You accidentally deleted an important photo, video or document on your Xiaomi Redmi and now you can't find a basket to recover a file? This problem is familiar to many users of Xiaomi smartphones - the brand uses a custom storage system for deleted data, which is different from the usual "Basket" on computers or even other Android devices. In this article, we will understand where the basket is stored in Redmi phones, how to get there, which files can be restored and which can not, and what to do if the basket suddenly disappeared.
It is important to understand that MIUI (the Xiaomi brand shell) does not have a single Recycle Bin for all file types. Instead, deleted data is divided into different sections depending on its type: photos, videos, documents or applications. Moreover, on some Redmi models (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro or Redmi 12), the Recycle Bin can be disabled by default or hidden in the depths of settings, we will show you how to find and activate it, and also tell you about hidden nuances that are not written in the official instructions.
If you’ve tried looking for a shopping cart through Gallery or Files, but you haven’t been successful, don’t despair. You may just need to know the right path or enable additional settings. And for those who have experienced a situation where files are deleted bypassing the shopping cart (for example, through Cleanup or third-party apps), we’ve prepared alternative recovery methods.
Where is the basket in the phone Xiaomi Redmi: official ways
In Xiaomi Redmi phones, the Recycle Bin is not a universal storage for all deleted files, but instead it is divided by content types and built into standard MIUI applications.
- 📷 Gallery - this is where you store a photo and video basket that you deleted through the Gallery app itself.
- 📄 File Manager – This application has a separate basket for documents, archives and other files deleted through the Explorer.
- 🎵 Music – Some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 11) save deleted audio files to the recycle bin inside the Music app».
- 📥 Downloads – files deleted from the Downloads folder can get into the Files application basket, but not always.
The most reliable way to find a shopping cart is to use the Gallery app. Open it, tap it on three dots in the top right corner (or swipe right to left if you have gesture control), then select the Recycle Bin item, where you will see all deleted photos and videos from the last 30 days. To recover, just click on the file and select Restore.
If there are no baskets in the Gallery, check the settings of the application:
- Open the "Gallery" → Settings (cog in the upper right corner).
- Find the Recycle Bin or Deleted Files section.
- Make sure that the Save Deleted Files slider is turned on.
⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (Especially on Redmi with a global version of software, the shopping cart in the Gallery can be disabled by default. If you don't find it in the settings, update the app via Google Play or install an alternative gallery, such as Google Photos.
Why your cart may not be in your Redmi
If you don’t see the shopping cart either in the Gallery or in the Files, the reasons may be as follows:
| Reason. | How to check | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| An outdated version of MIUI | Check the version in Settings → About the phone → MIUI version | Update the system through Settings → Software Update |
| The basket is disabled in the settings | Go to the settings of "Gallery" or "Files" | Enable the option to save deleted files |
| Files deleted through a third-party application | Check which application was used to remove | Search for a cart in this app (e.g. Google Files) |
| Resetting settings or firmware | Check the history of actions in Settings → Additional → Backup | Restore data from backup (if any) |
Especially often, the problem of missing a shopping cart occurs on Redmi with custom firmware or after manually resetting the settings, in which case the system can reset the file storage settings to the factory, where the basket is disabled. It is also worth considering that some Redmi models (for example, Redmi 9A or Redmi 8) do not initially support the document basket - only for media files.
Another nuance: if you deleted files through Cleanup (built-in application) MIUI And so, to free up memory, they don't go to the bin, they're deleted irrevocably. ADB or Fastboot.
How to recover files if the basket is empty or not
If the cart is empty and files are still needed, try the following recovery methods:
- 🔍 Check cloud backups: Mi Cloud (if sync was enabled), Google Photos (if autoboot was used), Yandex Drive or Mail.ru Cloud (if files were downloaded there).
- 📱 Use recovery apps: DiskDigger, which searches for deleted photos and videos. Recuva (requires root rights). Dumpster, an alternative shopping cart for Android.
- 💻 Connect your phone to your PC: Use programs like EaseUS MobiSaver or Dr.Fone. Check the hidden folders on the memory card (if you have one).
If you deleted files recently (in the last 24 to 48 hours), the chances of recovery are highest, but the longer the time has passed, the greater the risk that the data will be overwritten with new files.
To recover via Mi Cloud:
- Open your Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud
- Sign in to your Xiaomi account (if not logged in).
- Select Gallery or Files → Restore.
⚠️ Note: When you restore files via Mi Cloud, the files may not return to the original folders, but to a special section Restored inside the Gallery!
Disable mobile internet (to avoid overwriting data)|Charge your phone at least 50 times%|Install a recovery application from a verified source (Google Play)|Backup of current data (in case of error)-->
Hidden folders and technical nuances: where can you store deleted files
There are a few hidden folders in MIUI that can leave traces of deleted files, which you can't see in standard Explorer, but you can access them through Files with hidden file mode enabled, or through a Root Explorer (if you have root rights).
Here are the main ways to look for:
- /storage/emulated/0/.trash is the main shopping cart for media files.
- /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.gallery/cache is a cache of the Gallery, where sometimes thumbnails of deleted photos remain.
- /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Backup – backups of the system (if they were created).
- /storage/emulated/0/Download/.recycle is a recycle bin for download files (not on all models).
To see the hidden folders:
- Open the Files app.
- Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → Settings.
- Enable the option to show hidden files.
If you can't find these folders, they may have been deleted along with the files, and only specialized recovery software will help.
What to do if the.trash folder is empty?
How to set up a cart in Xiaomi Redmi: storage optimization
To avoid losing files in the future, set up the cart to suit your needs. Here's what you can do:
- ⏳ Increase storage time: By default, files are stored in the Recycle Bin for 30 days, but this can be changed. In Gallery or Files, find the Recycle Bin settings and select the maximum term (up to 60 days on some models).
- 🗑️ Eliminate important folders from cleaning: In Cleanup Settings (Security app), add folders with important data in exceptions.
- ☁️ Set up automatic sync: Enable autoload photos in Mi Cloud or Google Photos so that files are duplicated in the cloud.
- 🔄 Make regular backups: Use built-in backup MIUI (Settings → Additionally. → Backup).
It's also useful to know that Redmi with MIUI 12 and later has a Smart Cleanup feature that can automatically delete files from the Recycle Bin if there's not enough memory left to disable it:
- Go to Settings. → Memory.
- Put it on the cleanup. → Settings.
- Turn off the auto-cleaning option.
💡
If you often work with important documents, install the Dumpster app from Google Play, which creates a separate basket for all types of files, including APKs, and allows you to restore them even after you completely clean the standard MIUI basket.
Frequent mistakes when working with a basket and how to avoid them
Many Xiaomi Redmi users experience the same problems when trying to recover files from the Recycle Bin, and here are the most common errors and ways to fix them:
| Mistake. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The Recycle Bin is Empty, Though Files Have Been Deleted Recently | Files deleted through “Cleanup” or a third-party application | Check the Recycle Bin in the App through which the files were deleted |
| You can’t restore files (button is inactive) | Files are damaged or too much memory is taken up | Free up space on the device and try again. |
| The cart disappeared after the MIUI update | Resetting application settings after the update | Turn the cart back on in the “Gallery” or “Files” settings |
| Recovered files are not opened | The files were partially overwritten. | Try to restore them via PC with Recuva or PhotoRec |
Another typical situation is that the user recovers files from the recycle bin, but they disappear again after a few days, because MIUI has background memory optimization that can delete duplicates or underutilized files, to avoid this:
- Move the recovered files to the cloud or PC.
- Turn off memory optimization in Settings → Special features → Memory optimization.
- Add the file folder to the Cleanup exceptions.
💡
If you deleted files through Google's File Manager (not the standard Xiaomi Files), look for the shopping cart in the Google Files app. It's called the Recycle Bin and is on the menu on the left.