Where is the basket on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro and how to use it

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is one of the most popular mid-range smartphones, but even its owners sometimes face basic questions: where do deleted files go and where to look for a basket on this device? Unlike computers where the basket is always in sight, on Android gadgets (including the Redmi Note 8 Pro), the storage system for remote content works differently.

In this article, we will discuss where the Recycle Bin on the Redmi Note 8 Pro is physically located, how to get there through standard and third-party applications, as well as what to do if files disappear without the possibility of recovery. MIUI — Xiaomi’s proprietary shell, which affects the logic of data deletion.

Spoiler: There's no cart on pure Android, but MIUI has one -- not everywhere, though -- and then you'll see which Redmi Note 8 Pro apps support temporary storage of remote and where files are erased forever.

Recycle Bin in MIUI: Where It Is Hidden and How It Works

Xiaomi's proprietary MIUI shell adds a shopping cart feature to Android, but only for certain file types. It's important to understand that it's not universal storage for everything remote, but separate "junk buckets" in different applications.

• 📁 File manager MIUI: There's a basket here, but it only works for files deleted through this app. If you delete photos through a gallery, they won't be in the file manager bin.
• 🖼️ Gallery: a separate photo and video basket, with its own shelf life (default - 30 days).
• 📄 Notes and documents: Xiaomi’s Notes app also has its own shopping cart, but it clears automatically after 7 days.
• ❌ Google apps: Google Photos, Google Drive and other Google services have their own shopping carts that are not related to the Google Drive. MIUI.

Critical nuance: the Recycle Bin in MIUI does not protect against complete deletion of files when resetting settings or formatting memory. If you perform Hard Reset through Settings → About Phone → Reset, all the contents of the Recycle Bin (including uncleaned files) will be erased irrevocably.

It's also worth remembering that the cart takes up space in the device's memory. For example, if you delete 5GB of photos, they'll stay in the gallery cart and take up those same 5GB until manual cleaning or storage expires. This is important for the Redmi Note 8 Pro, where memory is often limited to 64 or 128GB.

How to find a basket in the file manager MIUI

The standard file manager on Redmi Note 8 Pro (the Yellow Folder Icon File App) has a built-in basket, but it's hidden from direct access.

1. Launch the Files app.
2. Slip on three horizontal lines (☰) top-left.
3. In the side menu, select the basket item (dumpster icon).
4. You will see a list of files deleted through this manager in the last 30 days.

In the file manager basket, you can:

• 🔄 Recover files: select the necessary ones, click Restore at the bottom of the screen.
• 🗑️ Clean Everything: Clean the Recycle Bin Button Will Delete Files Forever.
• ⏳ View deadlines: next to each file, it is indicated how many days are left before automatic deletion.

Important: The Recycle Bin in the MIUI file manager does not save files deleted through:

• 📷 Gallery app (it has its own basket).
• 🎵 Music players (e.g. Mi Music).
• 📥 Downloads from the browser (if you delete directly in Chrome or Mi Browser).

Check if the storage period has expired (30 days)

Make sure the file is deleted through the MIUI file manager

Try to recover via PC (programs like Recuva)

Check the free space on the device (may block recovery)-->

Recycle Bin in the Gallery: How to Recover Deleted Photos and Videos

The Gallery app on the Redmi Note 8 Pro has its own shopping cart that works independently of the file manager.

• 📸 Photos removed through the gallery.
• 🎥 Videos erased from albums.
• 🖌️ Screenshots and images deleted through viewers MIUI.

To open the gallery basket:

1. Launch the Gallery app (an icon with multi-colored squares).
2. Tap on three points (⋮) top-right.
3. Select the basket in the drop-down menu.
4. A list of deleted media files will open before you, indicating the days before the final deletion.

By default, files are stored in the gallery basket for 30 days, after which they are deleted automatically.

• 🔙 Recover selected files (button at the bottom of the screen).
• 🧹 Clean up everything (remove it forever).
• ⏰ Change the storage period: for this go to the Gallery Settings → Cart and select a period (from 1 to 60 days).

Warning: If you use Google Photos as your primary repository, the photos you delete will be taken to the Google Photos Recycle Bin, not MIUI. To recover them, you need to open the Google Photos app, go to the Library → Recycle Bin and recover them from there.

Recycle Bin in other MIUI applications: notes, notes, contacts

In addition to the file manager and gallery, the baskets are in other standard applications of the Redmi Note 8 Pro. Let’s take a closer look at them:

Note that the baskets in these apps are not synchronized with each other. For example, if you delete a photo through a gallery and then a note with that photo through the Notes app, they will be placed in different baskets with different shelf life.

Tip: If you often work with important data, set up automatic sync with Mi Cloud (Settings → Mi Account → Sync).This will not replace the cart, but will create a backup that can be restored even after cleaning the cart.

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To quickly find all the carts on the Redmi Note 8 Pro, use a search system: swipe down the home screen, type the word “basket” into the search bar and select the desired application from the results.

What to do if the cart is empty and the files are gone

The situation when files are gone and the basket is empty, is familiar to many users of the Redmi Note 8 Pro.

• 🗑️ Files were not deleted through standard applications. MIUI (for example, through ES Conductor or Total Commander).
• ⏳ More than 30 days have passed since the removal (autocleaning).
• 🔄 You performed a reset or cache clearing through Settings → Warehouse.
• 🛠️ The phone has root rights and the cart was manually disabled.

In such cases, try the following steps:

1. Check out cloud storage: 🌥️ Mi Cloud: Settings → Mi Account → Cloud. ☁️ Google Drive or Google Photos (if sync is enabled).
2. Use a PC to recover: Connect the Redmi Note 8 Pro to your computer via USB (in File Transfer mode). Run a data recovery program (e.g., Recuva, EaseUS MobiSaver). Scan internal memory and microSD card (if any).

Check the hidden folders:

In the file manager, enable the display of hidden files:


Settings (⚙️) → Show hidden files

Sometimes deleted files remain in folders like.trash or.recycle.

Warning: If you have already written new data to your phone after deleting files (for example, taking new photos or installing apps), the chances of recovery drop dramatically.

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If files are critical, disconnect your phone from the Internet immediately and don't save anything new. Each memory record reduces your chances of recovery.

How to Disable or Configure the Recycle Bin on Redmi Note 8 Pro

By default, the Recycle Bin in MIUI is enabled, but you can turn it off or change settings. For example, if you don't need a temporary folder for deleted files, you can save disk space. Here's how to do this:

For the file manager:

1. Open the files. → tap on three lines (☰).
2. Select Settings (⚙️) → Basket.
3. Turn off the switch Use the basket.

After that, all files will be deleted forever, without the possibility of recovery.

For the gallery:

1. Open the gallery. → three-point (⋮) → Settings.
2. Pick the basket.
3. Here we can: 🔄 Change the shelf life (from 1 to 60 days). 🚫 Disable the Recycle Bin completely (files will be deleted immediately).

For the record:

In the application Notes, the basket cannot be turned off, but you can reduce the storage period to 1 day:

1. Open your notes. → menu (☰) → Settings.
2. Select the Recycle Bin → Shelf life.
3. Set a minimum value.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling the Recycle Bin in the gallery or file manager will make deleting files irreversible. If you accidentally erase an important document, it will be impossible to restore it without specialized programs.

Frequent Mistakes and Myths About Xiaomi Cart

There are many myths around the basket on the Redmi Note 8 Pro.

• 🚫 Myth 1: “The Recycle Bin is in All Apps” MIUI." Reality: The shopping cart is only available in standard Xiaomi applications (Files, Gallery, Notes, etc.). Third-party programs (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram) have their own deletion mechanisms.
• 🚫 Myth 2: "Files in the bin don't take up space." Reality: Deleted files stay in the phone's memory until the cart is cleaned. For example, if you erased 2 GB of video, they will take up those 2 GB until manually cleaned or expired.
• 🚫 Myth 3: "The Recycle Bin restores files after resetting." Reality: With Hard Reset, the Recycle Bin is cleaned with all the data. The only way to return files after a reset is to back up in the cloud.
• 🚫 Myth 4: "The basket works the same for all Xiaomi." Reality: The logic of the basket depends on the version. MIUI. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro with MIUI 12+ Gallery basket stores files for 30 days, and on older versions only 15.

⚠️ Note: If you upgraded the Redmi Note 8 Pro from the old version MIUI If you're new, your shopping cart settings may have reset. Check them after you update to avoid data loss.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About the Recycle Bin on the Redmi Note 8 Pro