Where is the Recycle Bin on Xiaomi Redmi 6A: all ways to access and restore files

Why can’t users find a cart on Redmi 6A?

Xiaomi Redmi 6A is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but its MIUI interface often raises questions among users. The main problem is that this device does not have the usual shopping cart, like on a computer or some other smartphones, instead, files are deleted immediately, and recovery is possible only through special tools.

The fact is that in the stock firmware MIUI for Redmi 6A, the basket is implemented not as a separate application, but as a feature of built-in services - Gallery, Files or Mi Cloud. Many users simply do not know where to look for it, because the icon is hidden in the depths of the menu. Moreover, the default configuration of the cart can be disabled, which causes files to be deleted irrevocably.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to find and configure a Recycle Bin on Xiaomi Redmi 6A, and how to recover deleted files if standard methods don’t work.

Method 1: Recycle bin in the Gallery appendix

The most obvious way to find deleted photos and videos is through the standard Gallery app, which has a built-in shopping cart, but only works for media files (photos, videos, screenshots).

1. Launch the Gallery app (an icon with multi-colored squares).
2. Slip on three horizontal lines (☰) top-left.
3. In the drop-down menu, select the basket item.

If you don't have a Recycle Bin, you've disabled the function to activate it.

• 📌 Go to Gallery Settings (cog in upper right corner).
• 🔄 Find the basket partition and turn on the switch.
• ⏳ Set a file retention period (by default 30 days).

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If the gallery does not have a Recycle Bin, update the app via Google Play or Mi App Store, which older versions of MIUI may not have had.

Important: The gallery cart only stores files for 30 days, and then they are deleted permanently, and if you deleted the photos more than a month ago, you can't recover them through the gallery.

Method 2: Recycle Bin in File Manager

Unlike the gallery, the standard File Manager on Redmi 6A doesn't have a built-in recycle bin, but it can show hidden folders where deleted files are temporarily stored.

1. Open the Files app (folder icon).
2. Go to the Categories section (bottom of the screen).
3. Select Recent or Remote (if any).

If these sections are not available, try to enable the display of hidden files:

• 🔍 Tap it on three points (⋮) top-right.
• 📂 Select Settings → Show hidden files.
• 🗑️ Check the.trash or Recycle Bin folders in the root directory.

On the Redmi 6A with MIUI 9-11, the basket in the File Manager is often missing, due to the optimization of the budget model, the manufacturer has removed unnecessary features to save space in memory.

Method 3: Recovery via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

If you logged in to Mi Account and enabled sync, deleted files could be saved to the cloud to recover them:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account.
2. Go to Mi Cloud → Gallery or Files.
3. Find the Recycle Bin (if any) section or check the Archive.

Please note:

• ☁️ In Mi Cloud, the Recycle Bin stores files for up to 60 days (depending on your settings).
• 📱 If sync is disabled, files in the cloud will not be saved.
• 💾 Free storage in Mi Cloud is only 5GB, so not all files can get there.

On Redmi 6A with firmware below MIUI 12, the Mi Cloud may not have a basket — check the software version in Settings → About Phone. If the cloud doesn't work, move on to the next way.

Method 4: Third-Party Applications for File Recovery

If standard methods don't work, you can use third-party utilities. 6A:

Instructions for DiskDigger:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Start the scan (select Basic or Complete).
3. Once completed, mark the files for recovery and click Restore.

⚠️ Warning: Do not install recovery applications on the same partition of memory where deleted files were stored.

Method 5: Manual recovery via PC (for power users)

If files are critical, you can try to recover them through your computer.

• 🖥️ PC Windows/Linux;
• 📱 USB-cable (preferably original);
• 🛠️ Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery or PhotoRec.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Redmi 6A to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Run a recovery program (such as Recuva).
3. Select the phone’s drive and start scanning.
4. After completion, save the recovered files to the PC.

⚠️ Warning: Do not save recovered files back to your phone - this may result in them being lost again.

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The faster you start recovering from deletion, the better the chances of returning files, and each new entry on the device reduces the likelihood of success.

How to set up a Recycle Bin on Redmi 6A so that files don’t disappear?

To avoid data loss in the future, set up the cart in advance:

1. In the gallery: turn on the cart in the settings and set a maximum shelf life (30 days).
2. In Mi Cloud: Activate automatic sync for photos and documents.
3. Third-party apps: Install Dumpster or Recycle Bin from Google Play.

Also useful:

• 📁 Make regular backups to your PC or external drive.
• 🔄 Use cloud services (Google Photos, Yandex Drive).
• 📱 Don’t just keep important files on your phone.

Redmi 6A with MIUI 12+ has a Safe Delete feature that offers confirmation before final erasure.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Xiaomi Redmi 6A users often face typical problems when working with the cart:

1. The cart doesn't show up in the gallery. Solution: Update the app or reset it (Settings → Apps → Gallery → Storage → Clear data).
2. Files disappear from the cart early. Solution: check the space on the device, when memory is scarce, the system automatically clears the cart.
3. You can't recover files from your PC. Solution: try another one. USB-cable or turn on Developer Mode and activate Debugging USB.

⚠️ Note: If you use a microSD card, the basket doesn't work on it - deleted files are erased immediately.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions