Where is the basket on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro: the full guide

When you delete files on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro, many users are faced with the question: where do they go and can they be restored? Unlike computers where the basket is a separate folder on the desktop, on Android smartphones (including Xiaomi models), the storage system for deleted files works differently. In this article, we will analyze exactly where the shopping cart on the Redmi Note 9 Pro is, how to get there and what to do if the files are gone forever.

It’s important to understand that Android devices don’t have a single shopping cart for all file types, and instead, each service — whether it’s a Gallery, a File Manager, or a cloud storage service — implements its own system for temporarily storing deleted data, and we’ll take a closer look at all the options, including hidden folders, system settings, and third-party apps that can help you recover lost data.

Why Android doesn’t have a single shopping cart like a PC

Android didn’t initially have a centralized shopping cart for several reasons: First, smartphones have historically had limited storage, and permanently backing up deleted files could fill up memory quickly; and second, Google and manufacturers like Xiaomi have relied on cloud services (like Google Photos or Mi Cloud) where deleted data is stored for a limited time.

However, modern versions of MIUI (Miwaii firmware) have built-in temporary storage mechanisms for some types of files, such as:

• 📷 Gallery: Deleted photos and videos are stored for 30 days.
• 📄 File Manager: Supports a Recycle Bin for Documents and Archives.
• ☁️ Mi Cloud: Synced files can be restored within 15-60 days.

So what this means is that the answer to where is the cart depends on which file you deleted, and then we'll go through each case separately.

Recycle Bin in the Gallery: how to recover photos and videos

If you delete a photo or video through the standard Gallery app on Redmi Note 9 Pro, the files don't disappear immediately, they go to a hidden bin folder where they are stored exactly 30 days (unless they were manually deleted earlier) to return them:

1. Open the Gallery app (an icon with colored squares).
2. Slip on three horizontal lines (☰) top-right.
3. Select Recycle Bin (or recently deleted in some versions of MIUI).
4. Click on the file, then select Restore.

Please note that if you delete files through Google Photos, they will be in the Recycle Bin (available through the Recycle Bin menu in the side menu) and there is also a 30 day storage period, but the amount is limited – if the space in the cloud runs out, the files can be deleted earlier.

Make sure the file has not been deleted more than 30 days ago.|

Check the free space on the device (required for recovery)|

Connect to Wi-Fi if you are recovering from the cloud|

Close all background applications to speed up the process-->

Recycle Bin in File Manager: Working with Documents

For documents, archives (.zip,.rar), upk files and other types of data, MIUI has a separate basket in the File Manager to find it:

1. Open the Files app (folder icon).
2. Go to the Category tab in the lower menu.
3. Scroll down and select the basket.
4. A long click on the file will open the context menu with the Recover option.

Important nuances:

• 🔄 Recovered files are returned to the original folder from which they were deleted.
• ⏳ Shelf life in the basket is 10 days (as opposed to 30 days in the Gallery).
• 🚫 Files deleted through root rights or third-party managers (such as Solid Explorer) are not included in the Recycle Bin.

💡

If the Recycle Bin in the File Manager is empty but you are sure you have deleted files, check the application settings: perhaps the Recycle Bin function is disabled. Go to Files → Settings → Recycle Bin and turn on the option.

Mi Cloud Recycle Bin: Recovering Synchronized Data

If your Redmi Note 9 Pro is synced to Mi Cloud, deleted files can be stored in the cloud basket.

• 📱 Contacts and notes (retained for 60 days).
• 📷 Photo and video (if autosynchronization was enabled).
• 📄 Documents from Mi Drive applications or WPS Office.

To recover data from Mi Cloud:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account.
2. Select Mi Cloud and log in if required.
3. Go to the Recycle Bin (or Deleted Files) section.
4. Mark the files you need and click Restore.

⚠️ Note: The volume of the cloud cart is limited by your Mi Cloud tariff. If you use a free account (5 GB), files older than 15 days can be automatically deleted to free up space.

What to do if the Recycle Bin is empty: ways to recover deleted files

If you don't find the files in the recycle bin, it doesn't always mean they're lost forever. Here are a few ways to get them back:

1. Check backups: 🔍 B Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset see when the last copy was created. ☁️ If you have synced with Google Drive, check the Backup folder.

Use third-party utilities:

Applications like DiskDigger, Dumpster, or Recuva (for PCs) can scan a device’s memory for deleted files, and note that deep scanning requires root rights.

Please contact the service center:

If files are critically important (such as work documents or family photos), specialists can extract them using professional equipment, which costs from 1500 rubles.

⚠️ Warning: The more active you use your smartphone after deleting files, the lower your chances of recovering them. New data overwrites old ones, so at the first sign of file loss, you should start looking immediately.

How to permanently delete files without passing the basket

If you need to permanently erase your data (like before selling your phone), standard deleting through the cart isn't enough.

1. For photo/video: In the Gallery, go to the Recycle Bin, select files and click Delete Forever (or Clear the Recycle Bin).
2. For documents: In File Manager, long press on the file → Delete without the basket.
3. For complete cleanup: Use Safe Delete in applications like CCleaner or SD Maid. They rewrite data by zeros, making recovery impossible.

For maximum privacy, do the following before selling your phone:

1. Turn off sync with Mi Cloud and Google.
2. Delete all accounts in Settings → Accounts.
3. Make a reset to factory settings (Settings → About phone → Reset settings).
4. Fill your phone’s memory with unnecessary files (like videos), then delete them – this will overwrite the old data.

To avoid data loss, regularly check your carts in key apps and set up automatic backups to the cloud. For example, in Google Photos, you can enable Backup and Sync, which will save all photos and videos to the cloud before you delete them locally.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions