Recovery of screen recording on Xiaomi: from the cart to deep scanning

Losing an important screen recording on Xiaomi is a familiar situation, and whether it's an accidental deletion, system failure, or a saving error, you can restore the screencast in a number of ways. In this article, we'll look at all the current methods, from standard MIUI features to professional utilities that will help you return the video even after formatting.

Feature of screen recordings on Xiaomi devices (for example, Redmi Note) 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T) It is their storage: by default, files are saved in the folder. DCIM/Screenshots or Movies/ScreenRecord. However, once deleted, they don’t always disappear permanently – the system can temporarily put them in the basket, and cloud services (such as Mi Cloud) automatically sync media files. If standard methods fail, programs like DiskDigger or EaseUS MobiSaver that scan internal memory at the binary data level will come to the rescue.

It is important to keep in mind that the success of recovery depends on two factors: time (the earlier you start, the higher the chances) and data overwriting (new files, installed applications or system updates can irrevocably destroy the deleted record).

1.A check of MIUI basket

Modern versions of MIUI 14/15 have a built-in recycle bin that temporarily retrieves deleted files, the first and easiest way to return a screen recording if it was recently erased (usually files are stored there for up to 30 days).

To restore the video:

• 📁 Open the Files app (folder icon on the home screen).
• 🗑️ Go to the basket tab in the lower menu.
• 🔍 Find your screen recording (file name usually starts with ScreenRecord_ or SCR_ + date).
• 🔄 Select the file and click Restore (the icon with the arrow down).

If the Recycle Bin is empty or the file is not there, check the storage settings: the function may have been disabled. Go to Settings → Storage → Recycle Bin and make sure that the Auto Delete Slider is active (otherwise the files are deleted immediately).

⚠️ Attention: Basket in MIUI It only works for files deleted through the Files or Gallery app, if you cleared the record through third-party managers (e.g., file-cleaning, ES Conductor, this method won't work.

Check the DCIM/Screenshots folder manually

Make sure the file is not hidden (enable the display of hidden files in Explorer settings)

Try searching by file name through a line in the Files app

Connect your phone to your PC and check the memory through your computer-->

2.Recovery through Mi Cloud

Mi Cloud Cloud Storage automatically syncs media files, including screen recordings, if Authorization has been activated, which is especially useful if you lost recording after resetting your phone or replacing your firmware.

Instructions for remediation:

• ☁️ Open the Settings. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud.
• 📥 Go to Gallery or Backups section.
• 🔍 Enter the file name in the search (for example, ScreenRecord_202605).
• ⬇️ Click on the file and select Download or Restore to the device.

If sync has been disabled, check other cloud services that may have saved a copy: Google Photos (if autoload is enabled), Yandex.Disk or Dropbox. For example, in Google Photos, screen recordings can be stored in the Videos album or Screenshots.

⚠️ Note: If you manually delete a record from the cloud, it is impossible to restore it with standard means, in which case only a call to support the service will help (for example, Mi Cloud stores deleted files for up to 60 days in the cloud “basket).

3. Search via PC (no root)

Connecting Xiaomi to a computer allows you to scan internal memory using specialized programs. This method does not require root rights and is suitable for most models (including Redmi 10, POCO F4, Xiaomi 12 Pro).

Recovery will require:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 🛠️ DiskDigger (free version) or EaseUS MobiSaver (paid, but with a trial period).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your phone to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode (unlock the screen and select the appropriate mode in the notification curtain).
2. Install and run DiskDigger.
3. Select a drive that matches Xiaomi memory (usually a removable drive with the Internal Storage label).
4. Run a deep scan – the process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours.
5. After completion, filter the results for the.mp4 or.mkv extension (screen recording formats in MIUI).
6. Select the desired file and press Recover, specifying the folder to save to the PC.

A critical caveat: Do not save recovered files back to your phone – this can overwrite the remaining data fragments and make it impossible to restore other deleted files.

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If the program does not see the internal memory of the phone, turn on the option of debugging over USB in the developer settings (path: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then return to Additional settings → For developers).

4. Restoration with root rights

If standard methods don't work and screen recording is critical, you can try root-access deep scanning, which is suitable for advanced users and requires unlocking the bootloader, which cancels the warranty on the device.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔍 Search all parts of memory, including system.
• 📊 High probability of recovery (up to 70% even after formatting).
• 🛠️ The ability to work with raw data (for example, through the UFS Explorer).

Instructions:

1. Unlock the bootloader through Mi Unlock Tool (the official utility from Xiaomi).
2. Install custom recovery (such as TWRP).
3. Get root rights through Magisk.
4. Connect your phone to your PC and use UFS Explorer or R-Studio to scan the /data partition.

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect actions when unlocking the bootloader can lead to a device blink (completely inoperable).If you are not sure about your skills, contact a specialist.

5. Recovery through backup

If you regularly create backups through Settings → System → Backup, the chances of returning a screen recording are greatly increased. MIUI allows you to recover data from a local copy or the cloud.

How to recover from the backup:

• 🔄 Go to Settings. → System system → Backup → Restore.
• 📅 Select the backup date (before deleting the record).
• ✅ Check the box for Multimedia or Files.
• 🔄 Click Restore and wait for the process to be completed.

Note: Recovery from the backup will overwrite the current data on the phone. If you add new files (photos, contacts) after you create a copy, they will be lost.

Once a week.

Once a month

Just before the firmware update

Never.-->

6. Contact the service center

If all of these methods did not help, and screen recording is critical (for example, this is proof for trial or unique gameplay), you should contact a professional service.

• 🔧 Reading a memory chip through JTAG or ISP.
• 🧪 Analysis of memory dump in laboratory conditions.
• 🛠️ Recovery of damaged sectors.

The cost of such services starts from 5 000 rubles and depends on the complexity of the work. It is important to choose a proven service with positive reviews - unscrupulous masters can finally damage the data.

Before the service visit:

• ❌ Do not write new files to your phone.
• ❌ Don't update the firmware.
• ✅ Save everything. IMEI Serial number of the device (they will be required for identification).

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Service recovery is the last chance to get data back, but there is no guarantee of success. The more modern Xiaomi model (for example, Xiaomi 14 with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip), the more complicated the process due to memory encryption.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users lose screen recordings due to common errors, and here are the most common ones and ways to prevent them:

Another common problem is interrupted screen recording. If the video is not saved due to a failure, try:

1. Reboot the phone.
2. Check the DCIM/.thumbnails folder, and sometimes there are thumbnails.
3. Use VLC Player to open corrupted files (the program can recover some of the data).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions