The Xiaomi Redmi 7 Recycle Bin is a temporary storage for deleted files that many users forget to check, and over time, it gets clogged with unnecessary photos, videos and documents, taking up precious space in the device’s memory. If you notice that there is less free space on your phone and notifications appear in the gallery or file manager about the overflow of the basket, it’s time to clean it.
In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can clean your Recycle Bin on Redmi 7, including standard MIUI tools and third-party apps, how to delete files from your Recycle Bin forever, why they stay there, what to do if the Recycle Bin doesn’t clear, and how to set up automatic deletion so you don’t have to go back to this problem.
What is the Recycle Bin on Xiaomi Redmi 7 and Where is it?
The Recycle Bin (or Garbage) in Xiaomi Redmi 7 is a system folder where deleted files are temporarily moved, and it works on a soft delete principle: instead of completely erasing the data, it is sent to the Recycle Bin, where it can be recovered within 30 days (by default), which is convenient if you accidentally delete an important file, but creates a problem - over time the Recycle Bin grows to several gigabytes.
Where to find the basket:
- 📁 In the File Manager app** – the Recycle Bin section in the lower menu.
It is important to understand that the Recycle Bin on Redmi 7 is not a single repository. Each application (Gallery, Files, Downloads) can have its own shopping cart, for example, photos deleted through the Gallery will go to one basket, and documents deleted through the Files will go to another.
Method 1: Cleaning the Recycle Bin through the standard Files app
The easiest method is to use the built-in file manager from Xiaomi, which is available on all Redmi smartphones and does not require the installation of additional programs.
- Open the Files app** (folder icon).
- In the bottom menu, tap on the "Basket" section** (dumpster icon).
- Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select “Clean the basket”**.
- Confirm the action in the pop-up window.
If you only need to delete a part of the files:
- 📌 Select unnecessary files with a long tap.
- 🗑️ Click on the basket icon at the bottom of the screen.
- ✅ Confirm removal.
☑️ Preparation for cleaning the basket
An important nuance: in some versions of MIUI, files are not deleted immediately after cleaning the recycle bin, but are marked as “hidden” to make them disappear permanently, restart the phone or wait for the system to automatically optimize (usually at night).
Method 2: Cleaning through the Gallery (for photos and videos)
If you delete photos and videos through a standard Gallery, they're put in a separate shopping cart for this app.
- Open the gallery on Redmi 7.
- Swipe up or click on three points → “Basket”**.
- Slip on "Management" (or "Edit").
- Select all files or select the ones you need manually.
- Press "Delete Forever"**.
The Gallery has a useful feature called auto-cleaning, to set it up:
- Go to the Gallery Settings → Recycle Bin.
- Activate the “Automatic Cleaning” option**.
- Set a storage period (from 1 to 30 days).
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If you have files in the Gallery Recycle Bin that are not deleted, try clearing the app cache. Go to Settings → Apps → Gallery → Storage → Clear the cache.
Method 3: Manual removal via MIUI Storage
If the Recycle Bin is not cleared through Files or Gallery, you can use the System Menu Warehouse, which is suitable for removing "stuck" files that do not want to disappear in standard ways.
Step-by-step:
- Open the Settings → Memory.
- Slip on "Cleaning" (or "Freeing Place").
- The system will scan the device and show you the category "Basket"**.
- Select all the files or select the ones you need.
- Press "Delete"**.
If the menu does not show the cart, it means:
- 🔍 Files have been physically deleted (but the space has not yet been vacated).
- 🔄 You need to restart your phone to update your memory data.
- 🛠️ Recycle bin damaged (solution – see section on restoration).
Why is the memory not released after cleaning the basket?
Method 4: Use of third-party applications (ES Explorer, Files by Google)
If standard methods don't work, you can use third-party file managers to find files that aren't displayed in MIUI. The best options for Redmi 7 are:
- 📂 ES Explorer – Shows hidden folders, including the system basket.
- 🔍 Files by Google – has a built-in garbage cleaning tool.
- 🗃️ Solid Explorer – supports root access (root) for deep cleaning.
Example of cleaning through Files by Google:
- Install an app from the Play Market.
- Open it and go to the “Cleaning” section.
- Select the category “Basket”** or “Unnecessary Files”.
- Click “Clear” and confirm the action.
⚠️ Attention: Some applications (e.g, ES Explorer) request access to Special Options settings. Do not provide it unnecessarily, which can create a vulnerability to viruses.
| Annex | Pluses | Cons | Ratings. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Files by Google | Free, no advertising, Google Drive integration | Doesn't show system folders. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| ES Conductor | Shows hidden files, cloud storage support | Advertising, asking for extra permission | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Solid Explorer | Beautiful interface, support for FTP/root | Paid version for full functionality | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Method 5: Cleaning the Recycle Bin via ADB (for power users)
If the cart is damaged or files are not deleted by any of the above methods, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting the phone to the computer and basic command line knowledge.
Instructions:
- Turn on USB Debugging on Redmi 7: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (Tap 7 times) Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging on USB
- Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line (Windows) or the Terminal (Mac/Linux).
- Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices (should display the serial number of the device).
- Run the command to clean the basket: adb shell rm -rf /storage/emulated/0/.trash/*
Warning: Incorrect use of ADB can lead to the deletion of system files. If you are not sure about your actions, skip this method.
⚠️ Note: Some of the Redmi firmware 7 The path to the basket may be different. To find out, use the command: adb shell ls. -la /storage/emulated/0/ | GREP TRUST This will show the exact address of the garbage folder.
What to do if the cart is not cleaned or gives an error
Sometimes when you try to clear the cart, you get errors like, "Failure to delete" or "File is busy."
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Files are not deleted | The file is used by another application | Close all programs, restart the phone. |
| The basket is empty, but memory is busy. | System cache or corrupted files | Clean the cache through Settings → Memory → Cleanup |
| The "No Access Rights" Error | No permissions for the folder | Use an ADB or file manager with root access |
| The basket won't open. | Damage to MIUI system files | Reset the Files app settings |
If nothing helps, reset the Files app settings**:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Files → Storage.
- Click on “Clear Data” and “Clear Cache”.
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If the Redmi 7 cart stopped working after the MIUI update, try rolling back to the previous firmware version or wait for a patch from Xiaomi.
How to set up automatic cleaning of the basket
To avoid manually cleaning the bin, set up automatic file deletion.
- Open the Files and go to the Recycle Bin.
For the Gallery:
- Open the gallery → three points → “Settings”.
You can also use Google Photos to automatically back up and clean up:
- 📸 Install the Google Photos app.
- 🔄 Enable "Backup and Synchronization»**.
- 🗑️ Select “Free space” in the settings, this will delete files that are already saved in the cloud.
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If you take pictures often, set up Google Photos to automatically remove screenshots and duplicates. Go to Settings → Storage Management → Waste Cleanup.