Recovery of data on Xiaomi after resetting to factory settings: the full guide

Factory resets on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones are a radical way to solve performance problems, viruses or getting your device ready for sale. But what if you realized after hard reset that important photos, Telegram messages, notes or contacts were permanently erased? 80 percent of the time, data can be returned — even if you didn't back up beforehand.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven recovery methods, from standard MIUI functions to professional tools like Dr.Fone or Tenorshare UltData. Separately, we will focus on the nuances for models with chipset Snapdragon (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro) and Mediatek (Redmi Note 12), and also explain why recovery through ADB only works on unencrypted memory partitions. If you have already tried to restore data and received the error “No root access” or “Storage not detected”, here you will find a solution.

Why is the data lost after resetting and can it be returned?

When you completely reset (via Settings → About Phone → Reset or button combination in Recovery Mode), Xiaomi erases:

• 📁 User files in internal memory (/storage/emulated/0/): photos, videos, documents.
• 📱 Application settings, cache, game data (e.g. save in Genshin Impact or Honor of Kings).
• 📞 Contacts, SMS/MMS, Call log (unless synced with Google or Mi Account).
• 🔐 Wi-Fi passwords, Mi Pay data, Smart Home settings.

But the operating system simply labels the memory sectors as "free," and the new data gradually overwrites the old ones.

• ⏳ Post-reset time: If you start recovering immediately, the probability is 70–90%. If >7 days have elapsed, <30%.
• 📱 Smartphone models: Xiaomi with UFS 3.1 (e.g. Mi 11 Ultra) rewrites data faster than eMMC (Redmi 9A).
• 🔒 Encryption availability: If FBE (File-Based Encryption) was enabled in Settings → Security → Encryption, recovery without root rights is almost impossible.

⚠️ Warning: Don't install new apps or copy files to your phone after a reset! Every entry into internal memory reduces the chances of recovering old data.

Method 1: Recovery via Mi Cloud (if synchronized)

The easiest method is to use Xiaomi's cloud backup, which automatically saves:

• 📞 Contacts, SMS, call-in.
• 📅 Calendar, notes (Mi Notes).
• 📷 Photos and videos (if Gallery option is enabled → Settings → Backup).
• 🎮 Data from some games (via Mi Game Center)

To restore:

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select a category (e.g., “Contacts” or “Gallery”).
3. Click on “Sync” or “Restore”.
4. Confirm the action via SMS or password from your Mi Account.

If sync has been disabled, check your Google Account:

• 🔍 Contact: contacts.google.com.
• 📷 Photo: Google Photos (if autosave is enabled).
• 📅 Calendar: Google Calendar.

⚠️ Warning: If you dropped your phone through Fastboot (fastboot erase userdata command), cloud copies may not recover due to a Mi Account reset. In this case, try method 3 or 4.

Method 2: Local backup via Mi PC Suite (if created)

Xiaomi offers official backup software, the Mi PC Suite, and if you've ever connected your phone to your computer and created a backup, you have a chance to get your data back.

Instructions:

1. Download Mi PC Suite from the official website (version for Windows).
2. Connect Xiaomi to your PC via USB (File Transfer Mode).
3. Run the program and select “Restore from backup”.
4. Specify the path to the backup file (usually in C:\Users\Username\MiPhone\Backup).
5. Select categories to restore (e.g., “Gallery” or “Messages”).

If the backup is not located:

• 🔍 Check the MiPhone folder on all PC drives.
• 🔄 Try another USB- cable (preferably the original one from Xiaomi).
• 📁 A backup file can have a.mbk extension — search for it through PC search.

Connect the phone in the mode "File transfer"|Install the latest Xiaomi drivers|Disable Antivirus (can block access)|Check the space available on the C disk (needs to be checked) >5GB)-->

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Does not restore application data (e.g., correspondence to Viber or WhatsApp).
• ❌ If the backup was built on another Xiaomi model, compatibility errors may occur.

Method 3: Recover deleted files via DiskDigger (without root)

If clouds and backups didn’t work, try direct memory scanning with DiskDigger, one of the few tools that runs on Xiaomi without superuser rights, and it looks for “traces” of deleted files and restores them partially or completely.

Step-by-step:

1. Download DiskDigger from Google Play (the free version only recovers photos and videos).
2. Launch the app and select “Start Basic Scanning”.
3. Wait until the process is completed (may take 1-3 hours).
4. Tag files for recovery and click Save (save a map or cloud to SD-).

Nuances for Xiaomi:

• 📌 On models with MIUI 14+ (e.g. Xiaomi 13T), DiskDigger may not see internal memory. Solution: plug your phone into your PC and use the desktop version.
• 🔍 To recover documents (.docx,.pdf) you need a Pro version (costs ~$15).
• ⚠️ If the phone is encrypted, DiskDigger will show the files, but it won’t be able to recover them.

Method 4: Deep Recovery with Tenorshare UltData (for the experienced)

For the best chance of success, use Tenorshare UltData for Android, a professional tool that works even on encrypted devices (provided you know the password).

• 📱 Recovery after hard reset, firmware failure, or memory damage.
• 🔓 Screen lock bypass (if you forgot the pattern lock).
• 📂 Retrieving data from corrupted partitions /data and /sdcard.

How to use:

1. Download and install Tenorshare UltData on your PC (official website).
2. Connect Xiaomi via USB and enable Debugging over USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap, then Additional → For Developers).
3. Select the file type to recover (e.g., “WhatsApp”, “Gallery”).
4. Click Scan and wait until it is completed (may take up to 4 hours).
5. View the files found and save them to the PC.

⚠️ Warning: If Tenorshare UltData requests unlocking the bootloader (OEM Unlock), don't agree - it will result in complete data erasure!

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Before buying Tenorshare UltData, check if the program sees your phone in demo mode.If the scan doesn't start, try reinstalling Xiaomi drivers via the Mi Flash Tool.

Method 5: Manual recovery via ADB (for advanced users)

If you're familiar with Android Debug Bridge (ADB), you can try extracting data manually.

• ✅ No encryption is enabled on the phone (check Settings → Security).
• ✅ You did not do fastboot erase userdata (only reset via the settings menu).
• ✅ There is access to Debugging on USB.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB and Fastboot on PC.
2. Connect Xiaomi and execute the command: adb shell su cd /data/data/com.android.providers.media/databases sqlite3 external.db.dump > /sdcard/external_db.sql This exports the multimedia database (photo, video) to the SD- card.
3. Copy the file on PC: adb pull /sdcard/external_db.sql C:\Xiaomi_Recovery\
4. Use SQLite Browser to extract paths to files.

Limitations:

• 🔧 The method requires knowledge of SQL and work with the console.
• 🛑 On MIUI 13+, access to /data is blocked without root.
• ⚠️ An error in commands can result in complete data erasure!

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The ADB- method is only suitable for recovering metadata (paths to files). The files themselves should be searched through DiskDigger or Tenorshare by the received paths.

What do you do if nothing helps?

If all methods are exhausted, radical measures remain:

• 🔧 Service Center: Contact an authorized Xiaomi service for chip-off recovery (retrieval by soldering memory chips). Cost: 5,000 to 20,000 ₽.
• 💾 Laboratory Recovery: Companies like Hetman Recovery or R-Studio are working with physically damaged drives.
• 📱 Checking Other Devices: It is possible that files have been saved to an old SIM- card, SD- card, or social media accounts (e.g., VK automatically saves photos to My Files).

When recovery is not possible:

• 🔥 If >30 days have elapsed since the reset and the memory has been actively used.
• 🔒 On hardware-encrypted phones (e.g., Xiaomi 12S Ultra with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1) without a known password.
• 🗑️ If the reset was performed via Fastboot with the command fastboot format userdata.

⚠️ Warning: Don't trust "magic" programs like WonderShare or EaseUS MobiSaver that promise recovery in 1 click. Often they just crawl the cache of Google Photos or Mi Cloud without offering real solutions.

FAQ: Frequent Data Recovery Questions on Xiaomi