Where to look for deleted files on Xiaomi Redmi: hidden folders, shopping cart MIUI recovery

You accidentally deleted important photos, documents or videos on your Xiaomi Redmi and now you don't know where to look for them? Unlike computers where files first end up in the Recycle Bin, on Android devices, the mechanism for storing deleted data works differently. MIUI (Xiaomi’s proprietary shell has built-in tools for temporary storage of erased files – you just need to know where to look.

In this article, we will analyze all possible places where deleted files on Redmi can be located: from the standard shopping cart. MIUI You will also learn how to recover data using built-in smartphone features and when to resort to third-party programs. We will pay special attention to the nuances of working with different types of files (photos, videos, documents) and explain why some data cannot be restored.

Before you start searching, remember that files deleted through apps (such as Telegram or WhatsApp) are stored in their own shopping carts – they can’t be found in Android system folders. Also, the chances of recovery depend on how long it has been since you deleted and whether you used your smartphone after that (new data can overwrite old ones).

1. MIUI Recycle Bin: The First Place to Find Deleted Files

Starting with MIUI 12, Xiaomi added a built-in shopping cart to the firmware, similar to that found on Windows or macOS. It automatically saves deleted files for 30 days (by default), after which they are irrevocably erased.

Basket MIUI It only works for files deleted through Xiaomi’s standard apps: File Manager, Gallery, and Records (for audio, ES Explorer or Google Photos, they will end up in their own storage — or be deleted immediately.

• 📁 How to open the basket MIUI:
• 🔹 Open the Files app (Folder icon on the desktop).
• 🔹 In the bottom menu, tap on the basket (dumpster icon).
• 🔹 All deleted files grouped by types: Images, Videos, Audio, Documents will be displayed here.
• 🔹 To recover, select the files you need and click Restore at the bottom of the screen.

If the button is not on the menu, it means:

• ❌ You've got an old version. MIUI (Update the firmware to Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• ❌ Recycle bin disabled in settings. To enable: Files → ⋮ (three-point) → Settings → Basket → Turn on.
• ❌ Files were deleted via another application (not standard).

⚠️ Attention: Basket MIUI does not save files deleted through Explorer (for example, when connecting your phone to a PC); it also does not work for data from folders Android/data and Android/obb — their contents are erased immediately.

2. Hidden Android folders: where "invisible" deleted files are stored

Android (and) MIUI In particular, it creates several hidden folders where traces of deleted data may remain, these directories are not displayed in a standard Explorer, but can be accessed through root Explorer or special applications (for example, FX File Explorer).

The main hidden folders where you should look for deleted files:

To see the hidden folders:

1. Install FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer from Google Play.
2. In the application settings, enable the option to Show hidden files.
3. Cross the path. /storage/emulated/0/ and look for folders that start with a dot (e.g..trash).

⚠️ Attention: the lost.dir folder contains snippets of data that Android could not process correctly. Files here are often corrupted and may not open. Do not delete its contents manually - this can lead to system failures.

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If you often work with hidden files, add a path to the guide bookmarks. /storage/emulated/0/ — This way you can quickly move to the root directory without any extra clicks.

3. Recovery through Google Photos and other cloud services

If your Redmi enabled sync with Google Photos, Mi Cloud or other cloud services, deleted files could be saved in their shopping carts, such as Google Photos storing deleted photos and videos for 60 days, and Mi Cloud storing 30 days.

How to check cloud carts:

• 📷 Google Photo:
• 🔹 Open the Google Photos app.
• 🔹 Slip on the profile avatar. → Basket.
• 🔹 Select files and press Restore.
• ☁️ Mi Cloud:
• 🔹 Go to Settings. → Accounts. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
• 🔹 Select Gallery or Files → Basket.
• 🔹 Restore the data you need (it will return to the original folders).

Cloud services are the most reliable way to recover, as files are stored on remote servers and do not depend on the memory status of the phone.

• 🔸 Files deleted before connecting your account to the cloud will not be in the basket.
• 🔸 Mi Cloud only reserves photos and contacts by default. For other file types, you need to enable manual synchronization.
• 🔸 If you disabled autoboot in Google Photos, files may not have gone to the cloud.

4. Specialized applications for data recovery

If the files are not našlis or in the basket MIUI, But in the cloud, there's a last chance that we can use recovery software to scan the internal memory of the phone and look for traces of deleted data:

• 🕒 Time: The less has passed since the removal, the higher the chances.
• 📱 Phone usage: New files (photos, app installation) overwrite old data.
• 🔧 Root rights: Without them, programs only see part of the memory.

Top.-3 Recovery apps on Xiaomi Redmi:

Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger:

Download DiskDigger from Google Play

Launch the app and select Start basic scanning

Select the types of files to search for (photos, videos, documents)

Wait until the scan is finished (may take 10-30 minutes)

View the files you find and save them to a safe place (not on your phone!)

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Important: Don't save the recovered files back to your phone, which can overwrite the remaining data. Use the cloud, PC, or external drive.

⚠️ Note: Recovery apps often show files with damaged headers (such as photos without extension or videos without sound.

5 Why some files cannot be restored

Not all deleted data is recoverable, but here are the main reasons why files can be lost permanently:

• 🗑️ Cleaning the basket: If you manually cleaned the basket MIUI or cloud service, files are deleted immediately.
• 🔄 Data overwriting: New photos, app installations, or system updates can overwrite memory sectors where old files were stored.
• 🛠️ Formatting: Resetting settings (Settings) → Additionally. → Resetting) or formatting a memory card erases data without recovery.
• 🔒 Encryption: On some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi) K50 Pro) hardware encryption enabled, which makes recovery almost impossible without root.
• 🗃️ System Files: Data from folders /data or /system (For example, save games) are deleted immediately and do not fall into the basket.

Also consider the type of file system:

• 🔹 FAT32 (on SD-Maps: The chances of recovery are higher, as the system does not overwrite the tags of deleted files immediately.
• 🔹 ext4/f2fs (Internal memory: Uses journaling, which makes recovery more difficult.

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If the file was deleted more than 30 days ago and the phone was actively used, the chances of recovery are close to zero, in such cases only a backup (if it was created in advance) will help.

6. How to prevent future data loss

The best way to combat file loss is to prevent it, and here are some proven methods to help you avoid unpleasant situations on Xiaomi Redmi:

• ☁️ Automatic synchronization:
• 🔹 Enable autoload in Google Photos (Settings) → Backup and synchronization).
• 🔹 Set up reservations in Mi Cloud (Settings) → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Gallery/Files).
• 💾 Local backups:
• 🔹 Regularly copy important files to your PC or external drive via a computer. MTP (data transfer mode when connecting USB).
• 🔹 Use apps like Swift Backup to take snapshots of system data.
• 📁 Recycle bin settings MIUI:
• 🔹 Increase the storage period of files to the maximum: Files → ⋮ → Settings → Basket → Storage period (up to 60 days).
• 🔹 Turn off automatic cleaning: Settings → Warehouse → Cleanup → Autocleaning (off).

For owners of Redmi root-rights there are additional options:

• 🔹 Install Titanium Backup to backup applications and their data.
• 🔹 Set up Tasker to automatically copy important folders to the cloud.

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Create a shortcut for the folder on the desktop DCIM/Camera — This will allow you to quickly check new photos and copy them to a safe place.

7. Frequent errors in file recovery

Many Xiaomi Redmi users make the same mistakes that reduce the chances of recovery to zero.

• 🚫 Continue to use your phone: Every new photo, app installed or browser cache can overwrite deleted files.
• 🚫 Install recovery programs on the phone: This creates new files in memory.
• 🚫 Formatting a memory card: Even if SD-Do not read the card, do not format it – try to connect to another device.
• 🚫 Use unofficial firmware: Flashing your phone (like LineageOS) almost always erases data.
• 🚫 Restore files on top of old ones: Save the recovered data to a different medium, not the same folder.

Typical failure scenario:

1. The user deletes the photos.
2. They still take new photos (they rewrite old data).
3. After a week, he remembers deleting and tries to restore the files, but they are no longer there.

⚠️ Note: If you delete files from an encrypted memory card (for example, after setting a password to the computer). SD In Settings → Storage, you can only restore them on the same device with the same password, transferring the card to another phone or resetting the settings will make the data inaccessible.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions