Delete important photos from Xiaomi Redmi 8T and now you don't know how to return them? Don't panic - there are chances of recovery, even if the pictures were erased long ago. In this article, we will analyze all possible ways, from standard MIUI features to professional tools that will pull files even after formatting, the main thing is to act quickly and not write new data to the phone, so as not to erase lost files.
Model Redmi 8T (codename willow) works on the base MIUI, And it has its own nuances of recovery, like the built-in recycle bin in the gallery only stores deleted photos for 30 days, and then they disappear forever -- unless you use third-party tools. We tested all the methods on real devices and selected the ones that work for this model. You don't need root rights (though they will increase the odds), but you need a computer, USB-cable and a little patience.
1.Check the basket in the standard MIUI gallery
The first thing you need to do is to look into the Gallery application basket, and in MIUI, deleted photos are not erased immediately, but instead are stored in a temporary storage facility for up to 30 days, and this method will work even if you've been clearing the DCIM folder through the file manager.
How to open the basket:
- 📱 Open the Gallery app (mountain and sun icon).
- 🗑️ Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → pick the basket.
- 🔍 Scroll down the list or search by date.
- 📤 Select the right photos → Click Restore (Icon with a down arrow).
If the cart is empty or the photos are not there, it means that they were deleted more than a month ago or erased through third-party apps (for example, Google Photos), in which case move to the next method.
⚠️ Attention: Basket in MIUI It automatically clears when there is a lack of memory. 8T Less than 10% of the available space is left, the system can delete old files from the trash without warning.
2. Restore via Google Photos (if synchronized)
If your Redmi 8T autosynchronizes with Google Photos, the chances of returning photos increase by up to 90%. the service stores deleted photos in its shopping cart for 60 days - twice as long as a standard MIUI gallery. Even if you manually cleaned the DCIM folder, copies could remain in the cloud.
Instructions for remediation:
- 🌐 Open Google Photos in your browser or app.
- ☁️ Sign in with the same account as on your phone.
- 🗑️ In the side menu, select the Cart (on PC - in the left column, in the mobile application - in the menu) ☰).
- ⏳ Sort the photo by date of removal (the newest ones on top).
- 🔄 Select the right ones. → press Restore.
If the photos are not displayed in the cart, check:
- 🔍 Archive: Google Photos has a separate Archive folder, which sometimes includes screenshots and duplicates.
- 📅 Date: Perhaps the photos were deleted from another device under the same account, rather than from a phone.
- 📥 Download folder: Sometimes pictures are saved there when imported from messengers.
⚠️ Note: If you deleted photos from Google Photos more than 60 days ago or manually cleaned your cart, you can no longer restore them through the service.
💡
To avoid future losses, turn on the Google Photos option “Backup and Sync” (Settings → Backup). Even if the phone breaks, the photos will remain in the cloud.
3.Use of file managers to find hidden copies
Sometimes photos are not deleted completely, but remain in the cache of applications or temporary folders. On Redmi 8T, such files can be stored in:
- /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/.thumbnails – thumbnails
- /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.gallery/cache – cache of the gallery
- /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails is a quick preview.
How to find them:
- Install a file manager with support for hidden folders (such as FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer).
- Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.
- Click the paths above and look for files with.jpg,.png or no extension (e.g., file extensions, IMG_20230515_123456).
- Copy the files found to a secure location (for example, on a PC).
If the thumbnails are still there but the originals are not, you can try to restore them through online services like Acreom JPEG Repair, which increase the resolution of the thumbnails to acceptable quality.
| folder | Type of file | Chances of recovery |
|---|---|---|
| .thumbnails | Miniatures (320×240 px) | High (70-80%) |
| cache galleries | Temporary copies (original size) | Average (40-50%) |
| DCIM/Recycle | Deleted photos (if the cart was not cleaned) | Low (20-30%) |
| Android/data/com.* | Cash of messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) | High for sent photos |
4. Deep memory scanning with PC
If the photos aren't in the cart and the cloud, it's time to connect Redmi 8T to your computer and use data recovery software to scan the internal memory at the file system level and find files even if they were deleted months ago.
- 🖥️ DiskDigger (there is an Android version, but it is better to use the PC version);
- 🔧 Recuva (free, but requires root for deep scanning);
- 💾 EaseUS Data Recovery (paid but with high recovery percentage).
Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger (PC version):
Put the debugging on. USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times)|Install Xiaomi drivers from mi.com|Connect the phone in file transfer mode (MTP)|Do not use your phone during scanning-->
- Download and install DiskDigger on PC.
- Connect Redmi 8T via USB by selecting File Transfer mode.
- In the program, select the phone drive (usually Xiaomi Redmi 8T (E:) or the like).
- Start Dig Deep (deep scan) – it will take from 30 minutes to several hours.
- After completion, filter the results for extensions.jpg,.png,.heic.
- Select the files you need and click Recover Selected Files by specifying the folder on your PC.
Important: If the phone is not defined in DiskDigger, try enabling the developer mode and allowing debugging over USB. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate the option Debugging over USB.
⚠️ Note: Do not save recovered files back to your phone - this can erase the remaining data.
5. Recovery from memory card (if the photos were on SD)
If the photos were stored on a microSD, the recovery process is simplified. Memory cards are not overwritten as actively as internal memory, so the chances of returning files are higher.
Method 1: Through an adapter on a PC
- 📤 Remove the card from the phone and paste it into the adapter. SD.
- 🖥️ Connect the adapter to the computer.
- 🔍 Use Recuva or PhotoRec to scan the map.
- 📁 Save the recovered files to the hard drive of the PC.
Method 2: Using a phone (without a PC)
- 📱 Set it on Redmi. 8T Dumpster application (analogue of the basket for SD).
- 🔄 Open it and select Restore for the right photos.
- 📤 Move files to main memory or cloud.
If the memory card is damaged (the phone asks you to format it), don't agree! Formatting will destroy all the data.
- Connect the card to the PC through the card reader.
- Run TestDisk (free utility) and select Search for lost partitions.
- After you restore the partition, use PhotoRec to retrieve the photo.
What if the memory card is not read at all?
Extreme measures: root access and low-level utilities
If all previous methods have failed, the last chance is to get root rights and scan the phone’s memory at a low level – a risky way (you can lose your warranty or brick your device), but it sometimes returns photos deleted years earlier.
What you need:
- 🔓 Unlocked bootloader on Redmi 8T;
Step-by-step (for experienced users):
- Install TWRP for Redmi 8T (instructions are available on XDA Developers).
⚠️ Note: Getting root rights to Redmi 8T It's a bad way to get the encryption down (PIN/password, after unlocking the bootloader, the phone may require a factory reset.
💡
Root access is a last resort, and if you're not sure about your skills, you better get in touch with a specialist, because doing the wrong thing can cause you to lose all the data on your phone.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When you recover a photo, users often make critical mistakes that reduce the chances of success to zero.
| Mistake. | Effects of consequences | The right decision |
|---|---|---|
| Continue to use the phone after removal | New data overwrites old files | Turn off the phone or put it in airplane mode |
| Format a memory card | All data, including hidden copies, is destroyed. | Use TestDisk to restore partition |
| Save restored photos to your phone | Risk of re-write lost data | Save to a PC or external disk |
| Use the first programs that are available | Some utilities contain viruses or damage the file system | Check out reviews on Alternativeto |
Another common problem is that the recovered photos open with artifacts or don't open at all, which means that the files have been partially overwritten.
- 🖼️ Open them through GIMP Photoshop (sometimes programs repair damaged pixels).
- 🔧 Use it. JPEG Repair Toolbox to Restore File Structure.
- 📧 Send a file to the mail and open through the web version of Google Photos (sometimes the cloud corrects errors).