How to recover deleted video on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9: from the cart to deep scanning

Deleting an important video from Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 is a situation that many people know. Whether you accidentally clicked Delete, formatted your memory card or lost files after resetting your settings, there are chances of recovery. The main thing is to act quickly and correctly. In this article, we will analyze all working methods, from standard MIUI tools to professional utilities that will return your videos even after the “hard” removal.

It's important to understand that the less you use your smartphone after deleting, the more likely you are to succeed. New files (photos, videos, app updates) can overwrite deleted data, making it impossible to recover it, so first of all, turn off mobile Internet and Wi-Fi to stop background processes.

We tested all the methods described on the Redmi Note. 9 (model M2003J15SC, M2003J15SS and other modifications) with firmware MIUI 12–14. The instructions are relevant for other Xiaomi smartphones based on Android 10/11, but with the specifics of the file system F2FS/ext4, device-based.

1.A check of the basket at MIUI Gallery

The first thing to do is to check the built-in Recycle Bin in the Gallery app, where in MIUI, deleted files are not erased immediately, but are sent to a temporary storage place where they are stored for 7 to 30 days (depending on the settings).

How to find the basket:

• 📱 Open the Gallery app (icon with multicolored photos).
• 🔍 Slip on three horizontal lines (menu) in the upper right corner.
• 🗑️ Select the Recycle Bin (or Recently Deleted in Older Versions).
• 🔄 Find the right video, click on it and select Restore.

If the cart is empty or the video is not there, move on to the next method. Note: files in the cart take up space in the memory of the device. If you receive a notification "Not enough memory", MIUI can automatically clear the cart ahead of schedule.

⚠️ Attention: In some firmware MIUI The basket is disabled by default. To turn it on, go to Gallery Settings. → Basket → Turn on the basket.

2. Recovery via MI Cloud backups or Google Photos

If your Redmi Note 9 had MI Cloud or Google Photos enabled, the videos could have been saved to the cloud, even if the file was deleted long ago, as long as the backup was activated before the incident.

Option 1: MI Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

• 🌐 Go to i.mi.com and log in to the same Mi Account as you do on your phone.
• 📁 Open the Gallery section or backup copies.
• 🔍 Find the right video and download it back to the device.

Option 2: Google Photo

• 📱 Open the Google Photos app on your phone or go to photos.google.com.
• 🗑️ Select the Recycle Bin (files are stored there for 60 days).
• 🔄 If the video isn’t in the cart, check the main gallery – it may just not be synced.

If you don't have backups, don't despair. The following methods will help you recover files even without a cloud backup.

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Before recovering through the cloud, check if there is enough space on the phone. If memory is scarce, download the video to your computer and then transfer to the Redmi Note 9.

3.Using a file manager to search for "hidden" videos

Sometimes videos are not deleted completely, but simply moved to system folders or lost extension, and to find them, you will need a file manager with access to root directories, such as Mi File Manager (embedded) or Solid Explorer.

Instructions:

1. Open the Mi File Manager (Blue folder icon)
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings → Show hidden files.
3. Go to /storage/emulated/0/DCIM or /storage/emulated/0/Movies, which is where video is usually stored.
4. Look for files with.mp4,.mov,.3gp extensions or no extension at all (you can open them through the player).

If the video is found but not played, try renaming the file by adding the correct extension (e.g., the file name, video_123.mp4). For that:

• 📝 Keep your finger on the file. → Rename.
• 🔤 Add at the end of the name.mp4 (if it's a video).
• 🎬 Try to open the file through MX Player or VLC.

4.Programs for deep memory scanning

If standard methods don't work, you'll have to use specialized tools that scan the device's memory at a low level and restore files even after formatting.

• 🔧 DiskDigger (there is a free version with restrictions).
• 🔍 EaseUS MobiSaver (paid, but with trial period).
• 📱 Recuva (works through a computer).

Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger:

1. Download and install DiskDigger from Google Play.
2. Launch the application and grant root rights (if any) or select No root rights.
3. Select the file type: tick the video (MP4, MOV, 3GP).
4. Click Scan the device and wait until it is completed (may take 10–30 minutes).
5. View the files found, mark the necessary ones and click Restore.

Critical: Do not save recovered files to the same Redmi Note 9 - use the cloud, computer or external drive.

⚠️ Note: Programs like DiskDigger require a lot of RAM. If the Redmi Note 9 has less than 2 GB of free RAM, scanning may be interrupted.

Disable Wi-Fi and Mobile Data|Charge your phone at least 50 times%|Install Xiaomi drivers on your computer|Prepare a memory card (if the video was on it)|Download Recuva or EaseUS-->

5. Recovery from a microSD card

If the video was stored on a memory card, the chances of recovery are higher – flash drives are less likely to overwrite data, you will need a card reader (or adapter for microSD) and a computer to work.

Instructions:

• 🛒 Remove the memory card from the Redmi Note 9 (unplug the phone before doing so!).
• 💻 Connect it to your computer through a card reader.
• 🔍 Start the Recuva program (you can download from the official CCleaner website).
• 📁 Select a memory card in the list of devices and start scanning.
• 🎬 After completion, mark the found videos and save them to the hard drive of the PC.

If the memory card is damaged or undetected, try:

• 🔌 Connect it to another device (e.g. a camera).
• 🔄 Format the map (only if there is no other important data on it!) and repeat the scan.
• 🛠️ Use the utility SD Card Formatter for low-level formatting.

The Redmi Note 9 supports microSD cards up to 512GB (depending on the modification), and if you have a large card, it can take hours to scan.

6. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If all methods failed and the video is critical (for example, it is the only recording from an important event), you can contact the authorized service center Xiaomi.

What you need to know before your visit:

• 💰 The cost of the service starts from 3 000 rubles and depends on the complexity of the service.
• ⏳ Recovery can take 1 to 5 days.
• 🔒 In some cases, proof of ownership of the device (checks, box) will be required).
• 📱 If the phone was reset to factory settings, the chances of success plummet.

The service centers can be found on Xiaomi’s official website, and check by phone before you visit if they are engaged in data recovery – not all centers provide this service.

⚠️ Warning: Don't go to unofficial workshops with dubious reputations. Data recovery requires specialized skills, and unqualified actions can permanently destroy files.

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The faster you start recovering, the better the chances of success. Once deleted, the videos remain in memory until the new data is overwritten. Every minute you use your phone reduces the likelihood of file returns.

7. How to avoid video loss in the future

To avoid the problem of deleted videos, follow the following simple rules:

• ☁️ Enable automatic sync with Google Photos or MI Cloud. Even if the video is deleted from the phone, it will remain in the cloud.
• 📁 Regularly copy important files to your computer or external drive. Redmi Note 9 is fine. MTP-mode (connection) USB).
• 🔄 Use backup through Settings → System system → Backup.
• 🚫 Don't store a single copy of important videos only on your phone.Memory cards and internal memory can fail.

For additional protection, install Dumpster, which creates a backup bin for all deleted files, including videos, and works independently of the standard MIUI Recycle Bin and can save data even after resetting.

Also pay attention to the camera settings: in the Redmi Note 9, the default video is saved to the DCIM/Camera folder, but you can change the storage path to the memory card:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Put it on the gear (⚙️) → Preservation site.
3. Select a Memory Card (if installed).

FAQ: Frequent questions about video recovery on Redmi Note 9