How to Recover Deleted Photos and Files on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO
Accidentally deleted a photo or file on a Xiaomi, Redmi, or POCO phone? Start with the app that deleted it. Xiaomi Gallery, Google Photos, and Files by Google have different trash folders; the Xiaomi File Manager may not have one at all. Check copies and backups before trying recovery software, and avoid saving new files to the affected storage.
First, identify where the photo or file was deleted
Xiaomi Gallery: Check Gallery > Albums > Deleted items / Recently deleted. You can restore items still in that folder.
Google Photos: Check Google Photos > Collections > Trash. Google currently states a 30-day trash period; items permanently deleted from Photos cannot be restored there.
Files by Google: Check Menu > Trash, but only files moved to that app's Trash will appear there.
Xiaomi File Manager: Check another copy or an existing backup. Xiaomi's support guidance says its File Manager has no trash bin in the documented case.
Step 1: Restore photos from Xiaomi Gallery
1. Open Gallery on your Xiaomi, Redmi, or POCO device.
2. Go to Albums and look for Deleted items (the label may vary by Gallery version or region).
3. Select the photos or videos you need and tap Restore.
Check the gallery for another local album or the original camera folder if the item is missing from Deleted items. The recovery window depends on the app and account settings; do not assume an item remains available after you empty the folder. Xiaomi's support guidance confirms the Gallery path and distinguishes it from Xiaomi File Manager.
Step 2: Check Google Photos and any existing cloud copy
Open Google Photos > Collections > Trash, select an item, and tap Restore. Use the Google Account that backed up the missing photo; also search its Photos library and check whether the image was archived rather than deleted. Google's current deletion policy says photos and videos remain in Trash for 30 days before permanent deletion. A previous 60-day rule should not be used as a current guarantee. Deleting an item in Google Photos can also remove its backed-up copies across synced devices, so check the account before deleting anything else.
Do not rely on the old Xiaomi Cloud Album instructions outside mainland China: Xiaomi ended Gallery sync to Xiaomi Cloud and the transfer window in 2023 for accounts registered outside mainland China. If you transferred your old Xiaomi Cloud photos to Google Photos or downloaded them during the migration, search that destination. Xiaomi says other Cloud services, such as contacts and notes, were not part of the Gallery shutdown. If your account is registered in mainland China and Cloud Album sync was enabled, check your account's available Cloud Album / Recycle Bin features and current retention terms; do not assume this path applies globally.
Step 3: Recover documents and downloads from the app that stored them
If you removed a document using Files by Google, open that app's menu and check Trash; restore it there if present. If you deleted it with Xiaomi File Manager, do not waste time looking for a guaranteed Xiaomi File Manager Recycle Bin: Xiaomi explicitly says that app has no trash bin in its support example. Instead, check Google Drive, the original download or messaging app, a computer, an SD card, and any backup created before deletion. Restoring an old full-device backup may replace newer data, so inspect its date and contents first.
Step 4: Consider recovery software only after checking free recovery paths
If no bin or backup has the item, Dr.Fone - Data Recovery (Android) offers a computer-based scan and preview workflow: install it on a computer, select Data Recovery > Android > Recover Android Data, connect a supported device, select the relevant file types, and review the scan results before choosing what to export. Check device recognition, available scan modes, permissions, compatibility, and the applicable price before paying. A free scan or preview does not mean exporting files is free, and a scan does not guarantee recovery of permanently deleted data from modern encrypted internal storage. The product's no-root claim applies to specified recovery sources or supported modes, not every Xiaomi phone and every type of deleted file. Save recovered files to your computer or another storage device, not the affected phone or SD card.
If the files were on a removable SD card: Stop using the card, remove it safely, and check for a separate backup. A computer-based scan of the card may be an option, but avoid writing new data to it. Do not unlock the bootloader, factory-reset, root, or install multiple recovery apps on the phone just to attempt a scan; those actions can erase data or reduce the chance of recovery.
Frequently asked questions
Can I recover Xiaomi photos after emptying Deleted items?
Not through that Gallery folder. Check Google Photos, another synced account, a prior backup, or a copy saved elsewhere. Software cannot promise to restore permanently deleted files from an encrypted phone.
Does Xiaomi Cloud still keep my Gallery photos?
Not as a current Gallery-sync path for accounts registered outside mainland China: Xiaomi ended that service and its migration window in 2023. Mainland China accounts have different service availability; check the account and region rather than following an old global Mi Cloud Trash guide.
Is there a Xiaomi File Manager recycle bin for deleted documents?
Xiaomi's support guidance says its File Manager has no trash bin. Files by Google is a different app with its own Trash; it will not necessarily contain files deleted in Xiaomi File Manager.
Should I keep using my phone after deleting important files?
Minimize new photos, downloads, app installs, and updates until you have checked available copies and backups. Avoid a reset or bootloader unlock; neither is a reliable shortcut to restore deleted data.
