Recovery of deleted photos on Xiaomi Redmi 6A: all working ways

Losing photos on a smartphone is one of the most frustrating situations for users, and it is especially painful for owners of Xiaomi Redmi 6A, where the amount of internal memory is often limited, and backups are created irregularly. Fortunately, even after deleting files do not disappear from the device instantly: they remain in memory until they are overwritten by new data, which gives a chance to recover — provided that you act quickly and correctly.

In this article, we will discuss 7 proven methods of returning deleted images, from built-in MIUI tools to specialized software. You will learn how recovery algorithms work, which programs are safe for Redmi 6A, and why it is sometimes better to turn to professionals.

Important: The effectiveness of each method depends on how long it has been since you deleted it and how much you have used your phone since the incident, and the faster you take action, the better the chances of getting valuable footage back.

1.A check of the basket at MIUI Gallery

Many users don't know that MIUI firmware (even older versions like Redmi 6A) has a built-in photo basket, and deleted images are stored there for up to 30 days, and can be restored in two clicks.

1. Open the standard Gallery app.
2. Slip on three horizontal lines (menu) in the upper left corner.
3. Select the Recycle Bin (or Recently Deleted in some versions).
4. Find the right photos, click on them and select Restore.

If the bin is empty or the photos are not there, it means that they were deleted a long time ago (more than a month ago) or through third-party file managers.

⚠️ Attention: Basket in MIUI It cleans automatically when there is a lack of memory. 6A Less than 500MB of free space is left, the system can delete files from the basket ahead of time.

2. Restore via Google Photos (if synchronized)

If your Redmi 6A has been set up to automatically back up Google Photos, the chances of returning photos are extremely high, and the service stores the images in the cloud even after they are deleted from the device - for 60 days (or indefinitely if they were uploaded in high quality).

To check for backup copies:

1. Open the Google Photos app (if not, install it from the Play Market).
2. Sign in with the same Google account that was linked to your phone when you lost your photo.
3. Go to the Library section → Basket.
4. Select the desired photos and click Restore.

If the cart is empty, try searching for photos through the web version of Google Photos on your computer, sometimes showing files that are not available in the mobile application.

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In Google Photo settings (Settings → Backup and Sync), you can enable the option Save originals so photos don’t shrink when you upload. This is true for the Redmi 6A with a 13MP camera, where it’s important to maintain quality.

3. Use of a file manager (search for hidden copies)

MIUI sometimes backs up photos hidden, especially if they have been edited or sent via instant messengers, and these files can be stored in folders with names like.thumbnails, Pictures/.backups or DCIM/.recycle.

To find them:

• 🔍 Install a file manager with support for hidden folders (such as Solid Explorer or Solid Explorer). FX File Explorer).
• 📁 Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.
• 🔎 Walk along the way. /storage/emulated/0/ And manually check the folders: DCIM/.thumbnails — thumbnails and temporary files; Pictures/Screenshots/.backup — screenshots; MIUI/Gallery/cloud — Cloud synchronization (if any).

If you find files with the.nomedia extension, rename them to.jpg or.png – these may be your lost photos.

4. Data recovery programs (without root)

If previous methods have failed, it's time to plug in specialized software. For Xiaomi Redmi 6A, programs that scan the device's memory at a low level and restore files by signatures are suitable. Importantly, don't install programs on the phone itself, it can overwrite deleted data. Use a computer.

Instructions for DiskDigger (recommended for beginners):

1. Download and install the program on PC.
2. Get Redmi on board. 6A down USB, Enable Developer Mode (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — tap 7 times) and activate USB-debugging.
3. In the program, select Basic Scan (without root) and wait for the scan to end.
4. Tag the desired photos and press Recover.

⚠️ Note: Do not save recovered files back to Redmi 6A — This can overwrite the remaining unrecovered data. Use an external drive or cloud.

Disable Wi-Fi and mobile data on your phone|Charge your phone at least 50 times%|Use the original USB-cable|Do not connect your phone to other devices during scanning-->

5. Recovery with ADB (for power users)

If the software doesn't find the photos, you can try to extract them through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that requires command line skills, but sometimes saves you when other methods are powerless.

Algorithm of action:

1. Install ADB Tools on your PC.
2. Connect Redmi 6A to USB with debugging enabled (see previous section).
3. Open the command line and type: Adb devices Make sure the device is defined.
4. Backup the data section: adb backup -f C:\backup.ab -apk -obb -shared -all On the phone confirm the creation of the backup (do not set the password).
5. Uncancel backup.ab with Android Backup Extractor and search for files with the.jpg or.png extension.

This method does not guarantee 100% results, but it can help if the photos were stored in system folders or deleted via adb shell.

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ADB-This method is only suitable for files that have not been overwritten. If after deleting you install applications or take new photos, the chances are minimal.

6. Contacting a service center: when nothing helps

If all of these methods did not work, and the photos are critical (for example, these are the only pictures from an important event), you should consider contacting the service center.

• 🔧 Connect to the phone memory via ISP (chip-access);
• 🛠️ Recover data using professional equipment (e.g, UFI Box or Octoplus);
• 💾 Remove information even from a damaged drive (if the phone does not turn on).

The cost of such services starts from 3-5 thousand rubles, but in difficult cases this is the only chance.

• Do not turn on your phone (if it is turned off).
• Do not try to re-interrogate the device.
• Check if the center has experience with Xiaomi Redmi 6A (models on Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 have features in data recovery).

Important: In 2026, some service centers refuse to work with phones older than 5 years (like the Redmi 6A, released in 2018) due to lack of spare parts.

7.Prevention: How to avoid loss of photos in the future

The best way to combat data loss is prevention. On the Xiaomi Redmi 6A, you can set up automatic backup in several ways:

• ☁️ Google Photos: Enable Backup and Sync in the app settings. Select High (unlimited) quality if there is little space in the cloud.
• 📱 Mi Cloud: In Settings → Accounts. → Mi Cloud activate Gallery Sync. Xiaomi has free 5GB of cloud storage.
• 💾 Local Copy: Once a month, connect your phone to your PC and copy the folder DCIM hard-drive.
• 🔄 Third-party apps: Resilio Sync or Foldersync can automatically sync photos with your home NAS or other device.

Also useful:

• Turn off automatic cleaning of the basket in Gallery Settings → Cart → Auto Cleaning.
• Install Dumpster application - analogue of the basket, which saves deleted files indefinitely.
• Regularly check the free space on your phone (less than 1 GB increases the risk of data loss).

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Redmi 6A allows you to extend the storage life of files in the Recycle Bin to 60 days. To do this, in Gallery Settings → Recycle Bin, select the option to Store Deleted Files longer (not available in all versions of MIUI).

FAQ: Frequent questions about photo recovery on Redmi 6A