Recycle Bin on Redmi 10: where to look for deleted files in Xiaomi phone and how to restore them

Why don't you see the cart on Redmi 10 - and where is it really?

You accidentally deleted an important file on Redmi 10 and now you can't find a recycle bin to recover it? The problem is that standard MIUI firmware doesn't have a single Recycle Bin, like on a computer. Instead, deleted files are distributed into different "baskets" depending on the type of data: photos, videos, documents or applications. Moreover, some files are deleted irrevocably immediately after clicking "Delete" - especially if you use third-party file managers.

In this article, we will discuss exactly where the shopping cart on Xiaomi Redmi 10 (and other smartphones with MIUI), how to recover deleted files through embedded tools and third-party applications, and why some data disappears forever.

If you are looking for a specific file (such as a photo or document), immediately go to the Gallery or File Manager section. If the basket is empty and the files are missing, read about data recovery.

1. Cart in the Gallery: how to recover deleted photos and videos

The most obvious shopping cart on Redmi 10 is hidden in the standard Gallery app (Google Photos don't count, it's its rules), and when you delete a photo or video through the gallery, the file doesn't disappear immediately, but moves to the Recycle Bin folder, where it's stored for 30 days, and then it's deleted automatically.

To find the basket:

1. Open the Gallery app (icon with multi-colored squares).
2. Slip on three horizontal lines (☰) lower-right.
3. Select the basket item (dumpster icon).
4. Click on the file, then Restore (or select a few files and tap Restore Everything).

⚠️ Note: If you deleted the file through a non-Gallery (e.g., Files or Files) ES Explorer, it won't get into this basket! Also, the Gallery Recycle Bin doesn't work for screenshots and uploaded images -- you have to look for them in the File Manager.

Check the folder. DCIM/.thumbnails — Sometimes the miniatures are kept there.|

Make sure the file is not deleted through third-party apps|

Try to restore via Mi Cloud (if sync was enabled)|

Use Recovery Apps (section below)

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2. Recycle Bin in File Manager: Where to look for documents and downloads

For all other files (documents, APK, music, downloads) Redmi 10 has a built-in File Manager (Files), here the Recycle Bin is called Recently Deleted and stores data for 10 days (as opposed to 30 days in the Gallery) to find it:

1. Open the Files app (Blue folder icon).
2. Go to the Category tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Scroll down and select Recently Deleted.
4. Select the files you need and click Restore.

🔍 Important: The Recycle Bin in Files only works for files deleted through the same manager. If you delete a document through Total Commander or Solid Explorer, it won't get to the recently deleted files!

Through the Gallery |

Through the File Manager |

Through the Cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud)|

Using third-party applications (ES Explorer, etc.)|I can't remember how I deleted the last file-->

3. Cloud Recycle Bin: Recovery via Mi Cloud and Google Photos

If you use Mi Cloud (cloud from Xiaomi) or Google Photos, deleted files can be stored in their own shopping carts, which is true if you have automatic sync enabled.

For Mi Cloud:

• 🌐 Go to i.mi.com or open the Mi Cloud app on your phone.
• 📁 Go to the Gallery or Files section (depending on the type of data).
• 🗑️ Find the basket tab (in the web version it is in the left menu).
• ⏳ Files are stored here for 60 days (longer than in the local shopping cart!).

For Google Photos:

• 📱 Open the Google Photos app.
• 🔍 Slip on the profile avatar. → Basket.
• ⏳ Shelf life is 60 days (but if the file was deleted before synchronization, it will not be there).

⚠️ Note: If you delete a file before it syncs to the cloud (e.g., when the internet is bad), it won’t get to the cloud basket. Also check if backups in your account settings have been disabled.

💡

To increase your chances of recovery, immediately after deleting the file, disconnect your phone from the Internet (plane mode) and prevent the deletion from syncing with the cloud.

4. If the basket is empty: programs to restore deleted files

What if the file is not found in any of the bins? In this case, specialized data recovery applications will help, they scan the internal memory of the phone and look for traces of deleted files. Importantly, the less you use the phone after deleting, the better the chances of recovery (new data can overwrite old ones).

The best apps for Redmi 10:

• 🛠️ DiskDigger - restores photos, videos and documents (there is a free version).
• 📂 Recuva (via PC) – if you connect your phone to your computer in drive mode.
• 🔍 EaseUS MobiSaver – supports recovery from memory cards.
• 📱 Dumpster – creates its own basket for all deleted files (you need to install it in advance).

🔧 Instructions for recovery through DiskDigger:

1. Download DiskDigger from Google Play.
2. Launch the app and select Full Scan (requires root permissions for deep search).
3. Wait until the scan is completed (it can take up to 30 minutes).
4. Select the files you need and click Restore (save them to a memory card or cloud).

⚠️ Note: Recovery apps don't guarantee 100% results. If a file was deleted long ago or the phone's memory is heavily fragmented, chances are minimal. Also, avoid installing programs on the same part of memory where the deleted file was stored, which reduces the likelihood of recovery.

5. Advanced Recovery: What Can Be Done With Root Rights

If you have root access on Redmi 10, you can use more powerful recovery tools, such as the Root Browser app, which allows you to manually search for deleted files in /data or /sdcard folders, and the adb utility, which allows you to retrieve data through your computer.

🛠️ Recovery methods with root:

• 📂 Use Root Browser to search in /.trashes or /.recycle folders.
• 💻 Connect your phone to your PC and scan memory via PhotoRec (included in the TestDisk package).
• 🔧 Restore backup copy TWRP (If it was done before the file was deleted).

⚠️ Note: Getting root rights resets the warranty and can lead to unstable phone operation, and not all files are recovered even from root – for example, data from private application folders (for example, WhatsApp messages) are often encrypted.

📌 Example of a command to search for deleted files through ADB:

adb shell su -c "find /sdcard/ -name '*jpg' -type f -mtime -1"

This team is looking for everything. JPG-Change files that have been changed in the last day, and replace jpg with the format you want (e.g. pdf or pdf) mp4).

6. How to avoid future data loss

To avoid searching for a cart every time you accidentally delete it, set up Redmi 10 in advance:

• ☁️ Enable automatic sync with Mi Cloud or Google Drive:
• 📁 Install a third-party basket, such as Dumpster (it intercepts all removals).
• 🔄 Make backups regularly through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.
• 🚫 Avoid memory cleaners (such as Clean Master) that delete files without recovery.

💡 If you often work with important files, create a Backup folder on the memory card and copy critical data manually.

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Even if the file is in the basket, do not delay the recovery for a long time – after the expiration of the storage period (10-60 days), the data is deleted without the possibility of returning.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the cart on Redmi 10