Where is the basket in Xiaomi devices: smartphones, tablets and TVs

When you delete files on Xiaomi devices, many users are faced with the problem of "Where to look for the cart?". Unlike Windows or macOS, where the folder with deleted files is always in plain sight, in the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem, everything is different. The basket can be hidden in non-obvious menu sections, and on some devices it is not at all by default.

In this article, we will look at all possible locations of the basket on Xiaomi smartphones, tablets and TVs, including hidden features and alternative ways to restore files. Particular attention will be paid to the differences between firmware versions and models - for example, on Redmi Note 12, the path to the basket is different from the Xiaomi 13 Ultra. Also, we will find out how to turn on the basket if it is not available, and what to do if files are lost without recovery.

If you delete a document, a photo, or a video, and you panic, don't rush to use third-party software. 80 percent of the time, files are still in the system's shopping cart, you just need to know where to look, and let's start with the most common scenario, MIUI and HyperOS smartphones.

1. basket on Xiaomi smartphones: where to look in MIUI and HyperOS

On most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, the shopping cart is built into the standard Files app, but its location depends on the firmware version:

• 📱 MIUI 12–14: The basket is in the Category section → Recycle bin (dumpster icon in the bottom menu).
• 🆕 HyperOS 1.0+: The way has changed – now you need to open files. → ⋮ (three-point) → Basket.
• ⚠️ Old versions (MIUI 11 and below: Recycle bins may not be at all – deleted files are erased immediately.

To check if the cart is on your device:

1. Open the Files app (the folder icon on the desktop).
2. Scroll down to the Warehouse or Category section.
3. Look for the icon. 🗑️ with the signature "Basket" (in some models it is hidden under the button) ⋮ → Basket).

If the Recycle Bin doesn't exist, it doesn't mean that the files are permanently deleted. In HyperOS and newer versions of MIUI, it can be disabled by default to activate it:

Settings → Storage → Additional → Cart → Include

⚠️ Note: On root-access devices, the recycle bin may not work due to changes in the system folders, in which case you can only restore files through the system. TWRP programs like DiskDigger.

Open the Files app

Check the "Category" or "Storage" section

Press three points (⋮) top-right

Find the item "Baskbasket" (icon) 🗑️)

If not, turn it on in the storage settings.-->

2. Features of the basket on different models Xiaomi

The manufacturer often changes the layout of functions depending on the series of devices.

On devices below MIUI 12, the recycle bin is not available by default, but it can be emulated through third-party file managers (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Manager) that create their own folder for deleted files.

Another nuance is the shelf life: in HyperOS, files are stored in the bin for up to 30 days, and in MIUI 14 for Redmi, only 15 days, and then they are deleted automatically.

1. Open the Settings → Storage → Recycle Bin.
2. Select the item "Cleaning the basket" and set the desired interval (from 1 to 30 days).

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If you frequently delete files by mistake, set a maximum storage period (30 days) in the shopping cart settings, which will give you more time to recover.

3.Basket on Xiaomi TVs (MIUI TV)

On Xiaomi Mi TV and Redmi Smart TV, the shopping cart works differently than on smartphones, where it is tied to a media player and is only available for files deleted through the standard File Manager app (not to be confused with Gallery).

To find a basket on TV:

1. Open the File Manager (the folder icon in the main menu).
2. Select the "Local Storage" section or "USB-drive" (if the files were on the flash drive).
3. Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select "Basket".

Important limitations:

• 📺 The bin only works for the TV's internal memory. USB-drive or network disk, cannot be restored.
• ⏳ Storage period: 7 days (cannot be changed).
• 🚫 Photos / videos deleted through the Gallery do not fall into the basket - they are erased immediately.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi TVs with firmware below MIUI TV 3.0 (released before 2020) is missing, in which case the file recovery will require the TV to be connected to the PC via the PC. ADB or use specialized utilities.

4.Why isn't the shopping cart on your Xiaomi device?

If you did not find the cart in the sections mentioned, the reasons may be as follows:

• 🔄 Outdated firmware: On MIUI No basket 11 or lower, so the solution is to upgrade to MIUI 12+ or hyperos.
• 📵 Disabled function: In the storage settings, the basket can be deactivated. Check the path: Settings → Warehouse → Additionally. → Basket.
• 🛠️ Custom firmware: On devices with LineageOS, Pixel Experience, or other custom OS, the basket works differently (or is missing).
• 📱 Supportless model: Some budget models (e.g. Redmi) A1 or POCO C50) lack a built-in basket.

If you cannot update your firmware, use alternative recovery methods:

1. Third-party file managers: Solid Explorer or FX File Manager create their own shopping cart.
2. Backups: Check if automatic backup is included in Settings → Google → Backup.
3. Recovery software: DiskDigger, Recuva (requires root or PC connection).

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On devices without a shopping cart, the only reliable way to return files is to back up regularly to the cloud (Mi Cloud, Google Drive) or on a PC.

5. How to recover files from Xiaomi Recycle Bin

Finding the cart is half the battle, and now we'll figure out how to recover deleted files without losing them.

On smartphones:

1. Open the basket in the Files app.
2. Select the files you want (you can use the "Select All" function).
3. Click Restore and specify the folder to save (such as Downloads or Documents).

On TVs:

1. In File Manager, go to the basket.
2. Select files and click "Restore" (they will return to the original folder).
3. If the files were on USB-Replace the storage device before resetting it.

Important nuances:

• 🔄 Recovered files replace existing files with the same name. If the folder already has a photo.jpg file, it will be overwritten.
• 📂 Folders are restored without nested structure, for example, if the basket was a Vacation folder./2023/Photos, after recovery, all files will be in one folder Vacation.
• 🚫 You can’t restore files that were deleted more than a month ago (even if the shopping cart wasn’t cleaned).

⚠️ Note: If there is an error “Not enough space” when recovering files, free up the device memory or restore files to an external drive (USB-flash-drive SD-map).

6. Hidden functions of the basket: what he can, but does not show

The Xiaomi cart has some non-obvious features that are not mentioned in the official instructions:

• 🔍 Search by file type: You can filter files in the Recycle Bin by extension (for example, only.jpg or.mp4). To do this, click on the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner.
• 🗑️ Selective cleaning: You can delete individual files from the bin without cleaning it completely. To do this, select unnecessary files and click "Delete Forever".
• 📤 Export to PC: Connect the device to the computer via MTP And copy the files from the folder. /storage/emulated/0/.trash (Debugging mode required).
• 🔄 Automatic redundancy: In HyperOS, the Recycle Bin can sync with Mi Cloud. To enable this feature, go to Settings → Accounts. → Mi Cloud → Synchronization → Basket.

Another secret is the hidden folder of the basket in the file system, so if you're using root access or ADB, you can manually view the contents along the way:

/data/user_de/0/com.android.providers.media/documents/trash

Note: deleted files cannot be recovered from this device – they are erased from the device forever.

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To speed up your search for files in the shopping cart, use voice input: open the cart, click on the microphone in the search bar, and say the file name (for example, “passport scan”).

7.What to do if the basket is empty and the files are missing?

If you are sure that the files were recently deleted, but the shopping cart is empty, check the following points:

1. Check another account: Multiple profiles (e.g., main and guest) can be set up on the device. Each profile has a different shopping cart.
2. Search in the cloud: Files could automatically sync to Mi Cloud or Google Photos. Check the recently deleted folder in these services.
3. Disk Scanner: Use programs like DiskDigger (for Android) or TestDisk (for PC) to look for traces of deleted files even without the Recycle Bin.
4. Check the external drives: If the files were on SD-card USB-flash drive, basket TV or smartphone does not save them.

If files have been deleted from an external drive (such as a TV flash drive), try restoring them to your PC:

1. Connect the drive to the computer.
2. Use Recuva or R-Studio to scan.
3. Select the Deep Scan mode, which will increase your chances of recovery.

⚠️ Warning: Do not save recovered files to the same drive from which they were deleted! this can lead to overwriting of data and irretrievable loss.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)