Where in the smartphone Xiaomi to look for a basket with deleted files: a full guide to MIUI

You accidentally deleted an important file on Xiaomi and now you panic about where the cart is stored? Or just want to figure out how the MIUI data deletion system works? Unlike Windows or macOS, where the cart is always in sight, in Xiaomi smartphones (especially on newer versions of firmware), this mechanism is hidden deeper — and does not always work as expected. In this article, we will not only show you where exactly to look for deleted files, but also explain why they sometimes disappear irrevocably, how to set up automatic backup and what to do if the basket is empty.

We warn you right away: the behavior of the shopping cart in Xiaomi depends on three factors: the version of MIUI (12, 13, 14 or 15), the type of deleted file (photos, videos, documents) and the method of deleting (via a gallery, file manager or third-party application). For example, files deleted through Google Photos fall into the shopping cart of this application, not the system.

Related: Xiaomi’s Recycle Bin: Where It Hides in MIUI 12-15

In the latest versions of MIUI (starting with 12), the Recycle Bin is integrated into the standard File Manager application, but not available for all data types.

1. Open the Files app (the icon with the folder on the home screen or in the application menu).
2. In the bottom menu, tap on the Categories section (or MIUI 14+ Review).
3. Scroll down to the Recycle Bin icon, and if it's not there, it means the Recycle Bin is disabled or the files are deleted forever.

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 15 (2026) The cart is hidden by default to save space.To activate it, go to Settings → Warehouse → Recycle Bin and enable the option Save deleted files. Without this, all deletions will be final!

The recycle bin stores files for 30 days (by default), then automatically clears. You can change the time frame in the storage settings, but remember: the longer the storage period, the more space the recycle bin takes up on internal memory.

How to recover files from Xiaomi shopping cart

If you find deleted files in the Recycle Bin, it will take a few seconds to recover them:

1. Open the basket in the Files app (instruction above).
2. Select the desired files with a long tap or tick next to them.
3. Press the Restore button at the bottom of the screen.
4. Select the folder to save (by default - the original directory).

🔹 Important nuances:

• 📁 Files are restored with the original names, but if the folder already has a file with that name, the system will add a suffix recovered.
• 🕒 Recovery takes time if there are many files – don’t interrupt the process.
• 🚫 If there is an error “Not enough space” during the recovery, free up the memory or select another drive (for example, SD-map).

If the Restore button is inactive, check:

• 🔒 Is there any restriction on the file (for example, DRM-protection for music or video).
• 📱 Is there enough space in the memory of the smartphone (minimum 10% of free space is required).
• 🔄 Is the system currently being updated (during the update) MIUI basket locked).

Why the basket is empty: 5 reasons and solutions

You opened the cart and it's empty -- but remember exactly what you deleted. What's the matter? Here are the most common reasons and ways to eliminate them:

Critical information: In MIUI 14+, the Recycle Bin does not save files deleted through File Explorer in Root mode. If you used this method, the data is deleted permanently without the possibility of recovery through standard means.

Cart for photo and video: features of work

Photos and videos in Xiaomi are deleted by different rules than regular files, depending on which application you used:

• 📷 Standard Gallery MIUI: Deleted photos are in the Gallery app basket, not the system. → Albums. → Recycle bin (dumpster icon in upper right corner) 30 days shelf life.
• 🌐 Google Photos: Files are deleted in the Google account basket, accessible via the web version or app.
• 🔄 Sync with Mi Cloud: If backup is enabled, photos are stored in the cloud even after being deleted from the device. → gallery → Basket.

⚠️ Note: If you delete the photo directly from SD-The cards (via the file manager) are not in the cart and are permanently deleted, due to Android's restrictions on external drives.

To avoid losing photos:

1. Enable autosynchronization with Mi Cloud or Google Photos.
2. Export important photos to your PC or external drive periodically.
3. Use the Removal Protection feature in the MIUI Gallery (available for selected albums).

💡

If you frequently delete photos by mistake, set up the "Delete Confirmation" option in the MIUI Gallery. Go to the Gallery → Settings → Confirm Deletion and turn on the switch.

How to recover files if the basket is empty: 3 working methods

If the standard shopping cart didn't work, don't despair. Here are three proven data recovery methods on Xiaomi that work even after cleaning the shopping cart:

1. Deep scanning programs (without root)

To recover deleted files without superuser rights, the following are suitable:

• 📱 DiskDigger (there is a free version with restrictions).
• 💾 Recuva (works when connecting a smartphone to a PC in drive mode).
• 🔍 EaseUS MobiSaver (paid but with high recovery percentage).

Instructions for DiskDigger:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Select the type of files to search for (photos, videos, documents).
3. Start a full scan (may take a few hours).
4. View the files found and save them to another medium.

2.Restore from Mi Cloud backup

If you have backup enabled in Mi Cloud:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud → Backup.
2. Select the last copy and click Restore.
3. Specify the types of data to recover (contacts, photos, notes, etc.).

🔹 Important: Recovery from the backup will overwrite the current data on the phone.

3. Connect to PC and use of professional tools

For the maximum chances of recovery:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your computer in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Use R-Studio or TestDisk to scan your internal memory.
3. Export the found files to the PC.

⚠️ Note: Do not save recovered files back to your smartphone – this can overwrite the remaining data and reduce the chances of recovering other files.

💡

The faster you start recovering from deletion, the better the chances of returning files, and each new record to the disk (installing apps, taking photos) reduces the likelihood of success.

How to set up a cart in Xiaomi for maximum security

To avoid data loss in the future, set up your cart and backup beforehand:

1. Turn on the Recycle Bin for all file types: Go to Settings → Storage → Recycle Bin. Activate the option Save deleted files. Set a retention period (recommended 60 days).
2. Set up automatic backup: In Mi Cloud, enable sync for Gallery, Contacts and Notes. In Google Photos, activate Backup and Sync.
3. Use Accidental Deletion Protection: In the gallery, enable Deletion Confirmation. For important files, create a separate folder with a password (for example, through the Protected folder in MIUI).

📌 Useful tip: Regularly (once a month) check the contents of the cart and clear unnecessary files. This will free up space and speed up the smartphone. For convenience, use sorting by deletion date: the oldest files will be at the bottom of the list.

Frequent Mistakes and Myths About the Xiaomi Cart

There are many myths around the basket in Xiaomi.

• 🚫 Myth 1: "The basket is in all Xiaomi smartphones." Reality: In budget models (e.g. Redmi) 9A POCO C31) The basket may be disabled by default due to limited memory.
• 🚫 Myth 2: "Deleted files can be recovered at any time." Reality: Once the trash is cleaned or the storage period expires, the data is physically deleted from memory.
• 🚫 Myth 3: “The basket works for the SD-Reality: The basket MIUI It only works with internal memory. SD-cards, erased forever.
• 🚫 Myth 4: "Shaping a smartphone doesn't affect the cart." Reality: When resetting to the factory settings, the basket is completely cleaned. The same thing happens when you flash it over the Fastboot.

🔍 Expert advice: If you often work with important files, install a third-party file manager with an extended basket, such as Solid Explorer or a file manager with a special file manager. FX File Explorer: They allow you to customize the rules for storing remote data.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions