How to restore deleted photos on Xiaomi Mi 9T: all ways with a guarantee of results

Why are the photos disappearing from the Xiaomi Mi 9T and can they be returned?

Deleting photos on Xiaomi Mi 9T (aka Redmi K20) is often accidental: a mistaken tap, reset, a virus attack or even a bug in the Gallery app. Fortunately, owners of this smartphone have several ways to return lost photos - from basic (check basket) to advanced (use of a PC and specialized software).

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven recovery methods, including working with cloud services Mi Cloud and Google Photos, scanning internal memory through a computer, as well as the nuances associated with root rights and data encryption on the Mi 9T. Particular attention will be paid to typical errors that reduce the chances of success to zero – for example, installing new applications immediately after losing files.

Important: If photos were deleted from an encrypted partition (for example, through the Private Folder function in MIUI), standard methods will not work - you will need a backup or access to the encryption key, which we will also discuss below.

Method 1: Checking the basket in the Gallery application

The easiest way to get back photos is to use the built-in shopping cart in the Xiaomi Gallery app, where the deleted files are stored for 30 days by default, and then permanently erased.

1. Open the Gallery app on the Mi 9T.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select the basket.
3. Find the right photos, highlight them with a long tap and click Restore.

If the bin is empty or there are no photos, move on to the next method. Note: the bin only works for files deleted through the Gallery itself. If you cleared memory through Files or third-party applications (such as Clean Master), this method will not help.

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse the Gallery basket with the Google Shopping cart Photos are two different storages. If you've used Google autosynchronization, check it out (more on that below).

Check the folder. DCIM manually|Make sure photos are not hidden (enable hidden files to be displayed)|Try to recover via Mi Cloud|Do not write new files to your phone until recovery.-->

Method 2: Recovery with Mi Cloud and Google Photos

If the Mi 9T has been enabled to sync with cloud services, the chances of returning photos are much higher.

Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

The service automatically saves photos if the gallery Sync option is activated in the Mi Account settings to check:

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Choose the gallery and check if your photos are there.
3. If files are found, download them back to the device.

Google Photo

If you have used Google Photos to back up:

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Go to the Recycle Bin (files are stored there for 60 days).
3. Or check the Archive folder if the photos were moved there.

Important: Google Photos compresses images by default when uploaded to the cloud (High Quality option).If you need originals, check your backup settings - they may be saved in full resolution but take up space in your Google account.

Mi Cloud|Google Photo|Yandex Disc.|Other|Not using.-->

Method 3: Computer Recovery (without root)

If the photos aren't found in the cart or cloud, the next step is to connect the Mi 9T to a PC and scan the internal memory using specialized software.

• 🔍 Recuva (free version) – a simple utility for beginners, supports recovery from Android devices.
• 🛠️ DiskDigger (paid, but there is a trial version) – deeper scan, finds files even after formatting.

Step-by-step instructions for Recuva:

1. Connect Mi. 9T PC-only USB-cable (select File Transfer Mode (MTP) phone-on).
2. Install and run Recuva, select the type of Image files.
3. Specify the path to the phone’s internal memory (usually a Xiaomi Mi 9T drive or the like).
4. Run a deep scan and wait for the results.
5. Select the photos you found and click Restore by saving them to your PC.

Important: Don't save the recovered files back to your phone - this can overwrite the remaining data and make it impossible to recover further. Use an external drive or cloud.

⚠️ Attention: If on Mi 9T If you have encryption enabled, programs like Recuva can't read internal memory, and that's only a backup or root access.

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Before scanning, turn off the option "Optimization" on the phone. USB" This will increase the speed of data transfer and reduce the risk of errors.

Method 4: Restoration with root rights (for power users)

If previous methods have failed and photos are critical, you can try rooting and scanning memory at a low level, which is risky, because it can lead to loss of warranty or soft-brick of the device, and we recommend it only in extreme cases.

What will be required:

• 📱 Unlocked loader on Mi 9T (instructions on the official website of Xiaomi).
• 🔧 Established custom recaveri (TWRP).
• 💻 Autopsy or PhotoRec for deep scanning.

Instructions:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Mi Account binding and wait 7 days).
2. Install TWRP and make a full backup of the current firmware.
3. Connect your phone to your PC in ADB mode and use PhotoRec to scan the /data partition.

Warning: Once the bootloader is unlocked, all data, including photos in internal memory, is reset to the Mi 9T, so this method only makes sense if:

• You have a backup (but not the photos you need to recover).
• You are prepared to risk losing your guarantee.
• The photographs are stored on SD-map (can be extracted and scanned separately).

Method 5: Contact Xiaomi Service Center

If all the self-recovery efforts fail, the last chance is to contact Xiaomi's official service center, which has specialized equipment to extract data even from damaged memory chips.

• 💰 The cost of the service can reach 5-10 thousand rubles (depending on the complexity of the service).
• ⏳ The process takes from 3 to 10 working days.
• 🔒 Not all centers are taken for data recovery – check in advance.
• 📄 You will need proof of ownership of the device (checks, box).

Before the service visit:

1. Do not report that you have tried to recover data yourself (this can complicate the work of specialists).
2. Check if the center has experience with the Mi 9T (some models have unique storage schemes).
3. If the photos are critical (for example, for a court), request a certificate of attempted restoration.

⚠️ Attention: Service centers often offer "free diagnostics" but after that they may say that data cannot be recovered to sell you a new phone.

What NOT to do after removing photos

The mistakes that users make in the first hours after losing files often reduce the chances of recovery to zero.

• 📸 Taking new photos or videos – they will rewrite the memory sectors where old files were stored.
• 🎮 Install/remove applications – this also takes up space on the internal drive.
• 🔄 Perform a reset – this permanently erases all data, including hidden copies.
• 🔋 Discharge the phone to zero – at a critically low charge, the system can begin cleaning the cache, affecting deleted files.
• 💾 Format SD-map (if the photos were stored on it) – even fast formatting destroys the file table.

If you've already made one of these mistakes, don't panic -- try recovery methods on a PC or go to the service, but the more time has passed since you deleted, the lower the chances of success.

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The first 24 hours after deletion are critical, so don't use your phone to shoot, install apps or updates, and the fewer write-to-disk operations, the more likely you are to recover.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photo recovery on Mi 9T