How to recover deleted photos on Xiaomi smartphone: from the cart to deep scanning

You are not alone: according to statistics, one in three smartphone users at least once lost data due to accidental deletion, resetting or system failure. Fortunately, Xiaomi devices have several built-in protection mechanisms, as well as third-party tools that will help restore pictures even after cleaning the cart.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to restore photos, from basic (check cloud copies and system basket) to advanced (using ADB and specialized utilities like DiskDigger or Recuva), especially focusing on unique MIUI firmware chips that are often overlooked, such as the hidden folder.thumbnails or backups in Mi Cloud, available even after a hard reset.

Important: The effectiveness of recovery depends on how long it has been since you deleted it and how much you have used your phone, and the faster you take action, the better the chances of returning the files to their original quality.

1.Check the basket at MIUI Gallery

MIUI firmware saves deleted photos in a special Recycle Bin folder for up to 30 days (depending on the model and version of the system), the first and easiest way to return photos without third-party tools.

To recover files:

• 📱 Open the standard Gallery app (not third-party managers like Google Photos!).
• 🗑️ In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select "Baskbasket".
• 🔍 Scroll through the list and tick the photos you want. Click "Restore" (down arrow icon).
• 📂 Files will return to the same folder they were deleted from (e.g. Camera or Screenshots).

If the Recycle Bin folder is empty or missing, check the settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Gallery → Recycle Bin Settings.
2. Make sure the option "Save Deleted Files" is enabled.
3. Look at the shelf life – if it costs 0 days, the basket is turned off.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) POCO X3) The basket can be hidden. To activate it, clear the gallery cache in the app settings.

2. Recovery via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

Mi Cloud is a cloud service from Xiaomi that automatically syncs photos, contacts and other data. If sync was enabled before deleting files, the chances of recovery are high.

How to check and restore photos:

• ☁️ Open the Settings. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud.
• 📊 Make sure the Synchronization Gallery slider is active. If not, turn it on and wait until the process is complete.
• 🔄 Go to i.mi.com and log in to the same account.
• 🖼️ In the "Gallery" section, find the folder Remote or Archive (depending on the version of the service).

If the photo is not in the cloud, try to restore the previous version of the backup:

1. On the Mi Cloud website, go to Settings → Manage backups.
2. Select the device and date of the copy before deleting the photo.
3. Click "Restore" and confirm the action.

⚠️ Note: If you logged out of your Mi Account after deleting your photo, backups may have been deleted from the servers.

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Before recovering from the cloud, check the available space on your phone. If there is not enough memory, the service can interrupt the download of files.

3. Use of Google Photos (if synchronization was enabled)

If you've used the Google Photos app, check its shopping cart, which stores photos for 60 days (as opposed to 30 days in MIUI), and even if the sync was disabled, some of the images could have been saved in cache.

Instructions:

• 📷 Open the Google Photos app.
• 🗑️ In the menu (three lines at the top left) select "Basket".
• 🔍 Find the right photos, click on them and select "Restore".
• 📥 If the basket is empty, check the Archive or Folders from the device – sometimes the files remain there.

If the photos were uploaded to Google Photos Cloud but deleted from your phone:

1. Go to photos.google.com.
2. On the left menu, select "Basket".
3. Tag files and click Restore – they will return to the main gallery.

⚠️ Attention: Google Photos compresses photos in unlimited storage (quality "High"). If you need original resolution, look for copies in Mi Cloud or on a memory card.

4. Deep Memory Scanning with DiskDigger

If photos aren't found in baskets and clouds, it's time for advanced tools. DiskDigger is one of the most effective applications for recovering deleted files on Android. It scans internal memory and microSD card, even finding fragmented data.

Step-by-step:

1. 📥 Install DiskDigger from Google Play.
2. 🔍 Launch the app and select "Full Scan" (requires root rights for maximum efficiency).
3. 📁 Specify the section for scanning: 📱 Internal memory – for photos taken by the phone camera. 💾 Map. SD — If the photo is stored on an external storage device.

⏳ Wait for the scan to finish (may take 10 minutes to several hours).

"Restore."

SD-map

DiskDigger can recover photos even after the phone is reset to factory settings, unless the new data overwrites the old memory sectors, but without root access, some files can be found in low resolution.

5. Recovery through ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can try manual recovery via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is suitable for users willing to work with the command line and requires debugging over USB.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 📱 Xiaomi phone with enabled debugging USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers).
• 🔌 USB-Type C Cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command prompt (cmd) and type: Adb devices Make sure the device is defined.
3. Create a backup copy of the photo section (for example, /data/media/0/DCIM): adb pull /data/media/0/DCIM C:\Xiaomi_Recovery
4. Use the PhotoRec utility (part of the TestDisk package) to scan the data obtained: photorec /d C:\Xiaomi_Recovery

Advantages of the method: allows you to recover photos even with a corrupted file system, disadvantages: it requires technical skills and does not guarantee 100% results.

⚠️ Attention: Do not use ADB To change system files, this can lead to a device blink (completely inoperable.

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ADB-The method is the last chance to return a photo if other methods have failed, and its effectiveness depends on whether the memory sectors have been overwritten with new data.

6. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If the photos are critical (for example, they are the only copies of documents or memorable images), and independent attempts to restore failed, you should contact the official service center of Xiaomi.

What you need to know before your visit:

• ⏳ Recovery period – from 1 to 5 working days.

Addresses of service centers can be found on the official website: mi.com/ru/service/center.

Alternatively, data recovery labs like Hetzner Recovery or ACELab work with physically damaged storage devices, but the cost of services starts at 10,000 rubles.

7. How to prevent future photo loss

The best way to keep your photo safe is to set up automatic backups in advance.

• ☁️ Mi Cloud: Enable Gallery Sync in Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud. Install "Suppress Wi-Fi" to avoid wasting mobile traffic.
• 📤 Google Photos: Set up "Backup and Sync" in the app. Select the "Original" quality if it's important to keep the original resolution.
• 💾 Local Copies: Move your photos to a microSD or external hard drive regularly. Use file managers like Solid Explorer for automatic backup.
• 🔄 PC Sync: Connect your phone to your computer once a month and copy the folder DCIM disk.

Additional advice:

• 🚫 Don't store photos in just one place (for example, only on your phone "3-2-1": 3 copy 2 carrier, 1 out-of-home.
• 🔋 Before resetting your phone to factory settings, remove the memory card - it is not affected when resetting.
• 📵 Avoid using functions like "Memory Optimization" in MIUI — They can automatically delete old photos.

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Create a hidden folder on a memory card (for example,.backup_photos) Set up automatic copying of important photos via Tasker or Automate.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photo recovery on Xiaomi