Deleting photos from a smartphone is one of the most frustrating situations for a user, especially when it comes to valuable footage: family photos, documents or unique moments that cannot be reproduced. Fortunately, Xiaomi owners (including Redmi, POCO and Mi models) have several ways to recover lost files, from standard MIUI features to specialized programs and service methods.
In this article, we'll look at all the actual recovery methods, including the MIUI Recycle Bin, cloud services (Mi Cloud, Google Photos), third-party utilities, and even physical memory extraction. Importantly, the effectiveness of the method depends on how long it has been since you deleted and whether the phone has been used after that, and the faster you start to act, the better the chances of success.
Note: The instructions are suitable for all modern Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS, including models from 2020-2026. If your device is older, some features (for example, a shopping cart in the gallery) may not be available.
1.Check the basket in the standard MIUI gallery
The first thing you need to do is to look into the built-in Gallery application cart, and in MIUI, deleted photos are not erased immediately, but are placed in a temporary storage facility where up to 30 days are left (the default setting), which is the easiest and fastest way to return files without additional software.
How it works:
- 📁 Open the Gallery app on your Xiaomi.
- 🗑️ Tap it on three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select the basket.
- 🔍 View the list of deleted files. Photos are sorted by date of deletion.
- ✅ Select the desired pictures (long tap) and click Restore.
If the cart is empty or there are no files, then:
- 🕒 More than 30 days have passed since the deletion (files are automatically cleared).
- 🧹 You manually cleaned the cart through Settings → Warehouse → Cleanup.
- 📱 Used a third-party removal app (such as Files by Google) that bypasses the cart MIUI.
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If the cart is not displayed in the gallery, check the settings: Gallery → Settings (⚙) → Basket → Turn on the basket. In some firmware, this feature is disabled by default.
2. Recovery via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud Storage)
Mi Cloud is a cloud service from Xiaomi that automatically syncs photos, contacts and other data, and if you have synced on your phone, the chances of returning deleted photos are high, and the main condition is that you had to log in to your Mi Account and not turn off your backup.
Instructions for remediation:
- 🌐 Go to i.mi.com and log in to your Mi Account.
- 📂 In the Gallery section, find the Remote folder (or Trash in English version).
- 🔄 Select the photos you want and click Restore. Files will return to the main gallery on your phone the next time you sync.
If your photos are not in the Remote:
- ⏳ It may have been more than 60 days – Mi Cloud stores deleted files longer than a local shopping cart, but not indefinitely.
- ☁️ Sync has been disabled in settings: Settings → Mi Account. → Mi Cloud → gallery.
- 📵 Photos were removed manually from the cloud, not from your phone.
3.Google Photos - an alternative cloud-based way
If you use Google Photos, it could automatically save copies of your photos, and even if you deleted your photos from your phone, they could stay in the cloud — especially if Backup and Sync was enabled.
How to check:
- 📱 Open the Google Photos app on your phone or go to photos.google.com.
- 🗑️ From the side menu, select Trash, and the deleted photos are stored here for 60 days.
- 🔄 Click on the photo and select Restore.
Important: If you manually deleted photos from Google Photos and then cleaned the shopping cart, you can't restore them. Also check the Archive folder - sometimes users mistakenly archive files instead of deleting them.
What if Google Photos don’t show deleted photos?
4.Programs for deep memory scanning
If you don't find photos in the trash or the clouds, you'll have to use specialized tools that scan the phone's internal memory at the file system level and can recover data even if it was deleted long ago.
- 🛡️ Don't install programs on the same phone that deleted the photos from, it can overwrite the data. Use a PC.
- 🔌 The scanning will require debugging by USB (included in the settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then return to the additional → For developers).
- ⚠️ Not all programs support the file system. F2FS, used in the new Xiaomi.
The best utilities for recovery:
| Programme | Xiaomi support | Free version | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| DiskDigger | Yeah (root requires) | Limited. | Scans deep memory layers, finds photos even after formatting |
| Recuva | Partly (better for you) SD-map) | Yes. | Simple interface, but weakly works with internal memory of smartphones |
| EaseUS MobiSaver | Yes. | No (trial) | Supports MIUI, recovers videos and documents |
| Dr.Fone | Yes. | No. | High percentage of recovery, but paid license |
Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger (the most effective option):
- 📥 Download and install DiskDigger on your PC from the developer’s website.
- 🔌 Connect Xiaomi to the USB, Enable File Transfer (MTP).
- 🔍 Start the program, select the phone drive and start a deep scan.
- 🖼️ After completion, mark the found photos and save them on PC.
✔ Enable debugging on USB developer-setting
✔ Connect your phone with the original cable (not wireless charging!)
✔ Charge your phone at least 50% (scanning takes a lot of energy)
✔ Not using your phone during the process (risk of overwriting data)-->
⚠️ Note: If the phone has been encrypted (encrypted in Settings enabled) → Security, most programs won't be able to read the data, and in this case, only unlocking the bootloader and manually extracting it through the computer will help. TWRP.
Reconstruction of c SD-cards (if the photo is stored on it)
If the photos were stored on a microSD, the chances of recovery are higher - external drives are less likely to be overwritten, the same programs as internal memory will work for this, but with some features:
Algorithm of action:
- 📤 Extract. SD-card from your phone and connect it to your PC via card reader.
- 🛠️ Use Recuva or PhotoRec (a free open source utility).
- 🔍 Select the Recovery Photo Mode and indicate the path to SD-map.
- 💾 Save the recovered files to your PC hard drive, not back to the card.
Important. SD-map:
- 🚫 Do not write new data to a map before recovery.
- 🔄 If the card is damaged, try scanning it on another device.
- 📉 Class cards UHS-I and UHS-II It is better than the cheap Class 10.
If SD-The card is formatted in the exFAT file system, use TestDisk - this utility works better than others with modern formats.
6. Physical data extraction (for advanced users)
If all the software methods fail, you have to read the memory directly through specialized hardware, and this is a good way to do mission-critical data, and you have to:
- 🔧 Disassemble the phone and connect to the programmer (for example, EasyJTAG or Medusa Pro).
- 💻 Knowledge in the field of soldering and work with EDL-regime.
- 📄 Access to memory dumps (you can find them on forums like this one) XDA Developers for popular models).
When it's relevant:
- 💀 The phone is not powered on or loaded into Fastboot.
- 🔒 The data is encrypted and the password is lost.
- 📱 Memory is physically damaged (for example, after falling or getting moisture).
The cost of such restoration in service centers starts from 5 000 rubles, but the chances of success reach 80-90%.
- 🛠️ Buy or rent a programmer (price from 20 000 rubles).
- 📖 Learn the blending schemes for your Xiaomi model (e.g. Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5).
- 🔗 Connect to test points on the board and count the memory dump.
- 💾 Use Utilities like UFi Box or Octoplus to extract files.
⚠️ Attention: Incorrect actions when reading memory directly can permanently damage your phone. If you are unsure of your skills, contact the data recovery lab (for example, the data recovery lab, HDD Recovery or FlashFix).
7. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center
If the self-propelled efforts fail, the last chance is an official or unofficial service center. Xiaomi does not provide data recovery services, but some partner workshops can help.
What the services offer:
- 🔧 Diagnostics of memory for physical damage.
- 📡 Reading data through EDL (loading-out).
- 🔄 Recovery after reset to factory settings (unless the Cleanup All option was enabled).
Average prices in Moscow (2026):
| Type of work | Cost, ₽ | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Programmatic recovery (without disassembly) | 3 000–7 000 | 1-3 days |
| Reading through the programmer (with disassembly) | 8 000–15 000 | 3-7 days |
| Recovery after formatting | 10 000–20 000 | 5-10 days |
How to choose a reliable service:
- 📌 Check reviews on Yandex.Maps or 2GIS.
- 🔍 Check if you have experience with Xiaomi (not all workshops are taken on Chinese brands).
- 📄 Ask for a guarantee for the safety of data (contract with the seal).
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If the phone is warranty, the recovery of data in an unofficial service can cancel it. Xiaomi’s official centers do not deal with the return of deleted files, only repairing the hardware.