Where in Xiaomi Redmi 4X is the Recycle Bin - and how to recover deleted files

The Xiaomi Redmi 4X is one of the most popular budget smartphones of 2017 and is still used by many users. However, its MIUI 8/9 (or custom build) firmware has file management features that make finding a remote data basket difficult as on modern devices. Unlike the new Xiaomi models, where the basket is integrated into the Files app, the Redmi 4X is located depending on the software version and services used.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to find a cart on Redmi. 4X, including embedded tools MIUI, You will also learn how to recover files if they were permanently deleted, and why some data may not be included in the basket at all. SD-The maps that often cause confusion.

Why is the Redmi 4X not a regular cart?

Many users, when switching from modern smartphones to Redmi 4X, find that the usual icon “Baskbasket” in the File Manager app simply does not exist.

• 📱 Version. MIUI: On the Redmi. 4X box-mounted MIUI 8 (or) MIUI 9 after updates), where the cart function was implemented differently than in newer versions, MIUI 10+) The Recycle Bin is part of the standard file manager.
• 🔄 No Automatic Backup: In Older Versions MIUI Deleted files did not always fall into the recycle bin – it depended on the method of deleting (via a gallery, guide or third-party application).
• ☁️ Mi Cloud binding: Some files (such as gallery photos) could be sent to the Mi Cloud cloud cart if sync was enabled.
• 🛠️ Castom firmware: If the device has an unofficial firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the basket may be missing or work according to other rules.

It's important to understand that Redmi 4X doesn't have a universal storage for all file types, for example, documents uploaded through a browser and photos from a gallery can be deleted in different scenarios, and we'll go through each case separately.

Where to look for a basket in a standard file manager?

If your Redmi 4X has the original MIUI 8/9 firmware installed, try the following steps:

1. Open the Files app (the blue-background folder icon).
2. In the bottom menu, select Categories (or Categories in English).
3. Scroll down the list – if there is a basket, it will be called a Trash or Recycle Bin.

If there is no “basket” section, it means:

• 🔹 Your version. MIUI Does not support this function (relevant to the earliest builds).
• 🔹 The cart is disabled in the settings (see the next section).
• 🔹 The files were deleted not through a standard Explorer, but through another application (for example, a gallery or a file manager from Google).

Some firmwares have the basket hidden by default, so you can turn it on.

1. Go to Settings → Additional settings → File Manager.
2. Find the Recycle Bin option and activate the switch.
3. After that, the corresponding section will appear in the Files app.

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If you don’t have File Manager in your settings, try resetting the Files app through Settings → Apps → Application Management → Files → Storage → Clear Data. This can bring back hidden features.

Recycle Bin in the Gallery: How to Recover Photos and Videos

Photos and videos on Redmi 4X are often deleted through a standard Gallery rather than a file manager, in which case files can be taken to the Mi Cloud cloud basket or to the local gallery basket (if enabled).

To check out the local gallery basket:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner (menu).
3. Select the Trash or Recently Deleted.
4. If you have files, select them and click Restore.

The files in the gallery basket are stored for 30 days, and then they are deleted irrevocably.

• 📸 Gallery settings: go to Gallery settings → Recycle bin and turn on the function.
• ☁️ Mi Cloud: If sync was enabled, files could be left to the cloud (see next section).
• 🗑️ Third-party apps: If you used Google Photos or another manager, the shopping cart could be there.

Cloud cart Mi Cloud: recovery through the account Xiaomi

If Redmi 4X was enabled to sync with Mi Cloud, deleted photos, contacts and notes could be saved to the cloud bin to recover them:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account.
2. Choose Mi Cloud.
3. Scroll down and find the Trash section.
4. Select files and click Restore.

Pay attention to the following nuances:

• 🕒 Storage period: files are stored in the cloud for 60 days (as opposed to 30 days in the local shopping cart).
• 📧 Limit on volume: Free account Mi Cloud only provides 5GB, so old files can be deleted automatically.
• 🔒 Authorization: To access the shopping cart, you need to be logged in to the same Xiaomi account that was tied when deleting files.

If there are no files in the cloud cart but sync has been enabled, try recovering them via the web version of Mi Cloud:

1. Go to i.mi.com.
2. Sign in with your Xiaomi account.
3. Select the basket section in the side menu.

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The Mi Cloud cloud cart is the only way to recover files if they have been deleted from a device on which the device has been completely cleaned or reset.

Third-party applications for file recovery

If the built-in MIUI baskets didn't help, you can use third-party tools. The following applications work well on the Redmi 4X:

When using third-party applications, consider:

• 🔍 Deep scanning can take a lot of time and battery power.
• 🔐 Root rights: Some programs (such as DiskDigger) require root to recover files from system partitions.
• 💾 SD-card: if the files were on an external drive, connect it to the PC to scan.

⚠️ Warning: Do not install file recovery applications on the same partition of memory you are trying to recover data from, which can overwrite deleted files and make it impossible to recover them.

What if the Recycle Bin is empty or files are deleted permanently?

If you don't find files in any of the bins, it doesn't mean you can't recover them. Here's what you can try:

1. Check backups: 📱 B Settings → Additional settings → Backup and reset look at when the last reservation was. ☁️ In Google Drive or Mi Cloud, check for automatic backups.

Use the PC.

Connect Redmi 4X to your computer in file transfer (MTP) mode and scan the memory with programs like Recuva or EaseUS Data Recovery.

Check the app cache

Some files (such as those from messengers) may remain in the cache. Go to Settings → Applications → [App Name] → Memory → Cache.

If nothing helps, pay attention to the following points:

• 🕳️ Files may have been deleted by a cleaner (e.g., Xiaomi's Clean Master or Security) and check the cleanup history in these applications.
• 🔄 After resetting the settings, file recovery is almost impossible without specialized services.
• 📵 Files from SD-Cards are sometimes easier to recover than internal memory, as they are not overwritten by system processes.

⚠️ Note: If you used the Cleanup of all data in the reset settings, the chances of file recovery are minimal, in which case only professional software (for example, professional software) will help, UFS Explorer) or contacting a service center.

How to set up a cart on Redmi 4X for the future?

To avoid file loss, set up your cart and backup in advance:

1. Enable the Recycle Bin in MIUI: Go to Settings → Additional Settings → File Manager → Recycle Bin and activate the function. Set a shelf life (for example, 30 days).
2. Set up Mi Cloud: In Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud enable sync for Gallery, Contacts and Notes.
3. Install Third-Party Recycle Bin: Apps like Dumpster or ES Explorer (with the Recycle Bin enabled) will help control file deletion.
4. Create backups regularly: Use Settings → Additional settings → Backup and Reset → Local Backup or Cloud Services.

We also recommend:

• 📁 Separate files by folder: for example, create separate folders for photos, documents and downloads, so it's easier to track what's been deleted.
• 🔄 Periodically clean the basket so that it does not overflow and slow down the device.
• 📱 Don’t just store important files on your phone – duplicate them on your PC or cloud.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the cart on the Redmi 4X