Recycle Bin on Xiaomi Redmi 4X: where to look for deleted files and how to restore them

You accidentally deleted an important file on Xiaomi Redmi 4X and now you can't find a basket to recover it? You're not alone: many MIUI users are facing this problem. The fact is that Xiaomi's standard shell doesn't have the usual "Basket" as it does on Windows or macOS. Instead, deleted files can be temporarily stored in hidden application folders or immediately disappear, depending on how you delete them.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible places that deleted files on Redmi 4X can hide, including built-in MIUI tools, third-party apps and system folders. You’ll also learn how to set up backups to avoid data loss in the future, and what to do if files have been permanently deleted.

Before you get to the instructions, check whether you have deleted the file through a gallery, explorer, or app side (like Google Photos) and whether there is a chance of recovery.

Why is the Xiaomi Redmi 4X not a standard basket?

Unlike computers, Android smartphones (including MIUI) don’t have a single system basket, for several reasons:

• 📱 Limited storage: on Redmi 4X (Especially in the version with 16 GB of memory, it is irrational to reserve space for the basket.
• 🔄 Different apps – different rules: each application (Gallery, Files, Google Photos) manages deleted files independently.
• 🗑️ MIUI Optimized for “hard” removal: by default, files are deleted immediately, without intermediate storage.

But that doesn't mean you can't recover data, because MIUI has hidden mechanisms, and some apps (like Gallery or Google Photos) create their own temporary folders for deleted files, and then we'll tell you where to look for them.

Where to look for a cart in standard MIUI applications

If you deleted the file through the built-in MIUI tools, check these places:

1.The basket in the Gallery annex

The Xiaomi Gallery has a temporary folder for deleted photos and videos to find.

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Tap on three points (⋮) top-right.
3. Select the basket item.
4. You will see files deleted in the last 30 days (the deadline can be changed in the settings).

⚠️ WARNING: If you cleared gallery cache or reset settings, the cart could clear automatically.

2..Trash folder in MIUI conductor

Some versions of MIUI create a hidden folder called.Trash (or.Recycle) in the root directory of internal memory to see it:

1. Open the Explorer (folder icon).
2. Tap it on three points (⋮) → Settings → Enable Show hidden files.
3. Go back to the root directory (/storage/emulated/0/) and find the.Trash folder.

If you don't have a folder, your version of MIUI doesn't support that mechanism, so move on to the next section.

Recycle Bin in Google Photos and Other Third-Party Apps

If you use Google Photos or analogs (e.g. Dropbox, Yandex Drive), deleted files can be stored in their cloud bins.

Google Photo

• 📷 Open the Google Photos app.
• Slip on the profile avatar. → Basket.
• The files are stored here for 60 days, after which they are deleted forever.
• 🔄 To recover, select files and click Restore.

Yandex Disc / Dropbox

These services call the Remote Files or Trash, and they have a storage period of 30 to 90 days (depending on the tariff) to find it:

1. Open the cloud storage app.
2. Go to the Cart section (or Trash in English).
3. Select the files you need and select Restore.

⚠️ Note: if you deleted files through Explorer MIUI, Not through the cloud app itself, they could leave immediately, bypassing the shopping cart.

How to recover files if the basket is empty

If you don't find files in the application baskets, it doesn't mean they're lost forever.

1.Use programs for recovery

The following tools are suitable for Xiaomi Redmi 4X (root access is required for maximum efficiency):

• 🛠️ DiskDigger – Recover photos, videos and documents.
• 📄 Recuva (via PC) – works with a connected phone as an external drive.
• 🔍 EaseUS MobiSaver – supports recovery from memory cards.

Importantly, the less you use your phone after deleting, the better the chances of recovery, and new files can overwrite deleted data.

2. Check backups of MIUI

MIUI automatically backs up some of the data to find it.

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset.
2. Select Local Backups.
3. Check the available dates and restore the files.

⚠️ Attention: backups MIUI They often do not include user files (photos, videos, documents) and only store system settings and some application data.

How to set up automatic backup on Redmi 4X

To avoid losing files in the future, set up automatic backups. On Redmi 4X, you can do this in a number of ways:

1. Cloud backup via Mi Account

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account.
2. Select Mi Cloud → Backup.
3. Enable options for Gallery, Notes and Contacts.
4. Click Start backup.

2. Google Photos for Auto-Save Photos

• 📸 Open Google Photos.
• Slip on the avatar → Photo settings.
• Enable Backup and Synchronization.
• Choose the quality (high or original).

On Redmi 4X with 16GB of storage, it is recommended to use High Quality in Google Photos to avoid clogging storage.

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If you delete files by mistake often, install the Dumpster app from Google Play, which creates a universal shopping cart for all types of files and works even without root rights.

Common mistakes when searching for a cart on Xiaomi

Many Redmi 4X users make the same mistakes when trying to find deleted files.

• 🔍 Search for a shopping cart in the Settings menu: it's not there. The shopping cart is a function of specific applications (Gallery, Google Photos), not systems.
• 🗑️ Delete files via Clear Everything: This item in the gallery or explorer deletes data irrevocably, bypassing the shopping cart.
• 🔄 Resetting your phone to factory settings in hopes of returning files: This will result in complete data loss.
• 📱 Ignore the Cart Cleaning Notices: MIUI Sometimes it's like, "We're going to clear the cart if you don't have enough memory.

If you have already made one of these mistakes, try recovery software (section above), but remember that the faster you start acting, the better the chances of success.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions about the Recycle Bin on Xiaomi Redmi 4X

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The Xiaomi Redmi 4X does not have a single system basket. Files can be temporarily stored in the baskets of individual applications (Gallery, Google Photos) or hidden folders (.Trash). To avoid data loss, set up automatic backup in Mi Cloud or Google Photos.