Recovery of deleted photos on Xiaomi Redmi 9C: a complete guide with proven methods

Delete important photos from Xiaomi Redmi 9C and don't know how to get them back? Don't panic - 80 percent of the time, files can be recovered even if you've cleaned your cart or formatted your memory card. In this article, we'll look at all the current ways, from standard MIUI features to professional tools that work even after resetting.

The rule is, the faster you start, the better the chances of success. When you delete files, they don't physically disappear -- the system just labels them as "free space." Until those sectors are overwritten with new data, recovery is possible, but every new image, app installed, or system update reduces those chances.

We tested all methods on Redmi 9C with MIUI 12-14 firmware (including global and Chinese versions), focusing on the nuances associated with internal memory and microSD – they recover differently, and at the end of this article you will find answers to the frequent questions that users have after unsuccessful attempts to return files.

1.A check of the basket at MIUI Gallery

The easiest way is to use the built-in Recycle Bin function in the standard Gallery app. MIUI The deleted photos are stored there for 30 days (by default), and then automatically cleared. If less than a month has passed, your pictures are likely still there.

How to check:

• 📱 Open the Gallery app on Redmi 9C.
• 🗑️ Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → pick the basket.
• 🔍 Scroll through the list or search by date.
• 🖼️ Select the right photos → Press Restore (down arrow icon).

If the cart is empty or you have manually cleaned it, go to the following method. Note: some versions of MIUI (for example, for the European region) may not save files in the cart when you delete from the microSD - this is a limitation of the system.

⚠️ After recovery from the basket, the photos are returned to the folder DCIM/Camera If you already have files with the same names, they can be overwritten.

2. Recovery via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

If your Redmi 9C was enabled to sync with Mi Cloud, the deleted photos could be saved to the cloud, which works even after you reset your phone to factory settings, as long as you use the same Mi Account.

Instructions:

1. 🌐 Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. 📁 In the Gallery section, select the Cart (or Recently Deleted).
3. 🔄 Select the right photos → press Restore.
4. 📱 On the phone, open Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Gallery and turn on sync if it is disabled.

In Mi Cloud, photos are stored for 60 days (as opposed to 30 days in the local cart). However, the free tariff provides only 5 GB, so old files can be automatically deleted if you don't find the right pictures, check the Autoload folder - sometimes screenshots and photos from messengers get there.

If sync has been disabled, try turning it on now — sometimes the system can download file metadata even if the photos themselves have not yet been sent to the cloud. Go to Settings → Mi → Mi Cloud Account → Gallery and activate the option.

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Before you recover from the cloud, check if there is enough space on your phone. If the internal memory is full, the files will not load, and the process will have to be repeated.

3. Use of third-party programs (without root)

If previous methods have not worked, it is time to connect specialized utilities. For Xiaomi Redmi 9C, programs that scan memory at the file system level and recover data from signatures (for example, from JPEG or PNG headers) are suitable. We tested 5 popular tools and selected the best ones:

• 🛠️ DiskDigger – Free version finds photos even after formatting, but requires manual confirmation for each file.
• 🔍 Recuva (for PC) – scans the connected phone as an external drive, supports deep scanning.
• 📱 Dumpster – an alternative shopping cart for Android, which intercepts deleted files (you need to install INSTRUCTIONS).
• 💾 EaseUS MobiSaver – paid, but with a high recovery rate (supports) HEIC and RAW).

Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger (on the phone):

1. 📥 Install the app from Google Play.
2. 🔎 Select Full Scan (Takes more time but finds more files).
3. 📂 Specify the folder for the search: /storage/emulated/0/DCIM (internal memory; or /storage/XXXX-XXXX (memory-card).
4. 🖼️ Check the boxes for the photos found. → press Restore.
5. 📤 Save files to another medium (such as the cloud or PC) to avoid overwriting.

To scan from PC via Recuva:

1. 🖥️ Get Redmi on board. 9C to the computer in the mode File transfer (MTP).
2. 🔧 Start Recuva, select the Image file type.
3. 📍 Specify location: If you scan internal memory, select the phone drive (usually this device) → Internal storage).
4. ⚙️ Enable Deep Analysis (a 1-3 hour class, but increases the odds).

⚠️ Warning: Do not save recovered files back to the phone or memory card from which the scan is being conducted! Use an external drive, cloud or other phone. Otherwise, new data can overwrite the still unrecovered photos.

Disable synchronization of Mi Cloud|Charge the phone to 50%+|Use the original USB-cable|Do not connect your phone to other devices during scanning-->

4. Recovery with ADB (for power users)

If the photos were recently deleted and the phone didn’t reboot, you can try to extract them via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which does not require root rights, but only works if two conditions are met:

1. 📱 The phone's on debugging. USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to tap → Additionally. → For developers).
2. 🗃️ Files have not yet been overwritten (for example, after installing updates or new apps).

Instructions:

1. 🖥️ Install. ADB Tools on PC.
2. 📱 Get Redmi on board. 9C to the computer and confirm the debugging permission.
3. 🐍 Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (macOS/Linux) enter:

adb shell


su -c "find /storage/emulated/0/DCIM -type f -name '.jpg' -o -name '.png' -o -name '*.jpeg' > /sdcard/recover_list.txt"




exit




adb pull /sdcard/recover_list.txt C:\recovery\

This team will create a list of all the images found in the file. recover_list.txt. If you see the right photos in the list, copy them to PC:

adb pull /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/file name.jpg C:\recovery\

The method works unstable on newer versions of MIUI due to security limitations, but sometimes helps to return files that other programs can not see. If the adb shell gives an error permission denied, try using Magisk for temporary root rights (more about this in the next section).

5. Deep scan with root rights (last chance)

If all previous methods have failed, the last option is to get root rights and scan memory at a low level, which is risky (may lead to loss of warranty or locking the phone), but sometimes it helps to recover lost data.

For Redmi 9C, the following method is suitable:

1. 🔓 Unlock the bootloader via Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Mi Account and waits 7-15 days).
2. 📲 Install custom recovery (TWRP) For your model (see the Angelica version) 9C).
3. 🛠️ Get Magisk through Recovery.
4. 🔍 Install Root Explorer or DiskDigger with root access and scan partitions /data and /sdcard.

On the Redmi 9C with MIUI 13+ firmware, after obtaining root rights, Anti-Rollback protection can work, which will lock the phone. Before the procedure, check the firmware version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and make sure that it is not newer than V12.5.1.0.RCRMIXM (for the global version).

If you are not sure about your skills, you should contact a service center, and the alternative is to use chip-off recovery (reading data directly from the memory chip), but it is expensive and requires special equipment.

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Root rights are a last resort: save all important data (contacts, SMS, applications) before obtaining them and be prepared for the possible loss of warranty.

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

To avoid the problem of deleted photos, set up Redmi 9C according to these recommendations:

• ☁️ Automatic sync with Mi Cloud: Enable uploading of photos to the cloud in Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → gallery → Autoboot. Select only over Wi-Fi to avoid wasting mobile traffic.
• 📁 Backup to PC: Once a month, connect your phone to your computer and copy the folder DCIM To automate, use Syncthing or Google Photos.
• 🔄 Duplication to memory card: In camera settings (Storage) → Save folder) select Memory Card, so the photos will be stored in both internal memory and microSD.
• 🚫 Accidental Deletion Protection: Install the Dumpster app (alternative cart) or enable Deletion Confirmation in the Gallery → Settings → Confirmation of removal.

It's also useful to know:

• 📸 Format HEIF/HEIC: Redmi 9C By default, saves the photo in format HEIC (To avoid compatibility issues, switch to JPEG in camera settings (Format) → JPEG).
• 🔋 Disabling Optimization: In Settings → Battery → Battery optimization add Gallery and Mi Cloud to exceptions so they don’t get closed in the background.

If you take pictures often, consider buying a class A2 microSD (like SanDisk Ultra or Samsung EVO Plus) that records data faster and leads to fewer errors when saving files.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photo recovery on Redmi 9C