Modern smartphones, including the popular Xiaomi Redmi 5 Pro, have a huge functionality, allowing you to take hundreds of photos, download files and install dozens of applications. However, over time, this leads to overflow of internal memory, which inevitably affects the speed of the device. Users often face a situation where the system notifies about the lack of space, although recently deleted files continue to take up precious gigabytes.
The thing is, the MIUI shell that you have installed on your gadget, by default, stores deleted data in a buffer that we've come to call the Recycle Bin, a protective mechanism that allows you to recover accidentally erased images or documents, but if you're determined to get rid of unnecessary debris forever or you need to make room, you need to know exactly where these files are hiding and how to delete them correctly.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the ways to clean the cart on your Xiaomi Redmi 5 Pro. You will learn not only about the standard gallery, but also about hidden folders in the explorer, as well as about the cache of third-party messengers. Proper file management is the key to stable operation of your phone for many years.
Features of the MIUI file system on Redmi 5 Pro
MIUI is a vastly different shell from pure Android, offering users enhanced memory management capabilities. On the Redmi 5 Pro model released in 2018, these features are implemented through the Gallery and Explorer system applications. It is important to understand that there is no single Recycle Bin for the entire system, like in Windows. Each component of the operating system has its own remote data exchange buffer.
When you delete a file, it doesn't disappear without a trace. The system marks the space it occupied as free to write new data, but the file itself moves to a hidden partition. This allows you to recover information in case of user error. However, on devices with 32 or 64 GB of memory, which is true for the Redmi 5 Pro, such "temporary" storage can quickly fill up, blocking the installation of new updates or applications.
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Regularly cleaning the cart not only frees up space, but also reduces memory fragmentation, which can positively affect the speed of reading data on older devices.
It’s worth noting that the memory algorithms on different versions of MIUI may differ. If your Redmi 5 Pro has an earlier firmware version based on Android 7.0 Nougat or 8.0 Oreo, the layout of some menus may vary slightly.
Cleaning the basket in the standard gallery
The largest storage of deleted files on any smartphone is the gallery. Photos and videos take up the most space, so this is where you need to start servicing Xiaomi Redmi 5 Pro. The standard application stores deleted media files for 30 days, then deletes them automatically, but you can do it forcibly right now.
To start, open the Gallery app and go to the Albums tab. Scroll down to the very end. There you will find the item "Deleted." In some versions of the firmware, it may be called "Recently Deleted." When you click on it, you will see all the photos and videos that have been erased but still occupy space on your device.
- 📸 Click the “Select” button in the top corner to highlight all files at once, or select specific pictures manually.
- 🗑️ After highlighting, click on the basket icon or the “Delete” button to erase files irrevocably.
- ⚙️ In the gallery settings, you can turn off automatic saving of deleted photos if the Cloud function is not used.
📊 How often do you clean the gallery on your phone?
Once a week.
Once a month
Only when memory ends
Never clean.
Note that if you have Mi Cloud or Google Photos enabled, deleting from the shopping cart on your phone can affect data in the cloud. Be careful when checking the contents of the Remove folder to avoid losing important frames. Once cleared, the space will be vacant instantly, which you can see in the storage settings.
⚠️ Attention: After cleaning the Recycle Bin in the Gallery, file recovery is not possible with standard means. Make sure that no important documents or personal pictures are among the photos being deleted.
Working with a basket in a system conductor
Unlike photos, APK documents, installation files, music and archives are usually managed through the System Explorer. On Xiaomi Redmi 5 Pro, this app also has its own mechanism to protect against accidental deletion. It works independently of the gallery, so cleaning the photo will not affect uploaded files.
To access this data, run the Explorer app (folder icon). At the top of the screen, you'll see a search bar and several categories. You'll need to find the menu icon (three bars or dots) or go to Categories -> Documents or Downloads. However, the MIUI basket is often hidden in the app's settings or is accessible through long-pressed clicks.
In newer versions of the interface, the path might look like this: open Explorer, click on the menu icon, and select Settings. There may be a Recycle Bin or Recently Deleted option. If there is no such option, then the files are deleted instantly or stored in a hidden.Trash system folder, access to which requires superuser rights.
Where is the basket physically located?
Recycle bin files in Android are stored in a hidden partition of the file system, usually along the way. /data/media/0/MIUI/Gallery/cloud/secretAlbum This is a root-free route, which protects the system from accidental damage to users.> If you use a third-party file manager, such as Total Commander or ES Explorer, they may have their own shopping cart. Check the settings of these apps separately. Often users forget that they deleted the file through third-party software, and it stayed in the buffer of this program, continuing to occupy space. The concept of a "basket" in mobile devices is often expanded to an app cache. Messengers like Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber create their own repositories of deleted or temporary files. 5 Pro these apps can take up several gigabytes, even if you deleted correspondence long ago. Telegram, for example, has a built-in feature called Memory Use. Go to Settings -> Data and memory -> Memory usage. You'll see the "Clear Cache" button on that, and this action will delete all uploaded images and videos from the phone's memory, but they will stay in the chat and boot again if necessary. 📱 For WhatsApp: Settings -> Data and storage -> Storage management. You can delete large files or videos that you sent here. 💬 On Viber: Additional -> Settings -> Memory -> Clear the cache. This is a safe operation that doesn't delete text messages. 🛒 Marketplace apps (AliExpress, Ozon) also store many pictures of goods in a cache that is worth cleaning periodically. MIUI, It also helps to combat this. It scans the device for residual files. Run a scan and look carefully at what exactly is proposed to be removed. Often there are old system logs or temporary update files. Using the Security app for deep cleaning, Xiaomi has a powerful System App Security. It combines antivirus, memory cleanup and permission management. For owners of Redmi 5 Pro, this is the main tool for maintaining order in the file system. Launch the Security app and select Clean. The system will analyze and suggest removing the Garbage. Unlike a simple shopping cart, here are the remnants of the deleted applications, and the files are removed from the system (repairovanie to remove the "Page" or "Play" button). Here you will see detailed statistics: how much space is occupied by applications, pictures, videos, etc. By clicking on the category, you can go to the list of files and delete the heaviest of them. This is especially useful for finding forgotten downloads. Data type Where to clear Security Delete Impact on the Photos and Video Gallery system -> Removed High (frees up a lot of space) Documents Explorer Irreversible Average Application Cache Settings -> Applications Safe (data will be saved inside) Low (runs) Downloads (Downloads) Explorer -> Removable files, you can always forget the file extension before you use it. Automation and Overflow Prevention To Avoid Wondering How to Clean Your Recycle Bin on Xiaomi Redmi 5 Pro every time memory runs out, it is better to set up automatic maintenance. MIUI You can set a cleaning schedule, which will save you from manual work. In the Security app, click on the settings icon (cogs) in the corner. Find Auto Clean and activate it. You can select frequency (e.g., once in a while). 3 conditions (only when less than free) 1 This will help keep the phone in good shape. ☑️ Weekly Memory Prevention Check Downloads folder: Check the Recycle Bin in Gallery: Clear the cache Telegram/WhatsApp:Delete unnecessary screenshots Completed: 0 / 1 You should also pay attention to sync settings. If you are not using the Mi Cloud, there is no point in storing deleted photos. 30 days. In the settings of the Gallery you can find the option to reduce the shelf life or completely disable the basket, although on some versions MIUI This function may be hidden. ⚠️ Warning: Disabling the cart completely increases the risk of data loss. If you decide to do so, make sure you have set up a backup of important contacts and documents to an external server or computer. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Can I recover a photo after cleaning the Recycle Bin on Redmi 5 Pro? After cleaning the Remove folder in the Gallery, you can't recover files using standard system tools. The data is marked as rewritable. Recovery may require complex root rights and specialized software, but success is not guaranteed. Why isn't memory released after deleting files? This can happen if files are left in the recycle bin of a particular application rather than in the system gallery. It's also worth checking the Downloads folder and messenger cache. Sometimes it takes a device reboot to get the system to recalculate the free space. Where is the hidden.Trash folder on Xiaomi? The.Trash folder or similar system hidden directories are at the root of internal memory. Without the superuser (Root) and special file manager rights, access to them is closed for security of the Android system. Does a crowded basket affect the speed of the phone? Yes, indirectly. When the free space on the internal drive ends (less than 10-15, the system starts to work slower, as it does not have enough space to escape from temporary operations).