Question 1

What is the .LSA file format?

Accepted Answer

The .LSA file format is an encrypted photo format created by the MIUI Gallery Secret Album feature on Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO smartphones. When you move a photo into the Secret Album, MIUI encrypts the original JPEG image and saves it with a .lsa extension. LSA Decrypt restores these encrypted files back to standard JPEG photos in their original quality.

Question 2

What is the .LSAV file format?

Accepted Answer

The .LSAV file format is an encrypted video format used by the MIUI Gallery Secret Album. Similar to .LSA for photos, .LSAV files are encrypted MP4 videos that were hidden in the Secret Album. LSA Decrypt can recover these videos back to playable MP4 files at their original resolution and quality.

Question 3

Where are my encrypted Secret Album files stored on my phone?

Accepted Answer

Encrypted Secret Album files are stored in the miui/gallery/cloud/secretAlbum folder on your device's internal storage. Photos have the .lsa extension and videos have the .lsav extension. The files are named with hash-like strings (e.g., 3e751332435bfad27569ca4efed1b602.lsa) rather than recognizable names. You may need a file manager app that can show hidden folders to locate them.

Question 4

What do the hash-like file names mean (e.g., 3e751332435bfad27569ca4efed1b602)?

Accepted Answer

The seemingly random alphanumeric file names (like 3e751332435bfad27569ca4efed1b602.lsa) are part of MIUI's encryption scheme. When a file is moved to the Secret Album, MIUI renames it using a generated hash and encrypts the contents. These file names are completely normal and do not indicate corruption - your photos and videos can be safely recovered regardless of the file name.

Question 5

How do I find my Secret Album files on my Xiaomi phone?

Accepted Answer

Open any file manager app on your Xiaomi, Redmi, or POCO device and navigate to Internal Storage > miui > gallery > cloud > secretAlbum. If you cannot see the folder, enable "Show hidden files" in your file manager settings. You will see files with .lsa (photos) and .lsav (videos) extensions. If the folder is empty, your device may store them in a different path depending on the MIUI version.

Question 6

How do I transfer .lsa and .lsav files to my computer?

Accepted Answer

Connect your phone to your computer via USB cable and select "File Transfer" (MTP) mode. Navigate to miui/gallery/cloud/secretAlbum and copy the .lsa and .lsav files to your computer. Alternatively, you can use cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox) or messaging apps to send the files to yourself. Once on your computer, upload them to LSA Decrypt for recovery.

Question 7

What devices does LSA Decrypt support?

Accepted Answer

LSA Decrypt supports encrypted files from all Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO smartphones running MIUI or HyperOS. This includes popular models like Xiaomi 14, Xiaomi 13, Redmi Note 13, Redmi Note 12, POCO X6, POCO F5, and many more. Any device that uses the MIUI Gallery Secret Album encryption is compatible.

Question 8

Which MIUI versions are supported?

Accepted Answer

LSA Decrypt supports files encrypted by MIUI 10, MIUI 11, MIUI 12, MIUI 12.5, MIUI 13, MIUI 14, and Xiaomi HyperOS (HyperOS 1.0 and later). The encryption method used by the Secret Album has remained consistent across these versions, so your files can be recovered regardless of which MIUI version created them.

Question 9

Can I decrypt files from HyperOS (Xiaomi's new OS)?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Xiaomi HyperOS continues to use the same Secret Album encryption system as MIUI. Files encrypted under HyperOS 1.0 and later are fully supported. Whether you upgraded from MIUI 14 to HyperOS or your device shipped with HyperOS, your encrypted .lsa and .lsav files can be recovered.

Question 10

Do I need a specific Android version?

Accepted Answer

No specific Android version is required. LSA Decrypt is a web-based service that works in any modern browser. The encrypted files themselves are produced by MIUI/HyperOS regardless of the underlying Android version (Android 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15). Simply upload your .lsa or .lsav files from any device or computer.

Question 11

Is it safe to upload my encrypted files online?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All file transfers are protected with industry-standard 256-bit TLS/HTTPS encryption, so your files cannot be intercepted during upload or download. Files are processed in isolated, sandboxed environments - they are never shared with third parties, never used for training, and are automatically deleted from our servers within 24 hours.

Question 12

How long are files stored on your servers?

Accepted Answer

All uploaded and recovered files are automatically and permanently deleted within 24 hours. You can also manually delete your files immediately after downloading them by clicking the "Delete from server" button. We do not keep backups of user files beyond the 24-hour retention window.

Question 13

Is my data encrypted during transfer?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every file upload and download is encrypted with TLS/HTTPS (256-bit encryption). This is the same level of security used by banks and financial institutions. Your files are encrypted in transit and processed in isolated server environments, ensuring complete privacy throughout the recovery process.

Question 14

What file sizes can you recover?

Accepted Answer

For photos (.lsa files), we support files up to 35 MB. For videos (.lsav files), we support files up to 200 MB. Anonymous users are limited to photos up to 10 MB; registered users with credits get the full size limits. If your file exceeds these limits, contact our support team for assistance.

Question 15

What quality will my recovered files be in?

Accepted Answer

Recovered files are restored to their original quality - there is no compression or quality loss. Photos are recovered as standard JPEG images and videos as MP4 files, exactly as they were before MIUI encrypted them. The resolution, metadata, and quality are preserved from the original file.

Question 16

Why do some .lsa or .lsav files fail to decrypt?

Accepted Answer

Decryption can fail for several reasons: the file may be corrupted (incomplete transfer or storage damage), it may have been encrypted by an unsupported or very old MIUI Gallery version, or the file may not actually be a Secret Album file despite having the .lsa/.lsav extension. If decryption fails, try re-transferring the file from your phone and ensure it matches the original file size.

Question 17

What's the pricing model?

Accepted Answer

LSA Decrypt uses a credit-based system. You purchase credits that are consumed based on the file size processed - for example, a 15 MB photo uses 15 credits. We offer one-time credit packs and monthly subscription plans with recurring credit allowances. Check our Pricing page for current rates and plans.

Question 18

Do you offer free previews before payment?

Accepted Answer

Yes. When you upload a file, we generate a free watermarked preview so you can verify the recovery was successful before spending any credits. This way you can confirm your photo or video is recoverable before committing to a purchase. The full, unwatermarked file is available after payment.

Question 19

What payment methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept all major payment methods through Stripe, including credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), Apple Pay, Google Pay, and various local payment methods depending on your region. All transactions are securely processed by Stripe - we never store your payment details.

Question 20

Do I need an account to use LSA Decrypt?

Accepted Answer

No - you can try the service as a guest without creating an account. Guest users can upload small .lsa photos and receive a free watermarked preview. However, creating a free account unlocks higher file-size limits, video (.lsav) support, permanent file storage, and the ability to purchase credits for full-quality downloads.

Question 21

How do I delete my account and data?

Accepted Answer

You can delete your account at any time from the Billing & Settings page. Deleting your account permanently removes your profile, transaction history, and any stored files. This action is irreversible. If you need assistance, contact our support team through the Contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

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