How to Clean the Recycle Bin on Xiaomi Mi A3: instructions for Android One

Smartphone Xiaomi Mi A3 It runs on pure Android One, which distinguishes it from other brand devices with a proprietary shell. MIUI. This feature also affects the way the recycle bin works, which is a temporary storage for deleted files, and many users face the problem that after cleaning the gallery or file manager, the memory is not freed, and the files continue to take up space in the hidden recycle bin. In this article, we will discuss how to correctly remove data from the cart on Mi. A3, Why do they stay there and what to do if standard methods don't work.

Feature of the Mi A3 It's that the cart here is an application-level solution (like Google Gallery or Files) rather than a system, which means there's no one-size-fits-all cleanup solution, depending on which application you used to remove, and we'll look at all the scenarios that you might have. From standard tools to hidden folders and commands ADB.

If you delete important files and want them back, don't rush to clean the cart! At the end of this article, there's a section on data recovery with step-by-step instructions. And for those who want to optimize memory, we've prepared a table comparing cleaning methods by efficiency.

1.Where is the basket on Xiaomi Mi A3?

On Xiaomi Mi. A3 There is no single system basket, as on devices with MIUI. Instead, files are stored in the temporary storage of the app they were deleted from, and here are the main places where your shopping cart may be hiding:

• 📷 Google Gallery: Stores deleted photos and videos for 30 days (unless you change your settings) and the folder is called the Recycle Bin and is located in the app menu.
• 📁 Files by Google: temporarily saves deleted files in the Recycle Bin (available in the side menu) and 7 days.
• 🔄 MIUI File Manager: If you installed it manually, the cart will be in the Category section → This is a 15-day file storage bin.
• ☁️ Google Photos: If sync is enabled, deleted files are sent to the Google Photo Recycle Bin (60 days stored).

It is important to understand that the cart does not automatically clear when there is a lack of memory - files remain there until the expiration date or manually deleted. If you delete something important, check all the places listed: sometimes the same file is duplicated in several baskets (for example, in the Google Gallery and Google Photos).

How to check how much space the basket takes up?

Open the Settings. → Memory and look at System Data or Application Cache, if it's a significant volume (e.g., 1-3 GB), chances are it's from the Recycle Bin.

2. Standard cleaning of the basket through applications

The easiest way is to use the built-in application tools, and let's look at the step-by-step instructions for each case.

2.1 Cleaning the cart in the Google Gallery

If you have deleted a photo or video through the standard Google Gallery, follow these steps:

1. Open the Gallery app (a multi-colored triangle icon).
2. Press three horizontal lines (☰) top-left.
3. Select the basket item.
4. Slip the control button (or select files manually).
5. Click Delete Forever and confirm the action.

Important! In the Google Gallery, you can set up automatic cart cleanup in 30 days or 60 days. → Basket → Auto-cleaning.

Check if there are any important files in the cart|

Backup the photos you need in Google Photos|

Make sure your phone’s memory isn’t 100% full (otherwise, cleaning can take a long time)|

Connect your phone to charge if the battery level is below 20%-->

2.2. Cleaning the basket in the Files by Google application

Google Files app (set by default on Mi) A3) It also has its own basket:

1. Open Files (Blue folder icon)
2. Slip on three horizontal lines (☰) top-left.
3. Pick the basket.
4. Click Clear the Recycle Bin at the bottom of the screen or highlight individual files and delete them.

Note: In this app, the cart is cleared automatically after 7 days, but if memory is critically short, it is better to do it manually.

The basket in MIUI File Manager (if installed)

Some users are installing MIUI File Manager for a more familiar interface:

1. Open up. MIUI File Manager.
2. Go to the Categories section (bottom of the screen).
3. Pick the basket.
4. Tap Clear or highlight files and click Delete Forever.

Warning: If you have removed MIUI File Manager, but they used it before, and the cart could stay in a hidden folder.

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Standard methods of cleaning the bin only work for files deleted through the appropriate applications, ES Conductor or Solid Explorer, the basket may be located elsewhere.

3. Manual removal of hidden basket folders

If standard methods didn't help, it's possible that the bin files are stored in hidden system folders. on Xiaomi Mi A3 They can be found in the following ways:

To remove files from these folders:

1. Install any file manager that supports root or hidden folders (e.g., file manager, FX File Explorer or Root Explorer).
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.
3. Follow one of the paths listed (depending on the app you used).
4. Delete all files in the Trash or Recycle Bin folder.

Important: folder /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/ If the file manager doesn't give you access, try connecting the phone to the PC and use it. ADB (instruction).

4. Cleaning the cart through ADB (for power users)

If the standard methods don’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) — a tool for controlling the phone through the command line:

• 🔒 You don’t have root rights, but you need to delete files from protected folders.
• 📱 The phone does not give access to the basket through the file manager.
• 🔄 You want to automate cleaning (for example, through a script).

Instructions for cleaning the basket through ADB:

1. Install ADB and Fastboot Tools on PC.
2. Turn on the debugging. USB on the phone: go to Settings → The phone. → Build Number (tap 7 times to unlock Developer Settings), then go back to Settings → System system → For developers → Debugging by USB.
3. Connect the Mi A3 to your PC and confirm debugging permission.
4. Open the command prompt (or Terminal on Mac/Linux) and type: Adb devices Make sure the device is defined.
5. Follow the command to clean the shopping cart of Google Gallery: adb shell rm -rf /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.google.android.gallery3d/files/Trash/* For Google Files: Adb shell rm -rf /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.google.android.apps.nexuslauncher/files/Trash/*

If you get a Permission Denied error, try adding sudo before the command (on the command). Mac/Linux) or run the command line on behalf of the administrator (on Windows).

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To avoid manually entering paths, copy them from the table in the section. 3 and insert the command adb shell rm -rf [Replace the path with the right folder.

5. How to recover files from the shopping cart on Xiaomi Mi A3

If you accidentally cleared your cart or deleted important files, you can still return them.

Recovery from the application basket

If less than 7-30 days have passed (depending on the application), the files can still be returned:

• 📷 In Google Gallery: Open the Recycle Bin, select the files you need and click Restore.
• 📁 In Google Files: Go to Recycle Bin, tap on the file and select Restore.
• ☁️ In Google Photos: Open the web version of photos.google.com, go to the Recycle Bin and recover files.

If files have been removed from the recycle bin, proceed to the next method.

5.2. Recovery through backups

If you have backup enabled, check the following sources:

• 🔄 Google Photos: automatically saves photos and videos to the cloud. Check the Archive folder or Backups.
• ☁️ Google Drive: If sync is enabled, files can be saved in the Backups section.
• 📱 Local backups: some file managers (e.g, MIUI File Manager: Create backups in the folder /storage/emulated/0/Backup.

5.3 Data recovery programs

If files are not restored through a shopping cart or backup, try specialized utilities:

• 🛠️ DiskDigger (for photos and videos).
• 📄 Recuva (requires the phone to be connected to a PC).
• 🔍 EaseUS MobiSaver (paid version with deep scanning).

Important! The less you use your phone after deleting files, the better the chances of recovery. When you write new data, old files are overwritten.

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If you delete files from a microSD, remove them from your phone and connect them to your PC via a card reader, which will increase your chances of successful recovery, as you will reduce the risk of overwriting.

6.How to turn off the basket on Xiaomi Mi A3

If you're annoyed that files don't get deleted immediately, but instead end up in the trash, you can turn it off, but remember, that means deleted files will be permanently erased and harder to recover.

6.1. disabling the shopping cart in the Google Gallery

1. Open the Google Gallery.
2. Tap on three lines (☰) → Settings.
3. Pick the basket.
4. Turn off the option to save deleted files.

6.2. disabling the shopping cart in Google Files

In this application, the basket cannot be turned off, but you can reduce the storage period:

1. Open the files.
2. Go to the basket.
3. Tap it on three points (⋮) → Recycle bin settings.
4. Choose the minimum period of time - 1 day.

Complete removal of the basket through ADB

If you want to completely remove the folder of the cart (for example, so that it does not take up space), use ADB:

adb shell rm -rf /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.google.android.gallery3d/files/Trash


adb shell mkdir /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.google.android.gallery3d/files/Trash




adb shell chmod 000 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.google.android.gallery3d/files/Trash

This command deletes the Recycle Bin folder and creates a new one with zero rights so that the system can't write files there. Be careful, you can't recover deleted files after that!

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If you delete files frequently and don’t want them to fall into the trash, use third-party file managers (such as Solid Explorer or Solid Explorer). FX File Explorer that has the option to “Delete Forever” without a basket.

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

When cleaning the basket on Xiaomi Mi A3 And we're going to look at the most common problems that people have, and the ways that they can be solved.

7.1 The basket is not cleaned or gives an error

• 🔄 Restart your phone: Sometimes system processes block access to files.
• 📱 Clear the app cache: go to Settings → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 🔧 Update the app: the outdated version may not work properly.
• 🛠️ Use it. ADB: If the standard methods do not help (instruction in section 4).

7.2 Files disappear from the cart ahead of schedule

If files disappear from the shopping cart before the deadline (for example, 1-2 days instead of 30), the reasons may be as follows:

• 📉 Memory Lack: Android Automatically Cleans Recycle Bin at Critical Free Space Levels.
• 🔄 Sync Error: If the shopping cart is tied to a Google account, check your internet connection.
• 📱 Resetting: After resetting to factory settings, the basket is cleaned.

To avoid losing files, check the cart regularly and transfer important data to a safe place (e.g. Google Drive).

The basket takes up too much space.

If the folder has grown to several gigabytes, do the following:

1. Check which files take up the most space (sort by size).
2. Delete unnecessary files manually (such as large videos or backups).
3. If the basket is full of garbage (for example, thumbnails or cache), clean it through the ADB (section).

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To keep the shopping cart from growing, set up automatic cleaning in apps (for example, in the Google Gallery, select the option “Delete files older than 30 days”).

8.Alternative ways to free up memory

If the basket isn’t the main cause of memory loss, try these methods:

• 🧹 Cache Clearing: Go to Settings → Memory. → Cache data and delete it.
• 📁 Remove duplicates: use applications like Files by Google (Clean up section) → Duplicate files).
• ☁️ Transfer files to the cloud: upload photos and videos to Google Photos or Google Drive, and then delete local copies.
• 📱 Memory card usage: Move applications and files to microSD (if supported).
• 🔄 Factory reset: The last resort if other methods didn’t help (be sure to back up!).

Tip: On Xiaomi Mi A3 You can turn on adaptive storage, which automatically frees up space for new files. → Memory. → Adaptive Storage and activate the option.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the cart on Xiaomi Mi A3