Recycle Bin on Xiaomi Redmi 7: where to look for deleted files and how to return them?

Did you accidentally delete an important file on Xiaomi Redmi 7 and now you can't find it? or just want to figure out where the basket is stored in the firmware MIUI? Unlike computers, Android smartphones — and Redmi 7 is no exception — do not have a single system storage for deleted files; instead, the baskets can be embedded in individual applications (gallery, file manager) or even absent. In this article, we will explore all possible ways to find and recover deleted data, and learn how to configure backup to avoid future losses.

It is important to understand that the behavior of the cart on Redmi 7 depends on the version. MIUI (10, 11 or 12), the file manager installed, and even the regional firmware. MIUI We'll look at all scenarios, from standard solutions to third-party utilities that will help you return files even after cleaning the basket.

Why doesn’t Redmi 7 have a single cart like a computer?

Android MIUI They don’t use the “global basket” for a number of reasons:

• 📱 Limited storage: Smartphones have less memory than PCs, so permanently backing up all deleted files would take up too much space.
• 🔄 Auto Cleanup: Android is optimized for fast work, and temporary files (including deleted ones) are often cleared by the system to free up memory.
• 📂 Application division: each application (gallery, file manager, instant messengers) manages its data independently, so baskets exist only inside them.

On Redmi 7, the basket can be in the following places:

• 🖼️ gallery MIUI (photo)
• 📁 File Manager (documents, APK, archive)
• 💬 Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp – everyone has their own basket)
• ☁️ Cloud services (Mi Cloud, Google Drive – if sync was enabled)

If the file was deleted not through the application, but directly from memory (for example, through the ADB or TWRP), The chances of recovery without third-party utilities are minimal, and in such cases, only deep scanning of memory with specialized programs will help.

Basket in the standard gallery MIUI: Where to look and how to recover

The most obvious place to store a Redmi 7 cart is the standard Gallery app (MIUI Gallery: It automatically saves deleted photos and videos for 30 days (by default), after which the files are permanently erased:

1. Open the Gallery app (icon with multi-colored squares).
2. Slip on three horizontal lines (☰) lower-right.
3. Select the Cart item (or Trash in English version).
4. Hold your finger on the file to recover or click Restore Everything.

If the item is not on the menu, it can mean:

• ❌ The files were not deleted through the gallery (for example, through the ES Conductor or Total Commander).
• ❌ The basket was turned off in the gallery settings.
• ❌ You have an outdated version. MIUI (10th) where the basket is not sold.

To turn on the basket if it is disabled:

1. Go to the Gallery Settings → Basket.
2. Activate the Save Deleted Files switch.
3. Set a storage period (from 1 to 60 days).

⚠️ Note: If you cleared gallery cache through Settings → Apps, the basket could have reset, and then you can't recover the files.

Recycle bin in file manager MIUI: hidden folders and settings

Standard File Manager (MIUI The File Manager on Redmi 7 also has a shopping cart, but it works differently than in a gallery, APK, To find deleted files:

1. Open the File Manager (Icon with folder).
2. Go to the Categories section (bottom of the screen).
3. Scroll down and select the basket.
4. Hold the file to recover or click Clear to delete everything permanently.

If the cart is empty or missing, check:

• 🔍 Were the files deleted through this manager? If you used Google Files or Solid Explorer, the shopping cart will be elsewhere.
• ⚙️ Is the function disabled in settings: File Manager → Settings → Basket.
• 📅 Hasn't it been more than 15 days? By default, files in the manager's shopping cart are only stored for 2 weeks.

⚠️ Note: If you connected Redmi 7 to your computer and deleted files via Windows Explorer or Mac Finder, they won’t get into the smartphone basket).

Third-party apps with a basket: what to use on Redmi 7

If the standard means MIUI Not enough, you can install alternative file managers or backup utilities. Here are the best options for Redmi 7:

• 📁 Google Files (Files by Google) - has a 30 day shopping cart and a garbage cleanup feature.
• 🔄 Dumpster is a specialized shopping cart for Android that intercepts all deleted files, even works with files deleted through other applications.
• ☁️ Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s cloud storage that automatically syncs photos, contacts and notes.
• 🛠️ DiskDigger – a utility for deep memory scanning and file recovery after formatting.

Example of Dumpster setup:

1. Install an app from the Play Market.
2. At the first start, give access to the storage.
3. Enable the option of Automatic reservation in the settings.
4. All deleted files will now be sent to Dumpster, where they can be restored within the selected period (up to 1 year).

💡

If you delete files frequently by mistake, install Dumpster and enable deletion notifications so you can quickly undo the action right from the notification panel.

To recover files through DiskDigger:

1. Launch the app and select Full Scan (root rights required for maximum efficiency).
2. Wait until the analysis is completed (it can take up to an hour).
3. Mark the files you need and click Restore.
4. Save them to a memory card or cloud (do not restore them to the same partition where they were deleted!).

Recovery of files without a basket: deep memory scanning

If files have been deleted bypassing the shopping cart (for example, through ADB, TWRP Or formatting, they can still be tried with specialized utilities. Redmi 7 will do that:

• 🖥️ Recuva (for PC) – scans the internal memory of the smartphone through USB-debugging.
• 📱 Undeleter – works directly on the phone, but requires root for full access.
• 🔧 EaseUS MobiSaver – Restores photos, videos and documents even after resetting settings.

Instructions for Recuva:

1. Connect Redmi 7 to your computer in File Transfer mode (MTP).
2. Install Recuva and run it.
3. Select the file type (such as Images or Documents).
4. Specify the path to the internal memory of the smartphone (usually this device) → [Model phone]).
5. Run the scan and wait for the results.
6. Mark the files found and click Restore.

⚠️ Warning: The more you use your phone after deleting files, the less likely you are to recover them. New data overwrites old memory sectors. If the file is important, turn off the Internet immediately and don't install new apps!

To recover via Undeleter (root required):

1. Install an app from the Play Market.
2. Provide root access (if the phone is not rooted, use Magisk).
3. Select the section to scan (usually) /data or /sdcard).
4. Wait for the analysis to be completed and save the files found to the memory card.

How to set up automatic backup on Redmi 7

To avoid looking for a cart after every accidental deletion, you should set up automatic reservations in advance. On Redmi 7, you can do this in several ways:

1. via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

Synchronization with Mi Cloud allows you to restore photos, contacts, notes and even SMS. To set up:

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Sign in to your Xiaomi account (or create a new one).
3. Activate the switches next to the data you want (e.g. Gallery, Contacts).
4. Press Sync.

To recover the data:

1. Open Mi Cloud in the settings.
2. Select a section (e.g., Gallery).
3. Press three points (⋮) and choose Restore.

2. via Google Photos

Google Photos automatically reserves all photos and videos to the cloud to enable the feature:

1. Install Google Photos.
2. Open the app and log in to your Google account.
3. Slip on the avatar → Photo settings → Backup and synchronization.
4. Turn on the switch and select quality (e.g. High for free unlimited storage).

Recovery:

1. Open Google Photos.
2. Go to the Library. → Basket.
3. Select files and click Restore.

3. Through local backup

If you don’t want to use the cloud, you can back up your memory card:

1. Connect the microSD to the phone.
2. Open the file manager.
3. Select important files, click More → Copy.
4. Go to the memory card and paste the files into the Backup folder.

💡

Set up automatic backups right now – it will take 5 minutes, but save you hours of data recovery in the future.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When working with the Recycle Bin and recovering files on Redmi 7, users often make mistakes that lead to data loss without the possibility of returning.

• 🚫 Cleaning App Cache: If you clear the cache of the gallery or file manager through Settings → Apps, basket may be reset.
• 🔄 Memory card formatting: Quick formatting (via phone or PC) erases all data without recovery capability.
• ⚡ Using cleaners: Apps like Clean Master or CCleaner can delete files from the trash as junk".
• 📵 Reset to factory settings: Hard Reset erases all internal memory, including the cart.

How to avoid problems:

• ✅ Before cleaning the cache, check if the application stores the basket.
• ✅ Do not format a memory card if it had important files on it – first try to restore them through DiskDigger.
• ✅ Turn off automatic cleaning in the "cleaners" or remove them altogether.
• ✅ Before resetting the settings, remove the memory card and copy the data from the internal storage to the PC.

If you've already made one of these mistakes, don't panic.

1. Disconnect your phone from the network immediately (to prevent overwriting).
2. Use DiskDigger or EaseUS MobiSaver for deep scanning.
3. Contact the service center if files are critical (e.g. photos from the event).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions