Accidental deletion of video files on Xiaomi smartphones is one of the most stressful situations for the modern user. In a hurry or due to a system failure, valuable footage can disappear from the gallery, leaving a sense of confusion. However, it is too early to panic: the Android file system is designed so that data does not disappear without a trace when you click the Delete button.
The system only marks the memory space as free to write new information, but the contents of the file remain on the disk until a new data array is written on top of it, which allows for different methods of data recovery even after an incident, owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices are more fortunate than users of many other brands, thanks to the deeply integrated services of the Mi ecosystem.
In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to recover lost videos, from built-in cloud syncs to using specialized software on your computer. It’s important to act quickly and clearly to follow the instructions so as not to aggravate the situation and overwrite damaged memory sectors. The highest chance of success is in the first hours after deleting, before you have time to write new large files.
Checking the basket at the MIUI Gallery
The easiest and often ignored way is to check the built-in Recycle Bin in the standard Gallery app. Starting with certain versions of the MIUI shell and HyperOS, developers have implemented a buffer zone for deleted files, where they are stored for 30 days, a first line of defense worth checking before launching complex procedures.
To get into this section, you need to open the Gallery app and go to the Albums tab. At the bottom of the folder list, you'll find Deleted. This shows all photos and videos that you've manually deleted but haven't yet cleared completely. If the file is there, it takes a couple of seconds to recover.
However, you should consider the limitations of the system. Files in the bin take up space on the internal drive, so if there is a shortage of memory, the system can automatically clean old records. Also, if you deleted the video through the file manager, bypassing the gallery, or used the "Delete Forever" function, this method will not help.
- 📂 Open the Gallery app on the home screen.
- 📂 Go to the Albums tab and scroll to the bottom.
- 📂 Select the Remote folder and find the right video.
- 📂 Click on the file and select the “Restore” button».
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If the Remote folder is not available, it may be that the feature is disabled in the gallery settings or that your version of MIUI is too old.
Using the Mi Cloud to Recover Data
Xiaomi account holders have access to Mi Cloud cloud storage, which can sync the gallery by default, and if you had sync enabled on your device, the video from your phone could have been saved to the cloud, one of the most reliable ways that doesn't require a PC connection.
To check, you need to go to your smartphone settings, select the Mi Account section, and go to the cloud, where you can manage content remotely or through a browser on your computer by going to i.mi.com. The web interface often has a more detailed shopping cart that stores data longer than the local one.
Often, only previews or files taken before the limit is filled are saved in the cloud, but it is a must to check this source.
Recovery via Google Photos and Google Drive
Google’s ecosystem is pre-installed on all Xiaomi certified smartphones, and Google Photos often runs in the background, backing up. Even if you haven’t used it actively, it’s worth checking its web version or app for lost files.
The logic is similar to Mi Cloud: if sync is enabled, the video removed from the device moves to the Google Photos Recycle Bin, where it is stored for 60 days. After that, the files are deleted irrevocably. Google's advantage is that their compression algorithms allow more media files to be stored at a free rate.
It's also worth checking out Google Drive.Some users set up automatic video uploads there, especially if they've been filmed for work purposes or through certain messenger apps.
- ☁️ Launch the Google Photos app or go to photos.google.com.
- ☁️ Click on the Library menu and select Recycle Bin».
- ☁️ Find the right video, highlight it and click "Restore».
- ☁️ The file will return to the main gallery and the album "Photo on the device».
Analysis of messenger folders and application cache
Often users forget that the video files sent or received are stored not only in the main gallery, but also in the application system folders. If the video was sent via WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber, a copy of it can lie deep in the file system, even if the original from the gallery is deleted.
To search, you need to open the Explorer app (or download Xiaomi’s File Manager) and go to internal memory. The path to messenger files usually looks like Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Media/WhatsApp Video. In new versions of Android, access to the Android folder may be limited, but the MIUI Explorer usually has the necessary permissions.
Also, it's worth checking the folder. DCIM. Sometimes, when a gallery crashes, files are not physically deleted, but simply lose indexing. DCIM/Camera The file manager can show a “missing” video that can be copied to a safe location.
Why are the files not visible in the gallery?
Using computer programs to restore
If built-in techniques don't work, you have to use "heavy artillery" software for PCs, software like Dr.Fone, DiskDigger (PC version) or Tenorshare UltData to scan the device's memory for residual data, and the effectiveness depends on a variety of factors, including the phone model and the Android version.
Most of these utilities require USB debugging mode to work, which is done in the About Phone section (you need to click on the build number 7 times) and the Developer menu, without which the computer will not have deep access to the file system.
Now, you should understand that modern Xiaomi smartphones use memory encryption, and if the phone was reset to factory settings after deleting the video, the chances of software recovery tend to be zero, because the encryption keys change.
| Programme | I need a Root. | Type of scan | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| DiskDigger | No (basic) | Searching for miniatures | Low/Mediocre |
| Dr.Fone | Desirable. | Deep. | Medium |
| Recuva (via MTP) | No. | Superficial | Low. |
| PhotoRec | Yes (ADB) | Sector-by-sector | Tall. |
☑️ Preparation for PC scanning
Professional Recovery and Root Rights
The deepest level of memory access is possible only if you have Superuser (Root) permissions. If your Xiaomi has unlocked the bootloader and obtained root rights, applications like DiskDigger (Android version) can work wonders by finding videos that are considered remote for the system.
Without root permissions, applications are restricted to searching only in the cached copies and thumbnails available to them. With root access, a program can read raw data directly from the memory chip, ignoring the logical structure of the file system, which allows you to find fragments of video even after formatting, if they were not overwritten.
⚠️ Note: Getting root rights (unlock bootloader) on Xiaomi leads to a complete reset of data (Wipe Data).If you have not lost the video, but want to get root to search for it - this method is not suitable for you, since the data will be destroyed in the process of unlocking it.
If data is critical and nothing helps, the last option is to contact a specialized service center. Specialists can pay off a memory chip and consider the information a programmer, but for modern smartphones with soldered memory and encryption, this is an extremely difficult and expensive procedure that does not always guarantee the result.
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The less you use your phone after deleting the file, the better the chances of it being fully recovered without artifacts.
Preventing Data Loss in the Future
The best way to combat video loss is through preventive measures: setting up automatic sync will take a couple of minutes, but will save nerves in the future. Xiaomi owners are advised to use a bundle of "Mi Cloud + Google Photos" for double redundancy.
You should also regularly make full backups to your computer or external hard drive. MIUI has a built-in backup feature that allows you to save not only media files, but also application settings, contact lists and call history.
Remember to check the cloud services periodically. Sometimes syncs can fall off after a system update or password change, and you’ll think that the video is saved, when in fact this has not happened for several months.
- 🛡️ Set up autoload in Google Photos as “Original” or “Saving Place».
- 🛡️ Buy a cloud storage subscription if 15GB of Google isn’t enough.
- 🛡️ Once a month, copy important archives on your PC through the USB-cable.
- 🛡️ Install an application to clean up duplicates so as not to clog up memory.