How to find a shopping cart on Xiaomi Redmi 9: where to look for deleted files and how to restore them

Have you accidentally deleted an important file on Xiaomi Redmi 9 and now you can’t find a basket to recover it? or just want to figure out how the remote data storage system in MIUI works? This problem is familiar to many users of Xiaomi smartphones — especially those who have switched from iPhones or devices on pure Android, where the basket is always in plain sight.

Unlike computers or some other smartphones, Redmi 9 does not display the shopping cart as a separate application on the desktop, and its location and functionality depend on which file you deleted: a photo, video, document or data from the messenger. In this article, we will discuss all possible scenarios in detail, from the standard basket in the gallery to hidden folders of the system, and also tell you how to return the deleted one if too much time has passed.

We warn you beforehand that not all files fall into the basket automatically. For example, deleted messages from WhatsApp or Telegram can not be restored using standard MIUI tools - this will require third-party utilities. While photos, videos and some documents can still be saved if you act quickly. Next, step-by-step instructions taking into account all the nuances of the Xiaomi Redmi 9 firmware.

1.Where is the basket in the Redmi 9 Gallery

The most common question users ask is how to find a photo and video basket, which is built into the standard Gallery app at MIUI, but not always visible. Here's how to open it:

1. Launch the Gallery app** (an icon with colorful photos).
2. In the lower right corner, tap the Albums icon** (three horizontal stripes).
3. Scroll down the list and there will be a Recycle Bin folder (or Trash in English).
4. Click on it to see all deleted files in the last 30 days.

Important: If you can't see the Recycle Bin folder, check the settings of the gallery, sometimes it's hidden because the backup function is disabled.

• 📌 In the gallery, click on three dots in the upper right corner. → Settings.
• 📌 Find the Recycle Bin section and make sure the slider Include the Recycle Bin is active.
• 📌 If you don’t have an option, update the Gallery app via Google Play.

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If the recycle bin is empty but you're sure you've deleted files recently, try restarting your phone. Sometimes MIUI doesn't immediately display changes to the folder.

The files in the gallery basket are stored for 30 days, and then they are deleted permanently to recover a photo or video:

1. Open the basket in the gallery.
2. Select the files you want (stamp and hold your finger on one of them).
3. Click Restore in the bottom panel.

Is the gallery open | Is there a basket folder in the albums | Is the basket function enabled in the settings | Have you tried rebooting your phone-->

2. File basket (documents, APKs, archives)

So, the photos are sorted out, but what if you delete a.pdf document, a.zip archive, or a.apk installation file? It's getting harder: MIUI doesn't have a universal recycle bin for all file types, but there are two ways to get it back:

Method 1: File Manager Recovery

Xiaomi’s standard file manager (Files) does not have a built-in recycle bin, but supports the “Recent” feature, where you can find traces of deleted data.

1. Open the Files app** (folder icon).
2. Go to the Category section → Recent.
3. Check if deleted files are displayed there (sometimes they remain on the list for several days).

If the file is not in “Recent”, try searching by name:

• 🔍 Slip on the magnifying glass in the upper right corner.
• 🔍 Enter the file name (for example, contract.pdf).
• 🔍 If the system finds it in the cache, a recovery option will appear.

Method 2: Using third-party utilities

If the standard methods don't work, you'll have to go with third-party apps.

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The Dumpster side of an application only works if it was installed before you delete files, and if you delete data earlier, it won't help.

Warning: Avoid programs that promise to restore one-click without root rights, often fraudulent utilities that display ads or collect data instead of restoring files.

3.Why the files don't get into the bin

Many Redmi 9 users have a problem: they deleted a file and it is not in the cart.

• 🗑️ Removal through third-party applications (e.g, ES Conductor or Total Commander – they bypass the system basket.
• ⏳ Expired storage period (30 days for gallery, 7-15 days for some files).
• 🔄 Cleaning the cache or application data (for example, after resetting settings).
• 📱 Remove from memory card – files with microSD do not always fall into the basket.
• 🔧 Disabled Recycle Bin function in settings (see Section 1).

If you deleted the file through Google Photos, check the cart in this application:

1. Open Google Photos.
2. Slip on the profile avatar. → Basket.
3. Restore the files you need (retention period is 60 days).

Another common mistake is to manually clean the bin, and many users, without understanding the purpose of the folder, delete the contents through the file manager, and if you do that, the chances of recovery drop dramatically.

4. How to turn on the Recycle Bin for all files (via MIUI Optimization)

MIUI 12/13/14 firmware has a hidden feature to extend the basket's capabilities.

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the line of the MIUI version to enable the developer mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Find the MIUI Optimization option and turn it off.
5. Reboot the phone.

After that:

• 📁 The file manager will have a.trash folder (hidden).
• 🔄 It will not only contain media files, but also some documents.
• ⚠️ Attention: offline MIUI Optimization can cause some functions to function unstable (e.g. navigation gestures).

To get it back, just turn on MIUI Optimization again and restart the device.

Yeah, and I couldn't get it back |Yes, but I managed to get it back |No, I always do backups |I don't remember-->

5. basket in messengers and social networks

Deleted messages, photos or videos from WhatsApp, Telegram or VK do not enter the MIUI system basket.

Importantly, on WhatsApp, the shopping cart only works for messages you deleted for yourself, so if you erased a message for everyone, you can't restore it.

Telegram is better off, with deleted files remaining in a secret Saved Messages chat in the Remote folder to be returned:

1. Open Telegram and go to Saved Messages.
2. Scroll down and find the Remote Messages section.
3. Slip on the message and select Restore.

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In VK and Instagram, the shopping cart is only available in mobile apps; in web versions, these features may not be available.

6. How to permanently delete files from the Recycle Bin (without recovery)

If you want to completely erase data without any chance of recovery (for example, before selling your phone), standard deleting from the cart is not enough. Files remain in memory and can be restored by special programs, to ensure that they are destroyed:

Method 1: Use of Safe Mode

Download your phone in Safe Mode and delete files from there:

1. Press the power button → hold off Turn off until the window Go to Safe Mode.
2. Confirm the reset.
3. In Safe Mode, open the Recycle Bin and delete the files.
4. Reboot the phone back.

Method 2: Data overwriting

For complete erasure:

• 🔄 Fill your phone’s memory with junk files (such as large videos).
• 🗑️ Delete them – it will overwrite the memory sectors where the old data was stored.
• 📱 Make reset to factory settings (Settings) → The phone. → Reset).

⚠️ Note: even after the reset, you can recover the data with professional equipment. If you need to securely delete sensitive information (for example, before selling a phone), use specialized utilities like iShredder.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When you're using the Redmi 9 basket, you often make the same mistakes, and here are the most common ones:

• 🚫 Deleting the Recycle Bin through a file manager – a.trash folder or a Recycle Bin may seem unnecessary, but cleaning it leads to irretrievable file loss.
• 🔄 Ignoring backup copies — MIUI It offers to automatically save photos to Google Photos or Mi Cloud, but many people turn off this feature.
• ⏳ Delayed recovery – the longer a file is in the bin, the higher the chance it will be overwritten with new data.
• 📱 Use of informal firmware - custom ROM (For example, LineageOS may not support the cart MIUI.

To minimize the risks:

Check the “Basket” folder regularly in the gallery|Do not clean the app cache manually|Enable autosynchronization with Mi Cloud|Install a third-party cart (such as Dumpster) in advance|Before important operations (reset, firmware) do a backup-->

If you often work with important files, consider using cloud storage:

• 🌥️ Mi Cloud (5GB) is free for Xiaomi users).
• 🌥️ Google Drive (15GB free).
• 🌥️ Yandex Disk (10GB free).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions