Recovering Remote Videos from the Recycle Bin on Xiaomi Smartphones: 5 Ways to Work

Removed an important video from Xiaomi, then cleared the cart?The situation is familiar to many: photos and videos often disappear from the gallery after careless actions. On Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi and POCO), the basket works differently than on other Android devices: files are stored there for a limited time (usually 30 days), but even after cleaning them can be returned. In this article, we will analyze 5 proven recovery methods, including built-in MIUI tools and third-party utilities.

The big problem is that the longer you delay recovery, the lower the odds. Once you delete the video from the bin, the data stays on the drive, but the system can overwrite it with new files. So we need to act quickly. We'll look at the methods for different scenarios, from simple recovery through the cloud to deep scanning memory with a PC.

Please note that some methods require root rights or a computer connection. SD-map, chances are higher - flash memory is less often overwritten by the system. First, check if the copy is saved in Google Photos or Mi Cloud - this is the fastest way.

1. Verify backups in Mi Cloud and Google Photos

The first thing to do is check cloud services. Xiaomi automatically syncs media files to Mi Cloud if the feature is enabled. Similarly, Google Photos works (even on devices without Google services via MIUI for global firmware).

How to check:

• 🔍 Open the Gallery app → Albums. → Mi Cloud (or Google Photos) → The cart.Video can stay there even after cleaning the local cart.
• ⏳ In Mi Cloud, files are stored 30 days after deletion, in Google Photos - 60 days. If less time has passed, restore the file with one touch.
• 📱 On some firmware MIUI (for example, MIUI 13/14 Xiaomi 12/13) The cloud basket is hidden. To see it, upgrade the Gallery app to the latest version.

Important: If the video has been removed from the cloud, it can't be recovered by standard means, so move on to the following methods.

2. Recovery through the built-in MIUI basket (if not cleaned)

V MIUI The way the cart works is that it doesn't delete files right away, but after 30 days (some devices have 15 days), and if you manually clean the cart, it won't work, but if the video is gone by itself (for example, after updating). MIUI), check:

1. Open the gallery → Albums → Basket.
2. Click on the video → Restore (the icon with the arrow up).
3. If there is no button, try holding the file with your finger – in some versions of MIUI, the context menu appears like this.

On the Redmi Note 10/11 and POCO X3/X4, the basket can be hidden to turn it on:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Gallery → Storage.
2. Click Clear Data (this will reset the gallery settings, but will not delete files).
3. Go back to the gallery again, the cart should show up.

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If the cart is empty but you're sure the video was there, try rebooting the phone.Sometimes MIUI won't display files due to a cache error.

3. Use of recovery applications (without root)

If the video is not in the cloud and the cart is cleaned, specialized software will help.

• 📱 DiskDigger scans the internal memory and SD-The free version shows a preview of the files found, but you need to buy a Pro to recover them.
• 🔧 Recuva (for PC) – works by connecting your phone to your computer in mode MTP. Supports deep scanning.
• 📁 EaseUS MobiSaver - recovers videos, photos and documents. There is a version for Android and PC.

Instructions for DiskDigger:

1. Install the app from Google Play (or APK for devices without Google services).
2. Start a full scan (can take 10 to 30 minutes).
3. In the results, filter files by.mp4,.mov or.3gp.
4. Highlight the video → Restore → keep on SD-map.

Critical: Don't save the recovered files to the same memory partition from which they were deleted!

Disable Wi-Fi and Mobile Data

Charge your phone at least 50%

Make room for SD-card (if any)

Do not install new applications until recovery-->

4. Deep scanning via PC (for power users)

If the video was recorded long ago or the phone was actively used after deleting, you need more powerful tools, the best option is to connect Xiaomi to the computer and scan the memory with programs like Recuva or PhotoRec.

Step-by-step instructions for Recuva:

1. Download Recuva from the official website (free version will do).
2. Connect your phone to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. In Recuva, select the type of files Videos → specify your phone’s drive (usually Internal Storage).
4. Start a deep scan (may take several hours).
5. After completion, mark the desired files and click Restore.

For Xiaomi with root rights, additional options are available, such as scanning the /data partition where cached media files are stored. But without root, the chances are lower - Android restricts access to system folders.

5. Recovery through ADB (for advanced users)

If the video has been deleted recently and the phone hasn't rebooted, you can try retrieving it via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a technique that requires command line skills, but sometimes saves you when other methods don't help.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB on your PC (download Platform Tools from the Android Developers website).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and enable USB Debugging (see spoiler above).
3. Open the command line in the folder with ADB and type: adb shell su cd /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails ls -la Here you can store thumbnails of deleted videos.
4. To copy files to your PC, use: adb pull /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/ video_backup (replace the path with the current one).

Some folders are hidden on MIUI. To see them, type in ADB:

adb shell "ls -la /storage/emulated/0/ | grep '.'"

This will show all hidden directories where traces of deleted files may remain.

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ADB-It only works if the data isn't overwritten, and if you've been recording new videos or installing apps since you deleted the video, the odds are zero.

6. Contact Xiaomi Service Center (extreme case)

If the video is critical (e.g., court evidence or unique footage) and self-recovery didn't work, you can contact Xiaomi's authorized service center.

What you need to know:

• 💰 The cost of the service starts from 5 000 rubles (depending on the model and complexity).
• ⏱️ The process takes 3-7 days (sometimes longer if you need to send to a central service).
• 📄 You will need proof of ownership of the device (checks, box, binding to the Mi Account account).

Xiaomi Service Centers in Russia and CIS:

⚠️ Attention: Not all service centers are engaged in data recovery. Check by phone whether they provide such a service. Also be careful with informal workshops - there is a risk of personal data leakage.

How to Prevent Video Loss in the Future

To avoid losing important files, follow the following simple rules:

• ☁️ Automatic Backup: Enable sync with Mi Cloud or Google Photos (Settings) → Accounts. → Mi Cloud → Synchronization of the gallery).
• 📁 Backups to PC: Once a month, copy important videos to your computer or external drive.
• 🔄 Turn off automatic cleaning: C MIUI The basket is cleaned automatically after 30 days. → Settings → Cart and disable the Auto Clean option.
• 📱 Use it. SD-Map: Configure video saving by default to SD-Map (Camera settings) → Storage? Flash memory is less likely to fail.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi devices with MIUI 14 and newer when reset to factory settings, the basket is cleaned without recovery!

FAQ: Frequent questions about video recovery on Xiaomi