How to recover recently deleted videos on Xiaomi smartphones: a complete guide

Deleting an important video on a Xiaomi smartphone is a familiar situation. Whether you accidentally clicked Delete, reset the settings to factory settings or lost files after a MIUI update, there are chances of recovery. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to return deleted video files, from standard firmware functions to professional tools. It is important to act quickly: the less time has passed since deletion, the higher the probability of success.

Xiaomi devices feature built-in backup and Mi Cloud storage, which users often ignore, and we will show you how to use them, as well as third-party utilities like DiskDigger or Recuva, which work even without root rights. We will focus on the hidden folders separately. MIUI, where the “deleted” files are temporarily stored until the memory is completely cleared.

If you use the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Xiaomi 14, the instructions are for everyone – the only difference is the location of the menu items.

1.A check of the basket at MIUI Gallery

The first thing you need to do is to look into the Gallery's built-in application cart, and in MIUI 12 and later, deleted files are stored there for up to 30 days (the default setting), which is the simplest method and requires no additional programs.

How to open the basket:

• 📱 Open the Gallery app (Icon with Camera).
• 🗑️ Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → pick the basket.
• 🔍 Find the right video, hold your finger on it. → press Restore.
• 📤 The file will return to the video folder or DCIM/Camera.

If the basket is empty, check the storage settings:

1. Go to the gallery. → Settings (⚙️) → Basket.
2. Make sure the slider Include the basket is active.
3. See the shelf life (by default 30 days, but it can be reduced to 7).

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global for the European region) the cart can be disabled by default.

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If the video has been removed from the cart or its shelf life has expired, try the following method: restore via Mi Cloud.

2.Recovery through Mi Cloud

The Mi Cloud cloud storage automatically syncs photos and videos if the feature is activated, which will save the situation even if the file is deleted from the device.

How to recover video from the cloud:

• ☁️ Visit i.mi.com from your PC or phone.
• 🔑 Sign in with the same Mi Account as on your smartphone.
• 📂 Go to the Gallery section → The cart (in the web version it is also available!).
• 🔄 Highlight the video → press Restore.

If there's no file in the cloud bin, check the main gallery - maybe the video just didn't sync.

1. On your smartphone, open Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Make sure the gallery sync switch is on.
3. Slip on Sync now if the data hasn't been updated for a long time.

⚠️ Note: If you reset your phone to factory settings without a Mi Account undock, data in the cloud can be deleted automatically after 3 months of inactivity!

3.Search in hidden MIUI folders

MIUI creates temporary folders to store deleted files until they are completely cleaned, which are hidden from the user, but can be accessed through a file manager or ADB.

Where to look:

• 📁 folder /storage/emulated/0/.thumbnails — Video miniatures (sometimes saved even after the original is deleted).
• 🗃️ /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.gallery — gallery-cash.
• 🔍 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Backup/AllBackup — backups of the system (if enabled).

How to open hidden folders:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.
3. Go to /storage/emulated/0/ and manually check the folders from the list above.

adb shell ls /storage/emulated/0/.thumbnails

This command (entered via ADB on PC) will show the contents of the thumbnail folder, and if there are files with the.jpg or.mp4 extension, you can copy them.

4. Use of third-party programs (without root)

If standard methods did not help, it is time to turn to specialized utilities.

• 🛠️ DiskDigger – Searches for video by signatures, works without root (but with limitations).
• 🔍 Recuva (for PC) – scans the phone’s internal memory through USB.
• 📱 Dumpster – an alternative shopping cart for Android, recovers files even after cleaning.

Instructions for DiskDigger:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Start the basic scan (without root).
3. Select the Internal Storage section and wait until it is completed (it can take 10–30 minutes).
4. Tag the video you find (.mp4,.mov,.3gp) and click Recover.

For Recuva (on PC):

1. Connect your phone to your computer in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. In Recuva, select the type of video files and specify the path to the phone’s internal memory.
3. Run a deep scan (can find files even after formatting).

⚠️ Note: Programs without root only restore files that have not yet been overwritten by new data. If you shoot new videos or install apps after deleting a video, the odds drop dramatically.

5. Restoration through root rights

If your Xiaomi has root access, the chances of returning a video increase by 70-90%. Root allows you to scan memory at a low level, where fragments of deleted files can still remain.

The best tools for root users:

• 🛡️ Undeleter Recover Files & Data – Scans Partitions /data and /sdcard.
• 🔧 GT Recovery – Restores video even after resetting settings.
• 💾 Hex Workshop (for PC) – manual analysis of memory dumps.

Step-by-step instructions for Undeleter:

1. Install the application and provide root access.
2. Select a section to scan (e.g. /data/media/0/DCIM).
3. Start a deep scan (sink 1-2 hours).
4. Save the video found on SD-card.

For manual recovery through ADB:

adb pull /data/media/0/DCIM/Camera/ C:\Xiaomi_Recovery\

This command will copy all files from the Camera folder to your computer, including those that are not displayed in the gallery.

Get root access (Magisk)

Install BusyBox

Download Undeleter or GT Recovery

Connect your phone to charge (the process is long)

Create a backup copy of current data

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6. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If the video is critical (e.g., court evidence or unique footage) and the independent attempts have failed, you can contact the official Xiaomi service center, they have professional equipment to extract data even from damaged drives.

What you need to know:

• 📍 The addresses of the centers can be found on the website mi.com/service.
• 💰 The cost of recovery starts from 3 000 rubles (depending on the complexity of the).
• ⏳ Timeframes – from 3 to 10 working days.
• 🔒 Guarantee of confidentiality (your data will not be disclosed).

What to bring with you:

1. Smartphone with a charge of at least 50%.
2. Check or confirmation of purchase (if the guarantee is valid).
3. Identity document.
4. Detailed description of the problem (when and how the video was removed).

⚠️ Warning: If the phone has been rooted or stitched with custom firmware, the service center may refuse warranty service.

7.Prevention: How to Avoid Losing Video in the Future

The best way to keep your video safe is to set up your backup in advance. Here are the proven methods:

Automatic synchronization:

• 📤 Use Google Photos with Backup and Sync.

Manual backups:

1. Use applications such as Swift Backup (requires root).

Additional advice:

• 🚫 Do not store your video in just one place (e.g., on your phone).
• 🔋 Watch the battery power – a sudden shutdown during recording can damage the file.
• 📵 Avoid recording videos of damaged SD-Cards (they are more likely to lose data).

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Even if the video is permanently deleted, regular backups will reduce the risks to zero.

FAQ: Frequent questions