How to permanently delete files from the cart on Xiaomi Redmi: the complete guide

Why Files Stay in the Recycle Bin and How to Fix It

You deleted photos or documents on your Xiaomi Redmi, but after a while you found that they still take up space in memory?This is standard MIUI behavior, where deleted files first end up in a "basket" - a temporary storage similar to the computer version. By default, they are stored there for 30 days before they are finally erased. However, many users do not know that the basket can be manually cleaned - and thereby free up additional gigabytes of memory.

Complicating the problem is that Redmi (especially the MIUI 12 and later models) duplicates the basket in several places: in the standard Gallery, the Explore file manager and the Mi Cloud service. If you clean only one of these storages, the files can remain in the other. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to completely remove data from the bin, including hidden system folders that are not visible in the normal interface.

It is important to understand that simply clicking Delete in the gallery does not guarantee that the file will disappear forever.The system can save thumbnails, cache or backups - especially if you have synced with Mi Account enabled.

Method 1: Cleaning the basket in the standard Gallery

The most obvious way is to use the built-in Xiaomi Gallery, which stores all deleted photos and videos that can be restored or permanently erased. The instructions are relevant for all Redmi models (including Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10/13C and others) with MIUI 12-14:

1. Open the Gallery app (an icon with multi-colored squares).
2. Slip along three horizontal lines in the lower right corner (menu).
3. Select the basket item (dumpster icon).
4. Click Clean in the upper right corner or select files manually and tap Delete.
5. Confirm the action by selecting Clean the basket.

⚠️ Note: If you use Google Photos as your main gallery, the Xiaomi shopping cart may be empty - files will be stored in the Google Recycle Bin. To check this, open Settings → Annexes → Application management → gallery → Storage and see how much space the cache takes up.

Check if sync is enabled with Mi Cloud|Reboot your phone and try again |Update the Gallery app in the Mi App Store |Clear the Gallery cache in the app settings-->

Method 2: Delete files from the Explore file manager

The Explore (or “Conductor”) file manager on Xiaomi Redmi has its own recycle bin, which includes all deleted documents, APKs, archives and other files. Unlike the Gallery, here the recycle bin can store data for up to 15 days (the settings vary depending on the version of MIUI) to clean it:

• 📁 Open the Explore app (Icon with folder).
• 🗑️ In the lower menu, select the basket tab.
• 🔍 Check the file list – there may be hidden system files (e.g..nomedia or.thumbdata).
• 🧹 Click Clear or highlight unnecessary files and tap Delete Forever.

If the Clean button is inactive, the cart is already empty, but sometimes the files are left in memory due to a failure.

1. Close Explore through the latest app menu.
2. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Explore → Storage.
3. Click Clear Cache and Clear Data (this will reset the manager’s settings, but will not delete personal files).

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If the memory is not free after cleaning the Recycle Bin, check the /storage/emulated/0/.trash folder through any root file manager (such as Solid Explorer) and sometimes there are invisible files.

Method 3: Cleaning the basket in Mi Cloud (Xiaomi cloud)

Many Redmi users are unaware that their deleted files can automatically sync to the Mi Cloud — especially if Auto Sync is enabled, which means that files disappear from your phone but stay in the cloud, taking up space in your account (free storage limit is 5GB) to clear your cart in the cloud:

• 🌐 Open the Settings. → Mi Account.
• 📱 Slip on your profile and select Mi Cloud.
• 🗑️ Scroll down and find the Recycle Bin section (may be called Deleted Files).
• 🔍 Check the list – there may be files deleted months ago.
• 🧹 Select the unnecessary and click Delete Forever.

⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Cloud for backup, deleting files from the cloud cart will cause them to disappear completely - it will be impossible to restore them.

Method 4: Delete hidden bin files via ADB (for advanced)

If standard methods did not help, and the memory is still occupied by “invisible” files, the problem may lie in the system folders of the basket, which are not displayed in the usual interface. USB team ADB. This method is suitable for users who are ready to work with the console.

Warning: improper use of ADB can cause your phone to crash.If you're not sure about your actions, skip this section.

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging.

adb shell


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




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

Reboot the phone.

These commands will delete all files from the hidden folders of the shopping cart. If you get a Permission denied error, then you do not have root rights, in which case only resetting the phone to factory settings will help (see the next section).

Method 5: Completely reset (if nothing helps)

If after all the manipulations, the files still take up space and the basket is not cleaned, the last resort is a hard reset, which will remove all data from the phone, including apps, settings and personal files.

• 📱 Backup important data (photos, contacts, messages).
• 🔋 Charge your phone at least 50%.
• 📝 Write down the data from your Mi Account (they will be required after the reset).

To perform the discharge:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose to erase all data.
3. Confirm the action by entering the password from Mi Account.
4. Wait until the process is completed (it will take 5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro or Redmi) K40) After reset, you may need to re-assign your Mi Account to unlock.If you forget your password, restore it in advance at account.xiaomi.com.

Once a week | Once a month | Only when memory runs out | Never cleared |I don't know where it is-->

How to prevent the accumulation of files in the basket

To avoid the problem of a crowded cart in the future, set up automatic cleaning and turn off unnecessary synchronization:

• 🔄 In the Gallery: go to Settings → Basket → Autoclean and set a period (e.g. 7 days instead of 30 days).
• ☁️ In Mi Cloud: Turn off automatic download of unnecessary files in Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization.
• 📁 In Explore: in the manager settings, disable the option to Save deleted files (if you have one in your version). MIUI).
• 🗃️ Use third-party file managers (like Files by Google) where the basket is disabled by default.

It’s also a good idea to check the Download folder regularly – unnecessary APKs, archives, and other junk files often accumulate here that don’t make it to the bin, but take up space.

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Even after cleaning the Recycle Bin, files can remain in the app cache. To completely free up memory, periodically clear the cache in Settings → Storage → Clean up.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning the cart on Xiaomi Redmi