Why are lost songs from the phone Xiaomi and how to return them

You downloaded your favorite tracks to a Xiaomi smartphone, but after a while you found that they disappeared without a trace? This problem is familiar to many users of devices based on MIUI, the brand’s brand shell, and the reasons can lie in the peculiarities of the operating system, as well as in third-party applications or even physical malfunctions of the drive.

Unlike iPhones, where the file system is more closed-loop, Android devices (including Redmi) are more secure, POCO And Mi gives users more freedom -- but also more chance of losing data. 9 Key causes of music disappearance, from banal (e.g. accidental deletion) to technical (section damage) /storage/emulated/0/Music). You will also find unique ways to recover files that are not described in the standard instructions. MIUI.

1. Automatic cleaning of cache and debris

One of the most common reasons is the built-in Security App, where Xiaomi aggressively removes “unnecessary” files, including downloaded music, if they:

• 📁 Stored in folders marked by the system as cache (for example, /Android/data/com.spotify.music/files)
• 🎵 Extensions that are not media-related (e.g,.m4a instead.mp3)
• 🗑️ They have not been opened for a long time (the system considers them to be garbage»)

To check if the system has deleted your tracks:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Cleaning
2. Slip on the "Cleaning Journal" (bottom of the screen)
3. View the list of deleted files in the last 7 days

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If you use Spotify or Yandex Music offline, transfer the app cache to the Music folder on the internal drive - so the system will not consider the tracks "junk".

⚠️ Note: Deep cleaning function in MIUI It can delete files even from folders you created manually.

2. Reset settings or update MIUI

After updating the firmware or resetting to factory settings (for example, through Settings → About Phone → Resetting), all user data, including music, is erased.

If you have updated your firmware and the music is gone, check:

• 🔍 folder /MIUI/backup/AllBackup — Sometimes the system keeps backup copies of media
• ☁️ Mi Cloud (if synchronization was enabled)
• 📱 Internal memory via PC (plug your phone in mode) MTP)

3. File system errors or drive damage

If the songs are partially gone (for example, only file names remain, but they are not played), the problem may be:

• 🛠️ Damage to the userdata partition (where user files are stored)
• 💾 Bad blocks on internal memory (especially relevant for budget models Redmi with eMMC)
• 🔌 Incorrectly disconnecting the phone from the PC during file transfer

To diagnose the problem:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and run the command in CMD: chkdsk X: /f (where X is your phone’s drive letter)
2. Use the AIDA64 app (available on Google Play) to check the memory status: Storage → Internal Memory → State

⚠️ Attention: If AIDA64 If you see "Uncorrectable Errors" or "Reallocated Sectors," the internal drive fails. Immediately back up all data and contact the service center.

4.Conflicts with music apps

Some music players (e.g. Mi Music, Poweramp, VLC) can:

• 🔄 Move files to your folders (for example, /Android/media/com.maxmpz.audioplayer)
• 🗃️ Hide tracks from the general media library (if they are labeled as “undesirable»)
• 🔄 Convert formats (e.g.,.flac to.flac.mp3, delete)

To find the "lost" songs:

1. Open Settings → Applications → [Player Name] → Memory
2. Check the folders. /Android/data/[package_name]/files and /Android/obb/[package_name]
3. Use a root file manager (such as FX File Explorer) to see hidden system folders

⚠️ Attention: Mi Music hides files with broken metadata by default. To see them, open the player, tap three dots. → «Settings» → «Media scanner» → Turn off "Ignore damaged files».

5. Viruses and malware

Xiaomi devices are not immune to viruses, especially if you install APKs from unverified sources.

• 🦠 Encrypt media files (require ransom for decryption)
• 🗑️ Delete files with extensions.mp3,.m4a,.wav
• 📤 Upload your music to remote servers

How to check your phone for viruses:

1. Install Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light from Google Play
2. Start a deep scan (not fast!)
3. Check the permissions of suspicious applications in Settings → Apps → Permissions

If the virus has already deleted the files:

• 🛡️ Use Recuva or EaseUS MobiSaver to recover
• 🔍 Check the folder. /DCIM/.thumbnails — Sometimes viruses hide copies of files there.

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Even if the antivirus does not find threats, but files continue to disappear – do a factory reset and do not restore data from the backup (it may contain a virus).

6. Cloud synchronization errors

If you use Mi Cloud, Google Drive, or Yandex Drive, songs may disappear because of:

• ☁️ Version conflicts (the cloud has replaced the local copy with an older version)
• 🔄 Incorrect sync settings (for example, deleting from your phone when you remove from the cloud)
• 📵 Download failures (file not fully downloaded and deleted)

To avoid loss:

Turn off automatic deletion of files from your device in the cloud settings

Check the Recycle Bin folder in cloud storage (files can stay there for 30 days)

Use separate folders for local and cloud files

Set up notifications about synchronization conflicts

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⚠️ Note: The Mi Cloud defaults on the “Storage Optimization” option, which deletes local copies of files if they are duplicated in the cloud.

7. Physical damage to the phone

If the phone falls, gets wet or overheats, the cause of music loss may be:

• 💧 Corrosion of internal memory contacts (after moisture is ingested)
• 🔥 Overheating of the memory controller (for example, after a long game)
• 📉 Chip dump. eMMC/UFS (thrust)

Signs of physical malfunction:

• 📱 The phone periodically “forgets” files after restarting
• 🐢 It is very slow when working with memory.
• 🔄 Reboots spontaneously when copying files

What to do:

1. Back up all your data immediately (even if your phone is still working)
2. Check the memory status through AIDA64 (Section "Storage")
3. Contact Xiaomi Service Center (if the phone is warranty) or to the specialists in microelectronics

8. Access rights errors (SELinux and MIUI)

MIUI has a strict SELinux security policy that can block access to files, such as:

• 🔒 Application denied access to folder /Music
• 📁 Files are marked as “system” and hidden from the user
• 🔄 After the update, the rights to folders were lost

How to fix it:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Permissions → Storage and check the rights for your player
2. Use it. ADB, To reset the rights to the folder: adb shell chmod -R 777 /sdcard/Music (Requires the included “Developer Mode” and “Debugging by” USB»)
3. Move files to /Download folder – it usually has maximum rights

⚠️ Note: chmod 777 gives full permission to the folder, which may not be secure!

FAQ: Frequent questions about missing songs on Xiaomi