Where is the Recycle Bin in Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus: search for deleted files and data recovery

Why can’t users find a cart in Redmi 5 Plus?

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus (codenamed Vince, release – December 2017) is still a popular budget smartphone, but its owners often face one problem: the system does not have the usual “basket” as on a computer or in modern Android smartphones. Unlike the new Xiaomi models with the MIUI 12+ firmware, where the basket is integrated into the Files application, Redmi 5 Plus (with MIUI 9/10) the mechanism of working with deleted files is fundamentally different.

The thing is, older versions of MIUI don't have a cart as such, and instead, files are deleted immediately, but some applications (like a gallery or a file manager) can temporarily store data in hidden folders, and to find deleted files, you need to know where to look for them, and that's where the problems begin. Next, we'll look at all the possible scenarios, from standard tools to third-party solutions.

It’s important to understand that if you deleted a file through Explorer or a third-party file manager (such as ES File Explorer), the chances of recovery without special programs are minimal, but photos, videos and documents deleted through standard Xiaomi applications can still be returned — more details in the next sections.

Standard shopping cart in the application "Gallery" Redmi 5 Plus

The only place where Redmi 5 Plus has something like a basket is the Gallery app (or Photos, depending on the MIUI version), where deleted photos and videos are stored for 30 days before final erasure, to find this folder:

1. Open the Gallery app (icon with multi-colored squares).
2. Slip on three horizontal lines (menu) in the upper left corner.
3. Select the Recycle Bin (or recently deleted in some firmware).
4. Click on the file and select Restore.

If the item is not on the menu, it means:

• 📱 You use a third-party gallery (such as Google Photos) where the shopping cart operates under different rules.
• 🔄 The firmware has been changed (castom) MIUI or LineageOS), and the function is disabled.
• ⚙️ Backup is disabled in the gallery settings (check in Settings) → Cloud and accounts).

Please note that only media files (photos, videos, screenshots) are stored in the gallery basket, APK-The files and other data are not included. They will require alternative recovery methods, which we'll talk about later.

Search for deleted files through the Files app

The standard Files (or Explorer) application in Redmi 5 Plus doesn't have a built-in Recycle Bin, but you can find hidden folders where some deleted data is temporarily moved.

1. Open Files (Blue folder icon)
2. Go to the Category section → Recently deleted (if any).
3. If there is no partition, tap on the three dots in the upper right corner → Settings → turn on the option to Show hidden files.
4. Manually check folders: /storage/emulated/0/.trash (hidden basket of some applications) /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.gallery/cache (galleries cache)

Enable the display of hidden files in the Explorer settings |

Check the.trash folder in the root directory |

View the gallery cache along the way /Android/data/com.miui.gallery|

Install a third-party file manager (such as Solid Explorer) for deep scanning-->

If you find files in these folders, you can copy them to another location (for example, to a memory card or to the cloud), but remember: the data is stored here for a short time - usually from 1 to 7 days, after which it is automatically cleared by the system.

⚠️ Note: Do not try to restore files from cache or temp folders - they may be corrupted).

Recovery of deleted data with third-party programs

If files are not found in standard folders, there are two options: use recovery software or connect your smartphone to your PC. The following tools are suitable for Redmi 5 Plus:

Instructions for DiskDigger (the easiest way without a PC):

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Start and select Basic Scan (without root rights).
3. Mark the file types (e.g. JPG, PNG, MP4).
4. Click Scan and wait for the results.
5. Select the files you need and click Restore (save to the memory card).

For recovery via PC (e.g. with Recuva):

1. Connect Redmi 5 Plus to your computer in file transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Start Recuva and select the smartphone drive.
3. Specify the file types and start scanning.
4. Once completed, mark the files for recovery and save them to the PC.

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If you restore files to a memory card, format it first (save the data to the PC), which will increase the chances of successful recovery, since new files will not overwrite old ones.

What to do if the basket is completely missing?

If your Redmi 5 Plus doesn’t have a shopping cart in either the gallery or the conductor, it could be due to:

• 📉 An outdated version MIUI (below 9.5) – Update the firmware through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🔧 Custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience) – these baskets are often disabled.
• ⚠️ Application malfunction – try to clear the gallery and conductor cache in Settings → Annexes.

Decisions:

1. Update MIUI to the latest available version for Redmi 5 Plus (maximum – MIUI 11 based on Android 8.1).
2. Install an alternative gallery (like Google Photos) that has a 60-day shopping cart.
3. Use cloud services (Mi Cloud, Google Drive) to automatically back up.

⚠️ Note: If you use custom firmware, the recovery of the basket may require reflashing on the official MIUI. This will reset all data, so pre-return backup through TWRP or Mi PC Suite.

How can we prevent data loss in the future?

To avoid searching for a cart after each deletion, set up automatic backup:

• 📁 Mi Cloud: Go to Settings → Mi Account. → Mi Cloud and enable sync for Gallery, Contacts and Notes.
• ☁️ Google Photos: Install the app and enable Backup and Sync in Settings.
• 💾 Local Copying: Regularly transfer important files to a memory card or external drive.

Also useful:

• Install a file manager with a basket (for example, Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
• Use cleaning applications (such as CCleaner) that offer confirmation before being removed.
• Set up Accidental Deletion Protection in the Gallery (if available in your version of MIUI).

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Even with backup enabled, don’t store important data in just one place. Use the 3-2-1:3 rule of copying data on 2 different media, 1 of which is the cloud.

Frequent mistakes when searching for a cart in Redmi 5 Plus

Users often make the following mistakes:

1. Confused with the archive basket: the Download or Archives folder is not related to deleted files.
2. Searching for a basket in the “Rubbish”: MIUI does not have a folder with this name – use the recently deleted.
3. Delete files via PC: when you connect to the computer files are erased irrevocably (bypassing the basket of the smartphone).
4. Cloud-based copies are ignored: even if the file is not on the phone, it could have been saved to Mi Cloud or Google Photos.

If you deleted the file and can’t find it, check first:

1. The Remote Gallery (Recently Deleted)
2. Hidden folders in the conductor (.trash, cache).
3. Cloud services (Mi Cloud, Google Drive)
4. DCIM/.thumbnails folder – sometimes thumbnails of photos are saved here even after the originals have been deleted.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions