Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face a shortage of space, even if the device seems to be full of resources. One of the hidden reasons for overflowing storage is the system folder, where deleted files are sent before they are permanently erased, and many users forget about its existence, allowing unnecessary photos and documents to take up gigabytes of valuable space for months.
The process of deleting data in the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS is organized to protect you from accidental loss of important information. When you press the delete button, the file does not disappear without a trace, but moves to the buffer zone. Understanding how to properly manage this buffer will help you maintain order and speed of your gadget.
In this article, we will take a look at the nuances of working with deleted files on Xiaomi devices. We will look at the regular system tools, third-party applications and hidden features that will help you (finally) get rid of digital garbage. You will learn where to look for a “basket” in different system applications and how to set up automatic cleaning.
The principle of the basket in MIUI and HyperOS
Unlike desktop operating systems, where the shopping cart is a single centralized storage for everything, Android mobile OS is more complicated. On Xiaomi smartphones, each application has its own isolated storage for remote data. This means that a photo removed from the gallery will not appear in the file manager basket, and vice versa.
The system buffer works on the principle of FIFO (First In, First Out) or after the expiration of the storage period. Usually files are stored there for 30 days, after which they are deleted automatically. However, you should not rely on a timer if you need to make room right now to install a heavy application or update the system.
⚠️ Warning: Deleting files from the Recycle Bin is an irreversible action. Unlike simply deleting files from a folder, recovering data after cleaning the buffer requires complex software and is not always possible.
It's important to distinguish between "delete" and "clean the cart." The first action moves the object to temporary storage, the second - erases it physically from flash memory. For most users of the Redmi Note or Xiaomi Mi series, the second operation is the key to freeing up space.
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Before mass cleaning, it is recommended to manually review the contents of the basket so as not to accidentally delete important screenshots or documents that you planned to save.
Cleaning the basket in the standard gallery
The largest storage of remote data is usually the Gallery app, and that's where all your photos and videos come in. The newer versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14 may have a slightly different interface, but the logic remains the same.
To start, open the Gallery app and go to the Album tab. Scroll down to the end. There you will find Deleted. This is where all the media you've been scrapping in the last 30 days is located, and this folder can be up to a few gigabytes if you're actively shooting 4K video.
Inside the folder, you can select individual files or use the mass delete function. Click on Clear or select all items through the control menu. The system will ask you to confirm the action, since it will not be possible to restore images with standard means after that.
- 📸 Open the Gallery app and go to the Albums section.
- 🗑️ Scroll down and find the folder Deleted.
- ✅ Click Clear or select files manually to delete.
- 🔒 Confirm the action in the system window that appears.
Delete files through the Explorer
The second most important place is the system file manager, which is often referred to as Explorer or File Manager on Xiaomi smartphones, APK-Files, music and archives. The way it works is like a gallery, but the way it works can be hidden deeper.
Run Explorer. On the home screen, you'll see file categories and recent documents. You'll need to click on the menu icon (usually three bars or dots) in the top corner, or find a separate Recycle Bin tab in the bottom navigation menu. If you don't see this item, it's possible that the Recycle Bin feature is disabled in the app's settings.
Inside, you'll see a list of all the deleted files with the date of deletion, which is easy to sort, you can filter the files by age and delete only the files that have been there for a long time. Remember, the cleanup here doesn't affect the photos from the Gallery, because these are different logical sections of the system.
⚠️ Note: File Manager may not display the Recycle Bin if you use a third-party app instead of a system one.For complete cleaning, use only Xiaomi's full-time File Manager.
What if the basket in the conductor is empty, but the memory is occupied?
Specifics of cleaning in Google Photos and the Cloud
Many Xiaomi users use sync with Google services, in which case deleted photos can be duplicated in the cloud storage, and it is important to understand the difference: when you delete a photo from the cloud, you clear space on both the server and the device (if sync is enabled).
Open the Google Photos app. Click on your profile avatar or the Library button. Find the Recycle Bin. It stores deleted items for 60 days (for Google One subscribers) or 30 days (for regular users). Clean up here will free up space in your Google account, which can be critical if the 15GB limit is already exhausted.
It's also worth checking your sync settings. Sometimes files deleted locally on your phone stay in the cloud, and vice versa. To clean them completely, you need to check both, which is especially true for owners of low-end Redmi models with a small amount of internal memory.
| Source of files | Storage period | Impact on phone memory | Impact on the cloud |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Gallery | 30 days | Takes up space. | It doesn't. |
| Conductor | 30 days | Takes up space. | It doesn't. |
| Google Photo | 30-60 days | Depends on synchronization. | He's taking a quota. |
| Mi Cloud | 30 days | Depends on the settings. | He's taking a quota. |
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Cleaning the cart in Google Photos and Xiaomi Gallery are two different processes that need to be done separately for maximum effect.
Third-party cleaning applications
If standard tools are not enough or you want to automate the process, you can use third-party utilities. There are many client apps in the Google Play store, but you need to be careful with Xiaomi: aggressive cleaners can conflict with system optimization of MIUI.
A popular solution is Files by Google, which has a built-in secure deletion feature and can find duplicate files, and there are specialized utilities like Clean Master or SD Maid that can clean out the remnants of remote programs and cache.
When installing such software, be sure to check the permissions requested. The application does not need access to your contacts or calls to clean files. Use only proven high-rated programs to avoid infecting the device with an ad virus.
- 🛡️ Download a proven cleaning app (e.g. Files by Google).
- 🔍 Start scanning the system for debris.
- ⚙️ Give the necessary permissions to access files only.
- 🗑️ Perform a cleanup and check the vacated space in the settings.
Automation and security settings
To avoid manual cleaning all the time, you can set up automatic removal. Some versions of MIUI and the Safety app (green zipper icon) have a "Memory Cleanup" feature that allows you to set an interval over which the basket will be cleaned automatically.
Go to the Security app, select Cleanup, and see the deep cleaning settings, and you can enable deleting old files from the gallery basket and junk apps, which will help keep your smartphone on top of your head without you.
It is also recommended to check the DCIM and Download folder regularly. Sometimes files are deleted from the gallery, but copies of them remain in the system folders due to synchronization errors or malfunctions in the work of editorial applications. Manual verification once a month is the best prevention of memory shortage.
⚠️ Warning: Do not install more than one active antivirus or cleaner at the same time.They may conflict over access to the file system, which will lead to a freeze in the interface Xiaomi.