The sudden disappearance of an important video from the gallery of a Xiaomi smartphone is most often the result of an accidental swipe of a finger on the screen, a malfunction of the system explorer or careless clearing of the cache, but immediate panic only aggravates the problem, preventing you from using the data recovery mechanisms built into Android, about the existence of which many device owners do not even suspect.
Before moving on to complex methods using third-party software, it is necessary to analyze simple built-in solutions. The chances of success directly depend on how much time has passed since the removal and whether the memory card has been used. In this article, we will analyze in detail the algorithms of actions for devices Redmi i Pocoso that you can quickly return lost files.
Checking the built-in basket in the Xiaomi Gallery
The very first and obvious step, which is often ignored in a stressful situation, is checking the system folder “Trash”. Starting with certain versions of the shell MIUI and the new HyperOS, the developers have introduced a function for temporarily storing deleted media files. If you deleted the video recently, it is highly likely that it is located there, awaiting final erasure.
To access this section, you need to open the standard application Gallery. At the bottom of the screen, find the Albums tab and scroll down to the bottom of the list. There you will see the “Deleted Items” item. The storage time for files in this folder is limited: usually 30 days, after which the system automatically clears the space.
⚠️ Attention: If you used the “Empty Trash” function or the file was there for more than a month, it is no longer possible to restore it through this interface. The data will be overwritten with new information.
Inside the folder, you can select a specific video and click the “Restore” button. The file will return to the album where it was originally located. This is the safest method, since it does not require the installation of additional software and does not pose any risks to the integrity of the system.
☑️ Recycle bin verification algorithm
Synchronization with Google Photos and cloud services
If the built-in recycle bin is empty, the next step is to check cloud storage. Many users Xiaomi activate synchronization with their account Googleby default. The service Google Photos has its own recycle bin, which works independently of the phone’s system memory.
Go to the application Google Photos and go to the “Library” section. There's also a Trash folder where files can be stored for up to 60 days if you have an active subscription, or 30 days with the free plan. The peculiarity of this service is that it often caches previews or full versions of videos even before you delete them from the device.
- 📸 Check the “Photos” tab for videos in the general feed, sometimes they are simply hidden from the local gallery.
- ☁️ Go to your Google account settings and check the “Data and personalization” section to search for archives.
- 🔄 Make sure that synchronization was turned on when you took a photo or last opened the file.
It is also worth paying attention to the branded cloud Mi Cloud. If you logged in Mi Account, the videos could be automatically uploaded there. Go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Gallery and check the synchronization status. Through the i.mi.com web interface, you can also view the contents of the cloud from your computer.
Nuances of Mi Cloud operation
Synchronization in Mi Cloud may not work correctly if power saving mode and the application are enabled on the phone The gallery had limited background activity. Check the battery settings for the Gallery application.
Using specialized recovery software
When built-in tools are powerless, third-party utilities come to the rescue. For devices based on Android there are a number of applications that can scan the internal memory for residual data. One of the most popular solutions is DiskDigger.
The effectiveness of such apps directly depends on the availability root access. Without root privileges, the app can only scan the cache superficially and find only low-quality video thumbnails. With full access rights, the software is able to delve into the file system and find original files if they have not been overwritten.
| Application | Root required | Type of files to be restored | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| DiskDigger | Desirable | Photo, Video, Cache | Low |
| Undeleter | Required | All formats | Medium |
| Recuva (PC) | No (via USB) | Deep scanning | High |
| Dr.Fone | Depends on the model | Multimedia, Contacts | Average |
When using mobile applications, it is important to follow one rule: do not install the recovery app on the same memory from which you are trying to recover data. It is best to save the installation file to a memory card or use the version for PC.
Data recovery via computer (USB debugging)
A more advanced method involves connecting a smartphone Xiaomi to a personal computer. This method is preferable, since powerful desktop software copes with the analysis of memory sectors more efficiently than its mobile counterparts. To get started, you need to activate debugging mode.
Go to Settings → About phone and quickly press 7 times on the “MIUI Version” or “OS Version” item to unlock the developer menu. Then, in the advanced settings, find the “For Developers” item and turn on the toggle switch USB debugging. Connect the phone to the PC with a cable and select the file transfer mode MTP.
⚠️ Attention: When connecting to an unknown computer, the phone will ask for permission to debug. Always verify your RSA key fingerprint only on trusted devices to avoid data leakage.
Run a recovery app on your computer (for example, Recuva or EaseUS MobiSaver). Select the drive that matches your smartphone and run a deep scan. The process may take from 15 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of memory.
Use the original USB cable included in the package. Cheap cables often only support charging and do not transmit data, which will lead to a connection error.
Features of working with an SD memory card
If the deleted video was stored on an external memory card microSD, the chances of success increase significantly. In this case, it is recommended to remove the drive from the smartphone and connect it to the computer via a card reader. This will eliminate the influence of the phone's operating system on the process of reading sectors.
The file system of memory cards is easier to analyze with standard utilities for Windows or macOS. The app Recuva in deep analysis mode is able to find even those files that were deleted several months ago, provided that no new information was written to the card.
It is important to understand the difference between logical deletion and physical damage. If the memory card is detected by the computer, but requires formatting, do not agree to this action under any circumstances before attempting to recover the data. Formatting will create a new file table, which will complicate the search for old records.
External drives are restored more successfully than internal memory, since the Android system interacts less with them in the background, reducing the risk of data overwriting.
Data loss prevention and backup
The best way to deal with video loss is This is timely prevention. Setting up automatic backups will save you from having to look for complex solutions in the future. In smartphones Xiaomi you can configure weekly uploading of media files to the cloud or to a local server.
It is recommended to use the “3-2-1” rule: store three copies of data, on two different types of media, and keep one of them in a remote location (cloud). For owners Poco i Redmi an excellent solution would be to buy a memory card with a high write speed class to avoid saving errors when shooting in 4K.
- 💾 Set up auto-upload in Google Photos or Yandex.Disk immediately after purchasing the phone.
- 🔒 Regularly make full system backups via your computer once a month.
- 🚫 Avoid using dubious cleaner applications that can delete the gallery cache along with thumbnails.
Remember that the internal memory of modern smartphones works on the Wear Leveling principle. This means that when you delete a file, the system does not immediately erase it, but marks the cell as free. However, the memory controller can write new data there at any time to level out wear, so you need to act quickly.
⚠️ Attention: Menu interfaces and item names may vary slightly depending on the firmware version (MIUI 12, 13, 14 or HyperOS). Always check the manufacturer's current help materials if you cannot find the item you need.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to restore video if the phone has been reset to factory settings?
After a full reset (Factory Reset), the chances of recovery are minimal, especially on modern devices with data encryption. Encryption keys are removed, making the remaining data unreadable. Only professional laboratories can help, but success is not guaranteed.
Is it safe to obtain root access for the sake of file recovery?
Obtaining superuser rights will void the warranty on the device and can lead to the smartphone being “bricked” if an error occurs. It also disrupts banking applications. Use this method only as a last resort and at your own risk.
Why does the recovered video not open or has a black screen?
This is a sign that the file has been partially overwritten by new data. The head of the video file may have been preserved, but the main body of the content was damaged. In such cases, specialized video editors can sometimes fix the container, but more often the file is considered lost.
Does the Snapdragon or MediaTek processor model affect the chances of recovery?
Indirectly. Different memory controllers implement the TRIM command, which clears deleted blocks, differently. However, the key factor remains the time that has passed since deletion, and not the specific processor model.
Do you need to pay a subscription for recovery applications?
Most free versions of the apps allow you to find files, but require payment to save them. It is recommended to first scan the memory with the free version to make sure you have data before purchasing a license.