Folder.trash in memory Xiaomi: hidden garbage that steals gigabytes

Have you ever looked into your Xiaomi storage and suddenly found that there was a catastrophic shortage of free space — even though you didn’t add photos, videos and apps? — The culprit is often the mysterious.trash folder (or just trash), which can take from several hundred megabytes to tens of gigabytes. It’s not a virus or a system bug, but the standard MIUI file manager mechanism. But why is it so actively “junk” and can it be safely cleaned?

In this article, we will discuss in detail:

• 🔍 What is.trash and why you need it – why the system does not delete files immediately, but sends them to the basket».
• 📁 Where to look for a folder – why it can’t be seen in a standard conductor and how to access it.
• ⚠️ Manual cleaning risks – which files can be deleted without consequences, and which ones can be touched dangerously.
• 🛠️ Automatic and manual cleaning methods – from built-in tools MIUI side-to-side.

We’ll focus on a hidden bug in some versions of MIUI (12-14), which can make the.trash folder grow absurdly large even after cleaning, and if your smartphone suddenly starts to lose memory, it’s one of the first tests to be tested.

What is a folder.trash in Xiaomi and why you need it

The.trash folder (sometimes displayed as trash or Recycle Bin) is the analogue of the system basket on computers. When you delete a file through standard MIUI Explorer (or some third-party managers), it doesn't erase immediately, but moves to this folder. In theory, this should protect the user from accidentally deleting important data: you can always restore the file within 30 days (by default).

However, in practice, the mechanism is working with failures:

• 🗑️ Incorrect Deletion: Some files (especially app cache or temporary data) are sent to.trash but are not cleared even after the expiration date.
• 🔄 Duplicate: When transferring files between folders, the system can create copies of them in the Recycle Bin without deleting the originals.
• 📱 Mistakes. MIUI: firmware MIUI 12-14 bugs are recorded, because of which the folder grows to a giant size (up to 20).+ GB!).

The main problem is that.trash is hidden by default. The user does not see it in the standard conductor, but it continues to occupy space on the internal memory or the internal memory. SD-This is most often seen when free space melts away for no apparent reason.

Where is the folder.trash and how to find it

The folder is hidden by default, but it can be detected in a number of ways, depending on where you deleted the files:

• 📱 Internal memory: /storage/emulated/0/.trash/
• 💾 SD-map: /storage/{SD-CARD-ID}/.trash/ (where {SD-CARD-ID} — unique identifier).

To see the folder:

1. Use a side file manager (such as Solid Explorer, FX File Explorer, or Root Explorer) with the "Show Hidden Files" option enabled.
2. In MIUI Explorer, click on the three dots in the top right corner → Settings → turn on “Show hidden files”.
3. Connect your phone to your PC via USB (in file transfer mode) and use Windows/macOS Explorer.

If you don't have a folder, you haven't deleted files through standard MIUI, or the bin has already been cleaned automatically, but if you have one, you'll probably find hundreds of megabytes (or gigabytes) of junk inside.

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If the.trash folder weighs more 1 GB, but you didn't delete as many files -- check it for duplicates. Often, the system creates copies of the same files with different names (e.g., the same file, file_12345.trash, file_12345_1.trash).

Why the folder.trash grows to giant sizes

Ideally,.trash should be cleaned automatically after 30 days, but in practice, many Xiaomi users find that the folder takes 5, 10, or even 20 GB - and does not decrease in months.

This is especially common on devices with MIUI 12.5-14 (e.g. Redmi Note 10/11, Xiaomi 11T, POCO X3/X4). If your smartphone belongs to this lineup, check.trash first!

How to Safely Clean Your.trash Folder on Xiaomi

You can remove the contents of the basket, but with caution.

Method 1: Standard cleaning through MIUI conductor

1. Open Explorer (the folder icon on the desktop).
2. Click on three dots in the upper right corner → Basket.
3. Select unnecessary files (or click “Clear All”).
4. Confirm removal.

If there is no Recycle Bin button, then your version of MIUI does not support this functionality (relevant to older firmware).

Method 2: Manually cleansing through file manager

If the standard method does not work:

1. Install Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer from Google Play.
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.
3. Go to /storage/emulated/0/.trash/.
4. Select all files and delete them (or transfer them to another folder if you are afraid of losing data).

Make a backup copy of important data|Check the free space on the device|Close all applications|Use a charged battery (minimum 50%)-->

Method 3: Cleaning through ADB (for experienced)

If the folder is not cleaned by standard methods, you can delete it through ADB:

adb shell


su




rm -rf /storage/emulated/0/.trash/*

⚠️ Note: this method requires root rights and can lead to data loss if you make a mistake in the command!

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If the.trash folder grows back after cleaning, the problem is the firmware. Update MIUI to the latest version or reset.

What to do if the.trash folder appears again

If you cleaned the cart, but it took a few gigabytes again, it's a systemic problem.

• 🔄 Update. MIUI: in new versions (14.0.5)+) Bug with basket fixed. Check the updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🧹 Turn off the cart: in some firmware, you can turn off the mechanism for moving files to.trash:

1. Open the Explorer → three points → Settings.
2. Find the “Basket” option and turn it off.

The files will be deleted immediately, without any intermediate storage.

• ⚙️ Resetting: If nothing helps, reset to factory settings (Settings) → Additionally. → Warning: This will delete all data from the device!

If the problem persists even after the reset, it may be the file system's fault, and then flashing through Fastboot or replacing it will help. SD-cards (if the basket grows on an external drive).

How to prevent refilling.trash

To prevent the.trash folder from taking up space in the future, follow these tips:

• 🚫 Do not use a standard guide. MIUI You'd better use Google Files or Solid Explorer -- they don't send data to the trash.
• 🗓️ Check your cart regularly: once a month, go to.trash and clean it manually.
• 📵 Turn off automatic cache cleaning: some applications (such as a gallery) when cleaning the cache create debris in the basket. → Annexes.
• 💾 Use it. SD-Card with caution: if you have an external drive, check the.trash folder and on it.

If you often work with large files (video, archives) – consider using cloud storage (Google Drive, Mi Cloud) or external storage. SSD-This will reduce the load on internal memory and reduce the risk of filling the basket.

Frequent Mistakes When Working with.trash and How to Avoid Them

Many users make critical mistakes when trying to clear.trash.

⚠️ Note: Never delete the.trash folder completely (via rm) -rf.trash/ The system will restore it, but this can cause a failure in the file manager!

Other common mistakes:

• 🔍 Delete without checking: important files (such as accidentally deleted photos) may be in the basket.
• 📱 Using informal cleaners: Applications like Clean Master or CCleaner often delete data incorrectly, leading to even more trash.
• ⚡ Cleaning while applications are running: If a file is used by a program (e.g., a video is played in a gallery), removing it from the recycle bin can cause a crash.

If you've cleaned your.trash, your device starts to slow down or make errors, restart your smartphone, and 90 percent of the time, that solves the problem.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions about.trash in Xiaomi