How to enter the cart on Xiaomi devices: TVs, smartphones and tablets

The Recycle Bin on Xiaomi devices is a temporary storage for deleted files, from which they can be restored within 30 days (on smartphones) or 15 days (on TVs). Many users face the problem of accessing this section: the icon disappears, the system requires a password, the files are not displayed. In this article, we will analyze all the official and hidden ways to log into the shopping cart on different devices of the brand, from Mi TV to Redmi Note.

The Xiaomi shopping cart is a feature that depends on the firmware version, device model and even regional settings. For example, on TVs with MIUI TV below version 3.0, the basket can be turned off by default, and on smartphones with MIUI 14+, it is hidden in the depths of the settings. We tested all methods on current firmware (data as of June 2026), so the instructions will work even for new devices like Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Mi TV Q2 2026.

If you delete important files and want them back, or just want to clear the memory-free bin, this article will help. On Xiaomi TVs, the Recycle Bin only stores deleted files if they were erased through the built-in file manager, not through third-party apps. On smartphones, the rule is different: the Recycle Bin is active for all deleted files except those deleted through the Gallery with the option "Delete Forever" enabled.

Method 1: Standard file manager login (for smartphones and tablets)

The most obvious way is through the built-in Files app (or File Manager on global firmware), which works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones running MIUI 12-14, as well as on Xiaomi Pad tablets.

Instructions:

1. Open the Files app (a blue background folder icon).
2. In the lower menu, tap on the "Basket" section (dumpster icon).
3. If there is no partition, swipe your finger left over the bottom panel to reveal hidden tabs.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI 13 for Redmi Note 10 Pro, the cart may be called "Recently Deleted." If the icon is missing, go to Method 2.

What to do in the smartphone cart:

• 📁 Restore files – select the necessary ones, click “Restore” and select a folder.
• 🗑️ Clean completely - the "Clean the basket" button in the upper right corner.
• ⏳ View the retention period – next to each file, it is indicated how many days remain before automatic deletion.

Select files for recovery | Make sure your device has enough memory | Check the deletion date (files older than 30 days are not restored) | After recovery, restart your device

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2. Method 2: Login through system settings (if the basket is hidden)

If the standard path didn’t work, the basket could be disabled in settings or hidden due to firmware features, a method that is suitable for devices where the partition is not displayed in the file manager but is functionally present in the system.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, enter Files and select File Manager.
3. Put it on Storage, then Clear Data (this will reset the manager’s settings, but won’t delete files!).
4. Close the settings and reopen the Files – the Recycle Bin section should appear.

🔹 An alternative path for MIUI 14+:

Settings → Additional → Special features → System functions → Enable the cart

If the basket has not appeared after resetting, check:

• 📱 Version MIUI — firmware MIUI 12 basket may be missing.
• 🌍 Firmware region - on Chinese versions (China) ROM) basket sometimes off.
• 🔄 Updates – Install the latest version of Files via Google Play or App Store.

Yes, it works smoothly |I have but it often glitches |No basket in the file manager |I don't know, I haven't checked |Another situation

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3. Method 3: Log in to the cart on Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV)

On Xiaomi Mi TVs (series A, Q, S, P, etc.), the shopping cart works differently than on smartphones. It stores files deleted through the built-in Media Player or File Manager, but not through third-party apps like Kodi or VLC. It is 15 days old.

How to open the cart on Mi TV:

1. Launch the File Manager app (the folder icon on the home screen).
2. In the left side menu, select the item "Basket" (dumpster icon).
3. If there is no item, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Show basket".

⚠️ Attention: On TVs with firmware MIUI TV below 3.0, the basket can be disabled by default. To activate it, run the command through ADB:

adb shell settings put global trash_can_enabled 1

After you enter the command, restart the TV.

Features of the basket on Mi TV:

Method 4: Entering through ADB (for power users)

If the cart doesn’t open with standard methods, you can access it via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that works for all Xiaomi devices, but requires USB debugging and basic command line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: On Smartphone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (Tap 7 times). On TV: Settings → About TV → MIUI TV Version (Tap 5 times).

USB debugging

Settings → Additional → For Developers

adb shell am start -n com.android.documentsui/.trash.TrashActivity

If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative route:

adb shell content query --uri content://com.android.externalstorage.documents/trash

⚠️ Note: On certain devices (e.g, POCO F5 The path to the basket may be different. ADB Is an Activity not found error, so the cart is disabled at the system level - try updating the firmware or using Method 5.

💡

Before working with ADB, back up your data! Commands like adb shell rm -rf /data/trash/* can permanently delete files from the bin.

5. Method 5: Restoring access through resetting settings

If the Recycle Bin stopped opening after an update or system crash, a partial reset will help, and this method will not delete your files, but will return the standard MIUI settings.

Instructions for smartphones:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select “Reset App Settings” (not to be confused with a full reset!).
3. After the reboot, check for the basket in the file manager.

For TVs:

1. Open Settings → About TV → Reset and Update.
2. Select "Reset application settings."
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

⚠️ Note: When using recovery software, do not save new files to the device - they can overwrite deleted data, making it impossible to recover. It is better to remove the memory card (if any) and connect it to the PC through a card reader.

🔹 How to Increase Your Chances of Recovery:

1. Disconnect your device from the internet (to avoid automatic data synchronization and overwriting).
2. Do not install new applications or update existing ones.
3. Use the aircraft mode until recovery is complete.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi cart