Accidentally deleting your favorite tracks on your smartphone is a problem that many Xiaomi Redmi owners face, often due to inattention when cleaning storage or a failure in the file manager. Fortunately, in most cases, data can be returned if you act quickly and correctly.
The modern Android operating system is designed so that when you delete a file, it doesn't physically erase it instantly, and its place is marked as free to write, but the information itself stays on the media until it is overwritten with new data, and this mechanism gives you a chance to save your library.
In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of recovery, from regular MIUI tools to using specialized software on your computer. You will learn where to look for the Recycle Bin in a standard player and how to properly scan the device’s memory so as not to damage the remaining files.
Checking the standard basket in the file manager
The first and easiest step is to check the built-in Recycle Bin feature in Xiaomi’s standard Explorer app, which, starting with certain versions of MIUI, does not permanently delete files immediately, but moves them to temporary storage, where they can stay for up to 30 days, after which they are permanently destroyed.
To check, you need to run the Explorer app and go to the Audio category, or just open the root folder. At the bottom of the screen or in the Tools menu, there is often a basket icon, and if you find your tracks there, you can highlight them and click on the Restore button.
However, it is worth considering that this feature may be disabled by the user manually or not work on some custom firmware assemblies. If the basket is empty, this means that either too much time has passed or the function was not active at the time of removal.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to write new large files (video, games) to your phone until the recovery procedure is complete, as this may result in overwriting of memory sectors where deleted tracks lie.
The effectiveness of this method depends on the settings of your device, and many users do not even know that this option exists, continuing to look for complex solutions where you just need to look into the system folder.
Music recovery through cloud services and synchronization
If your Xiaomi Redmi has been enabled to sync with the cloud, the chances of data being returned are close to one hundred percent.The Xiaomi ecosystem offers Mi Cloud, which automatically stores important data, including playlists and sometimes audio files themselves, if allowed in the settings.
Also worth checking is Google's account. Google Play Music was closed, but users could move the library to YouTube Music. Go to your Google account settings on your computer and check the data section. Often tracks purchased or downloaded through the app store are saved to your digital profile forever.
And don't forget about third-party cloud storage, like Yandex.Disk or Dropbox. If you had an application installed that enabled autoloading of photos and videos, maybe the audio files also got backed up. Check the web versions of these services through the browser.
To access Mi Cloud, follow the following steps:
- 📱 Go to Settings. → Mi Account on your device.
- ☁️ Select “Mi Cloud” and log in if required.
- 🎵 Click on the icon "Dictator" or "Gallery", sometimes the audio is stored there.
- 💻 Alternatively, go to i.mi.com from your computer and check the Gallery or Notes section».
Using PC programs for deep scanning
When the regular funds are powerless, specialized software for the PC comes to the rescue. Programs like Dr.Fone, DiskDigger or Tenorshare UltData are able to conduct deep scans of internal Android memory, they search for file remains by signatures, ignoring the file system.
Most of these utilities require you to enable USB Debugging on your smartphone, a hidden feature that is in the Developer Menu, and you need to tap the build number seven times in the About Phone section to activate this menu.
☑️ Preparation for scanning
The recovery process is as follows:
- Install the selected program on a computer running Windows or macOS.
- Connect Xiaomi Redmi cable and select file transfer mode (MTP).
- Run the scan and wait until the memory sector analysis is completed.
- In preview, select the music files found and click “Restore”.
It is important to understand that free versions of programs often have limitations on the amount of data they can recover. A full collection refund may require a license, and newer versions of Android with memory encryption may reduce the effectiveness of such programs without root rights.
Do you need Root rights to recover?
Analysis of the history of streaming services and cache
Many users forget that they listened to music through online services such as Yandex.Music, Spotify or VK Music.If tracks were downloaded for offline listening, they could remain in the app's cache even after clearing the download list.
Cache files often have strange formats and names, but they can be found in the Android/data folder.The path can look like /Android/data/com.yandex.music/cache/. There may be temporary files that, when renaming back to.mp3, will become playable again.
| Service | Location of the cache | File format | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yandex.Music | /Android/data/ru.yandex.music/cache | .ymap /.mp3 | Medium |
| VK Music | /Android/data/com.vk.music/cache | .cache | Low (encryption) |
| Spotify | /Android/data/com.spotify.music/cache | .file | Very low. |
| Sounds (Mail) | /Android/data/ru.mail.music/cache | .mp3 | Tall. |
It’s worth noting that modern applications are increasingly using cache encryption, so simply renaming a file may not help. However, it’s definitely worth checking this folder through a file manager with access to system files.
Recovery through Google Play Purchase History
If the deleted music was purchased officially through the Google Play Store, you have the right to re-download it for free. Google stores the history of all transactions, and the link is to your account, not to a particular device.
To do this, open the Google Play Store app, click on your profile avatar and select “Manage Apps and Device.” Go to the “Manage” tab and filter the list by “Apps” or “Movies and Books” category if you bought audiobooks.
⚠️ Note: This method only works for content purchased directly from the Google ecosystem. Tracks downloaded from third-party sources or copied from a computer will not be displayed in your purchase history.
Also check the email associated with your account. Searching for “Google Play,” “Check,” or “Purchase” will help you find confirmations of transactions.
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Save your digital checks in a separate folder in the mail, which will speed up the process of restoring rights to content in the event of an account failure or loss of access to the device.
Prevention of data loss and backup
To prevent the problem of “how to recover music” from getting in your head again, you need to set up a regular backup process. Xiaomi Redmi owners have a built-in and convenient tool for creating system backups and user data.
A combined approach is recommended: local copying to the PC and cloud storage. Local copy guarantees the availability of data even without the Internet, and the cloud protects against physical loss or breakage of the smartphone.
Set up automatic sync of the music folder. You can't do this in Google Photos, but Google Drive or Yandex.Disk has a function to autoload certain types of files. Configure it in the Backup section of your chosen application.
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Regularly backing up to external storage is the only 100% way to guarantee data safety, as no recovery program provides an absolute guarantee.
It's also useful to plug your phone into your computer once a month and copy your Music folder manually, which takes a couple of minutes, but can save your collection at a critical time. Don't rely on just one storage point.