How to open a cart on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Did you accidentally delete an important file on a Xiaomi smartphone and now you can't find it? Or just want to clear the memory by removing unnecessary data from the cart? Unlike computers where the basket is always in plain sight, on Xiaomi phones (and other Android devices), this section is hidden deeper. But that doesn't mean it's not there! In this article, we'll go through all the possible ways to access the cart, from standard methods to hidden MIUI features.

It's important to understand that Xiaomi's shopping cart works differently than it does on a PC. There's no single trash can for all types of files. Instead, each application (Gallery, Explorer, Records) stores deleted data in its own shopping cart. And some files (like messengers) can be deleted irrevocably once you click "Delete." So you need to act quickly!

1. The basket in the Gallery appendix (photo and video)

The most obvious way is to use the built-in shopping cart in the standard Gallery app, where all deleted photos and videos are stored for 30 days (by default), and then they are erased automatically.

To open the basket:

1. Launch the Gallery app (an icon with multi-colored squares).
2. Slip on three horizontal lines (☰) top-right.
3. In the drop-down menu, select the basket item.
4. You'll see a list of deleted files. To recover, click on the file and select Restore.

If the item is not on the menu, it means:

• 🔹 You're using old versions. MIUI (up to 12) — the basket was called Recently deleted.
• 🔹 The function is disabled in the settings. To enable: go to Gallery Settings → Basket and activate slider.
• 🔹 You deleted files through another app (like Google Photos) and they will be in your shopping cart.

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If you don’t see deleted files in the Gallery Recycle Bin, try updating the app via Google Play. In older versions of MIUI (up to 11), the Recycle Bin may not work smoothly.

2. Recycle Bin in "Conductor" (all types of files)

Unlike the Gallery, Xiaomi's standard Explorer (File app) doesn't have a separate shopping cart, but it does have a recently deleted feature that works on the same principle, and it's only available for files deleted through the Explorer itself.

Instructions:

1. Open the Files app (folder icon).
2. In the lower menu, select the Categories section.
3. Scroll down and tap on the recently deleted ones.
4. Select files to recover and click Restore.

Please note:

• 📁 Files are only stored here for 15 days (instead of 30 in the Gallery).
• 📁 If you deleted a file through another application (such as Total Commander), it won’t appear in this section.
• 📁 In some Xiaomi firmware (for example, for the European region), the recently deleted section may not be available.

3. Recycle Bin in Mi Cloud (cloud storage)

If you use the Mi Cloud (and it was turned on when you deleted it), then deleted files can be stored in the cloud basket, which is true for photos, videos, documents and notes synchronized with your Xiaomi account.

How to restore:

1. Open the Mi Cloud app (or go to i.mi.com).
2. Sign in with your Xiaomi account.
3. Go to the Recycle Bin section (in the mobile application it can hide behind the “More” button or «⋮»).
4. Select files and click Restore.

Important nuances:

• ☁️ Files are stored in the cloud basket for 60 days – longer than in the local.
• ☁️ If you deleted a file recently, it may not be able to sync to the cloud yet. Wait 5-10 minutes and check again.
• ☁️ Internet access is required for recovery.

4. Google Photos Recycle Bin (if used)

Many Xiaomi users either default or knowingly use Google Photos instead of the standard Gallery, in which case deleted photos and videos end up in the Google shopping cart, not Xiaomi.

To recover files:

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Slip on your avatar in the upper right corner.
3. Pick the basket.
4. Click on the file and select Restore.

Features:

• 📸 Files are stored in Google Recycle Bin for 60 days.
• 📸 If you delete a file from Google Photos, it will disappear from the Xiaomi Gallery (and vice versa if sync is enabled).
• 📸 Recovered files will appear in both applications.

Make sure the file has not been deleted more than 30/60 days ago.

Check if there is enough room on the phone to recover.

Turn off automatic synchronization (if you need to restore without taking)

Close other applications that work with files-->

5. Alternative methods: Recovery without a basket

If a file is not in any of the bins, it doesn't mean it's lost forever.

The most reliable way is to back up regularly, and MIUI has a built-in backup feature:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup.
2. Choose Local Backup or Cloud Backup.
3. Specify what data to save (contacts, messages, files).
4. Click Create a backup copy.

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If a file was deleted more than 30 days ago and didn't make it to the recycle bin, the chances of recovery drop rapidly, and the more you use your phone (installing apps, taking photos), the less likely you are to return the data.

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Many users lose files permanently due to simple errors.

⚠️ Note: If you delete a file and want to restore it, do not install new applications or take photos / videos. New data can overwrite deleted files to internal memory, making recovery impossible.

Other common mistakes:

• 🚫 Cleaning the cart manually without checking the contents.Many users click Clear the cart without realizing it deletes files permanently.
• 🚫 Using "memory optimizers." Apps like Clean Master often clean the cart without warning.

To minimize the risks:

• 🔧 Set up automatic backup in Mi Cloud or Google Drive.
• 🔧 Check your cart periodically for important files.
• 🔧 Use two baskets: the standard one (MIUI) Google Photos.

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If you frequently delete files by mistake, enable deletion confirmation in the Gallery settings: Settings → Delete Confirmation. This will add an additional step before deletion.

7.Comparison of baskets on Xiaomi and other brands

The cart function works differently on phones from different manufacturers, and for clarity, compare Xiaomi to other popular brands:

As you can see from the table, Xiaomi is not the most convenient system in terms of shopping carts, but it has the advantage of long-term storage in the Mi Cloud (60 days vs. 15-30 for competitors), if you are actively using the cloud, the chances of recovering files are higher.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the cart on Xiaomi