Recovering deleted photos from the cart on Xiaomi Redmi: 5 working ways (2026)

Remove important photos from Xiaomi Redmi and cleaned the cart? Don't panic - there are chances to return pictures even after a few days. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways of recovery, including built-in tools. MIUI, Third-party applications and methods for PC. Particular attention will be paid to the nuances of working with Redmi Note models 12/13, POCO X5 and other devices on MIUI 14/15.

The rule is, the faster you start, the more likely you are to succeed. Once deleted, files don't disappear instantly -- they're labeled "free space" and can be overwritten with new data. So don't install new programs, shoot videos, or download files before you try to recover.

Photo Recovery on Xiaomi is Different from Other Brands Due to File System Features MIUI. For example, the basket in the gallery Mi Gallery only stores files. 30 In some cases, the time limit is reduced to 15 It is also important to note that after the update to MIUI 15 The algorithm for storing temporary files has changed – they can now be saved in a protected partition /data/media/0/MIUI/Album/recycle_bin.

If you're using Google Photos, check the Recycle Bin folder in the app -- it's stored for 60 days, but if you've disabled sync, you'll have to rely on local methods.

• 🔍 Recovery through the built-in basket MIUI (even if it's "empty")
• 📱 Ways without ROOT Using apps from the Play Market
• 💻 PC software (including DiskDigger and Recuva)
• 🛠️ Manual method for users with ROOT (through ADB and TWRP)
• ⚠️ What to do if the photo is overwritten (alternative options)

1. Check the built-in MIUI basket: hidden files and cache

First, check the standard shopping cart in the Mi Gallery app, and even if it seems empty, the files can remain in hidden folders.

1. Open Mi Gallery → tap on three dots in the upper right corner → select “Basket”.
2. If there are no files, tap the icon "⚙️ Settings" in the shopping cart and enable the option "Show hidden files".
3. Check the.trash folders or recycle_bin through any file manager (e.g., Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).

On MIUI 15, the path to the cart has changed.

/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Album/recycle_bin/


/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.gallery/cache/

If there is no folder, try manually entering the path in the address bar of the file manager. Sometimes the files remain in the gallery cache - to clean it, go to Settings → Applications → Mi Gallery → Memory → Clear the cache.

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the cache through system settings - this will delete temporary files that could help in recovery. Only use the "Clear cache" option inside the Mi Gallery app.

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If the cart is empty, but you remember the date of deletion, sort the files in the gallery by the option "Date of change" - sometimes deleted photos are displayed as "empty" thumbnails with a gray background.

2. Recovery without ROOT: top-up-3 Android

If the built-in methods didn’t work, use third-party utilities. We tested 10 apps and selected the three most effective for Xiaomi Redmi:

Instructions for DiskDigger (recommended):

1. Download DiskDigger from the Play Market (don’t use APKs from third-party sites!).
2. Launch the app and select "Full Scan" (it takes longer but finds more files).
3. Mark the file types: JPG, PNG, HEIC (for Redmi Note 12 Pro+ with 200 MP camera).
4. After scanning, select the photos you want and click "Restore" and save them to another medium (such as a cloud or flash drive) to avoid overwriting.

Dumpster works as a backup cart — it automatically saves deleted files, but it has to be installed before photos are deleted. If you deleted a photo before you installed this app, it won't help.

⚠️ Attention: Apps like Photo Recovery often show ghost files -- thumbnails without the image itself. Don't pay for a recovery if you don't see a full preview!

Disable mobile internet (to prevent new data from being downloaded)

Charge your phone at least 50%

Install the application on an external memory card (if any)

Do not use your phone during scanning-->

3. PC Recovery: Programs for Windows and Mac

If you don't find anything on your phone, plug Xiaomi Redmi into your computer and use desktop utilities to scan the memory deeper and find lost files more often.

The best PC programs:

• 🖥️ Recuva (free, supportive) exFAT/NTFS memory-card)
• 🖥️ EaseUS Data Recovery (paid, but there is a trial version with preview)
• 🖥️ Wondershare Recoverit (Recovery) HEIC and RAW Redmi cameras)

Step-by-step instructions for Recuva:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC via the original cable (use USB 3.0 port for stability).
2. Enable File Transfer Mode: On your phone, select File Transfer (not Charge).
3. Start Recuva, select the Images file type, and specify your phone’s drive (usually a Removable Disk (E:) or the like).
4. Click "Scan," then tick the photos you find, and click "Restore." Save the files to your PC hard drive, not back to your phone!

For models with Dynamic RAM Expansion (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro+) before connecting to your PC, turn off this feature in the settings: Settings → Additional → Memory → Dynamic RAM. This will prevent memory read errors.

4.Manual recovery for users with ROOT

If you have ROOT-rights or established custom Recovery (TWRP), You can manually scan the memory areas where deleted files are stored, and this is a method that is suitable for advanced users and gives you the best chance of success.

Method 1: Through ADB (without TWRP)

1. Install ADB Tools on your PC and connect your phone with USB debugging enabled.
2. Open the command line and type: adb shell su cd /data/media/0/ ls -la | grep -i "trash\|recycle" This will show the hidden folders of the basket.
3. Copy the found files on PC: adb pull /data/media/0/MIUI/Album/recycle_bin/ C:\Xiaomi_Recovery\

Method 2: TWRP (for advanced)

• 🔧 Boot in. TWRP (hold on to food + Volume up when switched on).
• 🔧 Go to Advanced. → File Manager.
• 🔧 Find the folders: /data/media/0/.trash/ /data/media/0/MIUI/Album/recycle_bin/
• 🔧 Copy files to an external card or connect your phone to your PC in mode MTP.

⚠️ Attention: When working with ADB or TWRP Do not change files in folders /system or /vendor — This can cause the phone to break down. Also avoid rm commands. -rf and chmod 777 system-partition.

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If you don’t have a ROOT but you have a backup in Mi Cloud, check it out via the web version: i.mi.com. Photos can be stored there even after you delete them from your phone.

5. If the photo is overwritten: alternative methods

If all previous methods didn't work, it's likely that the data was overwritten.

• 🔎 Verification of cloud services: 📧 Google Photos (Basket folder stores files for 60 days) ☁️ Mi Cloud (Entering through Settings) → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → gallery) 📁 Yandex Disk or Mail.ru Cloud (if Autoboot was enabled)
• 📧 Search in correspondence: sometimes photos are sent in messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber) and remain in chats.
• 🖼️ Recovery: Programs like DiskDigger can find thumbnails even if the original is erased. AI-tools (e.g. Topaz Gigapixel).

If the photos were taken on Redmi with a 108 MP or 200 MP camera, check the DCIM/.thumbnails folder - compressed versions of the images (~2-5 MB) can be stored there.

Annexes:




- Remini (for portraits)




Adobe Photoshop Express (for landscapes)




- Let's Enhance (web service)

Last chance: If the photos were taken less than a week ago, contact Xiaomi Service Center. they have tools for low-level memory scanning (like Chip-Off), but it is expensive (from 5 000). ₽) It does not guarantee the result.

6. How to prevent future photo loss

To avoid losing important photos, set up automatic backups:

• ☁️ Mi Cloud: Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud. Enable Gallery Sync and select Original Quality. Set a storage limit (free 5GB).
• 📧 Google Photos: Open the app, click on the avatar → "Backup settings. Select "Original Quality" (if there is enough space) or "High Quality" (free unlimited). Enable the option "Backup when connecting to Wi-Fi".

Local copying:

Mi PC Suite

For Redmi Note 12/13 models with OTG support, you can use automatic flash drive synchronization:

1. Connect. OTG-cable.
2. Open Mi Gallery → select a photo → “More” → “Export” → “USB-drive”.
3. Set up automatic export to Settings → Additional → Backup.

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MIUI 15 has a Hidden Album feature (Mi Gallery → Albums → Hidden Album) that brings important photos and passwords to the main gallery and accidentally deletes them.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photo recovery on Xiaomi Redmi