Where do deleted files go on Xiaomi Redmi 6A: where to look for a basket in the phone

You deleted an important file on Xiaomi Redmi 6A, and now you can't find it? It may still be in the basket, a hidden repository of temporarily deleted data. But where exactly do you look for this folder in MIUI firmware for the old 2018 model? Unlike the new Xiaomi smartphones, where the basket is integrated into standard applications, on the Redmi 6A everything works differently.

In this article, we'll look at all the possible places where you can store a shopping cart on your device, from built-in MIUI 9/10 tools to third-party applications, and we'll also find out why some files are lost and how to avoid it. If you've already searched all the folders but you haven't found deleted photos or documents, don't panic. Most likely, they're just hidden in an obscure place.

Why Redmi 6A doesn’t have a standard cart in the gallery

Redmi 6A owners often face a problem: after deleting photos or videos through the Gallery app, files disappear without a trace. Unlike modern models (for example, the Redmi Note 10 or POCO X3), where there is a separate Recycle Bin tab, in older versions of MIUI, this feature is either disabled by default or works through third-party services.

Reasons for the lack of a visible basket:

• 📱 Cut firmware: Redmi 6A The budgetary segment, and in its version MIUI 9/10 Many features are simplified or removed to save resources.
• 🔄 No cloud backup: without binding to your Mi Account, files are deleted immediately, bypassing the shopping cart.
• 📁 Hidden system folders: Recycle bins may exist but not be accessible through a standard interface.
• 🔧 Default settings: Recycle Bin function can be disabled in Gallery app settings.

If you delete a file through Explorer (e.g., ES Explorer or embedded Files), the chances of recovery are even lower — these applications often bypass the bin and erase data immediately. But not all is lost: let's check all possible storage locations.

Where to find a basket in the standard gallery MIUI

Even on Redmi 6A, some versions of MIUI have a hidden basket, but you can turn it on.

1. Open the Gallery app (an icon with colorful photos).
2. Slip along three horizontal lines (☰) top-left.
3. Select the basket item (if there is none, proceed to the next method).
4. If the folder is empty, check the settings: Gallery → Settings → Recycle Bin → Enable the Recycle Bin.

If you don’t have a Recycle Bin item on the menu, your version of MIUI doesn’t support this feature, in which case you can try updating the Gallery app via Google Play or using alternative methods (more on them below).

Open annex "Gallery"|Find the menu (☰) top-left|Check for the item “Baskbasket"|Enable the basket in the application settings-->

Important: Even if the Recycle Bin is turned on, files are stored in it for a maximum of 30 days (default: 15), after which they are deleted automatically, and this period can be changed in the settings, but not on all versions of MIUI.

Recycle Bin in the Files application (MIUI File Manager)

The second option is the built-in Explorer (File app), where the basket can be hidden under a different name.

1. Open the Files app (an icon with a blue folder).
2. Go to the Categories section (bottom of the screen).
3. Scroll down and find the Recycle Bin folder or Recently Deleted.
4. If you don't have a folder, tap three dots (⋮) → Settings → Basket and turn it on.

On Redmi 6A, the Recycle Bin in Files is often disabled by default, and if you turn it on, all files deleted through this Explorer will come here, but this does not apply to files deleted through other applications (for example, Gallery or Google Photos).

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If you lose files often, install a third-party explorer (such as Solid Explorer) – it has its own basket with flexible settings.

Recycle Bin in Google Photos: How to Recover Deleted Photos

If you use Google Photos to back up, deleted images can be stored in a cloud bin to find them:

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Slip on the account icon (top right corner) → Cart.
3. Select files and click Restore.

Important nuances:

• 🕒 Files are stored in the basket for 60 days (as opposed to 15-30 days in the day). MIUI).
• ☁️ Recovered files will return to the Gallery, but not to the folder. DCIM — They are only available through Google Photos.
• 🚫 If you delete files before you connect Google Photos, they won’t get into the cloud bin.

⚠️ Note: if you have deleted files through the Gallery MIUI, And then we cleaned the basket in Google Photos, and it's impossible to restore them!

Hidden folders baskets: where to look manually

If standard methods don't work, the recycle bin can be hidden in system folders. On Redmi 6A, deleted files are sometimes stored here:

/storage/emulated/0/.Trash


/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.gallery/cache/trash




/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Trash

To find these folders:

1. Install any file manager with access to hidden folders (such as FX File Explorer or Root Explorer).
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the Explorer settings.
3. Follow one of the paths mentioned above.

If there are no folders, then the basket on your device is disabled at the system level, in which case only recovery through backups or specialized programs (about them in the next section) will help.

Recovering deleted files without a basket

If the cart is empty or not at all, try these methods:

1. Data recovery programs

For Redmi 6A, you can:

• 📱 DiskDigger (free version recovers photos and videos).
• 💻 Recuva (you need a computer) + phone-in USB-accumulator).
• 🔍 EaseUS MobiSaver (paid, but with trial period).

Instructions for DiskDigger:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Select Full Scan (requires root permissions for deep search).
3. Wait for the analysis to be completed and mark the files for recovery.
4. Then, put them in another folder (not where they were removed from).

2. backup copies of Mi Cloud

If you are logged in to Mi Account and have enabled backup:

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select the Gallery or Files.
3. Find the data you need and download it back.

⚠️ Note: when recovering via Mi Cloud, files may overwrite current data. Before the procedure, back up important files!

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The faster you start recovering from deletion, the better the chances of returning files, and each new record on your phone (photo, video, app installation) reduces the likelihood of success.

How to permanently disable the cart on Redmi 6A

If you are annoyed that files are not deleted immediately, but take up space in the basket, you can turn it off:

In the annex to the Gallery:

1. Open the gallery. → Settings.
2. Find the basket and turn it off.

In the Files appendix:

1. Open the files → Settings → Recycle Bin.
2. Move the slider to the off position.

After that, all deleted files will be permanently erased, and note that this increases the risk of losing important data in case of accidental deletion.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the cart on the Redmi 6A