How to enter the cart on Xiaomi devices: a complete guide for smartphones and TV

Have you accidentally deleted an important file on a Xiaomi smartphone or TV and now you don't know how to return it? Or just want to check what's stored in the system's "basket"? On devices with MIUI and HyperOS firmware, the mechanism for working with deleted files is different from the usual Windows or macOS - there is no single universal solution. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to access the basket on Redmi, POCO, Xiaomi and Mi TVs, including hidden functions and tools for data recovery.

It’s important to understand that the concept of a “basket” on Xiaomi depends on the type of device and firmware version. On smartphones, it can be temporary file manager storage or cloud backup, and on TVs, a separate section in the media menu. We’ll look at unique methods for each case, including working with ADB and third-party utilities if the standard methods didn’t work.

1. Recycle Bin in MIUI and HyperOS file managers

On most Xiaomi smartphones (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13, etc.), deleted files are temporarily stored in the basket of a standard file manager.

• 📱 MIUI 12-14: The Recycle Bin is built into the Files app and stores deleted items for up to 30 days.
• 🔄 HyperOS (2026+): The mechanism has changed – now the cart can be hidden or moved to the Mi Cloud.
• ⚠️ Third-party managers (e.g. Google Files): have their own shopping cart that is not connected to the system.

To open the cart in the standard manager:

1. Open the Files app (the folder icon on the desktop).
2. In the bottom menu, tap on Categories → Cart.
3. If there is no item, check the settings: ⋮ (three-point) → Settings → Show the basket.

On some firmware, the basket can be disabled by default to activate it:

1. Go to Settings → Storage → Recycle Bin.
2. Enable the option to Save deleted files.
3. Set a storage period (from 1 to 30 days).

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If the basket is empty, but the files were deleted recently, try to restart the smartphone – sometimes the system does not have time to update the display of deleted data.

2. basket on Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV, Redmi TV)

On Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV Q2, Redmi Smart TV X, etc.), the shopping cart works differently than on smartphones, here it is associated with multimedia files and applications:

• 📺 Local files: deleted videos/photos are stored in the file manager basket (similar to smartphones).
• 🎮 Applications: Remote programs can be restored through Settings → Annexes → Remote (not available on all firmware).
• ☁️ Cloud: If your TV is linked to your Mi Account, check Mi Cloud in the web version.

Instructions for accessing the cart on Mi TV:

1. On the remote, click Home → File Manager.
2. Select the Recycle Bin in the side menu (if there is no item, update the firmware).
3. To recover, click on the file and select Restore.

If you delete the application, not the file, you can restore it as follows:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Installed.
2. Scroll down to Remote Apps (if any).
3. Click on the desired application and select Install.

3. File recovery via Mi Cloud

If files have been synced to the Mi Cloud, they can be recovered even after cleaning the local shopping cart.

• 📱 Photos and videos (automatic synchronization in the Gallery).
• 📄 Documents and Notes (if backup is enabled).
• 🔄 Contacts and messages (synchronized by default).

Step-by-step:

1. Open your browser on your PC or smartphone and go to i.mi.com.
2. Sign in with the same Mi Account as on your device.
3. Go to the section of the basket (on the left menu).
4. Select the files you need and click Restore.

The limitations of Mi Cloud:

• 🕒 Files are stored in the cloud basket for 60 days (as opposed to 30 days on the device).
• 📦 Free rate – only 5 GB (if you exceed the limit, old files are deleted automatically).
• 🔒 Some types of files, for example, APK) non-synchronize.

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Mi Cloud is the only way to recover files after a phone is reset to factory settings or a device breaks down.

4. Access to the cart via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can try accessing the cart via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that is suitable for smartphones and requires the developer mode to be enabled.

Preliminary steps:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times).
2. Activate Debugging by USB in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Install ADB Tools on your PC.

Teams to work with the basket:

adb shell


su




ls /data/media/0/.trash/ # The Way to the Recycle Bin in MIUI




ls /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.mi.android.globalFileexplorer/files/trash/ # Alternative path

If files are found, copy them to the PC:

adb pull /data/media/0/.trash/file.jpg C:\Backup\

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Before working with ADB, back up your data via Settings → My Device → Backup – this will protect you from accidental errors.

Warnings when working with ADB:

⚠️ Attention: Wrong commands ADB This can cause data loss or system failure. Do not change files in folders. /system or /data without understanding the consequences.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5 HyperOS: The path to the cart may be different. Use the find command / -name "trash.

5. Third-party applications for file recovery

If the system basket is empty and the files are not synced with the cloud, you can use third-party utilities.

How to use DiskDigger:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Select Full Scan (requires root for deep search).
3. Wait for the analysis to be completed (it can take up to 30 minutes).
4. Mark the files you need and click Restore.

Important: The less you use your phone after deleting files, the better the chances of recovery. New data can overwrite deleted files!

Frequent problems and their solutions

Xiaomi users often face difficulties when working with the cart. Consider typical situations and ways to solve them:

• 🗑️ Recycle Bin does not appear in the file manager: update the Files app via Google Play or clear its cache (Settings) → Annexes → Files. → Clear the cache).
• ⏳ Files disappear from the basket before 30 days: check the storage settings in Settings → Warehouse → The basket (possibly a shorter period of time).
• 🔒 No access to the basket through ADB: Make sure you have root rights or use alternative pathways (e.g, /storage/emulated/0/.trashcan).
• ☁️ Files are not synced with Mi Cloud: check if the Autoboot option is enabled in the cloud settings and if there is enough free space.

Features on different devices:

• Redmi Note 11/12: The Recycle Bin can be hidden in the recent file manager menu.
• POCO X3/X4: Requires an upgrade to the latest version of MIUI to properly operate the cart.
• Xiaomi 13/14: HyperOS has integrated the Recycle Bin with Mi Cloud, local storage may not be available.
• Mi TV A2/A3: The shopping cart is only available for multimedia files, and apps are restored through the store.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions