Recycle Bin in Xiaomi Redmi 6: where to look for deleted files and how to restore them

Why can’t users find the cart on Redmi 6 – and where is it really?

Xiaomi Redmi 6 is still a popular budget device, but its owners often face the same problem: where is the basket, where do deleted files go? Unlike modern flagships with MIUI 12+, in this model (released in 2018), the implementation of the basket has features – it simply does not exist in its usual form.

The fact is that MIUI 9 and MIUI 10 (which were installed on Redmi 6 out of the box) don't have the shopping cart as a separate application, instead, deleted files are temporarily stored in internal folders of system applications, such as a gallery or file manager, with a limited storage period (usually 30 days, after which the data is deleted irrevocably), if you are looking for a basket similar to a computer or new smartphones, it's not here, but this does not mean that files disappear forever immediately after clicking "Delean".

In this article, we will discuss:

• 📂 Where are deleted files stored in Redmi 6 (and why you can’t see them on the menu)
• ⏳ How to extend the storage period of files in the “hidden” basket
• 🔄 Alternative ways to recover data if the standard method fails
• ☁️ How to set up automatic backup so you don’t lose important files

Where is the basket in the standard gallery Xiaomi Redmi 6

The main place where deleted photos and videos are temporarily stored is the built-in MIUI gallery to find the shopping cart:

1. Open the Gallery app (icon with multi-colored squares).
2. Slip on three horizontal lines (☰) top-right.
3. In the drop-down menu, select the Recycle Bin (or recently deleted in some firmware versions).

Here you can see all the files that have been deleted in the last 30 days.

• 🔄 Restore (click on the file) → «Restore»)
• 🗑️ Delete permanently (select files) → «Delete»)
• 📅 Sort by date (slip on the calendar icon in the upper right corner)

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If the “Basket” item is not in the gallery menu, update the application through the Play Store or check the settings in Settings → Apps → Gallery → Permissions (should be included “Storage” and “Camera”).

⚠️ Note: If you delete files not through the gallery (for example, through a file manager or a third-party application), they will not get into this basket.

Recycle Bin in the file manager Mi File Explorer: where to look for deleted documents

For files deleted through the standard file manager Mi File Explorer, there is a separate storage system, unlike the gallery, here the basket is called Recently Deleted and hidden deeper:

1. Open the Files app (folder icon).
2. Go to the Categories section (bottom of the screen).
3. Scroll down and select Recently Deleted.

This section stores:

• 📄 Deleted documents (.doc,.pdf,.xls)
• 🎵 Audio files (.mp3,.wav)
• 📁 Folders and archives (.zip,.rar)
• 🎮 Game saving (if stored in internal memory)

⚠️ Note: Download files are permanently deleted, they don't end up in any of the bins. ES Conductor or other third-party managers.

How to increase the storage time of files in the Redmi 6 basket

By default, MIUI only stores deleted files for 15-30 days (depending on the type), but this period can be extended by:

1. Install a third-party application to manage the cart (for example, Dumpster or Recycle Bin from the Play Store).
2. Set up automatic sync with Mi Cloud or Google Drive.
3. Manually transfer important files to the cloud before deleting.

Instructions for Dumpster:

• 📥 Download and install the app from the Play Store.
• ⚙️ Run it and allow access to the storage.
• 🔄 In the settings, select Enable the Recycle Bin and set a shelf life (up to 90 days).
• 📁 All deleted files will now be sent to Dumpster, where they can be recovered after 3 months.

Install application |Allow access to memory |Enable the basket in settings | Set a storage period of 90 days | Check work (delete the test file)

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⚠️ Note: Apps like Dumpster only work with files that are deleted after they're installed. If you delete something before, you can't restore them.

What to do if files are not in the Recycle Bin: 3 ways to recover

If you don’t find deleted files in standard MIUI baskets, try these methods:

1. Computer Recovery (without root)

Connect Redmi 6 to your PC via USB-You can use a cable, and you can use programs like Recuva, DiskDigger, or EaseUS MobiSaver, which scan the internal memory and find deleted files, even if the recycle bin is cleaned.

2. Verify backups in Mi Cloud

If the smartphone was enabled synchronization with the Mi Cloud:

• 🌐 Go to i.mi.com.
• 🔑 Sign in with the same account as on your phone.
• 📂 Check Gallery, Notes and Contacts sections – there may be saved copies.

3. Use of root access (for experienced users)

If you have root rights, you can use apps like Root Explorer and manually scan folders:

/data/.trash


/data/media/0/.trash

Sometimes they have “shadow” copies of deleted files.

How to set up automatic backup so you don’t lose data

To avoid looking for a cart or recovering files in the future, set up automatic backups. Redmi 6 can do this in two ways:

1. via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
• ☁️ Enable synchronization for Gallery, Contacts and Notes.
• 🔄 Install Autosynchronization over Wi-Fi.

The cloud provides 5GB of free storage, which is enough for the most important files.

2. via Google Photos

• 📷 Install Google Photos from the Play Store.
• ☁️ In the settings, enable backup and synchronization.
• 📶 Choose Quality. → High (free unlimited storage).

All photos and videos will be automatically uploaded to the cloud and will remain available even after being deleted from your phone.

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It takes 5-10 minutes to set up a backup, but saves hours on data recovery in the future. Even if you delete a file by mistake, a copy of it will remain in the cloud.

Frequent mistakes when working with the basket on Redmi 6

Users often face these problems:

1. The basket won't open -- usually meaning there are no files in it. Delete something test-like (like a screenshot) and check again.
2. Files disappear from the bin early, which happens if the memory on the phone is less than 10%, and free up space, and the storage period will be restored.
3. You can't restore files to a memory card -- MIUI only restores files to internal memory. You can manually transfer them after recovery.

⚠️ Note: If you use two of these SIM-The card and the memory card at the same time, the basket can be unstable. MIUI 9/10 — Try to get one out of the SIM-maps before file recovery.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions about the cart in Redmi 6