Where to look for a shopping cart on Xiaomi phone: all ways to find deleted files

You accidentally deleted an important file on your Xiaomi and can't find it now? Or just want to figure out how the MIUI remote storage system works? Unlike computers where the basket is always in plain sight, on Xiaomi smartphones, its location depends on the type of files and the firmware version. In this article, we will discuss in detail where the basket is stored on different Redmi, POCO and Mi models, how to recover deleted photos, videos or documents, and what to do if standard methods do not work.

It is important to understand that Xiaomi does not have a single “basket” for all types of files – the system uses different mechanisms for media files, documents and applications. For example, photos and videos from the gallery go to one temporary folder, and files deleted through the File Manager to another. Moreover, in the new versions of MIUI 14/15, the storage logic has changed, so the instructions for older smartphones may not be suitable. We will consider all the current methods, including hidden functions and third-party utilities.

Where is the photo and video basket on Xiaomi

The most common question users ask is how to return deleted photos, which Xiaomi smartphones have a built-in shopping cart in the Gallery app, which works on the principle of “soft removal”: files are not erased immediately, but moved to temporary storage, where they lie for 15 to 30 days (depending on the model and settings).

To open the basket:

• 📱 Open the Gallery app (Icon with Camera).
• 🔍 In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) or swipe left on the menu.
• 🗑️ Select the Recycle Bin (Trash or Recently Deleted in English firmware).
• 🔄 Here you'll see all the deleted photos and videos. To recover, select the files and click Restore.

If you can't see the basket item, check:

• 🔄 Update the Gallery app via Google Play.
• 📱 On older models (Redmi Note 5, Mi) A1) The cart may not be available – use Google Photos.
• ⚙️ In the settings of the gallery (Settings) → Recycle Bin) check if automatic backup is enabled.

If the cart is empty but you are sure that the files have been deleted recently, try:

1. Restart your phone – sometimes files are displayed after restart.
2. Check the DCIM/.thumbnails folder through the file manager – there may be thumbnails left.
3. Use Google Photos: If sync was enabled, files could be saved to the cloud.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global POCO F3) The gallery basket is hidden. To activate it, go to Gallery Settings. → Additionally. → Show the basket.

Recycle Bin in Xiaomi File Manager: Where to Look for Deleted Documents

For all other files (documents, APKs, archives, etc.), Xiaomi uses a separate basket in the standard File Manager. Unlike the gallery, the files are stored for only 10 days, after which they are permanently deleted.

Instructions:

1. Open the File Manager application (folder icon).
2. In the lower menu, select Categories.
3. Scroll down and find the Trash or Recycle Bin.
4. Click on the file, then choose Restore or Delete permanently.

If the basket is missing:

• 🔄 Update the File Manager to the latest version.
• 📁 Check Hidden Folders: Go to Manager Settings → Show hidden files.
• 🔍 Use search for the keyword trash or.trash in manual mode.

Is the file manager from Xiaomi open (not third-party)|

Is the application updated to the latest version?|

Is the display of hidden folders in the settings included?|

Have all categories (images, videos, documents) been checked)-->

Features of the work:

• 📄 Files deleted through Google Files or other managers are not included in the Xiaomi shopping cart.
• 🗃️ Folders are deleted without recovery (only their contents can be saved).
• 🔒 System files (e.g. from /system) don't get in the basket.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI for POCO (for example, POCO X3 Pro, the recycle bin in the file manager may be called Recent Deletions, and if it's not, try resetting the manager's settings to Settings. → Annexes → File manager → Warehouse → Clear the data.

How to recover files if the basket is empty

If you don't find files in the standard bins, don't despair -- there are a few ways to get them back. The rule is, the less you use your phone after you delete it, the better the chances of recovery. When you delete it, you don't physically erase files, you just make room for the new data.

• ❌ Do not install new applications.
• ❌ Don’t take photos or videos.
• ❌ Do not copy large files to your device.

Recovery methods:

More about each method:

1. Recovery via Google Photos

If your Xiaomi has been enabled sync with Google Photos:

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Click on the avatar. → Basket.
3. Select files and click Restore.

The storage period in the Google Photos basket is 60 days.

2. DiskDigger application (without root)

The free DiskDigger app scans your phone’s memory for deleted files:

1. Download DiskDigger from Google Play.
2. Select Basic Scan (without root).
3. Wait for the scan to finish and select the files for recovery.
4. Save them to the cloud or on PC.

💡

If DiskDigger can’t find files, try a Basic Scan with a filter type (e.g. JPG or MP4) that will speed up the process and improve accuracy.

3. PC Recovery (Recuva, EaseUS)

For deep scanning you will need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Recuva or EaseUS Data Recovery.
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (original for stable connection).
• 🔓 Debugging authorization USB (included in the settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC in File Transfer mode.
2. Start Recuva, select the file type (e.g. Images).
3. Specify your phone’s drive and start scanning.
4. Once completed, select the files and restore them to the PC.

⚠️ Note: When recovering from a PC, do not save files back to your phone, this can overwrite deleted data.

Hidden Recycle Bin folders: Where Xiaomi stores deleted files physically

If you want to manually find the files in the cart (for example, for backup), they are stored in hidden folders.

To see these folders:

1. Open the file manager.
2. Go to Settings. → Show hidden files.
3. Enter the path manually in the address bar (if any).
4. Copy the files to a safe place.

Important! Do not modify or delete files in these folders manually, this can disrupt the basket. If you need to free up space, use standard cleanup through Settings → Storage → Cleanup.

Why Xiaomi’s Recycle Bin Won’t Work

Sometimes users find that the shopping cart does not display deleted files or is not in the menu at all.

• 🔄 Outdated firmware: On MIUI 11 and below the basket may not be available. → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 📱 Phone model: On budget models (Redmi) 9A, POCO C31) The cart can be turned off to save memory.
• ⚙️ Sync settings: If backup in Google Photos or Mi Cloud is disabled, files are deleted irrevocably.
• 🗑️ Manual Cleaning: When using Deep Cleaning in Security App, the shopping cart can be cleaned automatically.
• 🛠️ Castom firmware: On unofficial firmware (for example, LineageOS), the Xiaomi basket does not work.

Decisions:

• 🔄 Update the Gallery and File Manager via Google Play.
• ⚙️ Check your cloud storage settings (Settings) → Accounts. → Mi Cloud).
• 📱 For older models, use third-party apps (e.g. Dumpster).
• 🔧 If the Recycle Bin is missing after the update, reset the application settings (Settings) → Annexes → Resetting application settings).

💡

If the Recycle Bin doesn't work, check the MIUI version and update the standard applications, and 90% of the time, the problem is solved by updating the gallery or file manager.

How to permanently delete files from Xiaomi Recycle Bin

If you want to permanently erase files (for example, before selling your phone), standard deleting from the cart is not enough, data can be recovered using special utilities, to ensure that files are deleted:

Ways:

1. Recycle Bin: In Gallery: Recycle Bin → Delete Everything. In File Manager: Recycle Bin → Clear.
2. Formatting: Go to Settings → Storage → Cleanup → Deep Cleanup. Choose Clear all data (this will delete everything, including cache).
3. Encrypted Deletion: Use applications like Secure Eraser or Shreddit to overwrite data.
4. Reset to factory settings: The most reliable way: Settings → About phone → Reset settings → Erase all data.

⚠️ Warning: If you sell or transfer a phone, be sure to reset to factory settings and disable your Mi Account (Settings) → Accounts. → Mi Account → Otherwise, the new owner will be able to recover your data.

Frequent questions about the cart on Xiaomi