Recovery of deleted videos on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: a step-by-step guide

Delete an important video from Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro and you don't know how to get it back? Don't panic: even if the file is not displayed in the gallery, it can be restored. In this article, proven methods for returning deleted videos from internal memory and microSD, including hidden MIUI functions and specialized utilities, the main thing is to act quickly before deleted data is overwritten with new files.

Redmi Note 8 Pro smartphone based on Mediatek Helio processor G90T uses a file system F2FS (For internal memory or exFAT (for) SD-We'll look at root-free options, using PCs and mobile apps, and explain why some methods may not work on your device. If a video was recently deleted (within 30 days), the chances of success are up to 85% – provided you have not written new files to your phone.

Why are the videos disappearing and can they be returned?

On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, videos can go missing not only after manual deletion.

• 🗑️ Cleaning up gallery cache – Gallery or Google Photos app sometimes deletes thumbnails, but the files themselves remain in memory.
• 🔄 Resetting – when returning to factory settings without formatting internal storage, videos can remain in the folder DCIM/Recovered.
• 📱 File system errors – if the phone suddenly shuts down during recording, the file may become “invisible” to the system.
• 🛠️ Update MIUI — After firmware, some media files are moved to the hidden folder.thumbnails.

Recovery is possible because when you delete a file, only the record of its location in the file table (MTD or FAT) is erased, and the data itself remains on the media until overwriting.

• 🔋 In the internal memory, the chances are higher than in the SD-map - due to the features of the file system F2FS.
• ⏳ The more time has passed since the removal, the lower the probability of success.
• 📱 If the video was recorded in a format HEVC (H.265), Some recovery programs won't see him.

⚠️ Warning: Do not install recovery software on the same memory partition where deleted videos were stored, which will overwrite the data and make recovery impossible.

Method 1: Checking Hidden Folders and MIUI Recycle Bin

Before using third-party utilities, check the standard MIUI tools. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, deleted files can remain in hidden folders or temporary storage.

Step 1. The basket in the Gallery annex

1. Open the Gallery app (a flower icon).
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → Basket.
3. Select the video and click Restore.

The storage time in the cart is 30 days, and if the video is deleted earlier, this method won't work.

Step 2: Hidden folders

Use any file manager (such as Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer) and check:

• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails — thumbnails and damaged files.
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/Recovered — Automatically Recovered Media.
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Backup/AllBackup — Backups if backup function was enabled.

Step 3. Google Cash Photo

If the phone was synced with Google Photos:

1. Open photos.google.com in your browser.
2. Go to the basket (menu on the left).
3. Restore the required videos (retention period – 60 days).

💡

If the video doesn't show up in the gallery but takes up space in memory, try rebooting the phone.Sometimes MIUI doesn't update the media index after deleting it.

Method 2: Recovery through DiskDigger (without root)

DiskDigger is one of the few apps that can recover video on Xiaomi without superuser rights. Supports MP4, MOV, 3GP and MKV formats.

Instructions:

1. Download DiskDigger (the free version supports photo and video recovery).
2. Start the app and select Basic Scan (without root).
3. Specify the section for scanning: 📱 Internal Storage – Internal memory. 💾 SD Card: If the video was on the card.

Wait until the scan is finished (it can take up to an hour).

Recover

carrier

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Does not restore video in format HEVC (H.265).
• ❌ The free version does not show a preview for the video.
• ❌ If the file is fragmented, only a portion of the file will be restored.

⚠️ Note: If DiskDigger finds a video but it doesn’t play, try renaming the file by adding an extension.mp4 manually, for example, video123.mp4).

Method 3: Recovery with PC (EaseUS Data Recovery)

For deep scanning of internal memory Redmi Note 8 Pro better use PC. EaseUS Data Recovery program supports the F2FS file system and finds video even after formatting.

Requirements:

• 🖥️ Windows computer 7/10/11 macOS.
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (original or certified).
• 📱 The phone has enabled file transfer mode (MTP).

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install EaseUS Data Recovery (the free version recovers up to 2 GB of data).
2. Connect the Redmi Note 8 Pro to your PC and select File Transfer mode.
3. Run the program and select the phone drive (usually displayed as Xiaomi Redmi...).
4. Click Scan and wait until it is completed (may take 1-2 hours).
5. In the scan results, go to the Video section and mark the desired files.
6. Click Restore and save the video to your PC hard drive.

Challenges and solutions:

💡

If the video was recorded in 4K, restore it only through your PC – mobile apps often corrupt such files.

Method 4: Use of ADB (for power users)

If the video is not recovered by standard methods, you can try to retrieve it through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires command line skills, but gives access to hidden memory partitions.

Preparation:

1. Install ADB and Fastboot on PC.
2. Enable USB debugging on your phone (Settings → Additional → Developers).
3. Connect the Redmi Note 8 Pro to your PC and confirm access via ADB.

Recovery teams:

adb shell


su




cd /data/media/0/DCIM/Camera




ls -la | grep ".mp4" # search for video files




cp video123.mp4 /sdcard/Recovered/ # copying the found file

What to do if:

• 🔐 su: not found - there are no root rights on the phone:
• 📂 No such file or directory - the folder with the video has been renamed. Check other paths: adb shell ls /storage/emulated/0/

⚠️ Note: Do not use rm or dd commands, they can permanently delete data. If you are not sure about the actions, contact a specialist.

Method 5: Contact Xiaomi Service Center

If the self-propelled attempts have failed and the video is critical (e.g., court evidence or unique footage), you can contact Xiaomi’s official service center, and they have specialized equipment to extract data from damaged media.

What you need to know:

• 💰 The cost of the service - from 3 000 to 10 000 rubles (depending on the complexity of the service).
• ⏳ Timeline for recovery — 3-7 days.
• 📋 Passport and phone check (if any) will be required).
• 🔒 Data remains confidential (under contract).

Addresses of service centers in Russia:

Before the visit:

1. Do not update the phone firmware.
2. Do not install new applications.
3. Back up important data (if the phone is switched on).

How to Prevent Video Loss in the Future

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

1. Automatic backup

• ☁️ Set up autosynchronization with Google Photos: Open Google Photos → Settings → Backup and sync. Enable the option and select quality (Original or High).

Mi Cloud

1. Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Gallery
2. Enable synchronization of photos and videos.

3. Correct removal

• 🗑️ Check the video in the Gallery before deleting - sometimes duplicates take up space.
• 📁 Use the Security Cleanup function (Settings) → Annexes → Cleaning) to avoid accidental removal.