Have you accidentally deleted valuable photos from Xiaomi and are now panicking about how to get them back? Don't despair - in most cases, files can be recovered even if they're missing from the gallery.
In this article, we will look at all possible recovery methods, from simple (checking the cart and cloud storage) to advanced (using PCs and specialized utilities). Special emphasis will be placed on the nuances for Xiaomi smartphones, including models on MIUI 14/15 and older versions of firmware, and you will learn what actions are guaranteed to destroy the chances of recovery – and how to avoid them.
1.Check the basket at Xiaomi Gallery
The first thing you need to do is to look into the Gallery's built-in app basket, where deleted photos are stored for up to 30 days on Xiaomi smartphones (some firmware up to 15), which works even without the Internet and requires no additional software.
How to open the basket:
- 📱 Open the Gallery app (image with multi-colored squares).
- 🗑️ Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → pick the basket.
- 🔍 Find the right photos, click on them. → Restore.
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If the cart is empty, try updating the gallery: pull the screen down to reload the thumbnails. Sometimes the photos "hang" and do not appear immediately.
Important: The cart cleans automatically when memory is scarce or after manual cleaning through Settings → Storage → Cleanup. If you have already done this procedure, move on to the next method.
2. Recovery via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)
If your Xiaomi has enabled sync with Mi Cloud, the chances of returning photos are very high. The cloud keeps backup photos even if the originals are deleted from the phone.
Instructions for remediation:
- 🌐 Go to i.mi.com from any device.
- 🔑 Sign in with the same account as on your phone.
- 📸 On the menu, select the Gallery. → Find the Remote or Recycle Bin folder.
- ⬇️ Select a photo and click Restore (they will return to the phone gallery the next time you sync).
What to do if the photo is not in the cloud?
The limitations of Mi Cloud:
- 🚫 Free rate only provides 5GB – if the seat is out, new photos are not synced.
- ⏳ Recovery from the cloud may take time if the photos are heavy (e.g. in format) RAW).
- 🔒 If Xiaomi account has been deleted, data from the cloud cannot be restored.
3. Use of PCs and programs for deep scanning
If you don't find the photos in the trash and the cloud, you'll have to connect the phone to your computer and use specialized tools, and this method works because when you delete the files, they're not physically erased, they're just labeled as "free space," and until those areas are overwritten with new data, they can be restored.
Top.-3 Recovery software (tested on Xiaomi Redmi Note) 10/11, POCO X3/X4, Mi 11/12):
| Programme | Xiaomi support | Deep scanning. | Free version |
|---|---|---|---|
| DiskDigger | ✅ Yeah) | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No, just a view) |
| Recuva | ✅ Yes, no root) | ⚠️ Partially. | ✅ Yes (with limitations) |
| EaseUS MobiSaver | ✅ Yes. MIUI) | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No (3 files free) |
Step-by-step instructions for Recuva (the easiest option without root):
- 🖥️ Install Recuva on a Windows PC.
- 📱 Connect Xiaomi to the USB file transfer (MTP).
- 🔍 In the program, select the type of Image files → Specify the phone disc.
- 🔄 Start the scan (may take 10 to 60 minutes).
- 💾 Save the photos on your PC, not back to your phone!
DiskDigger (from root)|Recuva (without root)|EaseUS MobiSaver|Another (I will write in the comments)-->
⚠️ Warning: Never save recovered files back to the same Xiaomi they were deleted from! this can overwrite the remaining unrecovered data.
4. Recovery through ADB (for advanced users)
If you have experience with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can try extracting photos directly from your phone’s memory, a method that works for Xiaomi with an unlocked bootloader or root rights, but requires caution – the wrong commands can damage the system.
Main steps:
- 🛠️ Install. ADB on PC (download from the official website).
- 📱 On the phone, turn on the debugging. USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press the assembly number → Come back to the extra. → For developers).
- 🔌 Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/ C:\Xiaomi_Photos\ (switch the path).
If you have recently deleted your photos, they may be in /data/.trash (root rights required).
adb shell
su
ls /data/.trash⚠️ Note: Su teams only work on phones with an unlocked bootloader and Magisk installed. On standard Xiaomi without root, this method will not work.
5. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center
If all independent attempts were unsuccessful, and photos are critically important (for example, documents or unique frames), you can contact the official service center Xiaomi.
What you need to know before your visit:
- 💰 The cost of the service starts from 3 000-5 000 rubles (depending on the model and complexity).
- ⏳ Recovery period – from 1 to 5 working days.
- 📄 Bring a check or a box from your phone to confirm ownership.
- 🔒 If encryption was enabled on the phone (Settings) → Lockdown and protection → Encryption, chances of recovery drop sharply.
The service centers can be found on Xiaomi’s official website, and check by phone before you visit if they are engaged in data recovery – not all centers provide this service.
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The service center is the last chance to get a photo back if the software methods didn't work, but there's no guarantee of success: if you have physical memory damage or complete data overwriting, even professionals are powerless.
6. How to prevent future photo loss
To never encounter the problem of deleted photos again, set up automatic backup and follow the simple rules:
🔄 Enable autoload in Google Photos or Mi Cloud
📁 Regularly copy the photo to a PC or external disk
🚫 Do not clean the basket in the gallery manually
🔐 Use two-factor authentication for cloud accounts
📱 Install a backup app (e.g. SyncMe)-->
Set up autoload in Google Photos (the most reliable option):
- 📱 Install Google Photos from Play Market.
- 👤 Sign in to your Google account.
- ⚙️ Go to Settings. → Backup and synchronization → turn on the option.
- 📶 Select quality (Original or High) and network to download (Wi-Fi only recommended).
For Mi Cloud:
- 📱 Open the Settings. → Accounts. → Mi Cloud.
- 📸 Enable Gallery Synchronization and Autoboot.
- 📁 Make sure you have enough space (buy additional storage if necessary).
Additional advice:
- 💾 Use it. OTG-cable.
- 📧 Send important photos to your email (e.g. Gmail or Yandex).
- 🔄 Set up a Planned Copy in the File Application (Xiaomi).