Recovering Deleted Videos on Xiaomi Phone: From Recycle Bin to Deep Scanning

Deleting video from a Xiaomi smartphone is a familiar situation, and one careless tap and valuable footage (wedding, baby’s first step, travel) disappear from the gallery. Fortunately, in 90% of cases, files can be returned — even if you’ve already cleaned the cart or formatted the memory card. In this article, we’ll look at all possible recovery options, from standard MIUI features to professional utilities, and explain why some methods only work in the first hours after removal.

It is important to understand that success depends on three factors: time (the earlier you start, the higher the chances), storage type (internal memory vs. microSD) and actions after deleting (write new files on top of old ones reduces the chances to zero). For example, a video deleted from a SanDisk memory card and immediately recovered through DiskDigger returns 98% of the time, but files from internal memory after resetting to factory settings only 30, POCO X3 Pro and Xiaomi 12T s MIUI 14 – Results are shown in the comparative table below.

1. Checking the basket in the Xiaomi Gallery

The first thing you need to do is look in the Gallery Recycle Bin. In MIUI, deleted files are stored there for up to 30 days (the default setting), and it takes literally 10 seconds to recover them. Open the gallery, tap three dots in the upper right corner, and select the Recycle Bin. If there's a video there, highlight it with a long tap, click Restore and confirm the action.

Note that the Recycle Bin in Xiaomi only works for files deleted through the standard gallery, if you erased videos through File Manager, Google Photos or third-party apps (like QuickPic), they do not get there, and the Recycle Bin does not save files deleted from the memory card – you need to search for them in other ways.

• 📁 Where to look: Gallery → Menus (⋮) → Basket
• ⏳ Storage period: 30 days (configured in Gallery settings) → Basket)
• 🚫 Restrictions: Does not work for files deleted through ADB, TWRP formatting

⚠️ Note: If you have already cleaned the cart manually or through Settings → Warehouse → Cleaning, this method won't work.

2. Restore via Google Photos (if synchronized)

If your Xiaomi has autosynchronization enabled with Google Photos, the chances of returning the video are extremely high.

1. Open the Google Photos app (if removed, install from the Play Market).
2. Slip on the profile avatar in the upper right corner → Cart.
3. Find the right video, highlight it and click Restore.

Videos deleted more than 60 days ago will not appear in the Recycle Bin, but they can be found through Archive or by date search. If sync has been disabled, try other methods - for example, check backups in Mi Cloud (more about this in the next section).

3.Search in Mi Cloud backups

Xiaomi offers its own cloud storage, the Mi Cloud, which automatically backs up photos and videos if the feature is enabled.

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select the Gallery and check if there are files.
3. If you find a video, download it back to the device.

Note: Mi Cloud only reserves photos by default. For video, you need to manually enable the option in Mi Cloud Settings → Gallery → Video Backup. If the feature has been disabled, this method will not help.

4.Use of recovery programs (without root)

If the video is not found in the cart or cloud, it is time to connect special utilities.

• 📱 DiskDigger (free version scans only photos, for video you need Pro)
• 💻 Recuva (works via PC, supports internal memory and microSD)
• 🔍 EaseUS MobiSaver (paid but with free trial scan)

Instructions for DiskDigger (on the example of POCO F3):

1. Install an app from the Play Market.
2. Select Full Scan (it takes longer but finds video).
3. Wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 1 hour).
4. Mark the files and save them to another location (not the same memory!).

⚠️ Warning: Don't install recovery software on the same memory that the video was deleted from! This can overwrite lost data. Use a PC or other drive.

Disable mobile data transfer | Connect your phone to your PC via the original cable |Enable USB debugging in Developer Settings |Do not connect the memory card to other devices until recovery-->

5. Deep scanning with root rights

If the video is deleted long ago or after resetting, the usual programs may not help, which requires root rights and utilities like Undeleter or GT Recovery, which scan the memory at a low level and find fragments of files even after formatting.

The process is more complex and risky:

1. Get root through Magisk (Xiaomi instructions are available on 4PDA).
2. Install Undeleter and select Deep Scan.
3. Wait for the results (may take a few hours).
4. Save the recovered files to the PC.

Important: Once you get root, the warranty on Xiaomi burns, and the wrong actions can lead to a “brick” (breaking the firmware).

6.Recovery after reset to factory settings

If you have done a Hard Reset (reset via Settings) → Additionally. → Setting reset, the chances of returning the video are minimal, but they are, and only professional software like R-Studio or R-Studio can help. UFS Explorer that runs through a PC.

Algorithm of action:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power when your phone is off).
2. With ADB, you can access the memory: adb pull /dev/block/mmcblk0
3. Scan the memory image in R-Studio by selecting the signatures of video formats (MP4, MOV, MKV).

This technique requires technical skills and does not guarantee 100% results, and on average, it is possible to recover 20-40% of files, often without sound or with artifacts.

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If the video was recorded on a memory card, remove it from your phone and connect it to your PC via a card reader, scan directly, which increases the chances of connecting via USB by 15-20%.

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

To avoid looking for ways to restore, it is enough to follow three rules:

• ☁️ Cloud Backups: Enable autosynchronization in Google Photos or Mi Cloud (settings in Settings) → Accounts).
• 🔄 Local Copies: Regularly transfer important videos to your PC or external drive through your PC MTP Xiaomi File Manager.
• 🚫 Secure Deletion: Before cleaning the gallery, check the files in the Recycle Bin and archive them through Settings → Warehouse → Backup copy.

Xiaomi’s MIUI 14 models have a Secure Folder feature (in the gallery), where you can move important videos – they will not be deleted during a standard cleanup and will not enter the cloud without your permission.

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The most reliable way to save video is a combination of cloud reserve (Google Photos) + It's a local copy on the PC, and even if the phone breaks, the files will still be available.

FAQ: Frequent questions about video recovery on Xiaomi