Where is the cart on Xiaomi Redmi 6: a detailed guide with pictures and tips

Did you delete an important file on Xiaomi Redmi 6 and now you can't find it? Or just want to clean up your phone's memory but don't know where to look for the cart? This problem is familiar to many owners of MIUI-enclosed smartphones -- especially on older models like Redmi 6, where the interface is different from current versions. Unlike iPhones or new Android smartphones, here the basket is not always visible at first sight.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can access the Recycle Bin on Xiaomi Redmi 6 (including the MIUI 9 and MIUI 10 versions), explain why files can “disappear” from it ahead of time, and show you how to recover deleted data if the Recycle Bin is already cleaned, and learn what hidden settings affect the operation of the Recycle Bin and how to customize them for your needs.

We warn you right away: Redmi 6 doesn’t work the same way as new Xiaomi models. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, it all depends on how you delete the file (via a gallery, file manager or third-party app) and which version of the firmware is installed. But don’t worry, we covered all the scripts.

1.Where to look for a basket in the standard MIUI file manager

Xiaomi Redmi 6 has a default MIUI file manager (a blue folder icon called Files) installed, and this is where most people search for a basket — but don't always find it the first time.

• 📁 Version. MIUI matters: MIUI 9th basket is hidden deeper than in MIUI 10. on older firmware it may not be at all (depending on the regional build).
• 🗑️ The shopping cart is not universal: it only stores files deleted through this manager. If you deleted a photo through a gallery, it's useless to search here.
• ⏳ Storage time: By default, files are stored in the Recycle Bin for 30 days, but this value can be changed (more on this below).

To open the basket in the file manager:

1. Launch the Files app (blue folder icon).
2. In the top menu, tap three points. ⋮ → Select “Baskbasket” (Trash in English version).
3. If there is no Recycle Bin, your MIUI version does not support it (see the section on alternative methods).

💡

If the shopping cart doesn't show up, try updating the Files app through the Play Market. Sometimes hidden features appear after the update.

Inside the basket, you'll see all the deleted files grouped by date.

1. Select the desired files with a long tap.
2. Click "Restore" at the bottom of the screen.
3. The files will be returned to the folder from which they were deleted.

2. Recycle bin in the gallery: where deleted photos and videos are stored

If you delete photos or videos through a standard MIUI gallery, they end up in a separate gallery basket — and the contents are not duplicated in the file manager — an important nuance that many Redmi 6 users think is permanently deleted.

How to open the gallery basket:

1. Launch the Gallery app (flower icon).
2. Tap it on three points. ⋮ top-right.
3. Select “Basket” (Trash or “Recently Deleted” in some versions).

Features of the gallery basket on Redmi 6:

• 📸 Retention period: By default, photos are stored for 15 days (as opposed to 30 days in the file manager).
• 🔄 Autoclean: If the phone's memory is full, the system can clear the cart ahead of schedule.
• 🚫 No Recovery for Delete Forever: If you select this item, files bypass the Recycle Bin and are deleted irrevocably.

To change the storage period of files in the gallery basket:

1. Open the gallery → ⋮ → Settings.
2. Go to “Basket” or “Storage Management”.
3. Select “Shelf life” and set the desired value (from 1 to 60 days).

3.Why the basket may not work: common problems

Many Xiaomi Redmi 6 users are faced with the fact that the Recycle Bin is either not displayed or does not save files.

A critical nuance for Redmi 6 is that if you delete files through your phone’s connection to your PC in data mode (MTP), they bypass the MIUI basket and are deleted irrevocably, in which case only recovery through special programs (see section 5).

Through the file manager MIUI|Through the gallery|Through PC (connection to the USB)|Through third-party applications|I remember.-->

4. Alternative ways to access the cart: third-party applications

If the standard Recycle Bin on Redmi 6 doesn’t work or isn’t available, you can use third-party solutions that not only replace the built-in Recycle Bin, but also add additional features like cloud backup or password protection.

The best apps to work with the basket:

• 📂 Files by Google: Lightweight file manager with a basket and memory cleanup function. Plus: automatically sorts files into categories. MIUI.
• 🗃️ Dumpster: A dedicated Android shopping cart that saves all deleted files, even those that have passed the standard shopping cart. Plus: works with any files, including APK. Cons: Takes up additional space.
• 🖼️ Google Photos: If you sync your photos to the cloud, the deleted photos end up in the Google Photos Recycle Bin (60 days in storage). Plus: Data loss protection. Minus: requires the Internet to recover.

How to set up Dumpster (recommended for Redmi 6):

1. Install an app from the Play Market.
2. At the first start, give all the necessary permissions (access to memory, photos, video).
3. In the settings, select which file types should fall into the basket (by default – all).
4. Set a storage period (from 1 day to indefinite).

Install the application from Play Market|Give permissions to access memory |Enable autorun in the MIUI settings |Configure file types for the shopping cart |Set a storage period-->

Importantly, third-party shopping carts don't replace the standard one, they work in parallel, so files deleted through the MIUI gallery will still end up in the cart, not in the Dumpster, and to unify the process, we recommend that you delete files only through the application you choose.

5. How to recover files if the shopping cart is already cleaned

If you didn’t recover files from the Recycle Bin or it was cleaned automatically, don’t despair. There are several ways to get your deleted data back on the Xiaomi Redmi 6 – but you need to act quickly before the disk space is overwritten with new files.

Recovery (from the most reliable to the most risky):

1. Using a PC and Recuva or DiskDigger: Connect Redmi 6 to your computer in File Transfer (MTP) mode. Launch Recuva, select the file type (e.g. Images) and specify your phone's drive. Start scanning. The program will show all the files found, including deleted ones.
2. Through root access and Undelete: Requires unlocking the bootloader and installing Magisk. Install Undelete for Root Users from the Play Market. The app scans internal memory and shows deleted files.

💡

Before using root methods, back up your data via TWRP – this will protect you from data loss if you crash.

Through MIUI backup

• If you have enabled Backup in Settings → Additionally, try recovering data from there.
• Limitation: MIUI backups often do not include custom files (settings and applications only).

How to turn off automatic cleaning of the basket:

• Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
• Turn off the “Cart Cleaner” option (if any).
• In some versions of MIUI, this item is hidden – then only disabling the function “Memory Optimization” will help.