How to completely clean the cart on Xiaomi Mi A2: instructions with nuances

Xiaomi Mi A2 is one of the few smartphones of the brand that runs on a “clean” Android One instead of the proprietary shell MIUI. This feature affects the mechanism of the basket: there is no usual application “Files” from Xiaomi, and the logic of storing deleted data depends on the file manager used. As a result, users often face problems: the basket is not cleaned, files “hang” in memory, and standard methods do not work.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven methods of cleaning the basket on the Mi A2 – from basic to hidden Android functions. Also explain why files can remain in memory after deleting, how to recover accidentally erased data and what to do if the basket is “hung”.

Why the Mi A2 cart doesn’t behave like other Xiaomis

The main reason for confusion is the lack of MIUI. On most Xiaomi devices, the shopping cart is integrated into the standard Files app (com.mi.android.globalFileexplorer), where deleted items are stored for 30 days. On the Mi A2, this application is not out of the box, so the logic depends on:

• 📁 File Manager: Google Files, Solid Explorer, FX File Manager, etc. – each has its own cart mechanism (or lack thereof).
• 🖼️ Galleries: Google Photos, Gallery Go, or third-party apps (like QuickPic) can create their own shopping carts.
• 🗑️ Android system settings: in the “pure” Android basket is implemented fragmentary – only for media files through MediaProvider.

For example, if you delete a photo through Google Photos, it will go to the app's shopping cart and be stored there for 60 days, and if you delete the same file through Files by Google, it can disappear forever or move to the.Trash folder on the internal drive, which often leads to users being unable to find exactly where the deleted files are stored.

⚠️ Attention: On Mi A2 There is no single “system basket” as on iPhone or smartphones with MIUI. Deleted files can be scattered across multiple folders and applications. Before cleaning, check all possible sources (see section below).

Method 1: Cleaning the cart in Google Photos (for media files)

If you delete a photo or video through Google Photos, it goes to his internal shopping cart to clean it up:

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Slip on the profile avatar in the upper right corner → select the basket.
3. Press Control (or) ⋮ → Clean the basket).
4. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

Important nuances:

• 🕒 Files are stored in the Recycle Bin for 60 days, after which they are automatically deleted.
• 🔄 If you restore a file from the Recycle Bin, it will return to the original folder (e.g. Camera or Downloads).
• ☁️ Deleted files do not free up space in Google Drive – they are permanently erased from Google servers.

Check if there are any important files (double deletion is irreversible)

Make sure your backups are synced to Google Drive

Close other apps that work with the gallery (e.g. Instagram)

-->

Method 2: Manually delete.Trash folder (for Files by Google)

Files by Google (default on many Mi A2) creates a hidden folder called.Trash at the root of internal memory, and it moves files deleted through this manager to clear it:

1. Open Files by Google.
2. Go to the Cleanup section. → Basket.
3. Select unnecessary files or click Clear Everything.

If the shopping cart in the app doesn’t show up, but you’re sure the files should be there, check the folder manually:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC or use a file manager that supports hidden folders (such as Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /storage/emulated/0/.Trash.
3. Delete the contents of the folder (or the folder itself if it is empty).

⚠️ Note: The.Trash folder may be hidden. In Solid Explorer, enable the display of hidden files in the settings (⋮ → Settings → Do not delete the.Trash folder completely, it will be recreated the next time you delete the file.

Method 3: Cleaning through Gallery Go (alternative gallery)

Many Mi A2 users install Gallery Go, a lightweight version of Google Photos, and the shopping cart works differently in this app:

• 🗑️ Deleted files are stored for 30 days (instead of 60 in Google Photos).
• 📂 The cart is in the application itself: open ⋮ → Basket.
• 🔄 Recovery is possible only within 7 days (after - files are deleted irrevocably).

To clear the basket:

1. Launch Gallery Go.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → Basket.
3. Choose Clear Everything or delete files selectively.

If the shopping cart in Gallery Go does not appear, check:

• 🔄 Update the application to the latest version (older versions may not have had the shopping cart).
• 📱 Make sure you delete files through Gallery Go, not through another manager.

Files by Google|Google Photo|Gallery Go|Solid Explorer|Other |I don't know-->

Method 4: Remove via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don't work, you can clear the cart through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is a way to remove "hang" files in system folders that are not visible in the interface, requires a PC and enabled debugging over USB.

Instructions:

1. Enable Developer Mode on Mi A2: Settings → About Phone → Assembly Number (shap 7 times)
2. Activate USB Debugging in Settings → System → For Developers.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute commands: adb shell rm -rf /storage/emulated/0/.Trash/* rm -rf /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.google.android.apps.photos/files/Trash/*

These commands will clear the Files by Google and Google Photos baskets, respectively. For other applications, the path may be different.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB It can cause data loss or smartphone malfunction.If you are not sure about the commands, use alternative methods (see above).

💡

Before working with ADB, back up your important data via Settings → System → Backup. This will take 5-10 minutes, but save you nerves in case of an error.

Method 5: Reset the cache of media files (if the basket "hangs")

Sometimes, after cleaning the cart, files continue to show up in the gallery or take up space, and this is due to the cache of the media provider, the system service that indexes files, to reset the cache:

1. Go to Settings → Applications and Notifications → Show all apps.
2. Find a media store (or media store).
3. Slip the vault. → Clear the cache.
4. Reboot your smartphone.

After the reboot:

• 🔄 Gallery and file managers rescan memory (may take up time) 1-2 minute).
• 🗑️ "Ghost files from the shopping cart should disappear.
• 📊 The vacated space will be displayed in the Settings → Warehouse.

If the problem persists, manually check folders through DiskUsage Analyzer, which will show which files are taking up space, even if they are not visible in standard managers.

💡

Resetting the cache of media files is a safe procedure, but after that, the thumbnails in the gallery can disappear, they will recover automatically in 5-10 minutes.

How to recover files from the Recycle Bin on Mi A2

If you accidentally cleared your cart or deleted an important file, the chances of recovery depend on:

For recovery:

1. Google Photos: Open the Recycle Bin in the app and recover files within 60 days.
2. Files by Google: Check the.Trash folder (see Method 2).
3. Third-party tools: Use Dumpster (you need to install before deleting files) or DiskDigger (for deep scanning).

⚠️ Warning: After cleaning the cart, do not write new files to your smartphone, which reduces the chances of recovery. The fewer actions you take with memory, the more likely you are to return the data.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the cart on Xiaomi Mi A2