Many users of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, who are used to the interface of computer operating systems, often look for the usual folder “Basket” in the file manager. However, the Android architecture is different: there is no single system storage for all deleted data, as in Windows. This is often confusing when, after accidentally deleting an important document or photo, the user can not find it for recovery.
In the MIUI ecosystem and the new HyperOS, the concept of remote files is implemented through intermediary applications. Gallery, File Manager and Contacts have their own isolated repositories for temporarily deleted content. Understanding where to look for a lifeline for your data depends on which type of files were erased. In this article, we will take a closer look at all possible places where your deleted information may be hiding.
The principle of file removal in MIUI and HyperOS
Android doesn't delete files instantly and irrevocably, as it might seem at first glance. Instead, the file tag is labeled as free space, but the data itself stays on the disk until it's overwritten with new information. In Xiaomi shells, this process is visualized through temporary storage in special application sections, which gives the user a chance to correct the error, but only for a limited time.
It's important to understand that there's no single system basket where everything from text messages to heavy video goes. Remote objects in standard Xiaomi applications are typically kept for exactly 30 days, after which they disappear permanently. Some services, like Google Photos or the Mi Cloud, may have their own sync and storage rules that differ from the local settings of the phone.
⚠️ Note: If you format internal memory or have done a full reset (Wipe All Data), local copies in the basket will be destroyed without the possibility of recovery by standard methods.
Different applications handle deletion differently, for example, when you delete an application through Settings, its data can be erased immediately, bypassing the temporary storage stage, while media files deleted through a standard conductor often end up in the clipboard of the conductor itself, so you need to search point-by-point, depending on the type of file you lose.
Search for deleted photos and videos in the Gallery
The most common data loss scenario is accidental deletion of photos. The standard Gallery app on Xiaomi smartphones has a full-fledged analog of the cart. To get there, you need to open the app and go to the Album tab. Scroll down the album list, where you will find a folder called Deleted or Recently Deleted.
Inside this folder, you can store all the photos and videos that have been erased in the last 30 days, and you can select one or more files, click Restore, and they'll go back to their original albums, and if the 30-day deadline expires, the system will automatically clear that storage, and the files will be considered lost forever.
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For quick access to deleted photos in the Xiaomi Gallery, you can use the search for “deleted” in the top search bar inside the application.
It is worth noting that if you have Mi Cloud or Google Photos enabled, deleted files on your device can be saved to the cloud. Check the web version of the cloud service, as remote objects may have different storage times than the local settings of the phone.
Recovery of documents in the File Manager
If you have deleted a document, an APK installation file or an archive, you should search for it in the File Manager system application (folder icon). The interface of this application also contains a section for temporary storage of deleted data. Open the application, click on the three-bar menu in the upper corner and select Recycle Bin.
Unlike the Gallery, the MIUI file manager often not only contains recently deleted files, but also accesses auto-cleaning settings. It stores files that have been deleted directly through this Explorer. If you delete a file through a third-party application (such as a Telegram or email client), it may not get into this shopping cart.
To recover, you need to select the files you need and press the appropriate button, but if the phone’s memory is full, the system can ignore the basket and delete the files permanently immediately after the user’s command to make room for the system to work.
Recycled basket in the application Contacts and Dictator
Many users don't know that deleted phone numbers can also be restored. Contacts on Xiaomi has its own security mechanism. Open the app, click on the three dots in the upper right corner (or go to settings through the menu) and find Deleted Contacts. Here the numbers are stored for 30 days.
The same is true of audio recordings, where if you use a standard recorder, remote recordings are placed in a separate folder within the application, open the recorder, go to settings (three dots) and select Deleted Records, which is especially important for recorders, where critical information is often stored.
- 📝 Notes: The Removed folder is available in the app menu.
If synchronization has been disabled, recovery is possible only from the local application basket until it is cleaned.
Third-party file managers and their baskets
Often users install alternative conductors, such as ES Explorer, File Commander, or Total Commander, which create their own isolated environments, and if you delete a file through such a manager, you should look for it in the settings of this particular application.
For example, in ES Explorer, you need to go to the settings and find the Recycle Bin. In other managers, it can be a separate folder at the root of the internal storage or a hidden system directory. The standard Xiaomi system basket will not see files deleted by third-party programs.
| Annex | Positioning of the basket | Storage period |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI Gallery | Albums → Deleted | 30 days |
| File manager | Menu → Basket | Before cleaning. |
| Google Photo | Library → Basket | 60 days (photo), 30 days (the rest) |
| Mi Cloud | Web interface / Settings | 30 days |
If you use multiple conductors, it is recommended to check each of them. Sometimes files can be duplicated, but their deleted copies will be in different "sinks" depending on which tool was used for erasure.
Cloud services: Mi Cloud and Google Photos
The most reliable way to find deleted files is through the cloud, and even if the phone itself has empty or cleared, the copy can be saved in the cloud, and Google Photos has its own shopping cart, which is available through the app menu, with a storage period of 60 days for photos and 30 days for other files.
Mi Cloud also provides a recovery option: Go to i.mi.com from your computer or other device, log in to your Mi Account, and go to the Gallery or Files section, and there's a folder of deleted items.
What to do if the cloud is not synchronized?
The advantage of cloud solutions is that they often allow you to restore files even after you reset your phone to factory settings, provided you log in to the same acca-unt, which makes regular checking of sync settings a critical procedure for every Android smartphone owner.
What to do if the cart is empty or has been cleaned
When files are needed but the bin is empty, it's stressful, because if files were deleted more than 30 days ago or you manually cleaned the trash, you can't get them back by standard system means, and the file system marks the space as free, and new data can be written there.
In this case, you can try to use specialized data recovery programs that connect to a PC, such as DiskDigger (requires root rights for a full scan) or Recuva. However, on modern versions of Android with disk encryption, the chances of success without root rights are extremely small.
☑️ Action plan for data loss
The best strategy is preventive: set up automatic uploads to the cloud and regularly back up important documents to an external hard drive or computer. Don't rely solely on built-in shopping cart mechanisms, as they are designed to protect against randomness, not archival storage.
⚠️ Warning: Do not install data recovery apps directly on the phone that lost the files. By writing a new app, you can overwrite the memory sectors where your deleted photos were located, making recovery impossible.