Recycle Bin on Xiaomi Mi9: where to look for deleted files and how to return them

Why is the Xiaomi Mi9 not the usual basket?

Owners of Xiaomi Mi9 often face confusion: after deleting photos or documents, you can not find a standard “basket” like on a computer or iPhone. The fact is that in MIUI (the Xiaomi brand shell), the mechanism for storing deleted files works differently - it is integrated into system applications and hidden from direct access. In this article, we will analyze where the “basket” on the Mi9 is stored, how to get there and what to do if files are lost without the possibility of recovery.

It’s important to understand that on the Xiaomi Mi9 (as on other smartphones with MIUI 10-12), there is no single “basket” for all types of files. Instead, each system component — Gallery, Files, Downloads — has its own “junk box” with unique storage rules, for example, photos are deleted in one place, documents — in another.

1. Recycle bin in the Gallery app: where deleted photos and videos are stored

The most common question Mi9 users ask is where the photos go after clicking "Delete" and the answer is simple: they move to a hidden folder of the basket inside the Gallery itself to find it:

1. Open the standard Gallery app (an icon with multi-colored squares).
2. Slip on three horizontal lines (☰) top-right.
3. Select Recycle Bin (or Remote in some versions of MIUI).

This folder stores files for 30 days (by default) and then automatically clears them. If you delete photos by accident, you can restore them right from here, select the files you want and click Restore.

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If the Recycle Bin folder does not appear in the Gallery menu, update the app via Google Play or check the settings in the Gallery → Settings → Recycle Bin.

• 📷 Photos and videos: stored in the Gallery basket for up to 30 days.
• 🎵 Audio files: deleted irrevocably (no basket!).
• 📄 Documents: Moved to the Application Recycle Bin Files.

2. Recycle Bin in the Files app: recovery of documents and downloads

For all files except media (photo/video), the Xiaomi Mi9 is answered by the Files system application (Blue folder icon).

1. Open Files → go to the Category tab (bottom of the screen).
2. Scroll down and find the Recycle Bin section (may be called Recently Deleted).
3. Select files with a long tap and select Restore.

Note that this shopping cart only stores files for 15 days (as opposed to 30 days in the Gallery), and not all deleted data is included in this shopping cart – for example, files from the Downloads folder can disappear without a trace if they were deleted through third-party applications (for example, Chrome or Telegram).

3. How to turn on the basket if it is not on the menu

On some Mi9 firmware (especially custom or older versions of MIUI), the Recycle Bin folder may be hidden to activate it:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Gallery or Files and tap on it.
3. Select Storage → Clear data (this will reset the application settings).
4. Restart the application - the basket should appear.

If that doesn’t work, check out the MIUI version:

• 📱 MIUI 10/11: The box is available, but can be hidden in the depths of the menu.
• 📱 MIUI 12+: basket is displayed on the main application screen.
• 📱 Custom firmware (such as LineageOS): there is no basket at all.

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On custom firmware (unofficial) the MIUI basket doesn't work. Use third-party apps like Dumpster or Recycle Bin to back up deleted files.

4. Alternative ways to recover files

If files are lost from the cart or have been permanently deleted, try these methods:

Method 1: Recovery with Google Photos

If the Mi9 was enabled sync with Google Photos:

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Put it on the avatar. → Basket.
3. Select files and click Restore.

The storage period in the Google shopping cart is 60 days.

Method 2: Recovery programs

For deep scanning of the memory of the smartphone are suitable:

• 🛠️ DiskDigger (requires root rights for full scanning).
• 🛠️ EaseUS MobiSaver (works without root, but with limitations).
• 🛠️ Recuva (only for memory cards connected to PCs).

⚠️ Note: When recovering files via PC, don’t save them back to Xiaomi Mi9 — It can overwrite deleted data. Use an external drive or cloud.

5 Why the basket may not work: common problems

Sometimes the Recycle Bin on the Mi9 refuses to open or doesn't save files.

If none of the methods helped, check if the cart is turned off in the settings:

1. Open the gallery → Settings → basket.
2. Make sure that the Autocleaner slider is turned on (otherwise the files will be deleted immediately).

6. How to permanently delete files from the Recycle Bin (without recovery)

If you want to completely erase files from your shopping cart (for example, before selling your phone), do the following:

1. Open the basket in the Gallery or Files.
2. Tap on three points (⋮) top-right.
3. Choose to Clean the Cart or Remove Forever.

For reliability, use specialized tools like Secure Eraser (requires root), which overwrite data with zeros, which ensures that files can not be restored even through a PC.

⚠️ Warning: Once the recycle bin is completely cleaned, only professional services (e.g., data recovery labs) can recover files, and it will cost hundreds of dollars!

FAQ: Frequent questions about the cart on Xiaomi Mi9