Recovering deleted files from the Recycle Bin on Xiaomi Redmi: the complete guide

Delete important photos, videos or documents from Xiaomi Redmi and don't know how to return them? Even if you cleared the cart, the chances of recovery remain - but you need to act quickly. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to return files on Redmi Note 12/11/10, Redmi 13C/12C models and others, including cases when the cart is already empty.

Xiaomi smartphones use two types of shopping carts: the system (in the Files app) and the Google Photos shopping cart. Depending on how you deleted files, the approaches to recovery will be different. We will look at both options, as well as methods for cases when the shopping cart has been cleaned or files deleted past it (for example, through the Gallery or third-party applications).

Importantly, the longer you delay recovery, the lower the odds. When you delete files, they don't physically disappear — their space on the flash memory is simply marked as free. But once you write new data (take a photo, install an application), old files can be overwritten irrevocably.

1.Recovery from Xiaomi's system basket

If you delete files through the standard MIUI File Manager application, they are placed in a system basket that is stored for 30 days (by default) to return them:

1. Open the Files app (Blue folder icon).
2. Slip on three horizontal lines in the upper left corner (menu).
3. Select the basket item.
4. Find the files you need, tick them and click Restore.

If the button is not on the menu, it means:

• 🔹 Function disabled in settings (includes in Files) → Settings → Basket).
• 🔹 You deleted files not through Files, but through another application (for example, Gallery»).
• 🔹 The basket was cleaned manually or automatically (after 30 days).

On Redmi models with MIUI 14 and later, the basket can be hidden if you have previously disabled it.

1. Open Files → Settings (cog in the upper right corner).
2. Activate the basket switch.
3. Go back to the main menu and update the page (pull down).

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If you don’t see deleted files in the Recycle Bin, try sorting them by date – new deletions are displayed on top.

2. Restore via Google Photos (if sync was enabled)

If you delete a photo or video through the Google Photos app, it is placed in a separate shopping cart for 60 days to recover:

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Slip on the profile avatar in the upper right corner → Cart.
3. Select files, click Restore (they will return to the main gallery).

If you can’t see the cart, check:

• 📱 Google account: files are linked to the account from which the sync was performed.
• 🔄 Synchronization: Go to Settings → Backup and sync and make sure the function is active.
• ⏳ Storage period: if more than 60 days have passed, files are deleted irrevocably (except with backups).

On Redmi with MIUI 13 and older, Google Photos can be pre-installed, but not configured.

1. Open Google Photos → Avatar → Photo settings
2. Select Backup and Sync → turn on the switch.
3. Specify the quality (original or high) and confirm.

3. Recovery via MI Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

MI Cloud is a cloud storage service from Xiaomi that automatically backs up photos, contacts and notes if the feature is enabled to check and restore files:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → MI Cloud.
2. Sign in if you need to.
3. Select the Gallery or Files section (depending on the type of deleted data).
4. Find the files you need and click Restore.

Please note:

• 🔐 Only available if backup was enabled before deletion.
• 📁 Only files that have been uploaded to the cloud (usually photos and videos) are restored).
• 💾 The volume of free storage is 5 GB (if you exceed the files are not saved).

If MI Cloud doesn’t have the right files but you’re sure backups have been enabled, try:

• 🔍 Check the archive folder in the cloud (sometimes files move there).
• 📅 Change the filter by date – it’s possible that files were downloaded earlier than you think.
• 📱 Try to get in. MI Cloud from another device (e.g. PC via i.mi.com).

4.Use of third-party recovery applications

If the files are not in the recycle bin and are not synced to the clouds, there is an option with recovery software, which scans the phone's memory for "invisible" files that have not yet been overwritten.

DiskDigger (the most efficient solution without ROOT):

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Start and select Start a simple file search.
3. Mark the file types (e.g. JPG, PNG, MP4).
4. Press OK and wait for the scan to be completed.
5. Select the files found and click Restore (save them to a memory card or cloud).

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Recovery apps only work until the first data rewriting, and if you install new software or take a lot of photos after deleting, the chances of returning files are close to zero.

If the phone is rooted (there are ROOT rights), the recovery efficiency increases, and you can use:

• 🔧 Root Browser for manual file search in folders /data or /sdcard.
• 🛠️ Undeleter Recover Files & Data – Scans deeper than conventional software.

⚠️ Warning: Do not install recovery applications on the same partition of memory where the deleted files were stored. This can overwrite them.

5. Computer Recovery (ADB and Specialized Programs)

If files are critical and programs are scarce, you can connect Redmi to your PC and use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or professional tools like Recuva or PhotoRec.

This will require:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 🛠️ Installed drivers Xiaomi and ADB.

Step-by-step instructions for Recuva:

1. Connect Redmi to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Install and run Recuva.
3. Select the file type (such as Images or Videos).
4. Specify the location for scanning (your phone will appear as a removable drive).
5. Run a deep scan and wait for the results.
6. Restore files to your PC hard drive (not your phone!).

For power users: If you have ROOT, you can use ADB pull to extract raw data from memory:

adb shell


su




dd if=/dev/block/mmcblk0 of=/sdcard/recovery.img bs=4096

This method requires knowledge of terminal operation and can result in data loss in case of error.

6. What should I do if nothing helps?

If all of these methods fail, extreme measures remain:

• 🔄 Factory reset (sometimes helps if files have been deleted due to a system failure). ⚠️ Warning: This will delete all data on the phone. Do the reset only if you have a backup of the remaining files.
• 💽 Contacting a service center – specialists can extract data using professional equipment (for example, Chip-Off), but it is expensive (from 5 000 USD). ₽) It does not guarantee 100% results.
• 🔍 Checking other devices – it is possible that files were sent via Bluetooth, Telegram or saved on another gadget.

If you decide to take your phone to the service, consider:

• 📉 The more difficult the recovery is (on the Redmi Note 12 with the newer Redmi model). UFS 2.2 odds are lower than Redmi 9A eMMC).
• 💰 The cost depends on the type of memory and amount of work (for example, recovery from a damaged chip will cost 10 000).+ ₽).
• ⏱️ The process can take from 2 days to a week.

7.How to avoid data loss in the future?

To avoid the problem of deleted files again, follow the simple rules:

• ☁️ Enable automatic backup in Google Photos and MI Cloud.
• 📁 Regularly transfer important files to a PC or external drive.
• 🔄 Check the cart before cleaning (sometimes files are deleted accidentally).
• 📱 Use cloud services (Yandex Drive, Dropbox) for mission-critical documents.

On Xiaomi Redmi, you can also configure automatic synchronization with MI Cloud:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → MI Cloud.
2. Enable Gallery Synchronization and Backup.
3. Install Autoboot over Wi-Fi so as not to waste mobile traffic.

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Create a folder on your memory card and periodically copy critical files there, so you can quickly find them even after you reset your phone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about file recovery on Xiaomi Redmi