How to recover remote music on Xiaomi phone: from shopping cart to deep scanning

Losing your favorite tracks on a Xiaomi smartphone is a familiar situation. Whether you accidentally clicked “Delete”, formatted a memory card or encountered a system failure, the result is one: playlists are empty, and the emotions of listening to music are replaced by irritation. Fortunately, you can restore remote music on Xiaomi even without special skills – the main thing is to act quickly and choose the right method.

Redmi, POCO and Mi are powered by MIUI, a proprietary shell that offers built-in tools for file recovery, but their capabilities are limited: for example, the MIUI Recycle Bin only stores deleted files for 10 days (on some models – 30), and once the memory is cleared, the chances of returning music are reduced to zero. In this article, we will examine all the current methods – from basic (via the Mi Cloud) to advanced (using ADB and programs like DiskDigger), and explain why some methods work only on non-record memory.

Important: if you deleted music recently (less than a day ago), start with the section about the MIUI basket. If more time has passed or files have been erased from the memory card - immediately go to methods with recovery programs or ADB. For owners of Xiaomi 13/14 series and flagships with UFS 3.1/4.0, special nuances are relevant - we will also touch on them.

1.Recovery through MIUI basket: The easy way for the last 10 days

The proprietary shell of MIUI 12-14 automatically sends deleted files to the recycle bin, a temporary storage bin where they lie for 10 to 30 days (depending on the model and version of the software), which is the fastest way to return music if you act quickly.

To check the basket:

1. Open the Files app (the blue-background folder icon).
2. In the bottom menu, tap on the basket (dumpster icon).
3. Find deleted audio files (they are displayed with original names and date of deletion).
4. Select the desired tracks and click Restore at the bottom of the screen.

⚠️ Attention: Basket in MIUI It has a space limit, usually 5 to 10 GB. If you delete a lot of files, old data can automatically be erased, making room for new ones:

• 🗑️ Through third-party file managers (e.g., Solid Explorer or FX File Manager).
• 💾 From an external microSD card (if formatted as portable storage).
• 🧹 After a complete reset (Hard Reset).

If the cart is empty or the files are missing, move to the following method, and for those who want to avoid future losses, we recommend:

💡

Set up automatic music backup in Mi Cloud or Google Drive. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup and enable the option for the Music folder.

2.Mi Cloud Cloud Storage: Recovery from Backup

If your Xiaomi has Mi Cloud sync enabled, the chances of music being returned are significantly higher.The cloud keeps backups of files, including audio, but only if:

• 📱 You are logged into Xiaomi’s account on your phone.
• ☁️ Backup function was activated before deleting files.
• 🎵 The music was stored in a standard Music folder (or in a folder added to the backup).

Instructions for remediation:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select Backup and check for the current copy (see the date of creation in the list).
3. Click Restore and select the copy you want, and the music will return to the Music folder in your internal memory.

⚠️ Warning: Recovery from Mi Cloud will overwrite the current data on your phone. If you add new files after deleting the music, they may disappear.

If you don’t have a backup or it’s outdated, try an alternative way – restore it via Google Drive (if the music is synced through Google Play Music or YouTube Music).

1. Open Google Drive on your phone or PC.
2. Go to the section of the basket (in the side menu).
3. Find the deleted audio files and click Restore.

3. Recovery programs: DiskDigger, EaseUS and others

If the bin is empty and the cloud is missing, specialized utilities will come to the rescue, scanning the phone's memory at the file system level and can find music even after formatting - provided that the data has not been overwritten.

The best music recovery software on Xiaomi:

Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger (the most effective option for Xiaomi):

Install DiskDigger from Google Play| Connect your phone to charge (the process will take 30–60 minutes) | Don’t save new files to your phone until the scan is complete |Configure root access (if necessary)

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1. Download DiskDigger from Google Play and open the app.
2. Select Full Scan (requires root rights for maximum efficiency).
3. Specify the file type: Mark MP3, WAV, FLAC and other audio formats.
4. Start scanning. When you're done, the program will show you the files you found, highlight the music, and click Restore.
5. Save files to your PC or cloud (not your phone to avoid overwriting!).

⚠️ Warning: Without root access, DiskDigger will only be able to find thumbnails and cached files. Full scanning of internal memory will require unlocking the bootloader and installing Magisk (instructions for Xiaomi here).

If the music was stored on a microSD card, remove it from your phone and connect it to your PC via a card reader. Then use Recuva or EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to scan it.

1. Put the card in the computer.
2. Run the program and select a removable disk.
3. Start a deep scan (may take several hours).
4. Save the recovered files to the PC hard drive.

4.Recovery through ADB: for advanced users

If standard methods don’t work and root access isn’t available (like the new Xiaomi 14 with a locked bootloader), try restoring music via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting your phone to a PC and knowing the command line, but sometimes saves you even in hopeless cases.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB and Fastboot (download here).
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then return to the Additional Settings → For developers).
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (important for stable connection).

Instructions:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC and open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd).
2. Check the connection command: Adb devices should appear serial number of the device.
3. Get a list of all files in memory (including deleted ones): adb shell su -c "ls -la /data/media/0/" Note: If there is no root, replace su -c with run-as com.android.providers.media (does not work on all models).
4. Find a folder with music (usually) /storage/emulated/0/Music) Copy files to your PC: Adb pull /storage/emulated/0/Music C:\Xiaomi_Recovery

⚠️ Attention: Method C ADB It only works if it only works:

• 🔄 Files have not been overwritten (for example, by installing updates or new photos).
• 🔐 The phone does not have data encryption enabled (Xiaomi encrypts memory by default on some models, such as the Mi 11 Ultra).

💡

ADB is the only way to restore music to Xiaomi without root, but it requires technical skills.If the teams don't work, try an alternative method with Fastboot (guidelines for power users below).

5. Fastboot Mode: The Extreme Method for Bricks

If the Xiaomi phone is not turned on or stuck on the logo (bootloop), but the music was stored in internal memory, you can try to extract it through Fastboot.This method is suitable for devices with an unlocked bootloader and requires the installation of Custom Recovery (for example, TWRP).

Step-by-step:

1. Download TWRP for your Xiaomi model from the official website (twrp.me).
2. Transfer the phone to Fastboot mode: turn off the device, then press the Power button + Volume down.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and check the connection: fastboot devices
4. TWRP: Fastboot Flash Recovery twrp.img
5. Boot to recovery: type fastboot boot twrp.img.
6. In TWRP, go to Mount → Enable MTP and copy files from /data/media/0/Music to your PC.

⚠️ Warning: This method will reset all settings and may result in a loss of warranty. Do not use it unless you are sure of your actions. Xiaomi with a locked bootloader (e.g. Redmi Note 12 from official stores) requires first unlocking via Mi Unlock Tool (process takes up to 7 days).

6. Root access: maximum chances of recovery

If you're willing to take drastic measures, root access will open up all the possibilities for music recovery.

• 🔍 Scan internal memory at a low level (including system partitions).
• 📁 Restore files from any folder, even if they were deleted months ago.
• 🛠️ Use powerful tools like Undeleter or GT Recovery.

How to get root on Xiaomi:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (instructions on the official website).
2. Install Magisk via Custom Recovery (TWRP or OrangeFox).
3. Check root status in the Magisk Manager app.

After receiving root:

1. Install Undeleter from Google Play.
2. Select Deep Scan and select /storage/emulated/0/Music.
3. Wait until the process is completed (may take a few hours).
4. Save the files found on your PC or cloud.

⚠️ Warning: Root access voids warranty and may disrupt banking applications (due to SafetyNet) on new Xiaomi (e.g., newer Xiaomi, 13T or 14 Pro) unlocking the bootloader also disables Widevine L1, What reduces the quality of streaming on Netflix and Disney+ before 480p.

7. How to avoid losing music in the future: 5 work tips

To avoid the problem of remote music, follow the following simple rules:

1. Automatic backup: ☁️ Set up sync with Mi Cloud or Google Drive (minus – volume limit). 💾 Use local reservations on your PC through Xiaomi PC Suite.

Memory card as the main storage:

Transfer the music to a microSD and configure it as internal memory (Settings → Storage → SD Map → Format as internal), in which case the files will be protected from accidental deletion through system tools.

Third-party file managers:

Applications like Solid Explorer or FX File Manager have their own shopping cart and action history.

Cloud players:

Download music to YouTube Music, Spotify or Yandex Music – so it will always be available from any device.

Regular checks:

Check the Music folder once a month for duplicates and delete unnecessary files manually, not through the Memory Cleanup in MIUI.

💡 If you are a frequent user of music (for example, DJ or musician, create a separate Xiaomi account solely for backups, so you will avoid losing files when you reset your main account.

FAQ: Frequent questions about restoring music on Xiaomi