Recovering Hidden Files on Xiaomi: From Simple Ways to Advanced Methods

Have you noticed that your Xiaomi has lost important files, such as photos, documents or videos? Often they are not permanently deleted, but simply become hidden due to system failures, viruses or incorrect settings, and in 90% of cases, such data can be returned without complex manipulation.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of recovery, from standard MIUI tools to ADB commands and working with recovery, and also tell you how to prevent repeated data loss. Importantly, the methods differ for different versions of firmware (for example, MIUI 14 vs HyperOS), so we will specify the nuances for each.

If you're not sure if the files are hidden (not deleted), first check the MIUI/Backup/AllBackup folder -- the system sometimes automatically archives the data before crashes. Didn't find it? Then we start recovering.

1. Check hidden folders through the file manager

The fastest way is to enable the display of hidden files in the standard MIUI Explorer.This method works on all models - from the Redmi Note 10 to the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, but the interface may be slightly different.

Open Explorer (the folder icon on the home screen) and follow the steps:

• 📁 Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → Settings.
• 🔍 Scroll to the Additional section and activate Show Hidden Files.
• 🔄 Back to the root directory (/storage/emulated/0/) and check the folders with a dot at the beginning (e.g..thumbnails,.nomedia).

If you find the files you want in folders like.trash or.recycle, you can just move them back. But be careful: some system folders are hidden (.android_secure) They contain service data – do not delete them!

⚠️ Note: HyperOS (new firmware for Xiaomi) 13/14) The path to conductor settings has changed. → Parameters → Visibility → Hidden elements.

Folders with a dot at the beginning (.download,.miui)

The basket (Trash/Recycle)

Archives at MIUI/Backup

folder DCIM/.thumbnails (photo-picture)-->

Recovery via MI Cloud (if synchronized)

If your Xiaomi has MI Cloud sync enabled, the chances of returning files are up to 95%.Even hidden data is often saved in the cloud unless it has been excluded from backup.

Instructions:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → MI Cloud
2. Select the Backup section and check the date of the last sync.
3. If the backup is relevant, tap Restore and select the desired categories (photos, documents, etc.).

Important: the free MI Cloud tariff only provides 5GB, so large files (video in 4K) may not be synced. Check this in Settings → Memory → MI Cloud.

⚠️ Warning: If you reset your phone to factory settings before recovering from the cloud, the data may get lost. Always check for backup first!

3.Use ADB to access hidden partitions

For advanced users, if files are hidden at the system level (for example, after rooting or firmware failure), you can try retrieving them via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires a PC and enabled debugging over USB.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 times tap the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).
2. Enable USB debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, open Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac/Linux) and type:

adb shell


su




ls -la /storage/emulated/0/

This command will show all files, including hidden ones (with a dot at the beginning) to copy them to the PC:

adb pull /storage/emulated/0/.folder with files C:\Xiaomi_Backup

If su doesn't work, you don't have root rights, in which case try an alternative method using TWRP (see next section).

4. Recovery via TWRP (for stitched phones)

If your Xiaomi has a custom TWRP recavator installed, you can access hidden partitions directly, which is suitable for models with an unlocked bootloader (Redmi K50, POCO F5, etc.).

Instructions:

• 🔧 Boot in. TWRP (clamp down on power. + Volume up when switched on).
• 📁 Choose Advanced → File Manager.
• 🔍 Move to the /data/media/0/ — All user files are stored here, including hidden files.
• 💾 Copy the necessary data to SD-map OTG-accumulator.

The advantage of TWRP is that it ignores the system limitations of MIUI on displaying files. However, be careful: do not change files in /system or /vendor folders - this can lead to a device blink.

⚠️ Note: On new models (Xiaomi) 13T, Redmi Note 12 with HyperOS may be required TWRP version 3.7.0+ Support dynamic partitions: download images only from trusted resources (e.g, XDA Developers).

5. Data recovery programs on PCs

If previous methods didn’t work, try Windows/Mac utilities that scan the phone’s internal memory at a low level and can even find deleted files (unless their place has been overwritten).

Top.-3 Xiaomi:

• 🖥️ DiskDigger — free version searches for photos and videos, paid — all types of files. F2FS (Xiaomi filesystem).
• 🔍 Recuva is a simple interface, but it works poorly with the user. MIUI It's better to use it on older models (Redmi 9, Mi). A3).
• 🛠️ EaseUS MobiSaver is paid but with a high recovery rate (up to 80% for documents.

How to use (for example, DiskDigger):

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Run the program and select Scan Connected Device.
3. Wait until it is completed (it can take 1-3 hours for 128 GB of storage).
4. Mark the files found and click Restore.

Critical: Don't save recovered files back to your phone - this will overwrite memory sectors and reduce the chances of rest of the data being recovered.

DiskDigger

Recuva

EaseUS MobiSaver

Another one (I will write in the comments)

I'll try the standard methods first.-->

6.Prevention: How to Avoid Losing Files in the Future

In order not to look for ways to restore, it is enough to follow simple rules:

• ☁️ Enable automatic synchronization with MI Cloud or Google Drive. Configure it in Settings → Accounts. → Synchronization.
• 📱 Make backups regularly through Settings → System system → Backup. Save copies to a PC or external drive.
• 🚫 Do not use file managers from third-party developers (for example, ES Explorer – they often hide files without warning.
• 🔄 Before you update your firmware, check if the data will reset. HyperOS has a separate warning for this.

For models with AMOLED-screens (Xiaomi 12, 13 Pro) also recommend disabling auto-optimization of memory in Settings → Battery → Optimization – it sometimes deletes the app cache along with important files.

💡

If you often work with sensitive documents, create an encrypted container in the Mi File Manager Pro app (available from the Mi App Store), which even if the system crashes, these files will remain secure.

FAQ: Frequent questions about hidden files on Xiaomi