How to completely clean the basket on the smartphone Xiaomi Redmi: all ways

The Xiaomi Redmi Recycle Bin is a temporary storage device for deleted files that helps to recover important data in the event of an error, but over time, it fills up with unnecessary photos, videos and documents, taking up precious space in the device’s memory. If you notice that the free space on the Redmi Note 12, Redmi 10 or other model is shrinking for no apparent reason, the culprit may be an overflowing shopping cart.

In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to clean the basket on Xiaomi smartphones with a shell. MIUI 12-15, including hidden settings and alternative methods, you will learn how to delete files from the Recycle Bin forever, how to disable automatic saving, and what to do if the Recycle Bin is not cleaned by standard means. We will pay special attention to the nuances for different versions of firmware and models - from budget Redmi A1 up to the flagship Redmi K60.

Where is the basket on Xiaomi Redmi and how to open it

Unlike computer operating systems, the MIUI Recycle Bin does not have a single universal location, and its interface and access path depend on which application was used to delete files:

• 📷 Gallery (Photo): The cart is built into the standard Gallery app and is available through the Albums menu → The basket, which stores deleted photos and videos.
• 📁 File Manager: For documents, APK and other files in the basket are in my files → Categories → Basket (or recent) → The basket in new versions).
• 🎵 Music: In the app, the Music Cart is hidden - deleted tracks are restored through Settings → Recover the remote.

Important: Some models (e.g. Redmi 9A with MIUI 12.5) may not have a file manager basket at all, so instead, files are deleted irrevocably. To check for it, try deleting the test file and searching for the Trash or.trash folder through the built-in search.

Method 1: Standard cleaning of the basket through the Gallery

If you have deleted photos or videos, copies of them remain in the Gallery basket for 15 to 30 days (depending on settings).

1. Open the Gallery app (flower icon).
2. Slip on three horizontal lines (☰) at the bottom of the screen and select Albums.
3. Scroll down and press the basket (urn icon).
4. In the upper right corner, click Control (or Edit in older versions).
5. Select files to delete or tap Select everything.
6. Click Delete and confirm the action.

On models with MIUI 14+, after cleaning the Recycle Bin, a notification may appear that you can restore files within 7 days – this is normal, since the system uses cloud backup. If you want to completely erase files without recovery, use method 3 or 4.

Method 2: Cleaning the Recycle Bin in the File Manager

My Files (or Files by Google, if you installed it) also has its own dashboard for documents, archives and APK.

1. Open My Files (Yellow folder icon)
2. Go to the Category tab (or Browse in English firmware).
3. Scroll to the Recycle Bin section (may be called Trash or Remote).
4. Press and hold any file to activate the selection mode.
5. Select unnecessary files or tap Select everything.
6. Click Remove Forever (or Clean the Cart)

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI 13 Global) The option to Delete Forever may not be available:

⚠️ Note: If the Remove Forever button is inactive, try first moving files from the Recycle Bin back to the device’s memory (Recover), and then manually removing them through a long tap. → Delete. It's a workaround for a bug in MIUI.

Method 3: Forced cleaning through storage settings

If the recycle bin doesn't open or files aren't deleted, you can use the built-in storage cleaner, which is suitable for all Redmi models, including those that don't have the recycle bin in the interface:

1. Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
2. Slip on the cleanup (or clear the place).
3. Wait for the analysis to be completed (it may take 1-2 minutes).
4. In the Unnecessary Files section, find the Recycle Bin or Deleted Files.
5. Tick and click Clean.

This method is especially useful if:

• 🔄 The basket is "hanging" and does not respond to commands.
• 📱 You. MIUI Lite (simplified version of firmware) where some features are missing.
• 🛠 You suspect files are taking up space but are not displayed in the shopping cart.

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If the empty space is not increased after cleaning the Recycle Bin, check the /storage/emulated/0/.trash folder through any root file manager (such as FX Explorer) and sometimes there are invisible files.

Method 4: Completely remove the basket through ADB (for experienced)

For users who want to permanently delete the shopping cart (including its system files), there is a method through ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

• 🚫 You want to disable the Recycle Bin completely so that files are deleted immediately.
• 🔧 The basket is damaged and not cleaned in standard ways.
• 📦 You need to free up space occupied by hidden basket files.

Instructions:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install it. ADB-Drivers and open the command line in the folder with adb.exe.
4. Follow the commands in order: adb devices adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.gallery.trash pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.documentsui.trash
5. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: Removal of system components of the cart may result in:

⚠️ Warning: Once these commands are executed, all files in the Recycle Bin will be deleted without recovery, and the Recycle Bin function will be disabled.

Method 5: Cleaning the Recycle Bin through the Mi Cloud

If you use Mi Cloud to sync files, deleted data can be duplicated in the cloud bin to clear it:

1. Open the Mi Cloud app (or go to i.mi.com from PC).
2. Sign in with your Xiaomi account.
3. Go to the Gallery or Files section.
4. Find the Cart (or Trash) tab.
5. Select files and click Delete Forever.

Please note:

• ☁️ Files in the cloud bin are stored for 60 days (as opposed to 15-30 days on the device).
• 🔄 Cleaning a cloud cart doesn’t free up space on your phone – only in cloud storage.
• 📲 If you delete files from your phone and they are automatically uploaded to Mi Cloud, you need to delete them in both places.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after cleaning the cart, Xiaomi Redmi users may face a number of problems.

1.The basket is not cleaned or "hung"

If nothing happens when you press Clean:

• 🔄 Reboot the device – it will reset temporary errors MIUI.
• 📥 Update the Gallery apps and My files via Google Play.
• 🛠 Clear the cache of these apps: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Gallery/My files → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

2 Files deleted from the cart, but space has not vacated

It's because of:

• 🗑 Hidden Files: Use a root file manager (such as Root Explorer) and manually delete the.trash, trash, and Recycle folders.
• 🔄 App cache: clear the cache through Settings → Warehouse → Cache data.
• ☁️ Cloud Sync: Check Mi Cloud as described in Method 5.

3.The basket is not in the file manager

On some models (e.g. Redmi 9A or Redmi 8), the Recycle Bin in My Files is disabled by default to activate it:

1. Open My files.
2. Tap on three points (⋮) top-right.
3. Select Settings.
4. Enable the basket option (if any).

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If the Recycle Bin is not in the settings, then your model or firmware does not support it, in which case the files are deleted irrevocably, and they can only be restored through specialized programs (for example, DiskDigger).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions