Where is the shopping cart on Xiaomi Redmi 9: search for deleted files in MIUI

You accidentally deleted an important file on Xiaomi Redmi 9 and now you can’t find a basket to recover it? This problem is familiar to many users of Xiaomi smartphones – unlike Windows or macOS, Android (and especially MIUI firmware) does not always have a familiar basket in the classical sense. Moreover, its location and even its availability depends on how you deleted the file: through a gallery, a file manager or a third-party application.

In this article, we’ll look at all the options that can store the Recycle Bin on Redmi 9, including hidden system folders, cloud backups, and even ways to restore data if the Recycle Bin is empty. You’ll also learn why some Xiaomi devices don’t have a Recycle Bin at all, and how to fix it. It’s important to understand that on MIUI smartphones, the Recycle Bin doesn’t work the same way as on computers — it’s not universal and can be hidden in different places depending on the file type.

Why is the Xiaomi Redmi 9 not a standard basket?

Many users, when they go from iPhone or computer to Android, expect to see a single basket for all deleted files, like macOS or Windows. However, in MIUI, this mechanism works differently. Here are the main reasons why you don't find a regular basket:

• 📱 Fragmented Storage System: The Recycle Bin MIUI Deleted photos are stored in one place, documents are stored in another, and files from downloads can disappear irretrievably.
• 🗑️ No Recycle Bin for some file types: For example, files deleted through a standard File Manager are often erased immediately, without the ability to recover them.
• ⚙️ Default settings: On some versions MIUI Recycle Bin disabled in gallery or file manager settings.
• 🌥️ Xiaomi is actively promoting Mi Cloud, where deleted files can be stored in a separate basket, but not all users use it.

Also, on Redmi 9 (especially with early MIUIs), the shopping cart could be hidden because of optimization of the interface for budget devices, and if you were updating the firmware, its location could change, and then we'll look at where to look for deleted files depending on how you delete them.

Where to find a cart for photos and videos?

If you delete a photo or video through a standard gallery on Redmi 9, the chances of recovery are maximum. Xiaomi has provided a basket for multimedia files, but it is hidden from direct access.

1. Open the Gallery app (icon with multi-colored squares).
2. Slip on three horizontal lines (☰) top-right.
3. In the drop-down menu, select Recycle Bin (or Recently Deleted in newer versions of MIUI).
4. Here you will see all photos and videos deleted within the last 30 days (the time limit can be changed in the settings).

If the item is not in the menu, check the settings of the gallery:

1. Go to the Gallery Settings → Basket.
2. Make sure the slider Include the basket is active.
3. If necessary, change the retention period of deleted files (maximum 60 days).

⚠️ Note: If you deleted files not through a gallery, but through a file manager or a third-party application (such as Google Photos), they will not appear in this basket.

Recycle Bin in File Manager: Where is it hiding?

The standard file manager on Xiaomi Redmi 9 behaves differently than the gallery, where the basket may be missing or work according to different rules.

• 📁 No Default Recycle Bin: In Most Versions MIUI files deleted through the file manager are permanently erased (unless the cloud is connected).
• 🔄 Temporary storage: On some firmware (e.g, MIUI 12+) There's a basket option, but it's hidden to activate it:

File Manager Settings → Additional → Recycle Bin → Enable

If you don’t have this option, try updating your File Manager via Google Play or installing an alternative (e.g. Files by Google or Solid Explorer, where the Recycle Bin is the default).

⚠️ Note: If you have used the Cleanup function in your phone settings (Settings) → Memory. → Cleaning, files are deleted bypassing the basket and they can be restored only through specialized programs (about them in the next section).

How to recover files if the basket is empty?

If you don't have the files in your gallery or file manager basket, don't despair. There are a few ways to get them back:

1. Verification of cloud copies

Xiaomi automatically syncs photos with Mi Cloud (if the feature is enabled) to check:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select Gallery or Backup Copies.
3. Check the Recycle Bin folder in the cloud (available on i.mi.com web).

2. Third-party recovery applications

If your files aren’t synced to the cloud, try programs like DiskDigger, Recuva (for PCs) or Dumpster (an analogue of the Android shopping cart).

• 🔍 The chances of recovery are higher if after removal a little time has passed and the phone has not restarted.
• 🚫 Don’t write new files to your device – they can overwrite deleted data.
• 💾 Root access increases odds, but requires unlocking the bootloader (risky for beginners).

3. Google backups

If you have used Google Photos, check:

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Put it on the avatar. → Basket.
3. The files are stored there for 60 days.

⚠️ Attention: Recovery through third-party software does not guarantee 100% results. The longer it has been since deletion, the lower the odds. If files are critical, contact the service center - specialists can extract data using professional equipment.

💡

Configure automatic backups to Google Photos or Mi Cloud regularly. Even if the cart clears, the files will remain in the cloud.

How do you turn on the basket if there is none?

If your Redmi 9 doesn't have a basket at all, you can manually activate it.

For the gallery:

1. Open the gallery. → Settings (⚙️).
2. Pick the basket.
3. Activate the slider Enable the basket.
4. Set a storage period (30 days recommended).

For the file manager:

If your MIUI version has the file manager basket disabled, try:

1. Update the file manager via Google Play.
2. Go to File Manager Settings → Additionally.
3. Find the basket item and turn it on.
4. If you don’t have an option, install an alternative manager (e.g. FX File Explorer).

If none of these methods worked, your version of MIUI may not support the file basket, and you may need to rely on cloud backups or third-party solutions.

💡

The Recycle Bin in MIUI only works for photos and videos from the gallery. Other file types require additional settings or third-party apps.

Common mistakes when searching for a cart on Xiaomi

Users often make the same mistakes when trying to find deleted files.

• 🔍 Search for Recycle Bin in Phone Settings: Recycle Bin is a function of specific applications (gallery, file manager) rather than the system as a whole.
• 🗑️ Delete files via "Cleaning": Settings function → Memory. → Cleaning erases data irrevocably, bypassing the basket.
• 📲 Use unofficial firmware: On custom ROM (For example, LineageOS) the cart may work differently or not.
• ⏳ Waiting too long: Files in the Recycle Bin are stored for a limited time (usually 30 days), after which they are automatically deleted.

Another common mistake is to confuse the bin with the archive, where some users mistakenly think that files that are moved to the archive (e.g., through Google Photos) end up in the bin. This is not true: archived files are simply hidden from the main view, but not deleted.

Alternative ways to protect data on Redmi 9

To avoid file loss in the future, set the following options on Redmi 9:

• ☁️ Automatic synchronization with Mi Cloud:
• 📤 Backup to Google Drive:
• 🔄 Regularly export important files to a computer or external storage device.
• 📱 Install a third-party cart, such as Dumpster (available on Google Play).

It is also useful to include cart cleanup notifications:

1. Open the gallery → Settings → basket.
2. Enable the Notify before cleaning option.

These measures will help minimize the risk of irretrievable data loss, even if you accidentally click Delete.

💡

Setting up automatic backup takes 5 minutes, but saves years of photos and documents.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the cart on Xiaomi Redmi 9