You're not alone: Statistically, one in three smartphone users has lost data at least once due to accidental pressing or system failure. Fortunately, Xiaomi devices have several built-in protections, from a shopping cart in a gallery to backups in the Mi Cloud. But even if you cleared the cart or turned off the cloud, the chances of recovery remain.
In this article, we'll look at 7 proven ways to get your photos back, from simple (through standard MIUI tools) to complex (using a PC and specialized software). Importantly, success depends on how long it's been since you deleted and whether you've written new files to your phone. The faster you act, the better the odds. Let's start with the obvious one: checking the cart.
1.Check the basket in the standard MIUI gallery
Xiaomi Redmi smartphones (starting with MIUI 10) automatically send deleted photos to the cart, where they are stored for 30 days before final erasure. If you deleted photos less than a month ago, they can be returned in a few clicks.
How to do this:
- 📱 Open the Gallery app (icon with multi-colored squares).
- 🗑️ Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → pick the basket.
- 🔍 Scroll through the list or search by date.
- 🔄 Select the desired photo (long press) → press Restore.
If the basket is empty or you have manually cleaned it, then you can move on to the following method. Note that some firmware (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro with custom MIUI) may refer to the basket as Recently Deleted or Archive.
2. Recovery via Mi Cloud (if synchronization was enabled) Mi Cloud is a cloud storage from Xiaomi that automatically backs up photos if the function is activated. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Gallery: If sync was enabled, your images could be saved to the cloud even after being deleted from your phone: 🌐 Log in to i.mi.com from any device and log in under the same Mi Account as you do on your smartphone. 🖼️ Go to the Gallery section → Recycle Bin (it stores files for up to 60 days in the cloud). 🔙 Select a photo and click Restore. They'll be back in the gallery on their phone the next time they connect to the Internet. ⚠️ WARNING: If you deleted a photo before registering for your Mi Account or turned off sync, this method won’t work. Also check if there is enough space in the cloud: free is only 5 GB, the rest is by subscription. 💡To avoid future losses, enable autosynchronization: Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → gallery → Autoboot. Select only over Wi-Fi to avoid wasting mobile traffic.
3.Using Google Photos (if connected) Many Xiaomi Redmi users set up a backup to Google Photos instead of Mi Cloud.This app saves pictures in the Google cloud and allows you to recover them even after you delete them from the device. Open Google Photos (if not installed, download from Play Market) and tap on the avatar in the upper right corner. → The cart. The photos are stored there for 60 days. Select the ones you want and click Restore. If the cart is empty, try searching by date or keyword (e.g. beach or 2023). Google Photos recognize objects in the pictures. Service Shelf life in the cart Max. free space Needs the Internet? Mi Cloud 60 days 5GB Yes Google Photos 60 days 15GB (shared with Gmail) Yes Local Cart MIUI 30 days Unlimited No Depends on free space on the device.
4. Recovery through DiskDigger (no-deleted) ROOT) If you don't find photos in the clouds and in the cart, you'll have to use deep scanning software, and one of the most effective tools for Android is DiskDigger, which works even without a license. ROOT, But with them, the odds are higher: 📲 Install DiskDigger from Play Market. 🔍 Launch the application and select Start basic scan (without). ROOT). 📂 Enter the Internal Storage section and wait for the process to be completed. 🖼️ View the photos found, highlight the necessary ones and click Restore (restore). ⚠️ Warning: Don’t save recovered photos back to Xiaomi Redmi – use the cloud, PC or flash drive. Recording new data to your phone can overwrite files that have not yet been restored. Charge your phone at least 50% |Plug it to charge (scanning takes a lot of power)|Do not install new apps until the process is complete |Use the OTG cable to save to the flash drive-->
5 Connect Xiaomi Redmi to PC and use Recuva or EaseUS
If you have little space left on your phone or are afraid of losing data when scanning, it is better to connect Redmi to your computer and use desktop programs, the most popular ones are Recuva (free) and EaseUS Data Recovery (paid, but with a trial period).
How to recover photos via Recuva:
- 🖥️ Connect Xiaomi to your PC via USB-Enable File Transfer Mode (MTP) (The notification will appear in the phone curtain).
- 📁 Run Recuva, select the type of Image files, and specify your smartphone drive (usually a Removable Disk).
- 🔍 Start scanning. Once you're done, tick the right photos and click Restore.
- 💾 Save files to your PC hard drive, not back to your phone!
EaseUS is similar, but the interface is more intuitive and the scan speed is higher, both programs support.jpg,.png,.heic formats (used in the new Redmi models).
What to do if your PC doesn’t see Xiaomi Redmi?
6. Recovery through ADB (If previous methods have not worked, you can try to extract photos using Android Debug Bridge (ADB) — This is a low-level system access tool, and it requires command line skills and enabled debugging. USB. Instructions: 🔧 Install. ADB Download Platform Tools from Google). 📱 Connect Redmi to your PC and allow debugging (notification will appear on your phone screen). 🖥️ Open the command line in the folder with adb.exe and type: adb devices Make sure the device is defined. 🔍 Run the command to search for deleted files: adb shell "su" -c 'find /storage/emulated/0/ -name \".jpg\" -o -name \".png\" > /sdcard/recovered_files.txt'" This will create a file with a list of all images on the phone, including hidden ones. If you have ROOT-You can use more powerful commands to restore, for example, through dd. ROOT The chances are lower, but sometimes you can find fragments of files. 💡ADB — This is the last chance to get the photo back if other methods have failed, but without experience with the command line, it is better to consult a specialist so as not to damage the system.
7. Contacting a service center: when nothing helps
If you have tried all the methods, but the photo was not recovered, you need to contact the service center Xiaomi, experts have access to professional equipment (for example, Chip-Off or JTAG), which can extract data directly from the memory chip.
What you need to know before your visit:
- 💰 The cost of restoration starts from 3 000 ₽ It depends on the model (Redmi Note 11 is cheaper than Redmi). K50).
- ⏳ The process can take 3-7 days.
- 📄 Bring a check or purchase confirmation (for warranty devices).
- 🔒 Check if the center provides a guarantee of privacy (your photos should not fall into the wrong hands).
Xiaomi Service Centers in Russia:
- 📍 Moscow: list on the official website.
- 📍 St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk – addresses are also available at the link above.
⚠️ Warning: Don't go to unofficial workshops with dubious reputations. Data recovery is a delicate process, and unqualified actions can irrevocably damage your phone's memory.