Deleting an important video from a Xiaomi phone is a familiar situation, especially when the file is lost not only from the gallery, but also from the basket, where it is usually stored for 30 days. Fortunately, even after cleaning the basket, the chances of recovery remain — the main thing is to act quickly and correctly.
In this article, we will look at all the possible ways to return deleted videos, from standard MIUI functions to specialized utilities, describe the nuances for different models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11, etc.), explain why some methods only work under certain conditions, and give a checklist of actions to avoid making things worse.
Why Videos Can Be Recovered Even After Cleaning the Cart
When you delete a file on Xiaomi, it first goes to the bin (Gallery → Albums → Recycle Bin) where the video is stored for 30 days, then automatically erased, but even after cleaning the Recycle Bin, the data does not disappear from memory instantly.
The operating system simply labels the storage area as “free,” but physically the files remain in place until the new data overwrites them, which is how the F2FS file system (used in modern Xiaomi) and ext4 (older models) work, which is why recovery is possible — but only until new files are written to the phone (photos, videos, app updates).
- 📁 Basket MIUI — Temporary storage of deleted files (30 days).
- 🔄 The principle of “soft deletion”: data remains on the disk until it is overwritten.
- ⏳ Recovery time: from a few hours to 2-3 Days (depending on the activity of the phone use).
⚠️ Warning: If you download a major system update after deleting the video, install a heavy game, or shoot a lot of new videos, the chances of recovery drop dramatically.
Method 1: Recovery through the built-in MIUI basket (if 30 days have not passed)
The first thing to check is if there is any video left in the cart, and even if you manually cleaned it, sometimes the files get stuck due to MIUI failures. The instructions are relevant for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones based on MIUI 12-15.
Open the standard Gallery app, then:
- Slip on three horizontal lines (☰) lower-right.
- Select the Albums section.
- Scroll down and find the Recycle Bin folder (may be called Recently Deleted).
- If there is a video, select it with a long tap and press Restore.
If the basket is empty, try updating the contents: pull the screen down (swipe down gesture) or restart the phone. Sometimes files are displayed after restarting the Gallery app.
Check Hidden Folders through File Manager
Sort files by date of deletion
Reboot the phone.
Update the Gallery app in the Play Market-->
Method 2: Search through the file manager (hidden folders and cache)
In Xiaomi, deleted files sometimes remain in service folders or app cache, for example, videos from messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) or social networks (TikTok, Instagram) can be duplicated in internal memory.
Use the standard File Manager (or Total Commander, FX File Explorer for extended access):
- Open your internal memory (or SD-map if the video was there).
- Enable the display of hidden files: ⋮ → Settings → Show hidden files.
- Check folders: DCIM/.thumbnails – video thumbnails; Android/data/com.miui.gallery – gallery cache; MIUI/Backup/AllBackup – backups; Pictures/Screenshots or Movies – sometimes files “mov” here after crashes.
If a video is found but not opened, try renaming the file (e.g., from.mp4.tmp to.mp4) or copying it to your computer for verification via VLC Player.
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Use file manager extension search: type.mp4 or.mov in the search bar to find all video files, including hidden ones.
Method 3: Restore via Google Photos (if synced)
If your Xiaomi enabled autosynchronization with Google Photos, the videos could have been saved to the cloud, a method that works even after cleaning the cart on your phone, since cloud storage has its own garbage drawer.
To check:
- Open the Google Photos app or go to photos.google.com.
- On the left menu, select the Recycle Bin (or Archive if the video has been archived).
- The files in the Google Photos Recycle Bin are stored for 60 days (as opposed to 30 days in MIUI).
- Find the right video, highlight it and click Restore.
Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger (on the example of Windows):
- Connect Xiaomi to your computer via USB (enable File Transfer mode).
- Start DiskDigger, select your phone’s drive (usually Internal Storage).
- Specify the formats for search: MP4, MOV, 3GP.
- Start the scan (can take anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours).
- After completion, highlight the found videos and press Recover (recover).
What if the program does not find the video?
Critical information: If the phone has been encrypted (encrypted in MIUI settings), most programs will not be able to scan the memory, in which case only a backup copy or contacting the Xiaomi service center with proof of ownership of the device will help.
Method 5: Contact Xiaomi Service Center (extreme case)
If video is critical (e.g., court evidence or unique footage) and all previous methods have failed, you can try Xiaomi's official service.The company has low-level data recovery tools, but they are only used in exceptional cases.
What will be required:
- 📄 Check or warranty card on the phone (proof of possession).
- 🔐 Unlocked bootloader (if the phone is guaranteed, it can cancel it).
- 💰 Payment for the service (from 3 000 to 10 000 rubles, depending on the complexity of the service).
It takes 3 to 10 days, and even in the service center, you can't guarantee 100%, depending on how much data is overwritten, and if you've had large files recorded on your phone after you delete the video, like updating the system, the odds are zero.
⚠️ Warning: Don't go to unofficial services that promise to "restore everything in 5 minutes" and often use questionable methods that can permanently damage data or infect your phone with viruses.
Yeah, through the basket. MIUI|Yes, with the help of PC software.|No, this is my first case.|I tried it, but I didn't succeed.-->
How to Prevent Future Video Loss: 5 Rules
To avoid the problem of deleted videos again, follow these simple guidelines:
- Enable autosynchronization with Google Photos or Mi Cloud: 📱 Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization; 🌥️ Settings → Memory. → Backup (for Mi Cloud).
Use it. SD-map
Regularly copy important files
Don't clean the basket manually
Install the application for backup
Sync.com
Dropbox
If you shoot videos on Xiaomi often, consider buying cloud storage. for example, Google One for 139 ₽/The month gives 100 GB, which is enough for thousands of videos in Full format HD.
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The most reliable way to protect data is a combination of cloud reserve (Google Photo)/Mi Cloud) + locally SD-map.