Where is the Recycle Bin on Xiaomi Redmi 5 and how to return deleted files?

You accidentally deleted important photos or documents on your Xiaomi Redmi 5 and can't find them? Many users have the problem of finding a shopping cart on Xiaomi smartphones, especially on older models like Redmi 5, where the MIUI interface may differ from modern versions. In this article, we will see if Redmi 5 has a built-in shopping cart, where to look for it in different applications, and what to do if files are lost without the possibility of recovery.

It’s important to understand that the concept of a shopping cart on Android devices works differently than on computers, depending on which application you used to delete files (gallery, file manager, Google Photos), and will depend on whether data can be returned. We’ll look at all possible scenarios, from standard MIUI 9/10 features (relevant to Redmi 5) to third-party solutions.

If you delete files long ago or have done memory cleanup, your chances of recovery are reduced, but don't panic: 80 percent of the time, you can get back data even if the bin is empty, and the key is not to write new files to your device so you don't erase the deleted data.

Is there a cart on Xiaomi Redmi 5 by default?

On Xiaomi Redmi 5 with MIUI 9 or 10 firmware (namely, these versions were installed on this model), there is no single system basket for all files, like on Windows or macOS. Instead, the basket works at the level of individual applications:

• 📷 gallery MIUI — Temporary storage of deleted photos and videos (up to 30 days).
• 📁 File Manager – may have a Recycle Bin for deleted files (depending on version) MIUI).
• 🌐 Google Photos – your own shopping cart if syncing was enabled.
• 📄 Documents and PDF — They are usually deleted irrevocably (unless cloud services are used).

This means that if you delete a file through the File Manager, you need to search for it in the application basket, not in the gallery, and there is no system "universal" basket, like on a PC, in MIUI, if the file is deleted through Windows Explorer (when you connect your phone to your computer), it disappears without the possibility of recovery through the phone.

⚠️ Note: On Redmi 5 with custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), the basket may not be available at all. MIUI In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI.

Also, it is worth considering that after resetting settings or updating the firmware, the basket is cleaned automatically. If you recently performed these actions, you will not be able to restore files through standard means - third-party utilities will be required.

Where to look for a basket in the MIUI gallery on Redmi 5

If you have deleted photos or videos through the standard Gallery app, you can try to return them.

1. Open the Gallery app (an icon with a flower on a blue background).
2. Swipe three dots in the top right corner (or swipe right in some versions of MIUI).
3. Select the Recycle Bin (or Recently Deleted) item.
4. Hold your finger on the file you want to restore and click Restore.

In the MIUI gallery, files are stored in the Recycle Bin for up to 30 days (by default), and then they are deleted automatically. If you can't see the Recycle Bin item, then:

• 🔄 You haven't updated in a while. MIUI (In older versions, the cart may not be available).
• 🗑️ Files were deleted via another app (e.g. Google Photos).
• 📲 You use a third-party gallery (such as QuickPic or Simple Gallery).

Is the standard gallery open (not Google Photos)?

Is there a "basket" item on the menu?

Has it been 30 days since the removal?

Was there a resetting of the settings?

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If the recycle bin is empty but you are sure that files have been deleted recently, try restarting your phone — sometimes MIUI doesn’t immediately display deleted items. Also check the DCIM/.thumbnails folder through the file manager: sometimes thumbnails are saved even after the originals are deleted.

Recycle Bin in MIUI File Manager: Where is it hiding?

The standard file manager on Redmi 5 (an app with a yellow folder icon) may also have a basket, but its availability depends on the version of MIUI:

• 📂 V MIUI 9 Recycle Bin in File Manager is Not Defaulted.
• 📂 V MIUI 10 basket appears, but it must be manually turned on.

To check or activate the cart:

1. Open the file manager.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → Settings.
3. Find the Recycle Bin option and turn it on (if any).
4. Return to the main menu of the manager - the basket folder should appear.

If you don't have the option, your version of MIUI doesn't support the recycle bin in the file manager, so you can't restore files you've deleted through it by standard means, but you can try third-party utilities like DiskDigger or Recuva (via computer).

MIUI 9|MIUI 10|MIUI 11 or later |Castom firmware |I don't know-->

⚠️ Note: If you delete files through Windows Explorer (when connecting your phone to your PC), they don’t fall into the Recycle Bin MIUI. In this case, recovery is possible only through PCs using programs such as EaseUS Data Recovery.

How to recover files if the basket is empty

If standard methods have failed, there are several alternative ways to recover deleted data, which depends on how long it has been since it was deleted and whether cloud services have been used.

1. Google Photos (if synced)

If your Redmi 5 is synced to Google Photos:

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Slip on the avatar in the upper right corner → basket.
3. Select files and click Restore.

The files in the Google Photos Recycle Bin are stored for 60 days, and if the sync is disabled, this method will not work.

2. Computer-assisted recovery

For deep scanning of your phone’s memory, connect Redmi 5 to your PC and use the following programs:

• 💻 Recuva (free, easy to use).
• 💻 EaseUS Data Recovery (paid but free trial period).
• 💻 DiskDigger (there is a version for Android, but requires root rights).

Important: Don't save the recovered files back to your phone, it can wipe the remaining data. Use an external drive or cloud.

3. Verification of MIUI backups

MIUI automatically backs up some of the data to check:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. Select Local Backups.
3. Check if there are copies for the right date.

This only works if the backup was enabled in advance, and you can restore contacts, messages and certain settings, but not media files.

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If you regularly connect Redmi 5 to your computer, check the folder This is Computer\Xiaomi Redmi 5\Internal Memory\MIUI\Backup — sometimes temporary copies of files are saved there.

What to do if nothing helps: extreme measures

If all of these methods fail, there are radical ways that take longer and sometimes more technical skills, but can save critical data.

Recovery via TWRP (for advanced users)

If your Redmi 5 has custom recovery TWRP installed, you can try to restore files through it:

1. Turn off your phone and press Volume Up + Power to enter TWRP.
2. Select Advanced → File Manager.
3. Go to /data/media/0/ (internal memory) folder.
4. Look for files with the.jpg,.mp4 extension, etc.

This method only works if files have not been overwritten. For inexperienced users, it is better to consult a specialist - wrong actions in TWRP can lead to the loss of all data.

2. Contact the service center

If the phone has critical data (such as single photos or work documents) and self-recovery has not helped, you can contact the service center.

The cost of such a service starts from 3000-5 000 rubles, but the chances of success are high, even if the phone does not turn on, the main thing is not to try to disassemble the device yourself, so as not to damage the memory chips.

3. Verification of cloud services and instant messengers

Sometimes files are stored in non-obvious places:

• 📧 Mail – You may have sent files to yourself by email.
• 💬 Messengers – in Telegram (Save Messages section), WhatsApp (Investments in chats).
• ☁️ Cloud storage – Yandex.Disk, Mail.ru Cloud, Dropbox.

Check your browser download history (Chrome → Menu → Downloads) – it is possible that the files were downloaded recently and still saved.

How to avoid data loss in the future

To avoid the problem of lost files, follow the following simple rules:

• ☁️ Enable automatic sync with Google Photos or MI Cloud (Settings) → Accounts. → Mi Cloud).
• 🔄 Regularly back up your computer or external drive.
• 📁 Use file managers with a basket (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Manager).
• 🔍 Check the cart after each deletion – sometimes files get there unexpectedly.

It is also useful to install memory monitoring apps like Files by Google or SD Maid, which help track junk files and prevent important data from being accidentally deleted.

If you often work with important documents, consider buying. OTG-This will allow you to quickly copy files to an external medium without the risk of losing them.

💡

Xiaomi Redmi 5 does not have a single system basket – files are deleted from different applications in different ways. Always check the basket in the application through which the data was deleted (gallery, file manager, Google Photos).

Table: Where to look for a basket depending on the file type

FAQ: Frequent questions about the cart on Xiaomi Redmi 5