Have you deleted important photos from Xiaomi Redmi 8 and don’t know how to get them back? Don't panic: even after emptying the gallery trash, there is still a chance of recovery. In this article we will look 7 proven methods from built-in functions MIUI to professional tools for PC. It is important to act quickly: the less time has passed after deletion, the higher the likelihood of success.

Smartphones Xiaomi Redmi 8 work on the basis of MIUI a proprietary shell, which has its own features for storing media files. Unlike "pure" Android, there are hidden cache folders, cloud backups, and even a feature that can save your pictures. But there are nuances: for example, Mi Cloud Sync, which can save your pictures. But there are nuances: for example, automatic cache clearing through Settings → Storage can permanently erase temporary files.

We tested all methods on Redmi 8 s MIUI 12.5 i Android 10, but the instructions are also relevant for newer firmware versions. If you used a memory card microSD, the chances of recovery are higher - data from external drives is not deleted as radically as from internal memory.

📊 Where were the deleted photos stored on your Redmi 8?
In internal memory
On a microSD memory card
In Google Photos
In Mi Cloud
I don’t remember

The first thing you need to do is look into Hidden Recycle Bin the standard application Gallery. MIUI Deleted files are stored there for up to 30 days (by default), but this period can be accidentally shortened.

How to open the Recycle Bin:

  • 📱 Open application Gallery (icon with multi-colored squares).
  • 🔍 Tap on the three dots in the upper right corner → select Trash.
  • 🗑️ Check the list of files: photos and videos will be marked with a tick. Select the ones you need and click Restore.

If the recycle bin is empty, it is possible:

  • 🔄 You have already emptied it manually (button Clear cart in the same menu).
  • ⚙️ In the gallery settings, the option is disabled Store deleted files (Gallery settings → Cart).
  • 🗓️ More than 30 days have passed since the deletion.
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If the recycle bin is disabled, enable it in advance: Gallery settings → Recycle bin → Store deleted files and set the retention period (maximum 60 days).

⚠️ Attention: after updating MIUI up to version 14, the cart can reset the settings to default. Check its status, even if everything worked before.

2. Recovery via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi cloud)

If synchronization with Redmi 8 , the chances of getting the photo back are very high. The cloud Mi Cloudwas enabled on your Xiaomi automatically saves copies of media files, but only if two conditions are met:

  • 🔗 You have an active account Mi Account (the same as on the phone).
  • ☁️ The option is enabled in the settings Gallery synchronization (Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Gallery).

How to recover photos from Mi Cloud:

  1. Open the browser on your PC or phone and go to i.mi.com (official website Mi Cloud).
  2. Login using the same account as on Redmi 8.
  3. Select section Gallery → Cart (in the left menu).
  4. Check the desired files and click Restore.

Please note:

  • 📅 The Mi Cloud recycle bin stores files for up to 60 days (as opposed to 30 days in the local gallery).
  • 📤 If synchronization was disabled, the cloud will not be able to help - check other methods.
  • 💾 The amount of free storage in Mi Cloud is 5 GB. If the space runs out, old files could be deleted automatically.
Parameter Mi Cloud Google Photos
Storage period in cart 60 days 60 days
Free space 5 GB 15 GB (shared with Gmail and Drive)
Automatic synchronization Needs to be enabled manually Enabled by default
Recovery on PC Yes (via i.mi.com) Yes (photos.google.com)

3. Using Google Photos (if there was a backup)

Google Photos is another reliable source for recovery. If Redmi 8 this application was installed and backup was enabled, your photos could be saved in the cloud Google.

How to check and restore:

  • 🌐 Open photos.google.com in browser.
  • 🔍 In the left menu, select Trash —deleted files are stored there for up to 60 days.
  • 📥 If the photo is not in the trash, try searching by date or keywords (for example, beach or 2023).
  • 🔄 To return photos to your phone, select them and press Restore → they will appear in the folder Google Photos on the device.

Important nuances:

  • 📶 Backup to Google Photos works only when connected to Wi-Fi (unless the settings are changed).
  • 📸 If photos were taken in HDR+ or Portraitmode, they could be saved in original quality, even if the phone was compressed.
  • 🔄 After recovery, the files will go back to the gallery MIUI, but not immediately - you may need to restart the phone.
⚠️ Attention: if you used the function Free up space in Google Photos, local copies of the photo were deleted from the phone. In this case, you can only restore them from the cloud.

4. Search for hidden copies in phone folders

MIUI creates hidden backups media files in system folders. They are not visible in the standard gallery, but can be found through the file manager. On Redmi 8 check the following directories:

  • 📁 /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails — photo thumbnails (low quality, but at least something).
  • 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/.trash — temporary screenshot files.
  • 📁 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Gallery/cloud/ — cache cloud synchronization.
  • 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.gallery/cache/ — gallery cache.

How to access hidden folders:

  1. Install a file manager that supports hidden files (for example, FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer).
  2. In the manager settings, enable option Show hidden files.
  3. Go to one of the paths above and look for files with extensions .jpg, .png or .nomedia (they can be renamed by removing .nomedia).

If you used microSD, check the folder /sdcard/DCIM/.thumbnails —there may also be thumbnails there. On Redmi 8 with firmware V12.0.3.0.QCNMIXM hidden folders are sometimes duplicated in /data/media/0/ —this ok.

Enable the display of hidden files in the file manager|

Check the .thumbnails folder in DCIM|

Search for files with the extension .nomedia|

View gallery cache (/MIUI/Gallery/cloud/)|

Check the external memory card (if available)-->

5. Recovery apps without ROOT (on PC)

If the previous methods did not work, it’s time to connect professional tools. For Xiaomi Redmi 8 apps that scan the phone’s internal memory at a low level are suitable. Important: do not install apps on the phone itself. this may overwrite deleted data.

Best free utilities for PC:

  • 🖥️ Recuva (Windows) - simple interface, supports recovery from Android via a USB connection.
  • 🐧 PhotoRec (Windows/Linux/Mac) - a powerful tool for deep scanning, works with RAW formats.
  • 🍎 Disk Drill (Mac/Windows) - finds even fragmented files, there is a preview.

Step-by-step guide for Recuva:

  1. Connect Redmi 8 to a PC via a USB cable (in the Transfer mode files).
  2. Run Recuva and select the file type Images.
  3. Indicate the drive of your phone (usually Removable drive (E:) or similar).
  4. Click Analysis → wait until scanning is completed (may take 10-30 minutes).
  5. Mark the found photos (green circle - high chances of recovery) and click Restore.

Tips for successful recovery:

  • 🔌 Use the original cable Xiaomi —cheap cables can interrupt the connection.
  • 🔋 The phone's charge must be at least 50%— scanning consumes a lot of energy.
  • 📁 Save the recovered files on your PC, and not back to your phone!
⚠️ Attention: if the phone gives an error USB debugging is not enabled, activate it in Settings → About phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times), then go back to Advanced settings → For developers → USB debugging.

6. (for advanced users)

If you are familiar with Android Debug Bridge (ADB), you can try to extract deleted files directly from the phone's memory. This method requires command line skills, but gives access to raw data.

What you will need:

  • 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools (download from official website).
  • 📱 Included USB debugging on Redmi 8.
  • 🔌 USB cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

  1. Connect your phone to the PC and open the command line (cmd in Windows or Terminal on Mac/Linux).
  2. Check the connection with the command: 
    adb devices

    Your serial number should appear Redmi 8.

  3. Get superuser rights (an unlocked bootloader is required!): 
    adb shell

    su

  4. Find the folder with deleted photos (usually /data/media/0/DCIM/) and copy it to your PC: 
    adb pull /data/media/0/DCIM/ C:\Redmi8_Backup\

If you is not unlocked. bootloader, this method will not work. In this case, use the apps from the previous section.

What to do if ADB does not see the device?

1. Make sure that the drivers are Xiaomi installed (download from official website).

2. Try another USB port (preferably USB 2.0).

3. Enable in the phone settings USB debugging (security settings) and confirm the trust of the PC.

4. Restart your phone and PC.

7. Contacting the service center (extreme case)

If all independent attempts are unsuccessful, it remains professional data recovery. Service centers Xiaomi or specialized laboratories (for example, HDD Recovery) can extract data directly from the chip. memory.

When to contact the service:

  • 💔 Photos are critical (for example, documents or unique photographs).
  • 🔧 You are not confident in your skills in working with ADB or recovery apps.
  • 📱 The phone is physically damaged (for example, after being dropped or hit water).

What you need to know before your visit:

  • 💰 The cost of restoration starts from 3,000 rubles (depending on the complexity).
  • ⏳ The process can take from 1 to 5 days.
  • 📋 Take with you a receipt or proof of purchase of the phone (for warranty cases).
  • 🔒 Check whether the service provides a guarantee of the confidentiality of your data.
⚠️ Attention: if the phone has been reset to factory settings (Hard Reset), the chances of recovery drop sharply. In this case, even service centers cannot always help.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about restoring photos on Redmi 8

Is it possible to restore photos after resetting the phone to factory settings?

Unfortunately, after Hard Reset the chances are minimal. Data on internal memory Redmi 8 is encrypted, and a reset erases the encryption keys. If the photos were on the memory card microSD, you can still try to restore them with apps like Recuva.

Why do some recovered photos open with artifacts?

This means that the files were fragmented - parts of them were overwritten with new data. The more actively you used your phone after removal, the higher the risk of damage. Try opening such photos in Photoshop or GIMP - sometimes they can be partially recovered.

Do recovery applications from Google Play (for example, Dumpster) work?

Applications like Dumpster or DiskDigger can help, but only if they were installed before deleting photos. They create their own trash but do not scan the phone's memory at a low level. For Redmi 8 it is more effective to use PC versions of apps.

How to prevent photo loss in the future?

Enable automatic synchronization s Mi Cloud or Google Photos, as well as:

  • Regularly copy photos to a PC or external drive.
  • Use a card memory microSD class A1 or A2 for storing media.
  • Install the application Resilio Sync for backup over a local network.
Is it possible to restore photos deleted more than a year ago?

Unlikely. After a year, even in cloud services (Mi Cloud, Google Photos), files are deleted permanently. If the photos were stored only on the phone, their recovery is almost impossible - the data is repeatedly overwritten with new files.

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The most reliable way to avoid losing photos is to set up automatic backup to Mi Cloud or Google Photos even before they are stored deleted.