Deleting an important video on Xiaomi Redmi is a familiar situation. Whether you accidentally clicked Delete, formatted your memory card or lost files after resetting your settings, there are chances of recovery. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods, from standard MIUI functions to professional utilities that work even after hard removal.
It's important to understand that success depends on two things: first, how long it's been since you deleted it, the faster you act, the better the odds. SD-For example, files from a memory card are easier to recover than from the system partition of the phone, where data can be overwritten by background processes.
We tested all methods on Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Redmi 10C, Redmi 9A and other popular devices of the line. Instructions are universal for MIUI 13/14 and are current for 2026. If the video was deleted long ago (more than a month ago) or the phone was subjected to firmware, the chances are minimal - but even in such cases there are nuances that you will learn more about later.
1.A check of the basket at MIUI Gallery
The first thing you need to do is to look in the gallery cart, and in MIUI, deleted files are not erased immediately, but instead are stored in a temporary storage facility for up to 30 days (depending on the model and firmware version), which is the easiest way to return videos without third-party software.
How to open the basket:
- 📱 Open the standard Gallery app (flower icon).
- 🗑️ Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → pick the basket.
- 🔍 Find the desired video (you can sort by date of deletion).
- 🔄 Select the file and press Restore.
If the cart is empty or there is no video, move to the next method. Note: files from the cart are automatically deleted if their total volume exceeds 5 GB (the limit can be changed in the gallery settings), and the cart does not work for videos deleted through Explorer or third-party file managers.
⚠️ Warning: After recovery from the cart, the video may be in the folder DCIM/Camera If the file is not displayed in the gallery, check these directories through Explorer.
2.Recovery through Mi Cloud backups
If your Redmi is synced to Mi Cloud, the chances of returning a video increase. Xiaomi automatically saves copies of photos and videos (when activated).
Instructions:
- ☁️ Open the Settings. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud.
- 📁 Select Gallery or Backup Copies.
- 🔍 Scroll through the list to Deleted Files (available 15 days).
- 🔄 Click Restore next to the desired video.
If the video is not in the Remote section, check the main cloud gallery — sometimes files remain there even after you delete them from your phone. Note: Mi Cloud only provides 5 GB of space for free. If the limit is exhausted, old backups can be automatically deleted.
| Conditions | Chance of recovery | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Video removed less than 15 days ago | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Check out the Mi Cloud basket |
| Synced off | ⭐ | Try local methods |
| The video was stored on SD-map | ⭐⭐⭐ | Use PCs and programs like Recuva |
| Phone dropped to factory | ⭐⭐ | Check out Mi Cloud or Service Center |
⚠️ Note: If you logged out of your Mi Account after deleting the video, backups in the cloud may be lost. Xiaomi stores data only for active accounts.
3. Use of PCs and recovery software
If the video isn't in the cart or the cloud, you'll have to connect the phone to your computer.
- 🖥️ Computer with Windows or macOS.
- 🔌 USB Type C C Cable (original or certified).
- 🛠️ Recovery software (free: Recuva, PhotoRec; paid: EaseUS Data Recovery, DiskDigger).
Step-by-step instructions for Recuva (Windows):
- Connect Redmi to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode (select this option in the phone notification curtain).
- Start Recuva and select the file type – Video.
- If the video was in internal memory, select Xiaomi Redmi; if the video was in internal memory, select Xiaomi Redmi. SD-map - select a removable drive.
- Start a deep scan (it will take 10 to 60 minutes).
- After scanning, mark the files you want and click Restore (save them to your PC, not your phone!).
For macOS, Disk Drill or PhotoRec (the latter runs through Terminal) is fine. SD-map – this can overwrite the remaining data.
Enable debugging over USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap)
Use the original cable
Charge your phone at least 50%
Disable antivirus on PC (can block programs)
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Features for SD-If the video was stored on a memory card, remove it from your phone and connect it to your PC through a card reader, which will increase your chances of recovery, because MIUI Does not block access to removable media.
4.Recovery through root access (for advanced)
If standard methods didn't work, and video is critical, you can try deep scanning of the system partition, which requires root access, which gives you full control of the file system. Xiaomi officially does not support rooting, and the procedure may be unwarranted, but in some cases it is the only way.
What you need:
- 📱 Unlocked bootloader (instructions on the official Xiaomi website).
- 🔧 Established custom recovery (TWRP).
- 💻 Autopsy or Scalpel for partition analysis /data.
Algorithm of action:
- Unlock bootloader via Mi Unlock Tool (requires to link your account to your phone).
- Install TWRP and backup /data partition.
- Connect your phone to your PC and mount the /data partition in TWRP.
- Use Autopsy to scan the partition image for video files.
⚠️ Warning: Rooting resets the phone to factory settings. If the video was deleted before unlocking the bootloader, its recovery is unlikely - the system partition will be overwritten.
What if the phone doesn’t turn on after rooting?
5. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center
If the video is of high value (for example, it is the only copy of an important event), and independent attempts were unsuccessful, contact the authorized service center Xiaomi.
What you need to know before your visit:
- 📋 Take it with you. IMEI phone (indicated on the box or in the settings About the phone).
- 💳 Service paid - the cost depends on the complexity (from 1,500 to 10 000) ₽).
- ⏳ Recovery period - from 3 days to 2 weeks.
- 🔒 If encryption was enabled on the phone (in the security settings), the chances of success are reduced.
Xiaomi service centers in Russia work through partners (for example, “Svyaznoy Service”). Before visiting, check by phone whether they are engaged in data recovery – not all centers provide this service.
Alternative: Data recovery labs (like Help-Comp or Doctor Flash) that work with physical media and can retrieve video even after formatting, but the cost will be higher (from 5,000). ₽).
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Before visiting the service center, back up your phone’s current data through Settings → Additional → Backup. This will prevent you from losing other files during the diagnosis.
6.Prevention: How to Avoid Losing Video in the Future
To avoid looking for ways to restore, it is better to take care of data security in advance. Here are 5 working tips for owners of Xiaomi Redmi:
- ☁️ Enable autosynchronization with Mi Cloud: Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Gallery. Select Autoboot and set a traffic limit (e.g., Wi-Fi only).
- 📁 Copy video regularly to PC: Connect your phone once a month and transfer important files to a separate folder.
- 🔄 Use third-party clouds: Google Photos or Yandex Drive offer free storage and file versioning.
- 🛡️ Install a file manager with a basket: For example, Solid Explorer or FX File Manager has its own shopping cart, where files are stored longer than in a standard gallery.
- 🔋 Watch the health of the drive: If the phone often "stutters" when recording video or gives out read errors SD-maps, check it through H2testw (PC) or replace it with a new one.
For SD-Cards are recommended to use class models A2 or UHS-I (So, for example, SanDisk Extreme. They're optimized for video recording. 4K and less likely to fail.
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Even if the video is recovered, don’t just store it on your phone. Create at least 2 backups: one in the cloud, another on a physical medium (PC or external SSD).