Recovery of deleted photos on Xiaomi Redmi 4X: from the cart to deep scanning

You deleted important photos from Xiaomi Redmi 4X and now you don't know how to get them back? The situation is familiar to many: accidentally clicking, resetting, or even a virus can deprive you of valuable images. Fortunately, there are chances of recovery — even if the files were erased days or weeks ago. In this article, we will analyze all the available methods, from the simplest (check basket) to advanced (using a PC and specialized software), taking into account the features of the Redmi 4X.

It's important to understand that success depends on how long ago you deleted the photo and whether you wrote new data to your phone after that. The faster you act, the better the odds. Some ways work even without root rights, others require a computer connection. We will also show you how to get around the restrictions. MIUI (like a hidden folder DCIM/.thumbnails), What prevents standard programs from finding lost files.

1.A check of the basket at MIUI Gallery

The first thing you need to do is to look into the built-in Recycle Bin of the Gallery app, and on Redmi 4X with MIUI 8-12, the photos are not deleted immediately, they are placed in a temporary storage facility that lasts from 7 to 30 days (depending on the firmware version) to return them:

1. Open the Gallery app (a icon with colored squares).
2. Slip on three horizontal lines (menu) in the upper right corner.
3. Select the Recycle Bin (or Recently Deleted in Older Versions).
4. Find the right photos, click on them and select Restore.

If the cart is empty or not on the menu, it means:

• 📅 The photos were deleted more than a month ago (the storage period has expired).
• 🗑️ You cleaned the cart manually through Settings → Warehouse → Clean the basket.
• 🔄 The firmware has been updated or reset to factory settings.

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 13+ The cart can be disabled by default. To turn it on, go to Gallery Settings. → Basket → Turn it on.

2. Restore via Google Photos (if synchronized)

If your Redmi 4X has been enabled to sync with Google Photos, the chances of returning images are extremely high.

1. Open the Google Photos app (if not, install it from the Play Market).
2. Log in to the same Google account that was linked to your phone at the time of deletion.
3. Go to the Photos tab and scroll down - there may be old shots there.
4. If the photo is not in the main feed, check the Archive or Recycle Bin (on the menu on the left).

If sync has been disabled, but you remember uploading photos to Google Photos, try:

• 🔍 Enter a Google Photo search query by date (e.g. May 2023) or location.
• 📁 Screenshots, Downloads or Camera folders – sometimes photos are duplicated there automatically.
• 🖥️ Go to the site photos.google.com from a computer - there is more convenient to search.

Important nuance: Redmi 4X with MIUI 9-10 sometimes gets a bug when Google Photos doesn’t sync photos in the background. If you suspect this is your case, try manually running sync through Settings → Accounts → Google → Sync.

3. Search for hidden and temporary files manually

MIUI creates temporary copies and thumbnails of photos that can remain even after the originals are deleted, and these files are stored in hidden folders and are not usually displayed in the gallery.

1. Connect Redmi 4X to your computer via USB (in File Transfer mode).
2. Open the phone’s internal memory and go to the DCIM folder.
3. Enable the display of hidden files (in Windows: View → Hidden Items).
4. Check folders:.thumbnails – thumbnails (may be of poor quality, but better than nothing)..cache – cache gallery, sometimes containing originals. Camera/burst — If the photo was taken in serial mode.

If you don’t want to connect your phone to your PC, use the file manager on the device itself (such as Mi File Explorer or Solid Explorer).

Check the folder.thumbnails in DCIM|Look for files with the.jpg.thumb extension|View the cache of the Gallery app in /data/data/com.miui.gallery (root)|Sort files by date of change – new ones can overwrite old ones-->

⚠️ Warning: Do not rename or move files from.thumbnails or.cache folders directly, this may disrupt the gallery.

4. PC recovery: programs for deep scanning

If previous methods have failed, it's time to plug in specialized data recovery software that scans the phone's memory at a low level and can find photos even after formatting. 4X fit:

Instructions for DiskDigger (one of the most effective options without root):

1. Download and install DiskDigger on your PC (or phone if you’re using the Android version).
2. Connect Redmi 4X to your computer in file transfer (MTP) mode.
3. Run the program and select the disk corresponding to the memory of the phone.
4. Press Dig Deep (deep scan) and wait until it is completed (may take hours).
5. Tag the photos you find (usually displayed as JPEG or PNG) and click Recover.

Tip to increase odds: If the photo was on the memory card, remove it from your phone and connect it to your PC through a card reader, so that programs can scan it directly, without the limitations of MIUI.

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If the program finds photos but they open as broken (black screen or artifacts), try to restore them in RAW format and then convert them through Photoshop or GIMP.

5. Restoration with root rights (advanced method)

If you're ready to root on Redmi 4X, the chances of getting your photos back are much higher. Root allows programs to scan system partitions that MIUI doesn't normally allow, and the downsides of the method are the risk of losing warranty and disrupting your phone.

For recovery from root:

1. Get root via Magisk or SuperSU (instructions for Redmi 4X are available on the 4PDA forum).
2. Install Root Explorer or FX File Explorer.
3. Go to /data/data/com.miui.gallery/cache, where the original deleted photos may be located.
4. Use Undeleter Recover Files & Data (requires root) for deep scanning.

⚠️ Warning: Avoid "handicraft" masters who promise to restore data for 500 rubles. Unqualified actions can permanently erase a photo or damage the memory of the phone.

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If your photos are of high value (such as the only shots from an important event), don’t experiment with software recovery yourself – every wrong step reduces your chances of success in the service center.

7. How to prevent future photo loss

To avoid the problem of lost photos, set up Redmi 4X according to these rules:

1. Turn on automatic synchronization: 📱 Google Photos: Settings → Backup and synchronization → Turn it on. 🌥️ Mi Cloud: Settings → Accounts. → Mi Cloud → Synchronization of the gallery.

Regularly copy the photo on PC:

DCIM/Camera

Use the memory card:

Camera settings → Storage → Memory card

Install a reliable file manager:

Solid Explorer

FX File Explorer

Also avoid:

• ❌ Cleaning the gallery cache through Settings → Annexes → gallery → Clean the cache - there can be stored miniatures.
• ❌ Use cleaners like Clean Master – they often delete temporary files that could help with recovery.
• ❌ Formatting memory through settings → Warehouse → Format without backup.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photo recovery on Redmi 4X