Where do deleted files go on Xiaomi Redmi 7: where to look for the basket and how to return data

You accidentally deleted an important file on Xiaomi Redmi 7 and now you can’t find a basket to recover it? This is a situation familiar to many users of Xiaomi smartphones — especially those who have switched from iPhones or devices on pure Android. The fact is that the shell MIUI (branded firmware Xiaomi) does not have the usual icon “Basket” on the desktop, and the mechanism for storing deleted files works differently than on other phones.

In this article, we will look at where the Redmi 7 bin is stored, how to get there through standard and third-party tools, and what to do if files are lost without recovery. You will learn about hidden folders, the features of MIUI 10/11/12 (depending on the firmware version of your device), and alternative ways to return data. It is important to understand that on the Redmi 7, the basket may behave differently than on new Xiaomi models – so the instructions for the Redmi Note 10 or POCO X3 will not work here.

Why Xiaomi Redmi 7 doesn’t have a standard basket

If you searched for a Recycle Bin icon on your desktop or app menu, but you never found it, it's not a bug or a breakdown. The fact is that MIUI for Redmi 7 (and many other Xiaomi budget models) doesn't implement the Recycle Bin as a standalone application, but as a temporary storage inside the file manager.

• 📁 Files deleted through the Gallery are placed in the gallery basket (stored for 30 days).
• 📄 Documents and other files erased through Explorer are sent to the file manager bin (storage period – 10 days).
• 🗑️ Files deleted through third-party apps (such as Google Photos) may not be accessed at all. MIUI-basket.

Also, on Redmi 7 with MIUI 10/11, the recycle bin is disabled by default to save memory, which means that files are deleted immediately, without recovery — unless you manually enabled the feature, and you can check this in the file manager settings.

⚠️ Note: If you delete files through ES A conductor or other third-party manager, they could have been erased irrevocably – these applications often ignore the system basket. MIUI.

Where is the basket in the gallery Xiaomi Redmi 7

Most users lose files because of the removal of photos and videos, and MIUI has a separate shopping cart inside the Gallery app to find it:

1. Open the Gallery app (an icon with colorful photos).
2. Tap on three points (⋮) top-right.
3. In the drop-down menu, select the basket item.

If you don't have a Recycle Bin, it's disabled. You can turn it on like this.

1. Go to the Gallery Settings (also through the ⋮).
2. Pick a basket. → Turn on the basket.
3. Set a storage period (maximum 60 days).

In the gallery basket, files are stored in compressed form, so they take up less space than the originals, but once the basket is cleaned or after the storage period expires, it will be impossible to restore them without specialized programs.

Check the filter by date (maybe the files have been deleted long ago)

Make sure the cart is included in the settings

Try to find files through a gallery search (magnifying glass icon)

Restart your phone – sometimes the cart is not displayed correctly-->

File Manager Recycle Bin: Where to Look for Deleted Documents

For all other files (documents, APKs, archives, etc.), MIUI has a separate basket inside the standard Explorer to open it:

1. Launch the Files app (folder icon).
2. In the bottom menu, select the basket tab (dumpster icon).
3. If there is no tab, then tap on ⋮ → Settings → Show the basket.

Here’s what the storage logic looks like:

If you don’t see the Recycle Bin tab even after you’ve enabled it in your settings, try updating the Files app via Google Play. On some versions of MIUI 10 for Redmi 7, the Recycle Bin may not be available due to firmware limitations.

Through the gallery

Through the file manager

Through third-party applications (ES Explorer, Google Photos)

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What to do if the cart is empty or the files are missing

If you have turned on the Recycle Bin, but no deleted files are there, the following reasons are possible:

• ⏳ Expired storage period (files are automatically cleared).
• 🧹 The basket was hand-cleaned.
• 🔄 Files were deleted through another app (e.g. Google Photos has its own shopping cart).
• 🛠️ On the phone was root or custom firmware, which turned off the system basket.

In these cases, try the following steps:

1. Check the Google Photos Recycle Bin (if sync has been enabled): open the application → Library → Recycle Bin.
2. Use PC Recovery: Connect your phone to your computer and scan the memory with programs like Recuva or DiskDigger.
3. Check backups: If Mi Cloud was enabled, files could be saved to the cloud.

⚠️ Warning: Do not install file recovery software on the phone itself, this can overwrite deleted data.

How to permanently delete files without passing the basket

If you want to erase files without recovery (like before selling your phone), standard deleting through the shopping cart isn't enough.

1. Through File Manager: Select files → Delete → Delete forever (do not send to the Recycle Bin).
2. Through phone settings: Go to Settings → Memory → Clear (this will remove cache and temporary files).
3. Through factory reset (the most reliable way): Settings → About phone → Reset. Choose Clear everything (including internal memory).

For complete cleaning, it is also recommended to encrypt the memory before resetting:

1. Go to Settings → Lock and Protection → Encrypt your phone.
2. Once encrypted, reset – this will make data recovery almost impossible.

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Before resetting to factory settings, remove the memory card (microSD) - otherwise it will also be formatted.

Frequent mistakes when working with the basket on Redmi 7

Many users have problems with how the MIUI cart works, and these are the most common mistakes:

• 🔄 Cleaning the Recycle Bin Without Verification: Users click “Clean Everything” without looking and lose files forever.
• ⏱️ Ignoring Storage Period: By default, the Recycle Bin stores files for only 10 days, after which they disappear.
• 📱 Removal through third-party applications: ES Explorer, Total Commander, and other managers often delete files without a shopping cart.
• 🔄 Disabling the Recycle Bin to Save Memory: This Leads to Permanently Deleting Files.

To avoid data loss:

• 🔧 Check the basket settings in the Gallery and Files regularly.
• 📤 Enable automatic sync with Mi Cloud or Google Photos.
• 💾 Periodically back up important files on your PC or external drive.

💡

The recycle bin in MIUI is not a guarantee of file security, but a temporary storage. Always duplicate important data to the cloud or to a physical medium.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About the Xiaomi Redmi 7