Deleting important video from a Xiaomi smartphone is a familiar situation. Whether it’s accidentally clicking on “Delete”, crashing when transferring files or formatting a memory card, data loss always causes panic. Fortunately, you can restore deleted video files on Redmi, POCO or Mi devices even without going to the service center. In this article, proven methods for returning videos, from simple (checking the basket) to complex (using a PC and specialized software), as well as tips on how to avoid data loss in the future.
The rule of thumb is, the faster you act, the better the chances of success. Once you delete files don't physically disappear -- they're just labeled as "free space" and can be overwritten with new data. So, once you find a video gone, stop writing new files, disable automatic app updates, and don't install programs. Now we're going to practice.
———
1.A check of the basket at MIUI Gallery
On most Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12 shells and later deleted files first go to the Recycle Bin, a temporary storage facility where they stay for 30 days (by default), the first and easiest way to return videos without third-party tools.
To check the basket:
- Open the standard Gallery app.
- Slip on three horizontal lines (menu) in the upper right corner.
- Select the basket item.
- Find the right video, click on it and select Restore.
If the bin is empty or the video is not there, then the files were deleted by by bypassing the basket (for example, through a file manager) or more than 30 days have passed, in which case proceed to the following methods.
💡
In the settings of the gallery (Gallery → Settings → Recycle Bin), you can increase the storage period of deleted files to 60 days or turn off automatic cleaning of the basket.
2. Search in MIUI Cloud and Google Photos backups
Xiaomi smartphones automatically back up media files in two cloud services: its own MIUI Cloud and Google Photos. Even if you haven't turned on manual reservations, check those storages - sometimes copies are created by default.
MIUI Cloud (for Chinese and global firmware):
- 📱 Open the Settings. → Xiaomi account → MIUI Cloud.
- 🔍 Check the Gallery section – copies of videos from the last 30–90 days can be stored here (depending on the rate).
- 💾 If the file is found, download it back to the device.
Google Photos (if synchronization is enabled):
- 📱 Launch the Google Photos app.
- 🔍 Go to the Library. → Recycle bin (video stored there for 60 days) or search by date.
- ☁️ If the video has been uploaded to the cloud, it can be downloaded even after being deleted from your phone.
Please note: free storage MIUI Cloud is limited to 5GB, and Google Photos from June 2021 does not provide unlimited space for high-quality video.If there are no backups, go to local recovery methods.
3. Recovery through file manager (hidden folders)
Sometimes videos are not deleted completely, but moved to hidden system folders, which is true if the files are lost after:
- 🔄 Updates MIUI (Especially with the transition to a new version of Android).
- 📱 Reset to factory settings (if there was no formatting of internal memory).
- 🗃️ Transfer files via Explorer or Mi Mover.
To find hidden videos:
- Open any file manager (e.g., standard Explorer or Solid Explorer).
- Enable the display of hidden files: Manager settings → Show hidden files
- Check the following folders: /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/ – temporary copies of media may lie here. /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.gallery/ – cache gallery. /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails/ – thumbnails (sometimes contain video fragments).
Important: Do not rename or move files from hidden folders directly, which can disrupt the system. First, copy them to a secure location (for example, to a memory card).
What if the video in the hidden folder is not played?
4. Deep scanning programs (without root)
If previous methods have failed, it’s time to connect specialized data recovery utilities that scan internal memory or microSD card at the sector level and can find files even after formatting.
| Programme | Platform | Xiaomi support | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| DiskDigger | Android (APK) | Yes (including MIUI) | The free version only restores photos, for video you need Pro ($15), works without root, but with root more efficiently. |
| EaseUS MobiSaver | Windows/macOS | Yes (via USB) | Scans internal memory and microSD cards. The free version is limited to 2 GB of recovered data. |
| Recuva | Windows | Yeah (through card reader) | It works best with memory cards. Xiaomi's internal memory requires an MTP connection. |
| Dr.Fone (Wondershare) | Windows/macOS | Yes. | Paid software ($50), but with a high recovery rate. Supports Redmi Note, POCO, Mi. |
Instructions for DiskDigger (the most versatile option for Android):
- Download APK from the official website (not from third-party sources!).
- Launch the app and select Full Scan (it takes longer but finds video).
- Wait until the process is complete (it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours).
- Mark the video files you find and click Restore. Save them to a memory card or to the cloud.
Disable debugging by USB in the developer settings |Use the original Xiaomi |Use the phone in file transfer mode (MTP)|Do not interrupt the scanning process |Save the recovered files to another disk
-->
⚠️ Warning: When recovering from a PC, never save files to the same drive they were deleted from! Use an external drive or cloud. Otherwise, new data can overwrite deleted videos.
5. Restoration with root rights (for power users)
If videos were deleted long ago or other files were recorded after them, a normal scan may not help, in which case only deep memory analysis with superuser rights (root) will help, this method is risky (may disrupt MIUI), but sometimes it is the only chance to return data.
What you need:
- 📱 Xiaomi smartphone with unlocked bootloader and installed Magisk or SuperSU.
- 💻 PC fitted ADB and Fastboot.
- 🛠️ Undeleter Recover Files & Data (from Magisk Modules) or Hex Editor for manual search.
Step-by-step:
- Install the Undeleter module via Magisk Manager and restart the phone.
- Run the Undeleter app and select the partition to scan (e.g. /data/media/0/DCIM/).
- Select the file type: Video (MP4, MOV, AVI).
- Start the scan. It can take hours.
- Save the files found to an external disk.
⚠️ Note: Before obtaining root rights, make a full backup of data through TWRP Mi Flash Tool. Mistakes can lead to a device blink (completely inoperable). RAM (For example, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+) Unlocking the bootloader resets all data!
💡
Root access increases the chances of recovery by 40-60%, but voids the warranty and may disrupt MIUI. Use this method only if other methods have failed.
6.Preventing Data Loss: How to Avoid Future Problems
Video recovery is a time-consuming process, and it's not always successful, and it's much easier to protect data from loss in advance. Here are the proven ways to do this.
Automatic backup:
- 📱 Enable sync with Google Photos (Settings) → Backup and reset → Backup of data).
- ☁️ Set up. MIUI Cloud for automatic video download (in Xiaomi Account Settings) → Cloud).
- 💾 Use local reservation on a microSD card through Settings → Memory. → Backup.
Correct deletion of files:
- 🗑️ Always delete the video through the Gallery, not the file manager – so they will get into the basket.
- 🔄 Before formatting the memory card, check it on another device (for example, through a card reader on a PC).
- 📁 Regularly transfer important videos to an external drive or to the cloud (e.g. Yandex Drive or Mega).
Hardware protection:
- 🛡️ Use microSD cards in the class no lower A2 (SanDisk Extreme – they are less likely to fail.
- 🔋 Watch the battery: with a low charge (less than 15%), the risk of failure when recording video increases.
- 📲 Install the app SD Maid to clean cache and prevent file fragmentation.
If you often work with video, consider buying an external one. SSD-storage device (for example, Samsung) T7 Shield) and set up automatic synchronization via Syncthing or Resilio Sync. This will protect data even if your smartphone breaks down.