MIUI, how to circumvent system restrictions and what to do if the backup is damaged. It is important to understand that the success of recovery depends on less than 30 days after deletion, after which the chances of returning files without a backup drop rapidly.

Why WhatsApp Photos Are Deleted Forever (and How to Prevent It)

Unlike Xiaomi, where deleted photos are sent to the shopping cart, WhatsApp erases media files irrevocably — they do not fall into the system basket or in the folder “Recently deleted”, which is due to the fact that the messenger uses its own storage system, which is not integrated with MIUI.

• 🗑️ Manual deletion – you have manually erased the photo in a chat or through a file manager.
• 🔄 Cache Clearance – WhatsApp or Xiaomi system utilities (e.g., Security → Cleanup) have deleted temporary files.
• 📱 Settings reset – After resetting to factory settings, all local WhatsApp data (including photos) disappears.
• 🔗 Backup damage – if a copy in Google Drive is not synced or has been interrupted.

To minimize the risks, Xiaomi offers a few built-in tools:

• 🔒 Auto-Save Media – Enable in WhatsApp settings (Settings → Chat → Store to Gallery).
• ☁️ Backup in Google Drive – set up automatic copy creation (more on this in the next section).
• 📁 Hidden folder.nomedia – if the photos are not displayed in the gallery, check if the file is in the WhatsApp/Media folder.

⚠️ Warning: If you use Xiaomi with an unlocked bootloader or custom firmware, WhatsApp backups may not recover due to a change in folder structure, in which case the only reliable way is to manually copy the WhatsApp/Databases folder to your PC.

Method 1: Restore through Google Drive backup

This is the most reliable method, but it only works if:

1. You have previously set up backups on WhatsApp.
2. The Google account linked to the copy is the same as it is now.
3. It’s been 30 days since the last copy (otherwise WhatsApp will offer to restore the older version).

Instructions for remediation:

1. Remove WhatsApp from your Xiaomi (via Settings → Apps → WhatsApp → Delete).
2. Install the messenger again from Google Play.
3. When you first start, enter the same phone number as before.
4. When a recovery request appears from Google Drive, click Restore.
5. Wait until the process is complete (it can take up to 30 minutes depending on the size of the copy).

If the copy is not restored:

• 🔌 Check your Wi-Fi connection (WhatsApp does not restore copies over the mobile internet).
• 📧 Make sure there is enough space on your Google account (a copy can weigh a few gigabytes).
• 🔄 Reboot Xiaomi and try again.

⚠️ Warning: If you use Xiaomi with two SIM- cards, make sure the recovery phone number matches the one that was when you created the copy. WhatsApp ties backups to the number, not the device.

Method 2: Local Recovery from the WhatsApp folder on Xiaomi

If you don't have a backup in Google Drive, you can try to return a photo from local storage. On Xiaomi, all WhatsApp media files are stored in a folder:

/storage/emulated/0/WhatsApp/Media/WhatsApp Images/

Instructions:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC via USB (select File Transfer Mode).
2. Open the WhatsApp/Media/WhatsApp Images folder.
3. Check the Sent subfolders (sent photos) and the chat attachments (they can be in folders with phone number names).
4. Copy the files you want on your PC or elsewhere on your phone.

If the folder is empty or there are no files:

• 🔍 Use a searchable file manager (such as Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer) and search for files by extension:.jpg,.png,.jpeg.
• 🗑️ Check the WhatsApp/Media/.Statuses folder — sometimes the status photos are saved there.
• 📂 Enable the display of hidden files in the file manager settings (in MIUI this is done through Three Dots → Settings → Show hidden files).

Use the original USB- Xiaomi |Enable debugging by USB in Developer Settings |Check both internal memory (if there is a SD- card)|Do not connect your phone to charge while copying-->

On Xiaomi with MIUI 12+ firmware, the WhatsApp folder can be protected by the system. If you see a message "No access", do:

adb shell pm grant com.android.providers.media permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE

(Developer rights and ADB connection required).

Method 3: Using data recovery software

If the previous methods did not work, you can use specialized utilities.

• 🛠️ DiskDigger is a free version that scans photos, videos and documents.
• 🔧 EaseUS MobiSaver is a paid deep scanning software (supports MIUI).
• 📱 Dr.Fone recovers data even after resetting.

Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger:

1. Download and install the program from Google Play.
2. Start and select Full Scan (requires root rights on some Xiaomi models).
3. Wait for the analysis to be completed (it may take up to 1 hour).
4. Mark the desired photos and click "Restore".
5. Save files to the cloud or to the SD- card.

For Xiaomi with MIUI 13/14, it is important to:

• 🔒 Allow the program to access the storage in Settings → Applications → Permissions → Storage.
• 📵 Disable battery optimization for DiskDigger in Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization.
• 🚫 Do not install the program on the system partition, this can cause failures.

Method 4: Restore via WhatsApp backup on Xiaomi (without Google Drive)

WhatsApp creates local backups every day at 2:00 a.m. and saves them in the folder:

/storage/emulated/0/WhatsApp/Databases/

The copies are called msgstore.db.crypt14 (where crypt14 is the encryption version) to recover data:

1. Remove WhatsApp and install it again.
2. When you first start, instead of restoring from Google Drive, select Restore from local copy.
3. If the copy is not automatically detected, rename the file msgstore.db.crypt14 to msgstore.db.crypt12 (sometimes helps with crashes).

Xiaomi may have problems with MIUI:

• 📂 The Databases folder can be hidden – use Total Commander or FX File Explorer to access.
• 🔑 If a copy is password protected, try to restore it through an online decryptor (requires a key file from the WhatsApp folder).
• 🔄 If a copy is corrupted, try using the WhatsApp Key/DB Extractor utility (available on XDA Developers).

💡

If the local copy is too old, check the WhatsApp/Databases folder for files with dates in the name (e.g. msgstore-2026-05-15.db.crypt14). Rename the desired file to msgstore.db.crypt14 and repeat the recovery.

Method 5: Calling for WhatsApp (extreme case)

If all methods are exhausted, you can try to contact WhatsApp support.

• ⏳ The response can take up to 72 hours.
• 📎 You will have to provide proof of account ownership (phone number, registration date).
• 🚫 Support does not restore media files, but it can help with restoring chat history if you have a backup.

How to write in support:

1. Open WhatsApp and go to Settings → Help → Contact us.
2. Describe the problem: specify the date of the photo deletion, Xiaomi model and MIUI version.
3. Attach screenshots (if any) with errors when restoring.

Alternatively, write to the official email: support@whatsapp.com with the topic "Recovery of media files".

• Phone number (in international format, for example +79XXXXXXXXXXXXX).
• IMEI of your Xiaomi (you can find in Settings → About Phone → General information).
• Date and time of removal of the photo (the more accurate, the better).

⚠️ Warning: WhatsApp support never asks for passwords or confirmation codes. If you get an email asking you to enter a code from SMS, they're scammers. Official emails come only from the domain @support.whatsapp.com.

What to do if nothing works: alternative solutions

If you can not recover the photo, consider the following options:

• 📧 Ask to resend the photos — if the photos were sent in a chat, ask the person to send them again.
• 🔍 Check other devices — it’s possible that the photos are saved to another phone or tablet where you logged in to WhatsApp.
• 🖥️ Use WhatsApp Web – sometimes photos remain in the cache of the web version (open https://web.whatsapp.com and check the browser cache).
• 💾 Contact specialists – Xiaomi service centers can extract data using professional equipment (paid service, cost from 1500 rubles).

For the future: To avoid data loss, set up on Xiaomi:

• ☁️ Automatic copying to Google Drive (daily or weekly)
• 📁 Sync with Mi Cloud – enable backup in Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup of the device.
• 🔄 Regular export of chats – WhatsApp can export chats by email (Settings → Chat → Chat History → Chat Export).

💡

On Xiaomi with MIUI 14+, WhatsApp backups may not be created automatically due to system limitations. Check the permissions for the messenger in Settings → Apps → WhatsApp → Permissions → Storage and enable access to all files.

FAQ: Frequent questions about recovering photos on WhatsApp on Xiaomi