Where did the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro basket go and how do I get it back?

Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro users often face a problem: once files are deleted, they can not be found in the trash, like on a computer or other smartphones.The fact is that standard MIUI firmware (especially in versions for the Chinese market) does not always include a visual icon of the basket in the file manager.

Many people mistakenly believe that Xiaomi has no basket at all — it’s not. It’s simply hidden in the back of the system or replaced by alternative mechanisms (for example, backups in the Mi Cloud). In this article, we will analyze where to look for deleted files on the Mi 8 Pro, how to turn on the display of the basket, and what to do if it disappeared after updating the firmware.

It is important to understand that the behavior of the shopping cart depends on the version of MIUI (global, Chinese, European) and the type of files (photos, documents, videos are processed differently). For example, photos from the Google Photo Gallery fall into its own shopping cart, and files deleted through the standard File Manager can be sent to a hidden folder.trash.

If you delete something important and can't find it, don't panic. 90% of the time, files are recoverable, but you need to act quickly: the system cleans the cart automatically after 30 days (or sooner if there's not enough memory).

Why is the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro not visible basket?

The reason lies in the MIUI philosophy: Xiaomi developers want to simplify the interface by removing “extra” elements, and the basket in their understanding is not a separate folder, but a temporary storage that should not distract the user.

• 📱 Global vs. Chinese firmware: In Chinese versions MIUI The basket is often disabled by default (you can manually enable it), and global firmware usually shows it in the File Manager, but not always.
• 🗑️ Autoclean: The system automatically deletes files from the recycle bin after 30 days or if there is a memory shortage (threshold - 500 MB of free space).
• 🔍 Hidden folders: Recycle bin can be hidden in the system directory /storage/emulated/0/.trash, But without root rights, you can't see her.
• ☁️ Xiaomi is actively promoting Mi Cloud, where deleted files are stored for up to 60 days (depending on the tariff).

Interesting fact: on the Mi 8 Pro with MIUI 10 and below, the basket worked differently than in MIUI 12+. The new versions added the "Secure Files" feature, which blocks the accidental deletion of important documents.

⚠️ Note: If you use third-party file managers (such as Solid Explorer or Solid Explorer) FX File Manager, they create their own shopping carts in a folder /Android/data/[packet]/trash. These files are not visible in the standard Xiaomi manager!

Where to look for a basket in a standard file manager?

On the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro, the cart can be in three places - depending on the file type and version of MIUI.

1. The basket in the Files (MIUI 11 and later)

Open the Files app (yellow folder icon). In the bottom menu, tap on Categories → scroll down to the Recycle Bin. If there is no item:

• 🔄 Update the Files app through the Play Market.
• ⚙️ Go to Settings. → Memory. → Recycle cart and turn on the option "Show basket".
• 📲 Keep an empty space on the main screen of Files" → "Settings" → "Show hidden folders".

2.The basket in the Gallery

For photos and videos, there are separate rules:

1. Open the Gallery → tap on three dots in the upper right corner.
2. Select Recycle Bin (if no option, files are permanently deleted or transferred to Mi Cloud).
3. Restore the files you want by holding your finger on them and selecting Restore.

3. Hidden system basket

If the standard methods didn’t work, the cart could be here:

/storage/emulated/0/.trash


/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.android.fileexplorer/trash

To see these folders:

• 🔓 Use a Root Explorer (like Root Explorer) or connect your phone to your PC via a Root Explorer ADB.
• 🖥️ On your computer, enable the display of hidden files in Windows Explorer (the "View" tab" → "Hidden elements").

Check the folder. Downloads/.trash|Make sure that your files are not in the Mi Cloud|Try to restore it through DiskDigger.|See "Recent" in the Files app"-->

How do you turn on the basket if there is none?

If the shopping cart is not on the menu, you can activate it through settings or third-party tools.

Method 1: Through Files settings

1. Open Files → tap on three horizontal lines (menu) → Settings.
2. Find the "Basket" section and turn on the "Show Cart" switch.
3. If you do not have an option, upgrade the app to the latest version.

Method 2: Resetting Files settings

Sometimes the cart malfunctions are linked to the app's cache, to reset it:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Files → Storage → Clear Cache and Clear Data.
3. Reboot the phone. The basket should come out.

Method 3: Use of ADB (for advanced)

If the cart is disabled at the system level, it can be turned on via ADB:

adb shell settings put global show_trash 1

After completing the command, restart the device.

⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB They can disrupt the system if entered incorrectly!

Through Files with confirmation |Swipe in gallery |Remove button without confirmation |Through PC |I Do not delete, archive-->

Alternative ways to recover files

If the cart is empty or the files are permanently deleted, try these methods:

1.Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud Storage)

• 🌐 Go to i.mi.com or open the Cloud app on your phone.
• 🗑️ Go to the Recycle Bin (on the left-hand menu in the web version) and the files are stored here for up to 60 days.
• 🔄 Recover the data you need by clicking on three dots next to the file.

2. Google Photos (for media files)

If you are using Google Photos with sync:

1. Open the application → “Library” → “Basket”.
2. Files are stored here for 60 days (unless manually cleared).
3. Restore them by selecting "Restore".

3. Third-party utility for recovery

If files are permanently deleted, programs like DiskDigger or Recuva (for PC) can help.

• 🛑 Don’t write new files to your phone – it will overwrite deleted data.
• 🔌 Connect Mi 8 Pro to PC in "File Transfer" mode" (MTP).
• 🔍 Scan your internal memory (not your internal memory) SD-map!) for the presence of deleted files.

💡

If you lose files often, set up automatic sync with Mi Cloud or Google Drive. To do this, go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud → Sync and enable the option for the desired types of data.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro users often make the same mistakes when working with the basket.

1. Delete files through the "Gallery" without checking the basket

What many people don't know is that the photos that were deleted through the Gallery end up in her own shopping cart, not her shared cart, and if you clean the gallery cart, the files will be gone forever.

2.Use of the "Clear" function in memory settings

In Settings → Memory → Cleanup, there is the option “Clean the Recycle Bin” that deletes files irrevocably, bypassing the 30-day shelf life.

3. Disable synchronization with Mi Cloud

If you have disabled backup in Mi Cloud, the deleted files will not be duplicated in the cloud.

1. Go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud.
2. Make sure that you include "Gallery", "Files" and "Contacts".

4. Removal through third-party applications

Applications like ES Explorer or Total Commander have their own baskets that don't sync with the standard one. Always check the settings of those programs!

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro with custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), the basket may work differently or not at all (TWRP backup).

How to set up a basket for your needs?

The standard shopping cart settings on the Mi 8 Pro can be changed to avoid data loss.

1. Increase the retention period of files

By default, the basket is cleared after 30 days, but this value can be changed:

1. Open Files → Settings → Recycle Bin.
2. Select "Shelf life" and set a maximum value of 90 days.

2. Turn off autocleaning

To prevent the cart from being cleaned automatically:

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Autoclean.
2. Turn off the option "Clean the cart if there is a lack of memory".

3. Create exceptions for important files

MIUI 12.5+ has a "Secure Files" feature:

• 🔒 Open the Files" → select the file → "More" → "Protect".
• 🔐 This file cannot be deleted without entering a password.

4. Set up backup in Mi Cloud

To allow deleted files to be duplicated in the cloud:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud → Backup.
2. Enable "Automatic backup" for "Gallery" and "Files".
3. Set "Quality of backup" on "Original" (so as not to lose the quality of the photo).

💡

Set up your cart and backup takes 5-10 minutes, but saves years of important data. Don’t neglect these options, especially if you’re storing work documents or family photos on your phone!

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions