Recycle Bin in Xiaomi Phone: Where to Look for Deleted Files and How to Return Them

You accidentally deleted an important photo, video or document on a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone — and now you don’t know where to look for a shopping cart? Unlike a computer where deleted files fall into a single Recycle Bin folder, on Android (and especially on MIUI firmware), the garbage storage system works differently. In this article, we will analyze where the shopping cart is stored on Xiaomi, how to get there, and what to do if files are lost without the possibility of recovery.

Not all Xiaomi apps use a shopping cart, for example, the standard MIUI File Manager deletes data irrevocably, but Gallery, Google Photos or Notes can save copies for 30-60 days. It is also important to consider the firmware version: in MIUI 12-14, the logic of the shopping cart has changed compared to earlier versions. If you use a smartphone older than 2019, some methods may not work.

To avoid wasting time on useless actions, first determine which application you used to delete the file, which depends on where to look for the basket and how to recover data. Below is a detailed guide with step-by-step instructions, compatibility tables and life hacks for different scenarios.

1.Basket in the standard Xiaomi Gallery (MIUI Gallery)

If you delete a photo or video through the Gallery app, the chances of recovery are maximum. Xiaomi stores deleted media files in a hidden folder /.miui/album/recycle, but access is organized through the application interface.

1. Open the Gallery app (not to be confused with Google Photos!).
2. Slip three points in the top right corner (or swipe right to left if you have gesture control).
3. Select the option “Basket” (on some versions of MIUI – “Recently deleted”).
4. Click on the file you want to return and select Restore.

Important: files are stored in the bin for 30 days (some models have 60), and then they are deleted permanently. If you don't see the Recycle Bin item on the menu, then:

• 📱 You use Google Photos instead of the standard Gallery (see Section 2).
• 🔧 The function is disabled in the settings (how to enable - read below).
• 🗑️ You deleted files through the File Manager (there is no basket there!).

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If the Gallery does not have a Recycle Bin item, try updating the app via Google Play or clearing its cache in the settings (Settings → Apps → Gallery → Storage → Clear Cache).

2. Recycle Bin in Google Photos: How to recover deleted photos

Many Xiaomi users default to Google Photos instead of the standard Gallery, in which case the deleted photos are placed in the Google Photo Recycle Bin, which is stored for 60 days, to return them:

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Slip on the profile avatar in the upper right corner.
3. Choose "Basket."
4. Click on the file and select “Restore”.

Features of the Google cart Photos:

• 🔄 Files sync to the cloud: if you delete a photo on your phone, it will disappear on other devices.
• 📅 The storage period is 60 days (as opposed to 30 days in the Gallery). MIUI).
• 🚫 If you delete a photo from your cart or it has been there for more than 60 days, you can only restore it through Google backups (if they were enabled).

If you delete a photo before you connect to your Google account, the Google Photos Recycle Bin will be empty, in which case, look for files in the standard MIUI Gallery (Section 1).

3. Where is the Recycle Bin in Xiaomi File Manager (and why isn’t it)

This is the most frustrating part: the standard MIUI File Manager does not have a recycle bin, and all files deleted through it are permanently erased (unless they have been previously synced to the cloud).

• 📁 If you delete a file from an external memory card (SD), It can be restored via PC with programs like Recuva or DiskDigger (but the faster the better!).
• ☁️ If you have Mi Cloud sync enabled, check the Deleted Files section in the web version (more in Section 5).
• 🔍 For internal memory, the chances are minimal: MIUI use TRIM (A storage optimization team that physically erases data.

Critical information: If you deleted files through File Manager and didn’t use cloud backups, you can only recover them within the first 24 hours — and then with specialized software on your PC.

Turn off Wi-Fi/mobile data immediately (to prevent cloud sync from starting)

Do not write new files to your phone (this will overwrite deleted data)

Connect your phone to your PC and use a recovery program (Recuva, EaseUS)

Check the Mi Cloud for backups-->

4.Basket in other Xiaomi apps: Notes, Music, Records

Not only do Gallery and Google Photos have a shopping cart, but in MIUI, some standard applications also store deleted data for a certain period of time.

For Notes, the shopping cart is only available if you're logged in to Mi. Without authorization, deleted notes are erased immediately to recover:

1. Open Notes.
2. Slip three lines in the top left corner.
3. Choose "Basket."
4. Click on the note and select "Restore".

5. How to recover files via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

If your Xiaomi has Mi Cloud sync enabled, the chances of returning deleted files are higher. Xiaomi's cloud stores backups of photos, contacts, notes, and even some documents to check:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select the Gallery or Files section (depending on the type of deleted content).
3. Check the folder “Recently deleted” or “Recently deleted”.
4. If you have files, click “Restore”.

The limitations of Mi Cloud:

• 📸 Photos are stored in the cart for 30 days (as in the standard Gallery).
• 📄 Documents and notes - up to 60 days.
• 🔒 If you are not logged in to Mi Account on your phone, the cloud does not back up your phone.
• 📶 Internet access is required for recovery (files are downloaded again).

⚠️ Note: If you delete files before registering with Mi Cloud or disable sync, you can’t restore them through the cloud).

6. Recover deleted files via PC (if the basket is empty)

If files were permanently deleted (for example, through File Manager or after cleaning the basket), then the last chance is to use specialized software on the computer.

• 🖥️ Recuva (free, simple, suitable for beginners).
• 🛠️ DiskDigger (there is an Android version, but it is better to use a PC).
• 💾 EaseUS Data Recovery (paid but with high recovery percentage).
• 📱 GT Recovery (for recovery directly on the phone, but requires root rights).

Step-by-step instructions for Recuva:

1. Install Recuva on PC (you can download from the official website ccleaner.com).
2. Connect Xiaomi to your computer via USB (select File Transfer Mode).
3. Run Recuva and select the file type (such as “Images” or “Documents”).
4. Specify your phone’s drive (usually a removable drive with a letter like E:).
5. Click "Analysis" and wait for the scan to be completed.
6. Mark the files you need and click “Restore”.

⚠️ Note: Do not save recovered files back to your phone - this may overwrite the remaining data. Use another drive (for example, on a PC or external drive). SSD).

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The faster you start recovering from your PC, the better the chances of returning files. Each new record on your phone (photos, videos, updates) reduces the likelihood of success by 20 to 30 percent.

7. How to turn on the basket in the Xiaomi Gallery, if it is not

On some Xiaomi models (especially custom firmware or older MIUI versions), the shopping cart in the Gallery can be disabled to activate it:

1. Open the Gallery.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings.
3. Find the item “Basket” or “Deleted files”.
4. Activate the “Save Deleted Files” switch.
5. Set a shelf life (usually available for 30 or 60 days).

If the “Basket” item is not in the settings, try:

• 🔄 Update the Gallery app through Google Play.
• 📲 Install an alternative gallery (e.g. Simple Gallery or Google Photos).
• 🔧 Reset the Gallery settings (Settings) → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the data).

For MIUI 12 firmware and later: if the basket doesn't appear even after you turn it on, check if the feature in MIUI Lab is disabled.

Settings → About phone → MIUI version (shap 5 times in a row)

FAQ: Frequent questions about the cart on Xiaomi