You accidentally deleted an important file on a Xiaomi Mi, Redmi or POCO smartphone and can't find it now? Or just want to figure out how the remote storage system works in MIUI firmware? Unlike Windows or macOS, where the basket is always in plain sight, on Android (and especially on Xiaomi devices) everything is different. There is no usual icon on the desktop, and the basket itself can be "hidden" depending on the file type and firmware version.
In this article, we will discuss in detail where the shopping cart is physically stored on Xiaomi, how to get there through standard and third-party tools, and what to do if files are gone without recovery. We will focus on the nuances of working with MIUI 12/13/14 and the differences between models (for example, why the POCO F5 basket behaves differently than on the Redmi Note 12), and you will learn how to set up automatic cleaning of the shopping cart and which applications will help to return data even after a complete cleanup.
The basket in Xiaomi: myth or reality?
Many users mistakenly believe that there is no shopping cart on Android, that they deleted the file and it disappeared forever. It's not. MIUI has a shopping cart, but it works according to different principles:
- 📁 Local Recycle Bin – temporary storage for files deleted through standard Explorer MIUI. It only works for internal memory and memory cards formatted as internal storage.
- ☁️ Cloud Recycle Bin – If you use Mi Cloud, deleted files can be saved there for 30 days (settings depend on the tariff).
- 🗑️ Application Recycle Bin – Some programs (such as Gallery or Screen Records) have their own shopping carts with unique shelf life.
The main difference from the PC: on Xiaomi, the shopping cart is not universal - it is divided by file types and methods of deleting. For example, if you deleted a photo through the Gallery, you should look for it in the gallery basket, not in the general conductor basket.
⚠️ Note: Files deleted through third-party file managers (e.g., Total Commander or Total Commander) FX File Explorer, can bypass the basket MIUI Always check the settings of the app before deleting it!
Where to find a basket in a standard MIUI conductor
The easiest way to find deleted files is through the built-in Explorer (aka File Manager) instructions are relevant for MIUI 12-14:
- Open the Files app (an icon with a blue folder).
- In the lower menu, tap on the Categories section (or Quick Access in older versions).
- Scroll down and select the Recycle Bin item (Dumpster icon).
- This displays all files deleted through this Explorer in the last 15-30 days (the time period depends on the version of MIUI).
If there is no basket item:
- 🔍 Check if the section is hidden. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner. → Settings → Show hidden folders.
- 📱 Update the firmware. MIUI 14 basket moved to the Warehouse section (on some models).
- 🛠️ Reset the conductor settings: Settings → Annexes → Files. → Warehouse → Clear the data.
☑️ Checking the availability of the basket in MIUI
On some models (such as Xiaomi 13 Pro or POCO X5), the shopping cart may be called Recently Deleted or Deleted Files. If you don't find it, try searching inside the Files app for "Basket."
Recycle Bin in Gallery, Screen Recordings and Other Apps
As mentioned earlier, many of Xiaomi’s standard apps have their own shopping carts.
| Annex | The way to the basket | Storage period |
|---|---|---|
| gallery | Gallery → Albums → Basket | 30 days |
| Screen recordings | Screen recordings → Cart (in the upper right corner) | 7 days |
| Notes | Notes → Settings → Basket | 30 days |
| Mi Cloud | Web version or application → Recycle Bin in the side menu | 30 to 365 days (depending on the tariff) |
Important: the files in the application baskets are not duplicated in the shared Explorer basket, for example, if you deleted a photo through the Gallery, it will not be in the File Recycle Bin, and vice versa. This often causes confusion.
How to recover files from the basket
Recovering files from the shopping cart on Xiaomi is a simple process, but there are nuances:
- Open the Recycle Bin (in the Explorer or App where the file was deleted).
- Select the necessary files with a long tap or through checkboxes.
- Click Restore (or Return in some versions).
- Files will return to the original folder (for example, photos in DCIM/Camera, documents in Downloads).
If the Restore button is not:
- 🔄 Try to reboot your smartphone – sometimes the basket interface hangs.
- 📂 Check if there's enough space on the device%, MIUI It can block recovery.
- 🛠️ Update Files app via Play Market (on global firmware).
⚠️ Note: Recovered files may lose metadata (date of creation, geotagged) This is normal behavior. MIUI — The system does not always store additional information when returning from the cart.
If the file is not restored (e.g., an error is not returned), try to copy it manually through another file manager (e.g., Solid Explorer).
- Install Solid Explorer from the Play Market.
- Enable the display of hidden folders in the application settings.
- Go to /storage/emulated/0/.recycle (or /sdcard/.recycle for memory card).
- Find the file you want and copy it to any folder.
Set up automatic cleaning of the basket
By default, MIUI cleans the cart automatically after 15-30 days, but this period can be changed or turned off at all.
- Open the Files → Recycle Bin.
- Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → basket settings.
- Choose one of the options: 🗓️ Clean after 15 days (minimum period). 🗓️ Clean after 30 days (recommended). ❌ Not to clean automatically (the risk of memory overflow).
On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 13 for POCO), these settings may be located elsewhere: Settings → Storage → Recycle Bin. If you don’t have an option, your version of MIUI doesn’t support manual setup – auto-cleaning will take place in 30 days by default.
💡
If you frequently work with important files, install autocleaning for a maximum period of time (30 days) and regularly check the cart for unnecessary data.
Turning off auto-cleaning is not recommended at all — over time, the basket can take up gigabytes of memory, and the files in it will begin to fragment, which will slow down the smartphone, the best option is to manually view the basket once a week and clean it of garbage.
What to do if the files are not in the cart?
If you delete a file but don’t find it in any of the baskets, the following scenarios are possible:
- The file is deleted forever, and this happens if: 🗑️ You used the Remove Forever feature (in some applications it is called Clean the Recycle Bin). 📁 The file was deleted through ADB, TWRP or a third-party file manager with the basket disabled. ⏳ More than 30 days have passed since the removal (autocleaning).
File hidden by system
File system error
Settings → Storage → Check and cleanup
If the file is deleted permanently, you can still try to restore it using specialized programs:
- 🖥️ DiskDigger (for Android) scans internal memory for deleted files, works without root, but is more efficient with it.
- 💻 Recuva or EaseUS Data Recovery – if you connect your smartphone to your PC in file transfer mode (MTP).
- ☁️ Mi Cloud – Check backups in the cloud, even if the file is not in the Recycle Bin.
⚠️ Warning: The more you use your smartphone after deleting a file, the less likely it is to be recovered. New data can overwrite old memory sectors. At the first sign of file loss, immediately turn off mobile internet and Wi-Fi to minimize data recording.
How to increase the chances of recovery?
Differences in the basket on different models Xiaomi
The functionality of the cart may vary depending on the smartphone model and the version of MIUI. Here are the key features:
| Model/Series | Features of the basket | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 12/13/14 | The Recycle Bin is integrated into Files and Gallery, supports sorting by date and file type. | Global firmware may not have manual autocleaning settings. |
| Redmi Note 10–12 | The basket in the Explorer is hidden by default - you need to turn on the display in the settings. | On some models, the basket is cleaned after 10 days (instead of 30). |
| POCO F/X/M | The basket is called Recently Deleted, located in the Warehouse section. | On POCO with MIUI for POCO, the Recycle Bin may not save files from Downloads. |
| Black Shark | The basket is not in the standard conductor, but there is in the Gallery and Mi Cloud. | It is recommended to use third-party file managers with basket support. |
On devices with MIUI China, the shopping cart can work differently, such as not saving files larger than 100 MB or ignoring certain formats (such as.apk). If you use custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the MIUI shopping cart will be missing altogether, instead using the standard Android system (which is weaker in terms of recovery).