How to recover deleted videos on Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro: from the cart to deep scanning

Deleting an important video on Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro is a familiar situation. Whether you accidentally clicked Delete, formatted your memory card or lost files after resetting your settings, there are chances of recovery. The main thing is to act quickly and correctly. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to return deleted videos, from standard MIUI functions to professional utilities, taking into account the features of this particular model.

The Redmi 8 Pro is a MIUI-based device that runs on Android 9/10 (depending on the firmware version) that has its own file management system, which means that some recovery methods that run on Android may need to be adapted here, such as the built-in recycle bin in the MIUI gallery only stores deleted files for 30 days — but few people know how to use it correctly. And if the video is deleted irrevocably? Then Mi Cloud backups or third-party tools like DiskDigger and Recuva will come to the rescue, but there are nuances with them, too.

Important: the longer you use your phone after deleting, the lower your chances of success. New files (photos, videos, app cache) can overwrite deleted data. So the first rule is to immediately turn off mobile Internet and Wi-Fi to stop automatic synchronization and downloading of new data.

1.A check of the basket at MIUI Gallery

The easiest way to do this is to use the built-in shopping cart in the standard Gallery app, where in MIUI, deleted files don't disappear instantly, but are sent to a temporary storage facility for up to 30 days (if not manually cleaned).

Open the Gallery app on your Redmi 8 Pro.
Slip along three horizontal lines (menu) in the upper right corner.
Select Recycle Bin (or recently deleted in some versions of MIUI).
Find the right video, hold your finger on it to highlight.
Click Restore at the bottom of the screen.

If the cart is empty or the video is not there, then:

🗑️ The file was deleted more than a month ago (automatic cleaning).
🧹 You manually cleaned the cart through Settings → Warehouse → Cleanup.
📱 Video removed from memory card (basket) MIUI It only works with internal memory).

💡

If the video is shot in.MOV or.MP4 format with high bitrate, the basket may not display it due to the limitations of MIUI. Try using a file manager (for example, Solid Explorer) and manually check the folder /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Album/RecycleBin.

2. Recovery via Mi Cloud (if synchronization was enabled)

Xiaomi offers Mi Cloud storage, which automatically backs up photos and videos — but only if the feature was activated before deleting files.

Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
Check if the synchronization of the Gallery is enabled (the slider must be green).
If yes, go to i.mi.com from your computer or phone.
Sign in with the same account as Redmi 8 Pro.
In the Gallery section, find the Remote or Archive folder.

Please note:

☁️ Mi Cloud only stores deleted files for 10 days (as opposed to 30 days in the local shopping cart).
📶 If the video was taken in mode 4K or takes more than 50 MB, it may not sync due to the free tariff restrictions (5 GB).
🔄 When you recover through the cloud, the video will be uploaded back to the Downloads or Gallery folder, but the date and time tags may get lost.

📊 Have you ever used Mi Cloud backups?

Yeah, regularly.

Contacts only

I tried it, but I didn't find the right files.

No, I don't trust clouds.

I didn't know about that function.

3.Using a file manager to search for "remainders" of a video

Even if the video is removed from the recycle bin, fragments of it can remain in the phone's memory until overwritten. To find them, you will need a file manager with access to system folders (for example, FX File Explorer or Root Explorer for rooted devices).

Install FX File Explorer from Google Play.
Enable the display of hidden files: Settings → Show hidden files.
Go to /storage/emulated/0/DCIM//storage/emulated/0/Movies//storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Album/
Look for files with extensions.mp4,.mov,.3gp name-name VID_2023....
If you find a file with a zero size, it's a ghost of a deleted video. Try to restore it through DiskDigger (see next section).

Features of the Redmi 8 Pro:

📁 Videos taken on the main camera are stored in /DCIM/Camera/, And from the front, in /DCIM/Screenshots/ (Yes, it's not optimal, but it works. MIUI).
🔍 Files named thumbs.db or.nomedia are service data that can be ignored.
⚠️ Do not move or rename the files found directly in the manager – this can damage them permanently.

Why can a video appear as if it is damaged?

When deleting, MIUI often resets only the file header (the first few bytes), leaving the main data intact. So the video can be original in size, but not playable. It can only be restored with special tools that reassemble the header (for example, MP4 Repair).

4.Programs for deep memory scanning

If previous methods have failed, it's time to connect heavy artillery, data recovery utilities, and Redmi 8 Pro will work:

Programme	Type of scan	Support for MIUI	Features
DiskDigger	Deep (with a mouth) and superficial	Yes (but root rights are required for full access)	The free version only looks for miniatures.
Recuva (for PC)	Deep.	Yeah, but the phone plugs in like a drive.	Works with microSD memory cards
EaseUS MobiSaver	Complete.	Yes, it supports MIUI 11/12.	Paid, but there is a trial version
PhotoRec (for PC)	Low-level.	Yeah, but hard to set up.	Restores files without names (you need to sort manually)

Instructions for DiskDigger (the most versatile option):

Download DiskDigger from Google Play.
Run and select Full Scan (requires root rights) or Basic Scan (no root).
Specify the folders for search: /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/ and /storage/emulated/0/Movies/.
Check the box for the video in the filters.
After scanning, select the desired files and click Restore.

⚠️ Note: If the phone is not rooted, DiskDigger will only find thumbnails of video (size) ~100KB. Full recovery requires root access or PC connection via Recuva.

Disconnect mobile internet and Wi-Fi|Connect your phone to your PC in file transfer mode (MTP)|Install drivers ADB Xiaomi|Do not connect the memory card to other devices until recovery|Use the original USB-cable (not cheap analogues)

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5. Recovery from a microSD card

If the video was stored on a memory card, the algorithm of actions is different, the main rule is: do not write new files to the card after deleting.

Remove the microSD from your phone and connect it to your PC via a card reader.
Use Recuva or PhotoRec to scan: 1. In Recuva, select the card as your target drive. 2. Specify the MP4/MOV. 3 format. Run a deep scan.
Save the recovered files to your PC hard drive (not to the card!).

Nuances for Redmi 8 Pro:

📱 The phone supports microSD up to 512GB, but some cards (especially SanDisk Ultra) may have trouble formatting in exFAT. FAT32 (But it'll delete all the data!).
🔧 If the card is defined as “damaged”, try the utility. SD Card Formatter from SD Association for Low-Level Formatting (After Recovery!).

⚠️ Note: If the memory card has been encrypted through Settings → Security → Encryption SD-It's impossible to recover data from a card without a password. MIUI.

6. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If the video is critical (e.g., court evidence or unique footage) and the self-propelled attempts have failed, you can contact the official Xiaomi service center.

💰 The cost of the service starts from 3 000 rubles (depending on the region).
⏳ Recovery period - from 3 to 7 days.
📄 You will need proof of ownership of the phone (checks, box, IMEI).
🔒 Recovered data can only be transferred to the owner of the device.

Contacts of Xiaomi service centers in Russia:

📞 Hotline phone: 8 800 775-66-99 (call-off).
🌐 Official website for search of STS: mi.com/ru/service.

Before the visit to the SC:

Back up your phone’s current data (via Settings → Additional → Backup).
Write down the phone's IMEI (type *#06#).
Prepare a passport (to confirm your identity).

💡

Xiaomi service centers do not guarantee 100% data recovery. If the video was overwritten with new files, the chances tend to zero. SSD or Google Drive).

7. How to Prevent Video Loss in the Future

To avoid the problem of deleted videos, follow these guidelines:

☁️ Automatic Sync: Enable backup in Mi Cloud (Settings) → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Gallery) or Google Photos (free up to 15GB).
📁 Manual Copying: Once a month, transfer important videos to your PC or external drive through a computer or computer. MTP (file transfer).
🔄 Local backups: Use apps like Swift Backup to take folder snapshots DCIM.
🚫 Protection against Accidental Deletion: In the Gallery MIUI You can block individual albums with a password (Select video) → More. → Block it).

For the Redmi 8 Pro, it is especially important:

🔋 Watch the battery: with a sharp power outage during recording video file can be damaged.
📱 Clean the gallery cache regularly (Settings) → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the cache) to avoid failures.

FAQ: Frequent questions about video recovery on Redmi 8 Pro

Can I recover a video that was deleted a year ago?

The odds are extremely low. The MIUI local cart stores files for 30 days, and the Mi Cloud for 10 days. If you've been recording new data on your phone in that time, the old videos are almost certainly overwritten, except if the video was stored on a memory card that you haven't been using all that time.

Why does DiskDigger find videos but they don't play?

This is a typical problem when you restore without root rights. It finds fragments of data, but it can not correctly restore file titles (metadata). Try: Restore a file on a PC and open it through VLC Player (it better copes with corrupted videos); Use the utility MP4 Repair to restore the structure of the file.

Can I recover the video after resetting the phone to factory settings?

Once fully reset (via Settings → Additional → Reset), the internal memory data is permanently deleted. Only chances: If the video was uploaded to Mi Cloud or Google Photos. If the reset was made without formatting the memory card (then scan the microSD separately). Otherwise, recovery is impossible - reset overwrite all memory sectors.

How to recover a video deleted from a memory card, if it is formatted?

Formatting doesn't always erase data permanently. Try: Connect the card to your PC and scan through PhotoRec (ignore the current file system). Use Full Scan modes in EaseUS MobiSaver. But if the card was formatted on another file system (e.g., FAT32 to exFAT), chances are minimal.

Will the phone help you recover the video?

No, flashing (even through Fastboot) won't bring back deleted data. In fact, it can permanently erase it. Only reflash your phone if: You have a backup. You're sure the software is not running on the problem (e.g., the phone isn't turning on).