The loss of valuable pictures on a Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone is a situation that many users face, often due to their own negligence or due to a system failure. Modern MIUI and HyperOS shells offer built-in data protection mechanisms, but they have their own limitations on storage time. If you accidentally cleared Gallery or formatted a memory card, do not panic: in most cases, files can be returned.
The recovery process directly depends on how long ago the deletion occurred and whether synchronization with the cloud was enabled. In this article we will analyze in detail the standard system tools Redmi, cloud storage capabilities Mi Cloud, as well as methods of working with third-party software for deep scanning of the device memory.
Checking the built-in recycle bin in the Gallery application
The first and most obvious action that must be performed immediately after Loss detection is a check of the system “Deleted Items” folder. Starting with certain versions of MIUI, Xiaomi has introduced a feature Trashesthat temporarily stores media files before permanently erasing them.
To access this section, open the standard application Gallery and go to the tab Albums. At the very bottom of the list of folders you will find the item Deleted. Here, files are stored for 30 days if they were uploaded to the cloud, or until manually cleared by the user.
If you find your pictures in this folder, simply select them with a long press and click button Restore. This will return the photos to their original albums without losing quality. However, if the folder is empty or the necessary files are not there, it means that the time limit has expired or they were deleted past the trash.
- 📂 Go to the application
Gallerythrough the main screen. - 🗑️ Scroll down the list of albums to the section
Deleted. - ✅ Select the desired photos and click
Recoverat the bottom of the screen.
⚠️ Attention: Files in the trash take up space in the phone's memory. If the storage is full, the system may automatically offer to clear old deleted items ahead of schedule.
Always check the deletion date in the properties of the file in the trash - this will help you understand whether it is possible to restore it using standard means.
Using the Mi Cloud cloud service for synchronization
If the local copy is lost, the next step is to check the cloud storage. The ecosystem is tightly integrated with the service, which by default can synchronize the gallery if connected to Wi-Fi. Log in to your smartphone, select your account and go section Xiaomi tightly integrated with the service Mi Cloud, which by default can sync the gallery when connected to Wi-Fi.
Go to Settings smartphone, select your account Mi Account and go to the section Mi Cloud. Make sure that the switch opposite the item Gallery is active. If synchronization was enabled at the time of deletion, your photos may be located in the cloud trash, which has a separate interface.
To view files deleted from the cloud, it is more convenient to use the web version of the service. Go to the i.mi.com website from a computer or phone browser, log in and select the section Gallery. There is also a folder Deletedwhere files can be stored for up to 30 days even after cleaning on the device itself.
| Storage location | Storage period | Network dependence | Space limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cart in the Gallery | 30 days | Not required | Depends on phone memory |
| Mi Cloud (account) | 30 days | Required | 5 GB free |
| Google Photos | 60 days (cart) | Required | 15 GB (total) |
Recovery via Google Photos and third-party clouds
Many Redmi users by default use the service Google Photos for backup without even noticing it. This application is often pre-installed and automatically uploads pictures to your Google account when connected to the Internet.
Open the application Google Photos and go to the Library section in the bottom menu. Select item Basket. Here, deleted photos are stored for 60 days, which is a month longer than the standard Xiaomi gallery. This makes Google Photos a great tool for Google Photos Library Library Shopping Cart Data insurance It's also worth checking other established cloud services such as data-i="112">or data insurance.
It's also worth checking other installed cloud services such as Yandex.Disk, Dropbox or OneDriveif you have ever configured camera autoloading in them. Sometimes a forgotten application can be a lifesaver by saving a copy of a photo that was deleted from the main device.
⚠️ Attention: When restoring from Google Photos, the original quality may be reduced to “Economy” if storage in the original size is not selected in the account settings.
How to enable auto-upload in Google Photos?
Open the application, click on the profile avatar → Google Photos Settings → Auto-upload and synchronization → Enable the switch.
Deep memory scan by apps for PC
When standard methods are exhausted and the photos have not been uploaded to the cloud, you have to resort to using specialized software for computers. apps like Dr.Fone, Tenorshare UltData or free Recuva (for memory cards) allow you to scan the internal memory of the device for residual data.
To work with the internal memory of your smartphone, you will need to activate the mode USB debugging. Go to Settings → About phone and quickly click 7 times on the item MIUI versionto unlock the menu for developers. Then, in the advanced settings, enable the desired option.
Connect your smartphone to the computer with a cable and run the recovery app. Follow the onscreen instructions to grant access rights. The scanning process can take from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the amount of memory and the number of files.
- 💻 Install the recovery app on your PC (Windows/Mac).
- 🔌 Connect Redmi with a cable and enable USB debugging.
- 🔍 Run a deep scan in the app.
- 💾 Select the found photos and save them to your computer.
☑️ Preparing for recovery via PC
Restoring data from a microSD memory card
If your photos were stored on an external memory card microSDthe chances of success are much higher. In this case, the files are not overwritten by system processes as aggressively as in the internal flash memory, and they are easier to find.
Remove the memory card from the Redmi smartphone and insert it into the computer card reader. Use the app Recuva or PhotoRec to scan the drive. These utilities can find files even after formatting the card, if new information has not been written over them.
It is important to understand the principle of flash memory: when you delete a file, the system only marks the space as free, but the data physically remains there until it is overwritten. Therefore the fewer actions you perform with the phone after deletion, the higher the chance of success.
⚠️ Attention: Never save recovered files back to the same memory card that you are scanning. This may lead to irreversible overwriting of other data.
The internal memory of modern Android smartphones is difficult to scan without root access, since the system encrypts data and limits direct access to disk sectors.
Preventing losses and setting up backups
The best way to combat data loss is their timely backup. Redmi owners are recommended to set up automatic synchronization immediately after purchasing the device, so as not to depend on luck at a critical moment.
Set up a backup schedule in the application Security or through settings Mi Cloud. It is also useful to periodically connect your phone to your computer and copy the folder DCIM to your hard drive. This will create an additional local copy, independent of the Internet connection.
Check the synchronization status regularly. Sometimes, due to a password failure or cloud fullness, the uploading of new photos may stop, and you will think that they are being saved, although in fact they are only in the phone memory.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to recover photos if the phone has been reset to factory settings?
Recovery after a hard reset is extremely difficult, especially on modern versions of Android with encryption. Data in internal memory is almost impossible to recover without specialized equipment. If the photos were on the memory card, there are chances.
How long are photos stored in the Redmi Gallery recycle bin?
By default, deleted photos are stored in the Gallery app recycle bin for exactly 30 days. After this period has expired, they are deleted permanently. In the Mi Cloud, the period is also 30 days, and in Google Photos - 60 days.
Are root access needed to recover data?
To recover deleted files directly from the internal memory of the phone, root access is often necessary to give the app access to system partitions. However, superuser rights are not required to work with the recycle bin, cloud, or memory card through a card reader.
Why doesn’t the app on the PC see my phone?
Check the USB cable (it should support data transfer, not just charging), install ADB drivers and be sure to enable “USB Debugging” mode in the developer menu. Also, when connecting, select the file transfer mode (MTP) in the notification shade.