Recovering deleted photos on Xiaomi Redmi: all ways from the cart to deep scanning

Have you deleted important photos from Xiaomi Redmi and you don't know how to get them back? Don't panic -- even if they've disappeared from the gallery, they can often be recovered. In this article, we'll look at all the current methods, from standard MIUI features to professional deep memory scanning tools. It's important to act quickly -- the less time has passed since the removal, the better the chances of success.

Redmi smartphones (including the Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10/13C, and others) run on MIUI, which has its own file storage features, such as a built-in cart that takes photos after they are deleted — but it clears automatically after 30 days, and if you don't have time, you'll have to plug in more serious tools.

We tested all the methods on real devices and identified the ones that give the maximum result. Note: the effectiveness depends on the phone model, the version of MIUI and whether you recorded new data after the photo was deleted (this reduces the chances of recovery).

1.Check the basket at MIUI Gallery

The easiest way is to use the built-in shopping cart in the standard Gallery app, which works on all Redmis with MIUI 12 and later (including Redmi Note 10 Pro, Redmi 12, etc.) Photos are stored there for up to 30 days, after which they are permanently deleted.

How to restore:

• 📱 Open the Gallery app (a icon with colored squares).
• 🗑️ In the upper right corner, press three dots. → pick the basket.
• 🔍 Scroll down the list and tick the necessary photos.
• ↩️ Click Restore (Icon with a down arrow).

Nuance: If the cart is empty, check the filter by date — it is possible that the photos have been deleted long ago and have already been automatically cleared, and some users confuse the gallery basket with the Google Photos basket (if you use it).

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On Redmi with MIUI 14, the basket is hidden behind an extra swipe to the left in the gallery - try swiping your finger from the left edge of the screen to open it.

⚠️ Note: If you were manually cleaning the cart or using features like Memory Optimization in the Recycle Bin MIUI, The photos may have been deleted permanently, in which case you can proceed to the following methods.

2. Restore via Google Photos (if synchronized)

If your Redmi is synced to Google Photos, you can get deleted images back from the cloud, which works even if the photos were deleted months ago, so they can be uploaded to your account before they are deleted.

Instructions:

• 🌐 Open the Google Photos app (or install it from the Play Market if you have deleted it).
• 👤 Sign in to the same Google account that was linked to your phone during the deletion.
• ☁️ Go to the Library section → Recycle bin (photos stored there for 60 days).
• 📤 Select the files you need and click Restore.

Important: If the Google Photos settings enabled Memory Optimization, the original photos could be stored in the cloud in compressed form. Recovered images will be smaller (usually up to 16 MP instead of the original 48-108 MP on the Redmi Note 11 Pro+).

If you don't find a photo in the Google Photos Recycle Bin, check the archive: Library → Utilities → Archive. Sometimes, automatically hidden or duplicate images are included.

3. Connect to a PC and scan memory

If the photo is not in the cart or in the cloud, the next step is to connect Redmi to your computer and scan the internal memory with special programs. This method works even if the phone is not rooted, but it requires caution: do not write new files to the device until recovery!

The best recovery programs:

• 💻 Recuva (free, simple, suitable for beginners).
• 🔍 DiskDigger (there is a version for Android, but you need root for deep scanning).
• 🛠️ EaseUS MobiSaver (paid but with high recovery percentage).
• 📱 Dr.Fone (supports Xiaomi and restores even corrupted files).

Step-by-step instructions for Recuva:

1. Download and install Recuva on PC (official site).
2. Connect Redmi to your computer via USB-cable (select File Transfer Mode in the Notification Curtain).
3. Start Recuva, select the type of Image files.
4. Specify your phone’s drive (usually a removable drive called Redmi).
5. Press Analysis and wait for the scan to be completed (may take up to an hour).
6. Mark the photos found and click Restore, saving them to the PC.

Critical: Do not save recovered files back to your phone – this can overwrite the remaining data and make it impossible to recover further.

Do not connect your phone to charge during scanning

Use the original USB-cable

Disable autosynchronization with the clouds

Do not interrupt the scanning process-->

⚠️ Attention: Redmi with MIUI 13/14 And newer may need to unlock the debugging USB in the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — press 7 Once, then return to the additional → Without it, some programs will not see internal memory.

4.Recovery through MIUI backup

If you've ever backed up a photo through the built-in MIUI feature, there's a chance you can get it back from it, which is suitable for Redmi with any version of the shell, but requires that the backup be taken before the images are deleted.

How to restore:

• ⚙️ Go to Settings. → The phone. → Backup and reset.
• 🔄 Select Local Backups (if a copy is saved to your phone) or Restore from Mi Cloud (if backup is in the cloud).
• 📅 Find a backup with the desired date (check the size – if there is a photo, it will be more than 100-200 MB).
• 📤 Click Restore and select only Gallery (to avoid overwriting other data).

Limitations:

• 🚫 Local backups take up a lot of space and are often deleted automatically when memory is scarce.
• 🌥️ Cloud copies in Mi Cloud are only available if this service has been enabled (check Settings). → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud).
• ⏳ Recovery can take several hours if the copy is large.

If the backup is damaged or not opened, try to restore it through Mi PC Suite (the official software from Xiaomi for managing your phone from your computer).

5. Deep scanning with root rights (for experienced)

If all previous methods have failed, the last chance is deep root memory scanning, which is risky because it requires unlocking the bootloader and can lead to a loss of warranty, but it allows you to find photos deleted months ago.

Tools required:

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader on Redmi (instructions on the official Xiaomi website).
• 🤖 Established custom recovery (TWRP).
• 💾 DiskDigger (root version) or PhotoRec (Linux version).

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires linking your Xiaomi account to your device).
2. Install TWRP for your Redmi model (download the correct version from the XDA Developers forum).
3. Boot to TWRP (clip Power + Volume up when turned on).
4. Connect your phone to your PC and start DiskDigger with superuser rights.
5. Select the /data partition (where user files are stored) and run a deep scan.
6. Save the photo found on your PC or external memory card.

Risks:

• 🔴 Loss of warranty (if the phone is warranty, it is better to contact the service).
• 💥 The ability to “brick” the phone in case of firmware errors.
• 🛡️ Vulnerability to viruses (root access opens access to system files).

⚠️ Note: Redmi with MediaTek processors (e.g. Redmi) 10A, Redmi 9C) Unlocking the bootloader can be more difficult than on models with Snapdragon. Before you start, check the compatibility of your model on the forums.

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Deep root scanning is the only way to get back photos that were deleted more than 30 days ago, but it's only suitable for advanced users. If you're not sure about your skills, you should contact a specialist.

6. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If these self-propelled attempts fail, and the photos are extremely important (for example, they are the only copies of documents or family photos), it makes sense to contact the official Xiaomi service, they have professional equipment to recover data even from damaged drives.

What you need to know before your visit:

• 📋 Bring a check or a box from your phone (to confirm ownership).
• 🔒 If the phone has been turned on Protective mode (MIUI), It will have to be turned off (otherwise, the specialists will not be able to access the memory).
• 💰 The cost of restoration depends on the complexity: from 1,500 to 10,000 rubles (an average of 3,000–5,000 rubles). ₽).
• ⏱️ Timeframes - from 1 to 5 working days.

Addresses of service centers:

• 📍 Moscow: list on the official website.
• 📍 St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk and other cities - check by Yandex.Maps with the filter "Service center Xiaomi".

Before visiting, check by phone if they are engaged in data recovery - some centers specialize only in hardware repair, and ask if they guarantee the safety of other files (sometimes other data is lost during recovery).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many Redmi users make the same mistakes when trying to return deleted photos.

Another common problem is that users confuse deleted photos with hidden ones. MIUI has a hidden photo feature: check the.nomedia folder through the file manager (enable the display of hidden files in the settings), and photos can also be hidden in a Private Album (the Xiaomi gallery has such a section).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions