Video recovery on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7: from the cart to deep scanning

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 remains a popular smartphone even years after its release, but its owners often face the problem of accidentally deleting videos. Whether it is home videos, important recordings from events or work files, their loss can be a serious nuisance. Fortunately, there are several ways to recover videos on this device, and not all of them require deep technical knowledge.

In this article, we will look at all the current recovery methods, from checking the MIUI basket to using professional software, and how to avoid data loss in the future. We will focus on the nuances associated with the Redmi Note 7: its file system, the version of Android (9.0 Pie with the shell of MIUI 10-12) and hardware limitations. If the videos were recently deleted, the chances of success are high, but even in difficult cases there are solutions.

1.Basket check MIUI: first step in recovery

Many users don't know that MIUI has a built-in recycle bin, similar to the one on computers, that stores deleted files for 30 days (by default), after which they are permanently erased, and that's the easiest and fastest method, but only works if:

• 📅 The video was removed less than a month ago;
• 🗑️ The cart was not manually cleaned through Settings → Warehouse → Basket;
• 🔄 Files were deleted through the standard Gallery or Files app.

To recover the video from the cart:

1. Open the Gallery app (an icon with colored squares).
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → select the basket.
3. Find the right video, hold your finger on it to highlight.
4. Click Restore (the icon with the arrow down).

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If the Recycle Bin is empty but you are sure that files have been deleted recently, check your storage settings: it is possible that the period is automatically reduced to 7 or 15 days in Settings → Storage → Recycle Bin → Storage Time.

Important: The MIUI Recycle Bin does not save files deleted through:

• 🔍 Third-party file managers (for example, ES Conductor);
• 📱 Cleaning applications (e.g. Clean Master);
• 💻 Connecting the phone to the PC in mode MTP post-extinction.

2.Recovery via MI Cloud and Google Photos backups

If the cart is empty, the next step is to check for cloud copies. Xiaomi offers two main video backup services: MI Cloud (branded cloud) and Google Photos. Both can automatically save videos, but work differently.

MI Cloud only synchronizes data if:

• ☁️ Backup function is enabled in Settings → Xiaomi account → MI Cloud → Backup of the device;
• 📶 The device was connected to Wi-Fi (synchronization over the mobile network is disabled by default);
• 🔋 Battery charge exceeds 20% (otherwise copying is suspended).

To recover video from MI Cloud:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → MI Cloud.
2. Select the backup of the device → find the latest copy.
3. Click Restore and select Gallery or Video section.

Google Photos is a more versatile option, as it works independently of the firmware. If the Redmi Note 7 has automatic backup enabled:

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Go to the Library → Recycle Bin (files are stored there for 60 days).
3. Or use the search by date/place of shooting.

MI Cloud|Google Photo|Yandex Disc |Nothing else |Not using-->

3. Use of data recovery programs

If the video is not found in the cart or cloud, you have to resort to specialized software. Redmi Note 7 suits programs that support the F2FS file system (used on many Xiaomi devices with Android 9+).

The best video recovery software with Redmi Note 7:

Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger (recommended for beginners):

Install the program from Google Play|Connect your phone to charge (energy-intensive process)|Select the file type: "Video» (MP4, MOV, 3GP)|Start the "Full Scan" (will take a full scan) 20-60 minute)|Save recovered files to your PC or cloud, NOT to your phone!-->

Root rights warning:

⚠️ Note: programs like Dr.Fone or Tenorshare UltData promise "deep scanning" with root access only, but getting root on Redmi Note 7 will unlock the bootloader that will be used to get the root to the root:

• 🔓 Cancellation of the warranty (if it is still valid);
• 🛡️ Disables data encryption (security threat);
• 🔄 Can lead to a "brick" of the device in case of an error.

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Without root rights, only those videos that were not overwritten by the new data will be restored, and if the phone was actively used after deletion, the chances are minimal.

4. Connecting the phone to a PC and manually searching for files

If the programs didn’t help, you can try to find the video manually through your computer. Redmi Note 7 when connected via USB displays as an external drive, but there are nuances:

• 🔌 Use the original cable (cheap cables may not transmit data);
• 🖥️ The Mi driver must be installed on the PC. PC Suite (download from the official website);
• 📂 Enable the display of hidden files in Windows Explorer (View) → Hidden elements).

Where to look for deleted videos:

1. DCIM → Camera folder (here are the videos shot on the camera);
2. Movies or Video folder (for uploaded videos)
3. The.thumbnails folder (miniatures, sometimes containing snippets of video)

To search by file signatures (if names are changed):

1. In Windows Explorer, press F3 → enter the extensions:.mp4,.mov, *.3gp.
2. Use the filter by date of change (roughly corresponding to the date of deletion).

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If the video is found but not played, try renaming it (e.g., with a video). VID_2023.mp4.bak on VID_2023.mp4) or use the program VLC Media Player – It often opens corrupted files.

5. Contacting a service center: when nothing helps

If all of the above methods fail, the last option is professional data recovery, which is the case if:

• 💥 The video was deleted a long time ago (more than 6 months ago);
• 🔧 The phone is physically damaged (for example, after falling or getting water);
• 📉 Memory of the device is remarked (for example, after resetting to factory settings).

What service centers offer:

How to choose a service center:

• 🔍 Check reviews on Yandex.Maps or 2GIS (especially mentions of data recovery with Xiaomi);
• 📄 Check if they give a diagnosis for free (many charge money even for the examination);
• 🔒 Ask about privacy: Videos should not remain in the database.

⚠️ Note: Some "masters" offer recovery for 1 000-2 000 ₽ warranty 100%. This is a scam -- real recovery with physical memory access can't be cheap.

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

The best way to keep your videos safe is to prevent them from being deleted. Here are the proven methods for the Redmi Note 7:

1. Automatic backup:

• ☁️ Set up Google Photos to copy the video in original quality (select High Quality or Original in the settings).
• 📱 Turn Autoboot on MI Cloud for folder DCIM.

2. Use of external drives:

• 💾 Buy it. OTG-cable and flash drive: Redmi Note 7 supports external drives up to 256 GB.
• 📁 Regularly transfer important videos to a flash drive or PC (for example, once a week).

Security settings:

• 🔒 Turn off automatic cleaning in applications like Clean Master or Files by Google.
• 📴 Set a password to the video folder (for example, via Folder Lock from Google Play).

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Create a folder on your phone called.nomedia (with a dot at the beginning) and move some of the most valuable videos there, and that folder won't show up in the gallery, and it won't accidentally be deleted.

7. Frequent errors in video recovery

Many users do things that reduce their chances of recovery to zero, and this is what you can't do after you delete the video:

🚫 Critical errors:

• 📲 Install new applications or updates – this overwrites the memory;
• 🔄 Reset to factory settings (Hard Reset);
• 🗑️ Clear cache or application data through Settings → Annexes;
• 🔋 Bring battery power to 0% – the phone can turn off during recovery.

🔧 Tech traps:

• Use KingRoot or other “one-click” programs to get root – they often break the firmware;
• Connect your phone to your PC via uncertified cables (the risk of port damage)
• Restore the video to the same memory it was deleted from (save it to PC or cloud!).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions