Where is the basket on smartphones Xiaomi Redmi: a complete guide to file recovery

You accidentally deleted an important photo or document on your Xiaomi Redmi and now you can’t find where the cart is stored? Unlike computers, Android smartphones don’t have a single system “junk” – it’s a role played by individual applications. In this article, we will analyze where to look for a shopping cart on Xiaomi Redmi depending on the type of files (photos, videos, documents) and the version of the MIUI firmware (from 12 to 15).

The main confusion is that smartphone makers (including Xiaomi) don’t use a universal shopping cart for all file types, such as photos from a gallery going to one temporary storage and files from a file manager going to another. Moreover, some versions of MIUI have the gallery cart turned off by default and require manual activation, and if you haven’t set it up in advance, the chances of file recovery are drastically reduced.

1.The basket in the standard gallery Xiaomi (photos and videos)

Most Redmi users lose files from the gallery — photos, screenshots or videos. In MIUI, the Gallery app, which has a built-in shopping cart, is responsible for this. However, it doesn't always work: if you delete a file through a file manager or a third-party application (for example, Google Photos), it can bypass this storage.

To find the basket in the gallery:

1. Open the Gallery app (an icon with colored squares).
2. Slip on three horizontal lines (menu) in the lower right corner.
3. Select the "Basket" item (Trash or urn icon).
4. This will show all the deleted files that can still be restored.

Important: By default, files are stored in the bin for 30 days, after which they are deleted irrevocably.

• 📁 Go to Gallery Settings → Basket → Storage period.
• ⏳ Choose the period: 15, 30, 60 days or "Never" (not recommended - the basket will be clogged with garbage).
• 🔄 If there is no option, update. MIUI last-minute.

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If the gallery basket is empty, check the DCIM/.thumbnails folder through the file manager – sometimes thumbnails of deleted photos remain there.

2.Recycle Bin in the file manager Mi File Explorer

For documents, archives, APK-Files and other data not associated with the gallery are used in the standard file manager "Files" (Mi File Explorer), which works differently than in the gallery: for example, there is no function to change the retention period, and files are deleted after 10 days.

How to open a basket in the file manager:

1. Launch the Files app (folder icon).
2. In the bottom menu, select the "Basket" tab (urn icon).
3. Click on the file and select “Restore” or “Delete Forever”.

Please note:

• 📄 The Recycle Bin in Mi File Explorer does not save files deleted through other applications (e.g. Google Files or Total Commander).
• 🗑️ If you cleared the cache or Files app data, the basket could reset.
• 🔍 Files deleted from SD-cards, do not fall into the basket - they are erased immediately.

The standard Mi File Explorer|Google Files|Total Commander|Other|I don't know.-->

3.Why don't the files get into the bin?

Even if you delete a file in the standard way, it may not end up in the bin.

If the file is not found in any basket, try using recovery software:

• 🛠️ DiskDigger scans internal memory for deleted files.
• 🔍 Recuva (requires root rights) - deep scanning.
• ☁️ Mi Cloud – Check for Automatic Photo Sync.

4. Google Photos Recycle Bin (if used)

Many Xiaomi Redmi users sync photos with Google Photos, in which case the deleted images end up in a separate Google shopping cart, rather than a system one, with a storage life of 60 days.

How to recover files from Google Photos:

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Slip on the profile avatar → “Basket”.
3. Select the files you need and click “Restore”.

Important:

⚠️ Note: If you have deleted a file from the Google Photos Recycle Bin manually or it has been there for more than 60 days, you can only restore it through Google Support (success is not guaranteed.

5 How to turn on the basket if it is not in the gallery

In some versions of MIUI (especially on Redmi budget models like Redmi 9A or Redmi Note 8), the gallery basket is disabled by default.

Open the Gallery annex»|Tap on three points (menu) → «Settings»|Find the item "Basket" and switch the switch to the position "On.»|Set a storage period (30 days recommended)-->

If the "Basket" item is not in the settings:

• 📱 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🔄 Install an alternative gallery (such as Simple Gallery) where the shopping cart is stable.
• 🛠️ Reset Gallery settings: Settings → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the data (Warning: This will remove all application settings!).

6. Alternative ways to recover files

If files are not found in the baskets, try these methods:

1. Verification of backups in Mi Cloud

• ☁️ Go to Settings. → Accounts. → Mi Cloud → gallery.
• 📷 Make sure that sync is enabled before deleting files.
• 🔙 Recover data from the cloud (if there is any).

2. Use of PCs and recovery software

Connect your phone to your computer and scan your internal memory using:

• 🖥️ EaseUS MobiSaver (Free version with limitations).
• 💻 Recuva (requires root or unlocked bootloader).
• 🔧 7-Data Recovery (paid but with a high recovery rate).

⚠️ Warning: Do not save recovered files back to your phone, as this can overwrite the remaining scraps of deleted data. Use the cloud, flash drive or PC.

3. Contact the service center

If files are critical (for example, single photos from an event), and self-recovery did not help, contact Xiaomi. they have specialized equipment to extract data from memory. The cost of the service is from 1,500 to 5 000 rubles depending on the complexity.

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The faster you start recovering, the better the chances of returning files, and each new record on your phone (photo, video, app installation) reduces the likelihood of success.

7. How to protect files from accidental deletion

To avoid data loss in the future, set up Xiaomi Redmi for these guidelines:

• 🔒 Enable synchronization with Mi Cloud: Settings → Accounts. → Mi Cloud → Gallery/Contacts → Free 5GB, that's enough for you. ~2,000 photos.
• 📁 Use two baskets: - Include the basket in the gallery (Gallery settings) → Recycle Bin. - Install Google Photos to duplicate backups.
• 🔄 Regularly copy important files to your PC: Connect your phone to USB file transfer (MTP) And copy the data to the hard drive.
• 🛡️ Install a backup app: For example, Swift Backup (requires root) or Titanium Backup.

Also avoid:

• ❌ Delete files through SD-map - they don't get in the basket.
• ❌ Cleaning the cache of the Gallery and Files applications without first checking the basket.
• ❌ Use functions like “Optimize” or “Rescue” in third-party utilities – they often delete files irretrievably.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the cart on Xiaomi Redmi