Delete an important video from Xiaomi, and then accidentally cleared the cart? Don't panic - there are still chances of recovery! Unlike computers, where files are erased immediately after being deleted from the basket, smartphones on MIUI often leave "traces" of data in memory. Even if you don't see the video in the gallery, it can stay on the device until new files overwrite it.
In this article, we will understand 7 Proven ways to return deleted video files: from built-in tools Xiaomi to professional programs for deep scanning. MIUI 14/15 chip-sized Snapdragon/Mediatek, And at the end, a checklist of actions that will increase the chances of successful recovery. 60% (Data from the Xiaomi Service Center Lab).
Why Videos Can Be Recovered Even After Cleaning the Cart
When you delete a video on Xiaomi, the following happens:
- 📁 The file is moved to the.Trash folder (hidden basket). MIUI) and stored there for 30 days by default.
- 🗑️ After cleaning the cart (or at the end of the term), the system marks the memory area as “free”, but does not physically erase the data.
- 🔄 New files (photos, videos, updates) gradually overwrite the "empty" sectors. The more you use your phone, the less chance you have of recovering.
Key point: Video files (as opposed to texts) take up a lot of space, so their fragments can stay intact longer. For example, a video that lasts 1 minute at 1080p weighs ~100 MB - parts of it can survive even after a few days of active use of the phone.
Method 1: Recovery through the built-in MIUI basket (if not cleaned)
If you have recently deleted a video and haven’t cleaned the cart, you can return it in 30 seconds:
- Open the Gallery app (flower icon).
- Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → select the basket.
- Find the right video, hold your finger on it → click Restore.
⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 14+ The cart is hidden by default. If it's not on the menu, go to Gallery Settings. → Recycle cart and turn on the option to Show basket. on some models (e.g, POCO F5) The other way: Settings → Warehouse → Basket.
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If the video does not appear in the cart, try changing the filter: click on the funnel icon (⚙️) Select “All File Types” instead of “Images».
Method 2: Search through the file manager (hidden folders)
MIUI backs up media in hidden folders to see it.
- Open Files (an app from Xiaomi with a blue folder).
- Go to Categories → Video.
- Tap it on three points. → Show hidden files.
- Check folders:.Trash is the main shopping cart; MIUI/Backup/Video is backup; DCIM/.thumbnails is thumbnails (sometimes containing video snippets).
If the video is found but not played, try renaming the file by adding an extension.mp4 Or.mov, video_123 → video_123.mp4.
What to do if the file is corrupted?
Method 3: Restore via Google Photos (if synced)
If your Xiaomi enabled autosynchronization with Google Photos, the video could be saved in the cloud:
- Open the Google Photos app (or go to photos.google.com).
- Put it on your avatar. → Basket.
- Videos are stored there for 60 days (as opposed to 30 days in MIUI).
- Select the file → press Restore.
Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger:
Download DiskDigger from Google Play (official version only!)
Launch the app and select “Full Scan”
Tick "Video" and click "Next"
Wait for completion (on Xiaomi with 128 GB of memory – ~20-30 minutes)
Select the files found and click "Restore»-->
⚠️ Note: On phones with a Mediatek chip (e.g. Redmi) 10C) DiskDigger may not see the internal memory:
- Connect Xiaomi to your PC via USB (File Transfer Mode).
- Use the desktop version of EaseUS MobiSaver or 7-Data Recovery.
- Select the phone drive (usually Internal Storage) and start the scan.
Method 5: Restore through MIUI backup (if created)
Xiaomi automatically creates local backups once a week (if enabled) to check:
- Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset.
- Put local backups in.
- Select the most recent copy and click Restore.
- Check the Gallery or Video and confirm.
🔹 Nuances: On models with MIUI 15 (like Xiaomi 14) backups are encrypted. If you don't remember the password, you can't recover the data:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.backup(This command will reset the backup settings, but will not delete the files themselves.)
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Local MIUI backups store video in compressed form. After recovery, check the MIUI/Backup/Video folder - there may be files with the.bak extension that you need to rename to.mp4.
Method 6: Contact Xiaomi Service Center (extreme case)
If the video is critical (for example, a recording of an accident or a family video), and independent attempts were unsuccessful, contact an authorized Xiaomi service center.
- 🔧 Connect to the phone memory via EDL-Mode (for Snapdragon).
- 💾 Remove the memory dump and restore files using the Chip-Off method (for Mediatek).
- 📊 Use professional software like this UFS Explorer or R-Studio.
💰 Cost: From 3 000 to 10 000 rubles (depending on model and complexity). 13T Pro UFS 3.1 higher price due to difficulty reading memory.
⚠️ Warning: Don't go to unofficial services! 4PDA There are cases when after the “restore” users received a phone with completely erased memory (due to improper use of Fastboot.
How to Prevent Future Video Loss: 5 Rules
To avoid looking for ways to recover, follow these recommendations:
- ☁️ Enable autosynchronization with Google Photos or Mi Cloud (in Settings) → Accounts. → Mi Cloud → gallery).
- 📁 Regularly copy videos to your PC or external drive (for example, via Mi Drop).
- 🔄 Increase the shelf life of the basket: in Gallery settings → Set the maximum basket (up to 60 days).
- 🛡️ Use backup apps like Swift Backup (requires root) or Titanium Backup.
- 🚫 Do not clean the gallery cache manually (in Settings) → Annexes → gallery → Storage) so as not to damage the video thumbnails.
Important: On phones with UFS 3.0/3.1 memory (such as Xiaomi 12S Ultra), data is erased faster due to TRIM technology. If you delete the video, immediately turn off the Internet and do not shoot new videos - this will increase the chances of recovery.