How to find a shopping cart in Xiaomi Redmi 9: where to store deleted files and how to return them

You accidentally deleted an important photo or document on Xiaomi Redmi 9 and now you don't know where to look for the basket? Unlike computers where deleted files go to a special folder, on smartphones with MIUI, the system works differently. In this article, we will analyze whether Redmi 9 has a classic basket where temporarily deleted files are stored, and how to restore them - both through standard Xiaomi tools and using third-party tools.

The main problem with Redmi 9 users is that they don't have the usual Recycle Bin icon on their desktop or app menus, because MIUI (the Xiaomi brand shell) does a different job of implementing the Recycle Bin, which is embedded in individual applications (like a Gallery or Files), but it's not a universal storage for all types of data. If you delete a file from your Download folder or through a Explorer, it could disappear irrevocably — but not always.

It's important to understand that time is against you, and the faster you start to act after deleting, the more likely you are to return data, and don't save new files to your device or clear the cache, because that can overwrite deleted data.

1.Where to look for a cart in standard Redmi 9 apps

The Xiaomi Redmi 9 doesn’t have a single file basket, but some system apps have their own temporary storage.

• 📷 gallery MIUI: This is where you store deleted photos and videos for 30 days, and the folder is called the Recycle Bin and is located in the app menu (tap three dots in the upper right corner).
• 📁 Application "Files": in some versions MIUI There is a Document Recycle Bin section, but it is unstable and may not be available on Redmi 9 with firmware below. MIUI 12.
• 🎵 Music: If you deleted an audio file through a standard player, check the Remote folder in its settings.

To open the basket in the Gallery:

1. Launch the Gallery app (camera icon).
2. Slip on three vertical points in the upper right corner.
3. Select the Recycle Bin (if not, your MIUI version does not support this feature).
4. Click on the file and select Restore.

Open the Gallery appendix

Push. ⋮ (three points) in upper right corner

Select "Baskbasket"

Find the right file and tap "Restore"-->

If there's no basket item on the gallery menu, it means:

• You have deleted files not through the Gallery, but through another Explorer (for example, Files or Google Photos).
• Your version of MIUI is outdated (update the firmware in Settings → About Phone → System Update).
• The files were deleted more than 30 days ago and were automatically cleared.

2.Why there is no universal cart on Redmi 9 and what to do

Xiaomi Redmi 9 runs on Android 10 with MIUI 11/12 shell, where the basket is implemented fragmentary. Unlike Windows or macOS, where all deleted files fall into one folder, here each type of data is processed separately:

On Redmi 9, the basket in the Files app only appears after manually enabling in the settings: go to Files" → ⋮ → "Settings" → "Recycle Bin and activate the option. If it's not available, your version of the app doesn't support the function.

If you didn't find the cart in the standard apps, don't panic. There are three alternative ways:

1. Check Google Photos (if sync is enabled).
2. Use a Recycle Bin Support File Manager (e.g. Files by Google).
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC and scan the memory with programs like Recuva or DiskDigger.

Through the Gallery

Through the Files app

Swipe up in the conductor

I don't remember. I rarely delete.

Another way.-->

3. File recovery via Google Photos (if sync was enabled)

If your Redmi 9 has Google Photos installed and autosynchronization enabled, the chances of returning deleted data are much higher.

1. Open Google Photos (an icon with a colorful mug).
2. Slip on your avatar in the upper right corner → Basket.
3. Find the file you want and click Restore.

Important: Google Photos keeps files for 60 days (twice as long as MIUI Gallery), but if you manually delete them from the shopping cart or clean them, you can’t restore them.

If there are no files in the cart, check:

• 🔍 Whether sync was enabled: Google Photos settings → Backup and synchronization.
• 📅 Has it been more than 60 days since the removal.
• 📱 Have you used a different Google account when setting up.

💡

If you delete files regularly but want to save them, you can extend the storage period in the shopping cart to 60 days in Google Photos settings (by default – 30).

4. Third-party applications for recovering deleted files

If standard methods don't work, you'll have to use specialized tools. Redmi 9 has no root licenses, and the following programs are running:

Instructions for DiskDigger (the most effective option without root):

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Start and select Start basic scanning.
3. Wait until it is completed (it can take up to 30 minutes depending on the amount of memory).
4. Tick the files you need to recover and click Recover.
5. Save the data on SD-Map or cloud (not internal memory!).

Warning:

⚠️ Attention! Do not save recovered files back to Redmi 9's internal memory, which can overwrite the remaining deleted data. SD-map, USB-storage.

5. How to turn on the basket in the Files app on Redmi 9

If your Files App doesn't have a basket, you can try manual activation.

1. Open Files (Icon with folder)
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → Settings.
3. Find the Recycle Bin section (if not, update the app via Google Play).
4. Activate the switch Turn on the basket.
5. Set a storage period (by default 15 days).

Once enabled, all new deleted files will be in the recycle bin, but the old data deleted before the function is activated will not be restored.

Limitations:

• 🚫 The Recycle Bin in Files only works for files deleted after it is turned on.
• 🚫 Does not support files with SD-cards (only internal memory).
• 🚫 It may not appear on the versions. MIUI below 12.0.3.

💡

Enabling the Recycle Bin in Files will not restore deleted data, but will protect against future losses.

6. Recovery via PC: step-by-step instructions

If you don't have any deleted files on your smartphone, connect Redmi 9 to your computer and use desktop software.

• 💻 Recuva (free, easy to use).
• 💻 EaseUS Data Recovery (paid but with high recovery percentage).
• 💻 7-Data Recovery (supports Android without root).

Instructions for Recuva:

1. Download and install Recuva from the official website (ccleaner.com).
2. Connect Redmi 9 to your PC via USB-cable and select File Transfer Mode (MTP).
3. Start Recuva, select the file type (such as Images or Documents).
4. Specify your smartphone’s drive (usually a removable drive with the letter E:, F:, etc.).
5. Click Analysis and wait until it is completed (may take several hours).
6. Mark the files for recovery and save them to the PC.

Important: don’t interrupt the scanning process – this can damage the file system. If Recuva doesn’t find anything, try EaseUS with deep scanning (requires registration).

⚠️ If you used Formatting or Resetting on Redmi 9, the chances of recovery are close to zero, in which case only professional equipment (such as Chip-Off) will help, but it is expensive and does not guarantee the result.

7. How to avoid future data loss

To avoid searching for a cart on Redmi 9 after every accidental deletion, follow the simple rules:

• 🔄 Enable autosynchronization with Google Photos or Mi Cloud (settings in your Accounts) → Mi Account → Cloud).
• 📁 Use the Recycle Bin in the Files app (how to enable – see Section 5).
• 💾 Make regular backups to your PC or SD-map (via Settings) → Additionally. → Backup and reset).
• 🚫 Do not manually clean the cache through Clean Master-type apps – they can delete temporary bin files.

It is also useful to install an alternative file manager with basket support, such as:

• Files by Google (there is a shopping cart for all types of files).
• Solid Explorer (paid, but with advanced features)
• FX File Explorer (supports root and network drives)

Tip: If you work with important documents often, create an archive folder on Redmi 9 and transfer critical files instead of deleting them, so they will always be at hand.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the cart on Xiaomi Redmi 9