Where Xiaomi is the basket: the complete guide to MIUI 2026

Have you accidentally deleted an important file on a Xiaomi smartphone and now you can't find it? Or just want to figure out how the MIUI remote storage system works? Unlike computers where the basket is always in plain sight, on Android smartphones (including Redmi, POCO and Xiaomi devices), its location and working principles are often questionable, especially after firmware updates, when the interface changes and the usual paths become irrelevant.

In this article, we will discuss in detail: 1. Where the basket is physically stored on different Xiaomi models (including Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13, etc.). 2. How the basket works in the standard MIUI File Manager and the Gallery application. 3. Hidden nuances of file recovery that are not written about in the official instructions. 4. Why sometimes the basket is empty, even if you did not delete anything.

And most importantly, how to avoid irretrievable data loss if you have already cleaned the cart.

Spoiler: In MIUI 14/15, the default bin is hidden from the user and activated only after the first deletion of the file, which is one of the reasons why many people can't find it. But everything in order.

1. Where is the Recycle Bin in the standard MIUI file manager

The main place Xiaomi stores deleted files is the built-in File Manager (a white-sheet blue folder icon).However, the path to the basket depends on the firmware version and device model. Here are the current ways for MIUI 14/15 (2023-2026):

On most modern devices (Xiaomi 13/13T/14, Redmi Note 12/13, POCO F5/X5), the basket is here: File Manager → Categories → Recycle Bin.

But there's a caveat: this section only appears after you manually delete at least one file. If you've never used a manager deletion, the Recycle Bin folder won't be on the list.

• 📱 For MIUI 14: Open File Manager, tap three dots (⋮) top-right → Basket.
• 🔍 For MIUI 15 (beta 2026): The path has changed - now go to Categories → Removed (dumpster icon).
• ⚠️ On older models (Redmi 9, POCO M3 etc.) the basket may be missing altogether - instead, files are deleted immediately.

If you don’t have a Recycle Bin section, try the following:

1. Delete any unnecessary file (such as a screenshot) through the File Manager.
2. Close and open the application again.
3. Check the Categories section – now there should appear the basket icon.

2. Cart in the Gallery: where to look for deleted photos and videos

Photos and videos deleted through the standard MIUI Gallery are placed in a separate bin that is not associated with the file manager, which is often confusing: the user searches for pictures in one place and they lie in another.

To find deleted media: Gallery → Albums → Recycle Bin (the trash can icon at the bottom of the screen).

In this section, files are stored for 30 days (by default), after which they are automatically cleared. You can change the term in the gallery settings.

• 📸 If you delete a photo through Google Photos, it will end up in the Google Recycle Bin, not the Google Photos. MIUI. You can check this in the Google Photos app. → Basket.
• 🔄 Recovery: Select files, click Restore – they will return to the original album.
• ⏳ Storage period: Unlike the file manager, you can't configure the "perpetual" basket here. 60 days maximum.

Important: If you cleaned the gallery basket, you can’t restore the photos with standard means, in which case only specialized programs like DiskDigger or Recuva will help (but the odds depend on how much data was written on top of the deleted files).

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Before cleaning the shopping cart in the gallery, check if there are any important files left there. MIUI does not warn you of irrevocable deletion when you click "Clean all".

3.Why is the basket empty or not displayed

The situation when the Recycle Bin does not show deleted files is common, and here are the main reasons and ways to fix them:

Another common mistake is that users confuse the bin and the archive. MIUI has a file archive feature (File Manager → Category → Archive) where you can manually move data, and these files are not automatically deleted and do not fall into the bin.

4. How to recover files from the shopping cart on Xiaomi

The recovery process depends on where the file was before deleting, and here are the step-by-step instructions for different cases:

4.1 Recovery through File Manager

If the file was deleted through a standard MIUI Explorer:

1. Open the File Manager → Categories → Recycle Bin.
2. Select the desired files with a long tap.
3. Click Restore in the lower menu.
4. The files will be returned to the folder from which they were deleted.

4.2. Recovery of photos and videos from the Gallery

For media files:

1. Launch the Gallery → Albums → Basket.
2. Select in the upper right corner.
3. Mark the files and click Restore.
4. If you need to restore everything, use the option to restore everything.

Important: Recovered files do not replace existing versions of the same name. If the original folder already has a file with the same name, MIUI will add recovered to the recovered suffix.

Make sure there is enough memory on the device.|Check if files with the same name are overwritten|Turn off automatic cleaning of the basket in the settings|Backup important data on your PC-->

5.Setting up the cart: how to change the shelf life and disable autocleaning

By default, MIUI stores deleted files for 10 days (for file manager) and 30 days (for gallery), which you can change, but not on all models.

For File Manager: File Manager → Settings (⚙) → Basket → Storage period.

The options available are 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, 15 days, 30 days or Never (files will lie in the bin until manually cleaned).

For the Gallery: Gallery → Settings (⚙) → Basket → Autocleaning.

Here you can choose a period from 1 to 60 days or turn off autocleaning altogether.

• ⚠️ Warning: If you choose Never for a file manager, the basket can grow to a giant size and take up the entire memory of the device.
• 📲 Advice: On devices with MIUI for POCO (for example, POCO F5) The settings of the cart may be located elsewhere: → Additionally. → Basket.

Some firmware (especially the Chinese versions of MIUI) do not have the option of setting up the shelf life, in which case only manual cleaning or installing an alternative file manager will help.

6. Alternative ways to recover data if the shopping cart is empty

If you have already cleared the cart or files have been deleted without being placed in it (for example, through ES Explorer or Root access), standard methods will not help.

• 🔧 Recovery software: DiskDigger (without root, but with limitations); Recuva (requires you to connect your phone to your PC); EaseUS MobiSaver (paid version with deep scanning).
• ☁️ Cloud backups: Mi Cloud (if sync was enabled); Google Photos (check the cart in the web version of photos.google.com); Yandex.Disk or Dropbox (if files were uploaded there).
• 📱 Specialized services: For critical data (such as lost settings after resetting), contact service centers. They use professional equipment like Chip-Off or JTAG.

Importantly, the less you use your phone after deleting files, the better the chances of recovery, and each new record of data (photos, app installs, updates) can overwrite deleted files.

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If the cart is empty, check the cloud storage (Mi Cloud, Google Photos) first. Often users forget that sync has been enabled and files are saved in the cloud.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Working with the basket on Xiaomi seems simple, but many users make the same mistakes.

⚠️ Note: If you delete a file through Google Explorer (Files by Google), it will be placed in another bin that is not associated with the file. MIUI. To find it, open Files by Google → Basket.

• 🗑️ Cleaning the basket without checking: Many people click Clean everything without looking at the contents. MIUI There is no “cancel cleanup” function, so it will be impossible to restore files after that.
• 🔄 Confusion between baskets: As mentioned, File Manager, Gallery and Google Photos have different baskets.
• ⏱️ Ignoring retention period: If you haven’t changed your settings, files will be automatically deleted after 10 to 30 days.
• 📴 Removal through third-party applications: Applications like ES conductor or FX File Explorer has its own baskets (or none at all). MIUI, If you want to maintain the possibility of recovery.

Another important point: on some models (Redmi 9A, POCO M2), the file manager basket is disabled by default.

1. Run the File Manager.
2. Go to Settings → Additionally.
3. Enable the option to Use the basket.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions