Recover deleted photos on Xiaomi Redmi: from the cart to deep scanning

Removed photos from Xiaomi Redmi by mistake or after resetting? Don't panic - in most cases files can be returned even if they have disappeared from the gallery. In this article, we will discuss all working methods of recovery, from simple (checking the cart) to complex (using a PC and specialized software).

Redmi smartphones (including Note 12 Pro models)+, Redmi 10, Redmi 9A And others store photos in multiple places: internal memory, microSD card, Mi Cloud cloud or third-party services like Google Photos, and we'll look at the options for each case, and we'll explain why some methods only work under certain conditions. For example, if you formatted a memory card via a smartphone, standard recovery utilities won’t help – you’ll need low-level analysis.

Before you start, check:

• 📁 Have you moved your photo to another folder (for example, in a DCIM/.thumbnails or Pictures/Screenshots)
• 🔄 Are the images automatically synced to the cloud?
• 🗑️ Are they not in the snare of the snare? MIUI she's hidden)

1.A check of the basket at MIUI Gallery

Modern versions MIUI (starting MIUI 12) have a built-in basket where the photos are stored 30 days after deleting. This method is the fastest and requires no additional tools.

How to find the basket:

• 📱 Open the Gallery app (Icon with flower)
• 🔍 Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → pick the basket
• 🖼️ Find the right photos, click on them. → Restore

If there is no basket item:

• 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (in old firmware baskets may not be available)
• 🔍 Check the folder. DCIM/.trash via file manager (hidden files must be enabled in settings)

⚠️ Attention: The basket is cleaned automatically when space is scarce or after manual cleaning through Settings → Warehouse → Cleaning. If you've already cleaned your memory, move on to the next method.

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Basket in MIUI It only works for photos that are deleted through a standard gallery, and if you erase files through a file manager or third-party apps, they don't get there.

2. Recovery via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

If your Redmi has been enabled to sync with Mi Cloud, the chances of returning photos are very high, the cloud keeps backups of media files, even if they are deleted from the device.

Instructions for remediation:

• 🌐 Go to i.mi.com and log in to your Xiaomi account.
• 📁 Select Gallery or Backups section
• 🔍 Find a folder with a date when the photo was still on the phone
• 📥 Click Restore or Download Files on PC

If the photo is not in the main gallery of the cloud:

• 🔄 Check the section Recently deleted (stored for up to 60 days)
• 📦 Check the archives – sometimes photos are automatically moved there.
• 🔍 Use a search by date or keyword (e.g., vacation 2023)

Important: If you don't remember if sync was enabled, check in the phone settings: Settings → Accounts. → Mi Cloud → Synchronization → gallery.

3. Use of Google Photos (if connected)

Google Photos is another reliable source for recovery, and if the app was installed and set up to boot, your photos could still be there even after you deleted them from your phone.

How to check:

• 📱 Open the Google Photos app on your phone or go to photos.google.com
• 🗑️ Select the Recycle Bin from the side menu (photos are stored there for 60 days)
• 🔍 If the basket is empty, check the Archive or search by date.
• 📥 To recover, click on the photo → Restore

Features of working with Google Photos:

• 🔄 If you had Space Release enabled, the original photos could be compressed or removed from the device after uploading to the cloud.
• 📦 Photos taken in mode HDR+ Night Sight is saved in the cloud in full resolution only at the paid rate.
• 🔍 To speed up the search, use filters: Videos, Screenshots, Collages

⚠️ Note: If you delete photos from Google Photos and clear the cart, you can only restore them within 30 days through a Google Support request.

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To avoid future losses, set up automatic download over Wi-Fi in Google Photos: Settings → Backup and synchronization → Download quality (select Original Quality if the location allows).

4. Computer Recovery (without root)

If the photos are not found in the clouds and the cart, the next step is to connect Redmi to the PC and scan the memory using specialized programs, which works even if the phone is not turned on (provided that the memory is not damaged).

Tools required:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original)
• 🛠️ Programs: Recuva, DiskDigger, EaseUS Data Recovery or PhotoRec (for advanced users)

Step-by-step instructions for Recuva (free version):

1. Download and install Recuva from the official website ccleaner.com
2. Connect Redmi to your PC in File Transfer mode (when you request your phone, select File Manager)
3. Start Recuva, select the Image file type → Next
4. Indicate location: If the photos were in internal memory, select Redmi drive (usually This device) → Internal storage)
5. Run a deep scan (it takes 30 minutes to several hours)
6. After scanning, mark the desired photos and click Restore.

Disable Battery Optimization for File Manager

Use the original USB-cable

Charge your phone at least 50%

Do not connect your phone to other devices during scanning-->

What to do if the program does not see the phone:

• 🔄 Turn on the debugging. USB in the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → press 7 times → Come back to the extra. → For developers)
• 🔌 Try another one. USB-port
• 🖥️ Update the drivers ADB and MTP PC-only

5. Recovery from a microSD card

If the photos were stored on a microSD card, the chances of success are higher — flash memory cards save deleted data longer, but there is a nuance: if the card was formatted or overwritten, it will be more difficult to restore files.

The best programs to work with microSD:

• 🛠️ DiskDigger – supports deep scanning, there is a version for Android
• 🛠️ R-Studio – Professional tool with support RAW-recovery
• 🛠️ TestDisk is a free partition recovery utility (for experienced users)

Instructions for DiskDigger (Android version):

• 📱 Install DiskDigger from Google Play (requires Android 5.0)+)
• 🔍 Select the full scan (full scan)
• 📁 Specify the microSD card as the search target
• 🖼️ After scanning, mark the photos and save them to another medium (not the same card!)

⚠️ Warning: Never save recovered files to the same memory card or internal phone memory from which the scan is being conducted! This can overwrite the remaining data and make it impossible to further restore.

If the map is not determined:

• 🔧 Try connecting it through the card reader to the PC
• 🔄 Check the card on another device (possibly a problem in the phone slot)
• 🛠️ Use a microSD adapter → USB direct-to-computer connection

6 Advanced Methods (with root rights)

If standard methods didn’t work, and photos are critical, you can try low-level root recovery, which is risky (may result in a loss of warranty or unstable phone), but sometimes it’s the only one that saves.

What you need:

• 📱 Unlocked bootloader on Redmi
• 🔓 Root rights (for example, through Magisk)
• 🛠️ Root Browser, Undeleter Recover Files & Data, Hex Editor

Step-by-step process:

1. Get root rights (see the instructions for your model on the forum) 4PDA)
2. Install Root Browser and go to the folder /data/media/0/DCIM
3. Enable the display of hidden files (option in file manager settings)
4. Look for files with the.jpg,.png, or.nomedia extension (sometimes deleted photos are hidden there)
5. For deep scanning, use Undeleter with the Deep Scan option

Risks and limitations:

• 🚫 Loss of warranty (if the phone is warranty) it is better to contact the service)
• 🔄 There may be a problem with the root after the root
• 🛡️ Some banking applications will stop working (due to a SafetyNet breach)

Alternative for users without root - use ADB (Android Debug Bridge. For example, you can try a command to find deleted files:

adb shell su -c "find /data -name '.jpg' -o -name '.png'"

But this method requires technical knowledge and is not always effective.

7. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If all independent attempts to restore the photo were unsuccessful, the last option is to contact the official service center Xiaomi.

When to go to the service:

• 💥 The phone is not switched on or detected by the computer.
• 🔧 Internal memory is damaged (system errors, cyclic reboot)
• 📱 The photos were critically important (e.g. documents or single copies)

What you need to know before your visit:

• 📋 Bring a check or purchase confirmation (for warranty service)
• 🔒 If the phone has been enabled Find Device (Mi Cloud), it may be asked to turn it off.
• 💰 Data recovery is a paid service (price depends on complexity, from 1,500 to 10,000 rubles)
• ⏳ Timeframes - from 3 days to 2 weeks

What to expect from the service:

• 🛠️ Use of professional equipment (e.g, PC-3000 or DeepSpar Disk Imager)
• 🔍 Memory analysis at the chip level (for physically damaged devices)
• 📊 Reporting of found files before recovery

⚠️ Note: Not all service centers are engaged in data recovery – check this by phone before visiting. Also be careful with informal workshops: there is a risk of personal data leakage or fraud.

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

To avoid the problem of deleted photos, set up a reliable backup system. Here are proven ways:

Automatic backups:

• ☁️ Mi Cloud: Enable Gallery Auto Sync in Settings → Mi Cloud → gallery
• ☁️ Google Photos: set up automatic download in original quality (requires a place in Google Account)
• 💾 Local Copying: Regularly transfer photos to a PC or external drive through a computer. MTP Xiaomi PC Suite

Additional protection measures:

• 🔄 Use a two-step shopping cart: first move the photo to the Temp folder, and after a month delete it.
• 📁 Separate the photo by folder (for example, 2026_Vacation, Documents – it is easier to control the deletion
• 🔒 Set a password to a folder with important photos (for example, through File Hide Expert or Vaulty)

Backup applications:

Tips for Redmi owners: In camera settings (Camera settings) → Additional) turn on the Save to the map option SD, If it's available, it'll reduce the load on the internal memory and make it easier to recover in the event of a system failure.

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The most reliable strategy is a combination of cloud backup (Google Photo or Mi Cloud) + It's local storage on your PC, so you're protected from data loss even if your phone is stolen or broken.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photo recovery on Xiaomi Redmi