Deleted important photos, videos or documents from phone Xiaomi, and then realized that they are still needed? Don't rush to panic! Unlike many Android devices, smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO equipped with a built-in device that temporarily stores deleted files before permanent erasure. In this article, we will look in detail at how to recover data from the Recycle Bin, what restrictions apply in different versions, and what to do if the files have already disappeared from the Recycle Bin. MIUI Recycle Bin, which temporarily stores deleted files before permanent erasure. In this article we will look in detail at how to recover data from the recycle bin, what restrictions apply in different versions MIUI, and what to do if the files have already disappeared from the recycle bin.

It is important to understand: the Recycle Bin mechanism on Xiaomi works differently than on computers. There are some nuances here - from storage period (usually 30 days, but depends on the model) to file type restrictions. For example, the Recycle Bin MIUI Gallery stores only media files, but for documents and APKs you will have to use other methods. We will consider all scenarios: from standard recovery to advanced methods using ADB and third-party utilities.

If you deleted files recently (within the last 24 hours), the chances of success are maximum. But even if several weeks have passed, do not lose hope - the article has a section about data recovery after emptying the recycle bin. The main rule: do not write new files to the phone before trying to restoreso as not to overwrite deleted data.

How the recycle bin works on Xiaomi: what can be restored

In smartphones Xiaomi the recycle bin is implemented at the level firmware MIUI and is integrated into several system applications. Key points:

  • 📁 MIUI Gallery — stores deleted photos and videos. Default storage period: 30 days (on some models - 15 days).
  • 📄 File manager — saves deleted documents, APKs, archives. Storage period: 10 days (may differ).
  • 🚫 What does NOT fall into Recycle Bin: files deleted through third-party applications (for example, Google Photos), data from instant messengers, application cache.
  • 🔄 Auto Cleanup: if free space on the phone runs out, the system can automatically delete files from the Recycle Bin ahead of schedule.

Important: on devices with MIUI 14+ a feature has appeared "Secure Recycle Bin", which allows you to extend the storage period of files up to 60 days. To activate it, go to Settings → Storage → Recycle Bin → Secure Recycle Bin and enable the option. This is especially useful if you often work with important data.

It is also worth considering that the Recycle Bin is on Xiaomi is not a complete replacement for backup. It only protects against accidental deletion, but not against:

  • 🔧 Resetting the phone to factory settings.
  • 🛠️ Flashing or updating MIUI.
  • 💥 Physical damage to memory (falls, moisture).
⚠️ Attention: On some models POCO (for example, POCO X3 Pro) the recycle bin in the file manager is disabled by default. To activate it, open Files, click on the three dots in the upper right corner, select Settings → Recycle Bin and enable the option.

If you deleted photos or videos, first check the Recycle Bin in the standard one. Gallery. This method works on all devices Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO with firmware MIUI 8 and newer. Instructions:

  1. Open the application Gallery (flower icon).
  2. In the lower right corner, click on Albums (or Folders in older versions).
  3. Scroll down and select the folder Trash (on some models it is called Recently deleted).
  4. Click on the file you want to restore, then tap on Recover (down arrow icon).
  5. The file will be returned to the original folder (for example, Camera or Downloads).

If you need to restore several files at the same time:

  • 📌 Press and hold your finger on one file to activate the selection mode.
  • 📌 Check all the desired files.
  • 📌 Press Restore in the bottom panel.

Please note: in MIUI 13+ a function has appeared "Selective recovery"that allows you to return files not to the original folder, but to a new one. To do this:

  1. Select files in the trash.
  2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner.
  3. Select Restore to... and specify the target folder.
⚠️ Attention: If there is no tab in the Gallery Recycle Bin Photo or Video, this may mean that the files were deleted through another application (for example, Google Photos). In this case, try method 3 or 4 from this article.

Close all applications running with media files

Connect the phone to charge (if the battery level is below 20%)

Check the free space on the phone (must be at least 500 MB)

Do not connect the phone to the PC until the recovery is complete-->

Method 2: Recovering documents and APKs from the File Manager recycle bin

To recover deleted documents, archives (.zip, .rar), APK files or other types of data, use the built-in MIUI File Manager (application Files). Algorithm of actions:

  1. Open the application Files (folder icon).
  2. In the bottom menu, select Trash (trash can icon). If this tab is not there, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Trash.
  3. Find the desired file in the list. For convenience, you can sort files by deletion date or type (click on the filter icon at the top).
  4. Click on the file, then select Restore. The file will return to the folder from which it was deleted.

Features of the recycle bin in the File Manager:

  • 🕒 Storage period: 10 days (on some models - 7 days).
  • 🗑️ Recycle bin volume is limited 500 MB —if the limit is exceeded, old files are deleted automatically.
  • 📂 Some system files (for example, from the folder Android) do not end up in the trash and are deleted immediately.

If the file is not restored (an error appears "Could not be restored"), try:

  • 🔄 Reboot phone.
  • 📱 Free up space on the internal storage (at least 1 GB).
  • 🔧 Clear the File Manager cache in the application settings.
File type Finds in cart? Shelf life Notes
Photo (.jpg, .png) ✅ Yes (Gallery) 30 days Not working for screenshots deleted via notification
Video (.mp4, .mov) ✅ Yes (Gallery) 30 days Files larger than 2 GB may not be saved
Documents (.doc, .pdf) ✅ Yes (Files) 10 days Does not work for files from Downloadif deleted via browser
APK (.apk) ✅ Yes (Files) 7 days Recovered APKs may require re-installation
Audio (.mp3, .m4a) ❌ No — Deleted immediately if they were not in the folder Music

Photos

Videos

Documents (PDF, Word, Excel)

APK files

Other-->

Method 3: Restoring files after emptying the recycle bin (without root)

If the files were deleted from the recycle bin or more than 30 days have passed, standard methods will not help. However, there is a chance to return the data using third-party utilities. Important: this method only works if the phone new ones were not recorded. files after deletion, the data may have been overwritten.

We recommend using DiskDigger —one of the few applications that can scan internal memory Xiaomi without rights rootInstructions:

  1. Install DiskDigger from Google Play (requires Android 5.0+).
  2. Launch the application and select "Start basic scan" (without root).
  3. Select type files to search (for example, JPEG or PDF).
  4. Wait for the scan to complete (may take from 10 minutes to an hour).
  5. Tick the found files and click Recover.
  6. Select a method saving: to a memory card, to the cloud or by email.

Method limitations:

  • 🔍 Found files may be damaged (especially videos).
  • 📱 The application does not see files deleted more than 2-3 months ago.
  • 🚫 Does not work for files deleted through Secure Delete (permanent deletion).

Alternative apps for recovery without root:

  • 📱 EaseUS MobiSaver - supports recovery of contacts and messages (paid version).
  • 📱 GT Recovery - specializes in media files, but contains advertising.
  • 📱 Undeleter - can recover files from a memory card (required root for internal memory).
⚠️ Attention: Do not install recovery apps on the same memory partition from which the files were deleted! This reduces the chances of success. Use a memory card or external drive to save the recovered data.
💡

If you are restoring photos, first check the folder DCIM/.thumbnails in the File Manager. Sometimes there remain thumbnails of deleted images, which can be enlarged using special services (for example, AI Image Enlarger).

Method 4: Recovery using a PC (ADB and specialized apps)

If files are not recovered via the phone, you can try connecting Xiaomi to a computer and use professional utilities. This method is more complicated, but more effective, especially for documents and archives.

You will need:

  • 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
  • 📱 USB cable (preferably original).
  • 🔧 app Recuva, PhotoRec or 7-Data Recovery.
  • 🔑 Enabled USB debugging (instructions below).

Step 1. Enable USB debugging on Xiaomi:

  1. Go to Settings → About phone.
  2. Click on MIUI Version 7 times until the notification appears "You have become a developer!".
  3. Go back to Settings → Advanced → For developers.
  4. Activate the option USB debugging.

Step 2. Connect the phone to the PC and run scanning:

  1. Connect Xiaomi to the computer and select mode File transfer (MTP).
  2. Run the app Recuva (or equivalent).
  3. Select the type of files to search (for example, All files or Images).
  4. Indicate the drive of your phone (usually it appears as a removable drive).
  5. Run deep scanning (may take several hours).

If the app does not see the internal memory of the phone, use ADB to create an image of the partition:

adb shell

su


dd if=/dev/block/mmcblk0pXX of=/sdcard/recovery.img

Replace mmcblk0pXX with the current partition (you can find out through adb shell mountThen scan). the resulting image on a PC.

⚠️ Attention: When restoring via PC, never save files back to your phone! Use an external drive or cloud storage. Writing to the same partition from which you are restoring can permanently damage the data.
Why do recovery apps not see some files?

Even professional utilities do not guarantee 100% results. Files can be:

1. Overwritten with new data (for example, after installing applications or taking new photos).

2. Deleted using the function Secure Delete (in MIUI it is activated when you select "Delete". forever").

3. Encrypted (for example, files from a folder Android/data are often encrypted by applications).

4. Located in system partitions that are inaccessible without root.

Method 5: Recovering through MIUI backups and Google

If you have previously set up backup, you can restore files from the cloud or a local copy. There are two main ways: Xiaomi there are two main ways:

1. Restoring from a MIUI Cloud backup:

  • 📱 Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
  • 📱 Select Backup and restore.
  • 📱 Click Restore and select the desired copy (sorted by date).
  • 📱 Check the data types (for example, Gallery or Documents) and confirm the restoration.

2. Restoring from Google Drive (if an Android backup was used):

  • 📱 Go to Settings → Google → Backup.
  • 📱 Press Restore data and select source device.
  • 📱 Confirm the restoration (you will have to reset the phone to factory settings!).

Important nuances:

  • 🔄 MIUI backups save files only for last 30 days (default setting).
  • ☁️ Cloud storage Mi Cloud is provided for free 5 GB, the rest is by subscription.
  • 🔒 Restoring from Google Drive will overwrite the current data on the phone!

If there are no backups, but you used Google Photos for synchronization:

  1. Open the application Google Photos.
  2. Click on the avatar → Cart.
  3. Select files and click Restore.
💡

Backup in MIUI is disabled by default! To avoid data loss in the future, activate it in Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup and choose what data to save (contacts, messages, gallery, etc.).

What to do if nothing helps: alternative methods

If standard methods do not work, radical measures remain. Their effectiveness depends on the phone model and the circumstances of deletion.

1. Contacting the Xiaomi service center

Official service centers Xiaomi in rare cases can restore data using professional equipment (for example, Chip-Off or JTAG). This is relevant if:

  • 💥 The phone is physically damaged (does not turn on, broken screen).
  • 🔧 Data deleted after resetting to factory settings.
  • 📱 Files were critical (for example, legal documents).

The cost of such a service starts from 5,000 rubles, and the result is not guaranteed. Before your visit, check whether the center deals with data recovery (not all service centers provide this service).

2. Using Fastboot mode (for advanced users)

If the phone does not turn on, but is detected by the computer in Fastbootmode, you can try to create a memory image using the utility FlashFire or TWRP. To do this:

  1. Install Minimal ADB and Fastboot on PC.
  2. Connect the phone in Fastboot (hold Power + Vol Down when turning on).
  3. Run the command to create a dump of a partition with data: 
    fastboot pull /dev/block/mmcblk0pXX dump.img
  4. Scan the resulting one dump.img app PhotoRec.

3. Checking temporary files and cache

Sometimes deleted files remain in temporary folders. Check:

  • /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/ —application cache.
  • /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails/ —photo thumbnails.
  • /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/ —sometimes screenshots are duplicated.
⚠️ Attention: Methods using Fastboot or disassembling the phone may void the warranty or device failure. Use them only if other methods have been exhausted and the data is truly critical.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about recovering files on Xiaomi

Is it possible to recover files deleted more than a year ago?

The chances are extremely low. After 30 days, the files are deleted from the trash, and after 2-3 months they are overwritten with new data. The exception is if the phone was turned off all this time (for example, under repair). In this case, you can try apps like DiskDigger with deep scanning.

Why is the recycle bin on my Xiaomi empty, although I didn’t delete anything?

Probable reasons:

  1. Auto-cleaning: if there is less free space on the phone 10%, the system can empty the recycle bin.
  2. MIUI update: after major updates, the recycle bin is sometimes reset.
  3. Application crash: try clearing the Gallery or File Manager cache.
How to recover deleted messages in MIUI?

Messages from SMS/MMS do not go to the trash, but they can be restored:

  • From a backup copy Mi Cloud (if message copying is enabled).
  • Through applications like SMS Backup & Restore (if a backup was previously made).
  • Using ADB (root required): SMS files are stored in /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db.
Is it possible to restore files after resetting to factory settings?

After Hard Reset standard methods do not work. The only options:

  • Restoring from a backup (if it was made before the reset).
  • Contacting a service center for Chip-Off restoration (expensive and not always successful).

If the reset was done through Fastboot (command fastboot erase userdata), the chances are zero - the data is erased at a low level.

Why are the recovered videos not played?

This is a typical problem when restoring large files. Reasons:

  • The file is damaged (not fully restored).
  • No codec (try playing via VLC Player).
  • The video was recorded in the proprietary MIUI format (for example, .mkv with specific tags).

Solution: try restoring the file again using another app (for example, PhotoRec instead of DiskDigger).