How to completely clean the cart on Xiaomi Redmi 4: all ways

Xiaomi Redmi 4 is still a popular device for its reliability and functionality, but over time owners face a problem: memory is filled with garbage, and standard cleaning through the Recycle Bin does not always work correctly. Unlike modern models, where the deletion function is integrated into the MIUI, on Redmi 4 with firmware up to MIUI 10, this process may require additional actions.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to clean the cart, from embedded tools to hidden commands and third-party utilities. Particular attention will be paid to the nuances associated with the outdated architecture of storing files in MIUI for Redmi 4, where the cart may or may not display deleted items. If you notice that after cleaning the memory is not freed, or files continue to occupy space, here you will find a solution.

Why is the Redmi 4 cart not cleaned in the standard way?

The problem with the shopping cart on Xiaomi Redmi 4 is due to the features of the F2FS file system, which the company used in budget models of the period. Unlike modern devices, where the basket is implemented as a separate partition (/.trash), on Redmi 4 it is often a virtual folder, data from which is not always correctly deleted when you click on “Clean”.

The main causes of failures:

• 🔄 File system errors after incorrect extraction SD-card or recording failure.
• 📱 An outdated version MIUI (below MIUI 10.2), where the basket mechanism worked through temporary folders.
• 🚫 Access rights conflict where the system cannot delete files due to SELinux restrictions.
• 🗑️ «Garbage files from third-party applications (such as galleries or file managers) that create their own shopping carts.

If you click Clear the Recycle Bin in Files or Gallery, the memory is not freed, most likely, the files physically remain in hidden folders.

Method 1: Cleaning through a standard MIUI file manager

The most obvious method is to use the built-in Files (or File Manager).However, the interface on Redmi 4 may be different from the newer versions of MIUI.

1. Open the Files app** (a blue background folder icon).
2. In the top menu, tap three points (⋮) and pick the basket.
3. Click Manage (or Edit in older versions).
4. Check all files or tap Select everything.
5. Click Remove Forever (or Clean the Cart)

If the Clean the basket button is inactive or nothing happens after pressing:

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone and try again.
• 📁 Check if files are hidden in the Recycle Bin (enable the display of hidden folders in the file manager settings).
• 🛠️ Update the Files app** via Play Market (if available).

On Redmi 4 with firmware below MIUI 9, the basket may not be on the menu.

Settings → Memory → Cleaning → Cart

Method 2: Manually delete Recycle Bin files through hidden folders

If the standard cleanup didn't work, the bin files could have been left in hidden system folders, which can be manually deleted, but you need root rights access or ADB.

1. Connect Redmi 4 to your PC via USB (in File Transfer mode).
2. On your computer, open this computer and go to the folder of the smartphone.
3. Enable the display of hidden files: 🪟 Windows: View → Hidden elements. 🍎 MacOS: Command + Shift +.

/storage/emulated/0/.trash


/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.android.providers.media/.trash




/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Backup/AllBackup/.trash

If there are no folders, try searching by keywords:

• 🔍.trash is the standard basket MIUI.
• 🔍 Recycle or RecycleBin – Recycles from third-party apps.
• 🔍 Temp – Temporary files that can take up space.

Attention! Deleting files from Android/data folders can cause app crashes. Don't delete anything except folders called.trash or recycle.

⚠️ Note: On some Redmi 4 firmware, the.trash folder can be protected from changes. If it reappears after deletion, it is a sign of a system failure).

Method 3: Cleaning the Recycle Bin through Application Managers (without root)

If the built-in MIUI tools don't work, you can use third-party file managers, which often find junk files better and offer advanced cleaning features.

Instructions for Files by Google:

1. Install and open the application.
2. Go to the Cleanup tab (basket icon).
3. Select Files in the Recycle Bin or Unnecessary Files.
4. Then, turn to [X] and confirm the action.

If the app doesn’t find the cart, try:

• 🔍 Manually cross the path /storage/emulated/0 Search for folders with names like trash, recycle.
• 📁 In the application settings enable Show hidden files.
• 🔄 Restart the application after all permissions have been granted.

💡

If the memory is not free after cleaning through a third-party manager, check the Download folder – often temporary files that are not deleted automatically get there.

Method 4: Cleaning the Recycle Bin via ADB (for advanced users)

If previous methods have failed, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool that allows you to execute commands directly on the system.

• 🔧 You have experience with the command line.
• 📱 On the smartphone included debugging on USB.
• 💻 There is access to a computer with installed Xiaomi drivers.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on PC.
2. On Redmi 4, enable USB debugging: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (tap 7 times) Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging by USB
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm your trust in your computer.
4. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
5. Follow the commands in order: adb shell su rm -rf /storage/emulated/0/.trash/* rm -rf /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.android.providers.media/.trash/* exit exit exit exit

If a Permission Denied error occurs after execution of commands, it means:

• 🔓 You don’t have root rights (solution – method 5).
• 🔧 File system locked (try restarting your phone and repeating).

⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB Do not modify or delete files outside the.trash folder unless you are sure of their purpose.

💡

ADB is the most effective way to remove files that are not deleted from the Recycle Bin, but it requires caution. If you are not sure about the commands, use more secure methods (method 1 or 3).

Method 5: Resetting settings (last option)

If the bin is not cleaned in any way, and the hidden files continue to take up space, the radical solution is to reset to factory settings, which will delete all data, including junk files, but also delete:

• 📸 Photos and videos (if not saved on the SD-card).
• 📱 Installed applications and their data.
• 📞 Contacts, SMS, Call logs (unless synced with Google or Mi Account).

How to perform the reset:

1. Back up important data (via Settings → Additional → Backup).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset.
3. Select Settings Reset.
4. Confirm the action (a password may be required).
5. Wait until it is completed (it will take 5-10 minutes).

After discharge:

• 🔄 The smartphone will reboot to its original state.
• 📥 Restore data from backup (if you did).
• 🛡️ Install applications again (it is recommended to start with the file manager for memory control).

⚠️ Attention: Redmi 4 with firmware below MIUI 9 reset may result in the bootloader being blocked if the unlock manipulations have been performed before.

How to prevent the cart from filling in the future?

To avoid repeated basket problems on Redmi 4, follow the simple rules:

• 🗑️ Turn off the cart for individual applications: In the Gallery: Settings → Basket → In Files: Settings → Basket → Autocleaning (30 days).
• 📁 Use cloud storage (Google Photos, Mi Cloud) to automatically sync and clean local files.
• 🔄 Regularly check your memory through Settings → Memory. → Cleanup.
• 🚫 Avoid junk apps that create their own shopping carts (such as some launchers or file managers).

It is also useful to set up automatic cleaning:

Settings → Memory → Autocleaning → Enable

This will allow the system to delete unnecessary files, including the contents of the shopping cart, when the memory is filled.

💡

If you often work with large files (video, archives), consider using the file. SD-map as the primary storage. Go to Settings for this. → Memory. → Default storage and select SD-map.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning the cart on Xiaomi Redmi 4