How to set up the cart on Xiaomi: instructions for MIUI and HyperOS

Did you delete an important file from your Xiaomi phone and then realize you still need it? Or did the cart suddenly stop working after upgrading to HyperOS? Don't panic -- 90 percent of the time, files can be recovered if you set up the system basket correctly. In this article, we'll look at everything from basic activation to hidden features that aren't even mentioned in the official documentation.

The shopping cart on Xiaomi devices works differently from Android in its pure form. It has its own features: separate settings for the file manager and gallery, storage time limits, and with the release of HyperOS, new cleaning algorithms have appeared. We tested all scenarios on Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Xiaomi 13 Ultra and POCO F5 models - the instruction is universal for all devices on MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS.

Important: If you use third-party file managers (like Solid Explorer or FX File Manager), their baskets work by different rules, and this article focuses exclusively on Xiaomi’s built-in Recycle Bin, which manages deleted files at the system level.

Where is the basket on Xiaomi and how to open it

On new HyperOS devices, the path to the cart has changed, and it is now hidden deeper than in older versions of MIUI.

• 📁 Through File Manager: Open the Files app, tap three dots in the upper right corner → Basket.
• 🖼️ Through the Gallery: in the Photos app swipe left in the menu → Choose the Recycle Bin (Dumpster Bin Badge).
• 🔍 Through Search: Swipe down the main screen, type "basket" → The system will show all related sections.

On POCO and some Redmi models with lightweight firmware, the path may be different. For example, on the POCO M6 Pro, the basket in the gallery is called Recently Deleted, and in the file manager it is called Deleted Files. If you don't find a partition, check the firmware version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI/HyperOS version.

⚠️ Note: On devices with HyperOS 1.0.3.0+ The default basket is disabled to save space. To activate it, you need to manually enable the function in the file manager settings (see next section).

How to turn on the cart on Xiaomi, if it is disabled

If files are permanently deleted (they don't fall into the Recycle Bin), the function is disabled, and it turns on differently depending on the type of files:

For the file manager:

1. Open the Files app.
2. Put it on the icon. ⚙️ (Settings) in upper right corner.
3. Select the basket → move the slider Include the basket to the right.
4. Set a storage period (by default - 15 days).

For the gallery (photo and video):

1. Launch the Photos app.
2. Go to Settings (three points → Settings).
3. Find the Recycle Bin section and activate the option.
4. Select a storage period (maximum 60 days).

On HyperOS, a new option has been added to the cart settings, Auto Clean When Memory Is Short, and if enabled, the system will delete files from the cart early if the device has less than 10% free space, which is best turned off if you often work with large files (video) 4K, RAW-photo).

Delete the test file (e.g. screenshot)

Open the Recycle Bin in the File Manager

Make sure the file is present.

Try to restore it.

Check the storage period in the settings-->

File Recycle Bin Recycle Bin and How to Change It

Xiaomi defaults to storing deleted files for 15 to 30 days depending on the model, but you can customize this setting. Here are the current limits for different file types:

To change the storage period:

1. For file manager: Files → Settings → Recycle Bin → Shelf life.
2. For gallery: Photo → Settings → Cart → Storage period.

The Xiaomi 14 Series with HyperOS has a Smart Storage option that automatically shortens the time for large files (e.g., videos >1GB are only stored for 7 days regardless of settings).

Settings → Memory → Additional → Smart storage → Disable

⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Cloud to sync files, deleted items are stored separately in the cloud basket – their shelf life is configured in the web version of Mi Cloud (cloud.xiaomi.com).

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On root-access devices, you can increase the maximum storage time to 90 days, editing the file /system/etc/miui_trash_config.xml. But it requires technical skills and can disrupt the stability of the system.

How to recover files from Xiaomi shopping cart

Recovery works the same for all file types, but there are nuances with high-resolution video and RAW-Photo by step:

1. Open the Recycle Bin through the file manager or gallery (see Section 1).
2. Select the desired files with a long tap (or tick).
3. Click Restore in the lower menu.
4. Select the folder to restore (by default – the original directory).

Features:

• 📸 Photos and videos are restored with original metadata (date of shooting, geotagged data).
• 📄 The documents lose their history of changes (for example, for the Word/Excel).
• 🎵 Audio files can recover without album covers.
• 📦 APK-Files are checked for integrity before recovery.

If the file is not restored and the error "File failed to return" appears, try:

1. Reset the device.
2. Clear the file manager cache (Settings → Applications → Files → Memory → Clear the cache).
3. Restore the file to another device via Mi Share (if the shopping cart is synced to the account).

Synchronization of the cart with Mi Cloud: pros and cons

Syncing the Recycle Bin with the Mi Cloud allows you to recover files even after you reset your phone to factory settings, but this feature has pitfalls:

To enable synchronization:

1. Open your Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud
2. Turn on the slider Synchronization basket.
3. Select file types for synchronization (photos, videos, documents).

Important: Synced files are stored in the cloud for 30 days, regardless of local settings, and then they are deleted without recovery, to check which files are synced:

1. Go to cloud.xiaomi.com.
2. Sign in with the same account as on your phone.
3. Open the basket section in the side menu.

⚠️ Note: If you delete a file from the cloud bin manually, it will disappear from the local device the next time you sync!

Cleaning the basket: when and how to do it correctly

A basket can take up gigabytes of memory if you don't keep track of its contents. Here's how to clean it properly:

Automatic cleaning:

• 🗓️ After the expiration of the storage period (configured in the sections above).
• 🔋 Memory shortage (if Auto Clean option is enabled).
• 🔄 After updating the firmware (the system can reset the basket to save space).

Manual cleaning:

1. Open the basket in the file manager or gallery.
2. Put Clear everything or highlight individual files.
3. Confirm the action (some models will require a password).

HyperOS has a Smart Cleanup feature that analyzes files in the Recycle Bin and suggests removing duplicates or irrelevant items (such as screenshots older than 30 days) to take advantage of:

Files → Recycle Bin → Three Points → Smart Cleaning

If the cart does not clean and gives an error "failed to delete", try:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 🧹 Clear the cache of the Files or Gallery application.
• 📱 Check the access rights to memory (Settings) → Annexes → Permits → Memory).
• 🔧 Reset the File Manager settings (Settings) → Annexes → Files. → Additionally. → Drop it).

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Check your cart regularly for unnecessary files, which will free up to 10-15% of memory on your device without losing important data.

Frequent Basket Problems on Xiaomi and Their Solutions

Even on new HyperOS devices, users are experiencing cart bugs, and here are the most common problems and ways to solve them:

If none of the methods worked, try resetting the file manager settings:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Files → Memory → Reset

On Xiaomi 13T Pro and other flagships from 2023-2026 with HyperOS, sometimes a rollback to the previous version of the file manager helps.

1. Download the old version of Mi File Manager (e.g. 3.2.3-2210) with APKMirror.
2. Remove updates to the Files app.
3. Install the downloaded APK.

⚠️ Note: On devices with a locked boot loader (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 App rollbacks can result in an "Application Stopped" error, in which case return the factory version via Settings. → Annexes → Files. → Three points. → Back to the factory version.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi Cart