Removed video from Xiaomi phone – how to recover: all the ways from the cart to deep scan

Accidental video deletion from Xiaomi is a familiar situation, with one careless click in the gallery, cleaning the cache or resetting the settings, and valuable footage disappears without a trace. But don't panic: 80 percent of files can be returned if you act quickly and correctly. In this article, we'll look at all the recovery methods available, from standard MIUI tools to professional utilities that work even after memory formatting.

It's important to understand that the chances of success depend on how long it took to delete and whether the phone was used after that. New data recorded on top of deleted files can permanently destroy them. So first of all, turn off the mobile Internet and do not shoot new videos, this will increase the likelihood of recovery. Next, we will consider ways from the simplest to the most complex, taking into account the features of the MIUI firmware and the hardware limitations of Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones.

1.Check the basket at MIUI Gallery

Modern versions of MIUI (starting with MIUI 12) automatically send deleted files to the bin, where they are stored for up to 30 days. This is the first and easiest way to return video without third-party software.

How to find the basket:

• 📁 Open the standard Gallery app (not Google Photos!).
• 🔍 Slip on three horizontal lines (menu) in the lower right corner.
• 🗑️ Select the Recycle Bin (or Recently Deleted in some versions).
• 🔄 Find the right video, click on it and select Restore.

💡

If the cart is empty, check the settings of the gallery: go to Settings → Recycle Bin and make sure the function is enabled. On some firmware, it has to be activated manually.

Note that the MIUI cart has a volume limit, usually 5GB. If you delete a large video (e.g., in 4K resolution), it may not be in the cart due to space constraints, in which case move on to the following methods.

⚠️ Note: after cleaning the cart manually (Clean the cart) or after 30 days, files are deleted irrevocably for standard system tools!

2. Restore via Google Photos (if synchronized)

If your Xiaomi has autosynchronization enabled with Google Photos, the chances of returning a video are much higher, the service saves copies of all media files in the cloud, even if the originals are deleted from the phone, the main condition is that you had to log into the same Google account as when you set up sync.

Step-by-step:

• 🌐 Open the Google Photos app or go to photos.google.com.
• 🔍 In the search bar, enter the title of the video or the date of shooting.
• 📤 If a file is found, click on the three dots next to it and select Save to your device.
• 🗃️ For mass recovery, go to the Recycle Bin (in the side menu) and restore the desired files.

Google Photos stores videos in a shopping cart for 60 days, twice as long as a standard MIUI gallery, but there’s a caveat: if you delete a file before syncing is enabled, it won’t be in the cloud, and check if the free storage limit (15GB per account) is exceeded.

3. Local MIUI backups: Hidden lifeline

Many Xiaomi users don’t know that the system automatically creates local backups of media files when you connect to Mi Account, which are stored in a hidden folder and can contain deleted videos, which works even without the Internet, but requires root rights or a file manager with access to system folders.

How to find backup copies:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Go to /data/media/0/MIUI/Backup/AllBackup/ or (for newer MIUI versions): /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Backup/
3. Find the folder with the date before the video was deleted. backup_20260515_123456.
4. Copy the files to a secure location (for example, a computer).

⚠️ Warning: Don't try to open backup files directly - they're encrypted. First copy them to your computer, then use the Mi utility. PC Suite for data extraction: Incorrect actions can damage a copy!

4.Programs for deep memory scanning

If you don't find video in the cart or the cloud, you need to plug in specialized software, software like DiskDigger, Recuva or EaseUS MobiSaver scan your phone's internal memory at a low level and recover files even if they were deleted months ago, so you don't have to write new data to your phone after you delete it, otherwise the odds are going to be zero.

The best programs for Xiaomi:

• 🛠️ DiskDigger - Supports FAT32/exFAT/NTFS, It works without rooting on new models (Xiaomi) 13T, Redmi Note 12).
• 🔍 EaseUS MobiSaver – specializes in video formats.mp4,.mov,.3gp.
• 📱 Undeleter Recover Files & Data – Optimized for the MIUI, Recover files from microSD memory cards.

Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger:

It can take anywhere from 20 minutes to a few hours, depending on the amount of memory you have, and if the program finds a video that's playing with artifacts (green bars, jerks), that means that some of the data has been overwritten, so try other tools or consult a specialist.

5. Recovery after reset to factory settings

If the video was deleted as a result of a full reset, standard methods will not help - you need professional tools, in which case you need physical access to the memory of the phone via fastboot or EDL-The method is suitable for experienced users and requires:

• 🔧 Unlocked bootloader (unlocked bootloader).
• 💻 Computer with Qualcomm or MediaTek drivers installed (depending on your Xiaomi processor).
• 🛠️ Mi Flash Tool or QFil for working with firmware.

Algorithm of action:

1. Put your phone in EDL mode (this may require a testpoint or adb reboot edl command).
2. Connect the device to your PC and define it in Device Manager as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
3. Use UFED or Oxygen Forensic to create a memory image (dump).
4. Scan the image with Autopsy or FTK Imager to search for video fragments.

💡

This method requires a deep technical knowledge. EDL-They can turn your phone into a brick if you're not sure, go to the service center.

The cost of professional data recovery in the laboratory starts from 5,000 rubles and depends on the phone model. For Xiaomi with Snapdragon chipsets (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro), the process is easier than for devices on MediaTek (Redmi 9A), where contact soldering is often required.

6. How to Prevent Future Video Loss

To avoid the problem of deleted videos, set up automatic backup on your Xiaomi.

• ☁️ Google Photos: Enable autoboot in the app settings (Settings) → Backup and synchronization).
• 📱 Mi Cloud: activate gallery sync in your Mi Account (free 5GB available).
• 💾 Local Backup: Use Swift Backup to create copies of the app. SD-map.
• 🔄 Export regularly: copy important videos to your computer or external drive once a month.

We also recommend:

• 🚫 Turn off automatic cache cleaning in settings MIUI (Settings → Warehouse → Cleanup).
• 📌 Use a separate folder for important videos (e.g., Important at the root of memory) and exclude it from optimization.
• 🔒 Set a password for the gallery through Settings → Privacy → Application protection.

💡

For models with OTG support (such as Xiaomi 11T), you can use a flash drive with autocopy function. Connect the drive and set up automatic export of new videos through the File Manager+ application.

FAQ: Frequent questions about video recovery on Xiaomi