How to completely clean the basket on the Xiaomi smartphone: instructions for all versions of MIUI

The Xiaomi smartphone basket is a temporary storage for deleted files that many users forget to check, and over time, it gets stuffed with unnecessary photos, videos and documents, taking up precious space in the device’s memory. If you notice that your Redmi, POCO or Mi are running out of space, the first thing you should look at is here.

In this article, we will break down all the ways to clean the cart – from standard methods through the Gallery and File Manager to hidden functions. MIUI, You will also learn how to recover accidentally deleted files from the recycle bin (it is possible within 30 days!) and why some files are not deleted even after cleaning. MIUI 14 and HyperOS.

Where is the basket on Xiaomi and how to open it

Unlike computers where the basket is visible on the desktop, on Xiaomi smartphones, its location depends on the type of files.

• 📷 Gallery - Removed photos and videos are stored here (up to 30 days). → tap three points in the upper right corner → pick the basket.
• 📁 File Manager – Universal storage for all types of files (documents, APK, The path: Files → Categories → Recycled cart (or recently deleted).
• 🎵 Music – If you delete audio files through the standard Mi Music app, they will end up in a separate bin inside it.

Important: the Recycle Bin in MIUI is not a single storage, for example, files deleted through Google Photos will be in the Recycle Bin of this application, not in the system one, and some third-party file managers (such as ES Explorer) will create their own Recycle Bin.

If you don't find the cart in the places you're looking at, check the display settings. In some versions of MIUI (like the POCO F5 or Redmi Note 12), the cart is hidden by default.

1. Open Settings → Additional → File Manager.
2. Activate the switch Show the basket.
3. Reboot your smartphone if the changes don’t apply.

Method 1: Cleaning the basket through the Gallery (photos and videos)

The easiest method is to remove unnecessary media from the Gallery app, which is suitable for all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi 10, POCO X5 Pro and Mi 11.

If the Clean Recycle Bin button is inactive, it means that there are no files in it or they have already been deleted automatically (the system cleans the Recycle Bin every 30 days).

1. Press your finger on any file in the Recycle Bin → select Delete Forever.
2. For mass removal, tap on the basket icon in the upper right corner → Clean everything.

⚠️ Note: files deleted from the Gallery Recycle Bin will not be recoverable. If you accidentally erase an important photo, try using programs like DiskDigger or Recuva (root rights required).

Method 2: Cleaning through File Manager (all file types)

The File Manager system allows you to delete not only media, but also documents, APKs, archives and other data. The interface may vary depending on the version of MIUI, but the general logic is the same:

1. Open the Files app (the folder icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the Category → Cart (or Recently Deleted) tab.
3. Slip on three points at the top → Control → Clean the basket.

If the cart is empty but the phone’s memory is still busy, check the hidden folders:

/storage/emulated/0/.trash


/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.gallery/cache/trash

These directories contain temporary bin files to clear them:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC via USB (in File Transfer mode).
2. Enable the display of hidden folders in Windows Explorer (View → Hidden Elements).
3. Remove the contents of the.trash folders manually.

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If the.trash folder doesn’t open, try using a root-access file manager like Root Explorer or FX File Manager.

Method 3: Automatically clean the basket on schedule

MIUI allows you to set up automatic deletion of files from the recycle bin after a certain period of time, which is convenient if you don't want to manually monitor the release of memory.

1. Open the Settings → Storage.
2. Put it on the cleanup. → Cleaning settings.
3. Turn on the Auto Clean Cart switch.
4. Choose a period of 7 days, 15 days or 30 days.

On some models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 or POCO M5), this option is hidden in the menu Additional → File Manager → Autoclean. If you don’t find it, upgrade to the latest version of MIUI.

⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Cloud cloud storage, the files in the Recycle Bin can sync with Xiaomi servers, which means that even after cleaning the Recycle Bin on your phone, they will remain in the cloud for another 30 days. → Basket → Clear it all up.

Method 4: Cleaning the Recycle Bin via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work (e.g., the cart won’t open or files aren’t deleted), you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and basic command line knowledge.

Before we start:

• 🔧 Install. ADB and Fastboot Tools on PC.
• 📱 Turn on Debugging. USB on a smartphone: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Tap 7 times to activate the developer mode) → Go back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB.
• 🔌 Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (select File Transfer Mode).

Now run the following commands in the terminal (or Command Prompt):

adb devices


adb shell




su




rm -rf /storage/emulated/0/.trash/*




rm -rf /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.gallery/cache/trash/*

If the su command is not working, then your device has no root rights, in which case use an alternative method:

adb shell


pm clear com.miui.gallery

This command will reset the Gallery settings, including the Recycle Bin, but will not affect the files themselves.

Method 5: Recover files from the Recycle Bin (if deleted accidentally)

If you have deleted important files from the recycle bin, you can try to restore them within 30 days (if they have not been permanently deleted by the system).

1. Open the Gallery → Recycle Bin (or Files → Recycle Bin).
2. Select the desired files with a long tap.
3. Click Restore (Icon with arrow down).

If files have already been removed from the shopping cart, try specialized programs:

• 📱 DiskDigger (for Android, works without root, but with limitations).
• 💻 Recuva or EaseUS Data Recovery (requires a phone connection to a PC in Mass Storage mode).
• 🔍 Dr.Fone (a paid solution with a high recovery rate).

⚠️ Attention: the more you use your smartphone after deleting files, the lower your chances of recovering them, because new data overwrites old memory sectors. If files are critical, disconnect your phone from the Internet right away and don't save anything new.

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The files in Xiaomi's shopping cart are stored encrypted, and even if you connect your phone to your PC, you can't read them without special tools, so it's better to recover data through your smartphone or with professional software.

Why the cart is not cleaned and how to fix it

Sometimes users are faced with the fact that the shopping cart on Xiaomi is not cleaned or files remain in it even after clicking Delete.

If none of the methods worked, reset the Gallery settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the gallery → Warehouse → Clear the data.
3. Confirm action. Attention: this will delete all the settings of the application, but it will not affect the files themselves.

On HyperOS models (such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), the cart may work differently. If you upgrade to a new firmware and run into problems, try rolling back on MIUI 14 or wait for a patch from Xiaomi.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the cart on Xiaomi