Where to look for a cart on Xiaomi Redmi 8: hidden folders, cloud and recovery programs

Xiaomi Redmi 8 is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but its MIUI firmware is not always intuitive, especially when it comes to deleted files. Many users are used to the classic shopping cart on computers or even on some smartphones (for example, on an iPhone or Samsung with One UI), but in Redmi 8 it is not in its usual form. Where then do you look for deleted photos, videos or documents?

In this article, we will discuss 5 ways to find a shopping cart on Xiaomi Redmi 8 – from standard MIUI features to third-party apps and hidden system folders. You will learn how Gallery, Files, Mi Cloud and even Google Photos work, and what to do if files were deleted irrevocably. It is important to understand that in Android (unlike Windows or macOS) there is no single basket for all types of files – each type of data is stored separately.

Why is the Xiaomi Redmi 8 not a standard basket?

Unlike desktop operating systems, Android (and MIUI in particular) does not have a universal recycle bin for all deleted files, for several reasons:

• 📱 Android OS Restrictions: Google has not provided a mandatory shopping cart for all files, leaving its implementation to the discretion of manufacturers.
• 🗑️ Separation by data type: Photos, videos, documents, and apps are deleted differently and stored in different “baskets” (or not stored at all).
• 🔄 Memory optimization: Xiaomi believes that permanent storage of deleted files takes up extra space on budget devices (for example, Redmi). 8 s 32/64 GB memory).
• ☁️ Focus on cloud services: Company promotes Mi Cloud as an alternative to local shopping cart.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t recover deleted files, you just need to know where to look, for example, photos and videos from the Gallery are placed in a temporary folder, and documents from the Files are deleted irrevocably (unless cloud sync is enabled).

Method 1: Recycle Bin in the standard MIUI Gallery

If you delete a photo or video through the Gallery app (a flower icon), it ends up in a temporary basket.

1. Open the Gallery app (if it is not on the home screen, find it in the menu of all apps).
2. Slip on three horizontal lines (☰) in the upper left corner or swipe to the right to open the side menu.
3. Select the Recycle Bin (sometimes called Recently Deleted).
4. Here you will see all photos and videos deleted in the last 30 days (the time limit may vary depending on the version of MIUI).

To recover the file:

1. Select the necessary elements (long press → ticks).
2. Click Restore at the bottom of the screen.
3. Files will return to the folder from which they were deleted (for example, Camera or Downloads).

Recycle Bin in Gallery works only for media files (photos, videos, GIF). Documents (.pdf,.doc), APK-Files and other types of data do not fall here!

⚠️ Note: If you have cleared the cache or data of the Gallery application (in Settings) → Applications), the basket could be reset, and files can not be restored.

Method 2: Temporary storage in the Files app

The standard Files app in MIUI is also a basket-like app, but it works differently than in the Gallery. There is no separate tab here, instead, deleted files stay temporarily in the folder until you manually clean it.

How to check:

1. Open Files → go to Categories (bottom of the screen).
2. Select the file type (e.g. Documents, Audio, APK).
3. In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) → Recycle Bin (if the item is missing, then the function is disabled).

If there is no Recycle Bin, then your version of MIUI has disabled it by default, in which case the data deleted through the Files is permanently erased (unless cloud backup was used).

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To enable the Recycle Bin in the Files app, go to Settings → Additional → Recycle Bin and activate the option. After that, the deleted files will be stored for 15 days.

Method 3: Hidden.trash and.recycle folders on internal memory

If you don't find deleted files in standard applications, it's worth checking the hidden system folders where MIUI sometimes moves junk. These folders aren't visible by default, but they can be opened using the root file manager or through ADB.

Instructions for advanced users:

1. Install a file manager with support for hidden folders (such as FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.
3. Go on the path: /storage/emulated/0/ Look for folders:.trash.recycle.trashes MIUI/backup/AllBackup
4. If you find deleted files, copy them to a secure location (for example, a memory card).

⚠️ Note: Do not delete or move files from.trash or.recycle folders manually, this may disrupt the system.

Method 4: Recovery via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

If your Redmi 8 is synced to Mi Cloud, the chances of returning deleted files are much higher. Xiaomi's cloud automatically backs up photos, contacts, notes, and even some documents.

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Make sure that synchronization is enabled for the desired data types (e.g. Gallery, Contacts, Notes).
3. Go to i.mi.com from your computer or phone and log in.
4. In the Recycle Bin (or Recently Deleted) section, find the files you need and restore them.

The limitations of Mi Cloud:

• 📸 Photos are stored in the cloud basket for 30 days.
• 📄 Documents and Notes - 15 days.
• 📞 Contact and SMS — 30 days, but only if synchronization was enabled before removal.
• 🚫 Files deleted through Files or third-party applications are not included in Mi Cloud.

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Mi Cloud is the most reliable way to recover data, but it only works if synchronization has been enabled before it is turned on.

Method 5: Third-party recovery programs (DiskDigger, EaseUS)

If standard methods don't work, the last chance is to use specialized data recovery software that scans the internal memory of your smartphone and looks for traces of deleted files, and the more you use your phone after deleting it, the better the chances of success.

Top.-3 Android:

1. DiskDigger (there is a free version) - restores photos, videos and documents.
2. EaseUS MobiSaver supports deep scanning, but requires root rights for full access.
3. Recuva (for PC) – if you connect Redmi 8 to your computer in drive mode.

Instructions for DiskDigger:

1. Download the app from Google Play (requires Android 5.0+).
2. Start and select the type of scan: No root (surface) or C root (deep).
3. Wait until the scan is finished (it can take 10–30 minutes).
4. Select the files found and click Restore (save them to a memory card or cloud).

⚠️ Note: Recovery programs do not guarantee 100% results, if new data is written to the deleted files, it will not be possible to restore them!

What do you do if nothing helps?

If you have tried all the methods, but the files were not found, there are several options:

• 🔍 Contact the service center: Professionals can extract data using professional equipment (e.g. Chip-Off), but it is expensive and not always efficient.
• 💾 Check backups: You may have done a backup through Google Drive, Mi Cloud, or Titanium Backup (if you had root).
• 📱 Try another phone: If files were sent via instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), check the chat history.
• 🚫 Accept data loss: Unfortunately, sometimes files are permanently deleted, especially if a long time has passed or the memory has been overwritten.

To avoid such situations in the future:

• 🔄 Enable automatic sync with Mi Cloud or Google Photos.
• 💾 Regularly back up important files on your PC or external drive.
• 📂 Use file managers with a basket (for example, ES Conductor or Total Commander).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the cart on Xiaomi Redmi 8