Recovery of deleted photos on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: from the cart to deep scanning

Why are the photos disappearing from the Redmi Note 8 and can they be returned?

Deleting photos on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is often random: a mistaken tap, reset, memory card damage, or even viral attacks. Fortunately, in 80% of cases, files are not permanently erased - they are simply marked by the system as "free space" and can be restored until new data is overwritten. The rule is the sooner you start acting, the better the chances of returning the images in their original quality.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven methods, from standard MIUI tools to professional PC utilities that work even if photos were deleted months ago, and focus on the nuances of Redmi Note 8: its F2FS file system, microSD features, and limitations when root-free, and how to increase your chances of recovery from 30% to 90% through the right actions in the first hours after removal.

Method 1: Checking the “Basket” in the MIUI Gallery

The standard Gallery app on Redmi Note 8 automatically sends deleted photos to the Recycle Bin, where they are stored for 30 days, which works even if you have cleared the DCIM folder through the file manager.

To recover the photo:

• 📂 Open the Gallery app → tap three points in the upper right corner → pick the basket.
• 🔍 Scroll through the list or search by date (if there are a lot of photos).
• 🖼️ Select the desired pictures with a long tap → Press Restore (arrow icon down).
• 📁 Photos will return to the Camera folder or the directory from which they were deleted.

⚠️ Note: If the Recycle Bin is empty, check the settings of the gallery. MIUI The function is disabled by default. Go to Gallery Settings → Basket → Turn on the basket.

Check the folder. MIUI/Backup/AllBackup backup|

Connect your phone to your PC and search for files via Total Commander|

Make sure the photo is not hidden (turn on hidden folders in the gallery)|

Try a different file manager (for example, FX File Explorer)-->

Method 2: Restore through Google Photos (if synced)

If your Redmi Note 8 has autosynchronized with Google Photos, all deleted images can be returned within 60 days via the web version of the service, which works even if the photos were erased from the memory card.

Instructions:

1. Open your browser on your PC or phone and go to photos.google.com.
2. Sign in with the same Google account that is linked to your phone.
3. In the left menu, select the basket → find the desired photos.
4. Select them and click Restore (photos will return to the main library).

🔹 Nuance for Redmi Note 8: If the photo was shot in the format HEIF (extension.heic), Google Photos may not sync them automatically. Check the camera app settings → Photo format → Choose. JPEG future pictures.

Yes, Google Photo|

Yes, MI Cloud|

Yes, another service (Yandex, iCloud, etc.)|

No, I'm not using |

I don't know what it is.-->

* Provided that the memory area has not been overwritten by new files.

Method 3: Deep scanning via PC (without root)

If the photos are deleted long ago or the basket is empty, specialized software for data recovery will help. 8 Programs that support the file system are suitable F2FS (is used by default and exFAT/FAT32 (For memory cards, the best options:

• 💻 DiskDigger – free version scans without root, but shows thumbnails (full recovery paid).
• 🔧 Recuva – free, but requires phone connection in mode MTP (guideline).
• 🛠️ EaseUS MobiSaver – paid, but with a high recovery rate for Xiaomi.

Step-by-step instructions for Recuva:

1. Download and install Recuva on PC.
2. Connect the Redmi Note 8 to your computer USB-cable (select File Transfer Mode (MTP) notice-curtain).
3. Run Recuva → select All files → specify your phone’s drive (usually a removable drive).
4. Click Analysis → wait until the scan is completed (may take 1-2 hours).
5. Note the photos found (note the condition – green indicates a high probability of recovery).
6. Click Restore and save files on PC (not on phone!).

⚠️ Warning: Never save recovered photos back to the Redmi Note 8 or the memory card from which they were deleted! this will overwrite the remaining scraps of data and make it impossible to restore other files.

💡

If the program does not see the phone, try to enable debugging by USB In the developer settings. Go to Settings for that. → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times, then return to the Additional settings → For developers → Debugging by USB.

Method 4: Restore from MIUI backup

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 automatically creates local backups of photos if you turn on the backup function in the settings. These copies are stored in the folder MIUI/Backup/AllBackup and may contain deleted pictures.

How to check:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Backup.
2. If it's older than the date the photo was deleted, chances are high.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and go to Internal Memory → MIUI → Backup → AllBackup.
4. Find the folder with the date preceding the deletion and copy it to your computer.
5. Use an archiver (such as 7-Zip) to extract files from the backup (they can be in.tar or.mbk format).

🔹 Important: Local backups MIUI It doesn't always contain the original photos, sometimes only thumbnails are saved. For full recovery, it's best to combine this method with others (for example, scanning via PC).

Method 5: ADB-Experienced user teams (requires root)

If you have root rights to the Redmi Note 8, you can try to recover photos via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that is suitable for files deleted even a few months ago, but requires technical skills.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB Tools on your PC.
2. Connect your phone in USB Debugging mode (see tip above).
3. Open the command line in the ADB folder and execute: adb shell su cd /sdcard/DCIM/Camera ls -la (replace the path if the photos were stored in another folder).
4. Check for ghost files with the.thumb or.nomedia extension – they can be restored by the command: cp /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/file name.jpg /sdcard/Download/

⚠️ Warning: Misuse of the right ADB root rights can cause data loss or system damage. If you are not sure about your actions, you should consult other methods or a specialist.

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Root rights increase the chances of recovery by up to 80%, but they deprive you of warranties and increase security risk. On the Redmi Note 8, you can get root through Magisk, but this requires unlocking the bootloader (official instructions on the Xiaomi website).

What do you do if nothing helps?

If all of these methods fail, extreme measures remain:

• 🔄 Contact the service center: Professionals use professional equipment (such as Chip-Off) that reads data directly from the memory chip. Cost: 3,000 to 10,000 ₽.
• 💾 Trying to recover through TWRP: If the phone has custom recavers, you can flash a module for data recovery (for example, Undelete for the phone). TWRP).
• 📧 Check other clouds: Photos may have synced with MI Cloud, Yandex Drive or Dropbox (check all linked accounts).

🔹 Last Chance: If the photos were of high value (such as wedding or documents), contact a data recovery lab, such as a data recovery lab. HDD Recovery or Data Recovery: They work with physically damaged drives and can retrieve data even after formatting.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photo recovery on Redmi Note 8