Recovering Deleted Videos on Xiaomi Android: From Recycle Bin to Deep Scanning

Deleting video from a Xiaomi smartphone is one of the most painful mistakes for users, especially when it comes to family archives, important moments or work materials. Fortunately, even after cleaning the gallery or formatting the memory card, the chances of recovery remain — but only with the right actions in the first hours after the incident.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to return deleted video files on Xiaomi devices (including the Redmi Note 12/13, Poco X5/F5, Mi 11/12/13 and others). From standard MIUI features to professional tools like DiskDigger or EaseUS MobiSaver – taking into account the features of the F2FS/ext4 file system used by modern smartphones of the brand. Importantly, the effectiveness of the methods depends on whether you write new data to the device after deletion – each new file reduces the chances of success.

If the video was recently deleted (within 30 days), start with the first section about the built-in cart. For complex cases (after resetting or damaging memory), go straight to the ways you use the PC. And remember, the faster you act, the more likely you are to return lost footage.

1.A check of the basket at MIUI Gallery

Modern versions of the MIUI 14/15 shell (and even older ones starting with MIUI 12) automatically send deleted media files to a temporary shopping cart, and by default, the videos are stored there for up to 30 days — unless you manually cleaned them.

1. Open the standard Gallery app (flower icon).
2. Slip on three horizontal lines (menu) in the lower right corner.
3. Select the Recycle Bin (or Recently Deleted in some versions).
4. Find the right video, click on it and select Restore.

If the cart is empty or the video is not there, it is possible:

• 🗑️ The file was deleted more than a month ago (autocleaning).
• 📱 You used a third-party gallery (like Google Photos) that doesn’t sync with the shopping cart. MIUI.
• 🔄 The video was removed from the microSD card, which has a separate basket (see next section).

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi firmware for China (e.g. China) ROM) The cart can be disabled by default. To activate it, go to Gallery Settings. → Basket → Turn on.

2. Recovery from microSD memory card

If the video was stored on a microSD, the algorithm of actions is different: memory cards use the FAT32 or exFAT file system, where deleted files are not erased immediately, but only marked as "free space", which gives a good chance of recovery, but only before writing new data.

Step 1: Remove the card from your smartphone and do not use it until the procedure is complete. Connect to the PC via a card reader (not your phone!).

Step 2: Use one of the recovery programs:

Step 3: In the program, select the memory card as the target disk, specify the file format (e.g.,.mp4,.mov,.3gp) and start the scan. The process can take anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours, depending on the size of the card.

⚠️ Note: If the memory card was formatted in the phone, the chances of recovery fall to 30%.In this case, use PhotoRec in deep scan mode - it looks for file signatures, not metadata.

Remove the card from the phone

Do not record new data

Connect via card reader to PC

Select a program that supports FAT32/exFAT

Scan only the desired formats (mp4, mov, etc.)

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3. Use of backup copies

Many Xiaomi users are unaware that their devices automatically back up media files — if you have Mi Cloud or Google Photos enabled, you can check this in a few minutes:

Method 1: Mi Cloud

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Make sure that the gallery synchronization slider is active.
3. Open the web version of Mi Cloud on PC, log in and check the Gallery folder.

Method 2: Google Photos

• 📱 Open the Google Photos app on your phone.
• 🔍 In the search bar, enter the title of the video or the date of shooting.
• 🗑️ Check the Recycle Bin section in the menu (stores files for 60 days).
• ☁️ If there is no video, check the web version – sometimes files are only available there.

Method 3: Local backups

Some Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro or Mi 11 Ultra) create local backups when connected to the Mi PC Suite.

1. Connect your phone to your computer via USB (File Transfer Mode).
2. Go to Internal Storage → MIUI → Backup → AllBackup.
3. Look for files with the.mbk extension – you can open them through the Mi PC Suite.

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If the video was shot in the Camera app from Xiaomi, check the DCIM/.thumbnails folder - sometimes there are thumbnails of deleted files, which can be restored to the original through special utilities.

4. Recovery without ROOT-rights (for internal memory)

If the video was stored in the phone's internal memory and the cart is empty, there are two options: use programs that run without superuser rights, or access the system's log files. The first method is simpler, but less effective.

Recovery programs without ROOT:

• 📱 DiskDigger (free version scans only thumbnails).
• 📱 Undeleter Recover Files & Data (supported by the F2FS).
• 🖥️ Dr.Fone (requires a PC connection).

Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger:

1. Download DiskDigger from Google Play.
2. Launch the app and select Start a simple scan.
3. Check the formats MP4, MOV, 3GP.
4. Wait until the scan is over and save the files found to a memory card or cloud.

If the program does not find a video, try an alternative method using ADB (Android Debug Bridge):

adb shell


su




find /data/media/0 -name ".mp4" -o -name ".mov" -o -name "*.3gp" > /sdcard/recovery_list.txt

This team will create a file. recovery_list.txt on a memory card with a list of all video files, including deleted (but not yet overwritten) ADB and the debugging on USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI — slip 7 once, then additionally → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Reconstruction of c ROOT-rights (advanced method)

If your Xiaomi has one, ROOT-access (or you are willing to get it), the chances of recovery increase to 70-80%. This is because programs access raw memory partitions where data is stored even after formatting.

Step 1: Receiving ROOT-rights

For modern models (Redmi Note 12, Poco X5 and later) use:

• 🔓 Magisk (recommended) – does not block MIUI And it's coming through SafetyNet.
• 🔓 OrangeFox Recovery – for installation through custom Recovery.

Step 2: Scanning with ROOT

The best programs for working with root access:

• 🛠️ DiskDigger Pro (full version with deep scanning).
• 🛠️ GT Recovery (specialized in the F2FS).
• 🛠️ Hexamob Recovery (supports recovery of fragmented files).

Step 3: Manual Search through ADB

If automatic tools don’t help, you can manually scan the memory sections:

adb shell


su




cd /data/media/0




ls -la | grep -E "\.mp4|\.mov|\.3gp" > /sdcard/lost_videos.txt

This command saves a list of all video files (including deleted ones) to the file. lost_videos.txt. You can try to restore them using dd or specialized utilities.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with F2FS (File system default in new Xiaomi recovery is more difficult than on the ext4. If the video was recorded in 4K or high bitrate, files are often fragmented and their recovery requires professional tools like R-Studio.

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ROOT-Access increases the chances of recovery, but risks cancelling the warranty and blocking some features (like banking apps or Google Pay.

6. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If all independent attempts fail, the last option is professional recovery. Xiaomi service centers in Russia and the CIS do not deal with the return of deleted data, but there are specialized laboratories that work with chip memory (eMMC/UFS).

When to apply:

• 💔 Video is critical (e.g. evidence for the court).
• 📱 Device physically damaged (not turned on, not detected by PC).
• 🔍 You have tried all the software methods, but to no avail.

Cost and risk:

How to choose a laboratory:

• 🔍 Look for feedback on forums (4PDA, Xiaomi Community).
• 📄 Require a contract with a success rate.
• 💰 Beware of too low prices – it could be a scam.

Don’t try to disassemble your phone before you go to the service, as this can lead to irretrievable data loss, and make sure that the lab works with your Xiaomi model (for example, the Redmi Note 11 and Poco F4 have different types of memory).

7.Prevention: How to Avoid Losing Video in the Future

The best way to avoid losing your video is to set up your backup in advance. Here are proven methods for Xiaomi owners:

Automatic synchronization:

• ☁️ Google Photos: Enable Backup and Sync in the app settings. 15GB is free (enough on the app) ~3,000 videos in Full HD).
• ☁️ Mi Cloud: activate Gallery Sync in Xiaomi account (gives 5GB for free).

Local copies:

• 📁 Regularly copy the video to PC via MTP (file-transfer).
• 💾 Use the Mi. PC Suite for creating backups (backup folder on your computer).

3. MIUI Gallery settings:

• 🗑️ Increase the shelf life in the basket: Gallery settings → Basket → Storage period (maximum - 60 days).
• 🔒 Enable Deletion Protection for Important Albums (available in the MIUI 14+).

Third-party decisions:

• 🔄 Sync.com or pCloud – Cloud Storage with Versioned Files (you can roll back changes).
• 📦 Resilio Sync – Creates decentralized backups on multiple devices.

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If you often shoot 4K or 8K video, set up automatic memory card saving (Camera Settings → Store Place) in Xiaomi’s camera. Internal memory wears out faster and is harder to recover.

FAQ: Frequent questions about video recovery on Xiaomi