Recovering deleted files on Xiaomi smartphones: from the basket to deep scanning

Deleted important photos from vacation, work documents or videos from a memorable event — and now you don't know how to return them? On Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi lines), you can restore deleted files even without root rights, if you act quickly and correctly. The main thing is not to write new data to the device, so as not to overwrite lost files.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can do it, from the standard MIUI shopping cart to professional utilities like DiskDigger and Recuva, how to recover files from internal memory, microSD cards, and even after resetting, and why some methods only work on certain models (e.g., the Xiaomi 13 Pro with UFS 3.1 requires a different approach than the Redmi Note 10 with eMMC).

⚠️ Critical warning: the longer you delay recovery, the lower the chances of success. Every new photo, application installed or system update can irrevocably overwrite deleted data.

1.Check the MIUI Recycle Bin - The First Step to Save Files

Many Xiaomi users don’t know that MIUI (since version 12) has a built-in recycle bin similar to that of Windows or macOS, which stores deleted files for up to 30 days (on some models up to 15 days), after which it cleans them automatically.

To check the basket:

• 📁 Open the Files app (File icon on the desktop).
• 🗑️ In the lower menu, tap on the basket section (or Trash in English firmware).
• 🔍 Find the desired file, highlight it with a long tap and click Restore.
• 📲 The file will return to the folder from which it was deleted (for example, in the DCIM/Camera photo).

⚠️ Note: If the cart is empty or files are missing from it prematurely, this means that:

• 🔄 You manually cleaned the cart through Settings → Warehouse → Basket.
• 📱 You've got an old version. MIUI (12th), where there is no basket.
• 🗃️ Files have been deleted from the memory card – it has its own shopping cart (if enabled in the settings).

2. Restore via Google Photos (if synchronized)

If your Xiaomi has autosynchronization enabled with Google Photos, the chances of returning deleted media files increase by up to 90%, and the service stores backups of photos and videos for 60 days (even after deleting from the device).

How to restore:

1. Open the Google Photos app (if removed, install from the Play Market).
2. Tap on the profile avatar. → Basket.
3. Select files and click Restore.
4. Files will be returned to the main gallery and device (if there is space).

🔹 Features for Xiaomi:

• 📸 In some models (for example, POCO F4) Google Photos Could Conflict with Standard Gallery MIUI. Before recovery, close all applications through the recent → Close it all down.
• 📥 If files are not restored to the device, check the place in Settings → Google Photos Requires Free Photos 10-15% memory.

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If Google Photos doesn't show the cart, upgrade to the latest version of the app. In older versions (up to 6.0), the "Baskbasket" section may not be available.

3. Use of third-party applications (without root)

If the cart is empty and synchronization has not helped, it is time to move to specialized utilities.

• 🔧 DiskDigger – scans internal memory and microSD cards, restores photos, videos, documents.
• 📄 Recuva (requires you to connect your phone to your PC) – deep scanning for files of any format.
• 📱 Dumpster - analogue of the basket, but with advanced settings (works on the MIUI 11+).

Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger:

1. Run DiskDigger and select Full Scan (it takes longer but finds more files).
2. Specify the types of files to search for (e.g..jpg,.png,.mp4).
3. Wait for the scan to finish (on Xiaomi with UFS 3.0 it will take ~20 minutes, on eMMC - up to an hour).
4. Select the files you find and click Restore. Save them to a memory card or to the cloud (not to internal memory!).

⚠️ Attention: on phones with MIUI 14+ Android 13 DiskDigger may not see some system partitions:

• 🔓 Enable Developer Mode (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — tap 7 times).
• 🔧 B Settings → Additionally. → For developers, activate the debugging by USB.
• 🖥️ Connect your phone to your PC and use Recuva or EaseUS MobiSaver.

4.Recovery from microSD memory card

Xiaomi’s microSD cards (especially in Redmi models with hybrid slots) are often a source of problems: files disappear after being extracted, formatted or crashed.

Method 1: Through an adapter on a PC

1. Remove the card from your phone and paste it into the SD→USB adapter.
2. Connect to your computer and run Recuva or PhotoRec.
3. Select a card in the list of disks and start a Deep Scan.

Method 2: On the phone itself

• 📱 Use DiskDigger (Scan the map section) SD).
• 🔍 The Undeleter (paid version) app supports recovery with exFAT and NTFS-map.

📌 Important: If a card is defined as "damaged," don't format it:

1. Connect to your PC and run a command in the CMD (on behalf of the administrator):
2. Replace E: with the letter of your card. Re-restore after checking.

5. Recovery after resetting settings (Hard Reset)

Reset to the factory settings (Hard Reset) on Xiaomi deletes all user data, but not always irrevocably.

• 📱 Memory type: on UFS 3.1 (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra) data is erased faster than eMMC 5.1 (Redmi) 9A).
• 🔄 Resetting methods: through Settings → Reset or Recovery Mode (the second option leaves more "traces").
• ⏱️ Time: If more has passed since the reset 2-3 days, chances are close to zero.

Instructions for recovery:

1. Do not add a new Mi Account after a reset, this will overwrite some of the data.
2. Connect your phone to your PC and use EaseUS MobiSaver or Dr.Fone in Recovery After Reset mode.
3. If the phone is not identified, turn on USB Debugging (see Section 3).

⚠️ Attention: on encrypted phones FBE (File-Based Encryption, enabled by default MIUI 13+) Recovery after reset is impossible without knowledge of the password.

6. Professional methods (for experienced users)

If the standard methods didn't work, there are advanced techniques that require root rights or special equipment, but give you a chance of success.

ADB Pull for beginners:

1. Install ADB Tools on your PC.
2. Connect the phone and do:
3. Copy the image on your PC and scan it through PhotoRec.

Critical information: On dynamic partition phones (such as Xiaomi 12T), this method only works if there is a full dump through fastboot.

7. How to prevent future data loss

The best way to combat file loss is to back up files, and on Xiaomi, there are several ways to do this:

• ☁️ Cloud. MI Cloud: automatically saves photos, contacts and notes. Included in Settings → Xiaomi account → MI Cloud.
• 🔄 Google Drive: Reserve applications, SMS and settings. Set up the settings. → Google → Backup.
• 💾 Local Copy: Use Swift Backup to create backups to your memory card.

🔹 Advice for Xiaomi owners:

• 📅 Set up auto-cleaning of the cart for a maximum period (30 days) in Settings → Warehouse → Basket.
• 🔋 Prior to important operations (update) MIUI, Reset your phone to 50% – this will reduce the risk of crashes.
• 🛡️ Install AppLock on the gallery and file manager to avoid accidental deletion.

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Even if files can’t be recovered, don’t despair: professional services like Ontrack or DriveSavers can extract data from physically damaged memory chips, starting at 5,000 rubles, but the chances of success are up to 90%.

FAQ: Frequent questions about file recovery on Xiaomi