Recovery of the Recycle Bin on Xiaomi: Recover Deleted Files in 10 Minutes

Have you accidentally cleared a shopping cart on a Xiaomi smartphone or didn't find the right files in it after the MIUI update? Don't panic - even if the shopping cart icon disappeared from the desktop and the files disappeared from the gallery, the chances of recovery remain high. In this article, we will analyze all the working methods, from standard MIUI functions to professional utilities that return photos, videos and documents without loss of quality.

It's important to understand that the Xiaomi Recycle Bin works differently than it does on a computer. There's no single garbage bin for all types of files -- the gallery, the file manager, and the messengers store the deleted data separately. For example, photos from the Gallery end up in the Recycle Bin for 30 days, and files deleted through Explorer can disappear forever in 10 days, and we'll show you how to recover data in each case.

Why Files Are Losing From Xiaomi’s Recycle Bin

Before we recover, we'll figure out where the files go. In MIUI, the bin is not a universal storage, but it's behavior depends on the application you deleted the data through:

• 📷 Xiaomi Gallery: Photos and videos are stored in the cart for 30 days, but when you update the system or reset the settings, the period can be reduced to 7 days.
• 📁 Files: Deleted files disappear after 10 days if they were not recovered earlier.
• 💬 Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp): Media files are deleted from the cart immediately after closing the chat or clearing the history.
• 🔄 Cloud Services (Mi Cloud, Google Photos): The Recycle Bin syncs with the server, and files can be restored even after being deleted on the device.

A critical mistake many users make is manually cleaning the cart through settings. For example, in Settings → Storage → Cleanup, there is a "Clean the Recycle Bin" option that deletes files without being recoverable by standard means. If you clicked on it, go straight to PC methods.

⚠️ Warning: Do not install new applications or shoot videos or photos after deleting files. New data can overwrite deleted data, making recovery impossible.

Method 1: Recovery through a standard MIUI basket

If you deleted files less than 30 days ago and didn't manually clean the trash, try returning them through built-in tools. MIUI 12–14:

1. Open the Gallery app (an icon with a floral logo).
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select the basket.
3. Click Edit → highlight the necessary files → tap Restore.

For files deleted through the Explorer:

1. Run Files by Google or standard Explorer.
2. Go to the basket section (in the lower menu).
3. Select files and click Restore → specify the folder to save.

Check the filters by date in the cart|Make sure that files are deleted through the gallery/Pbreeder|Try restarting your phone.|Update the Gallery app to the latest version-->

If the basket does not open or if it gives an error "No elements", it means:

• 🗑️ The files were deleted more than 30 days ago.
• 🔄 You cleaned the basket manually through the storage settings.
• 📱 On the phone reset to the factory settings.

Method 2: Recovery via Mi Cloud (if synchronized)

Mi Cloud automatically backs up photos, contacts and notes if sync is enabled to check if your files are saved:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select the Gallery or Files → Recycle Bin.
3. Restore the necessary items (the storage period in the cloud is up to 60 days).

If there are no files in the cloud, try:

• 🌐 Go to the web version of Mi Cloud from PC – there can be more backups.
• 📧 Check the Trash folder in Google Photos (if sync with Google was enabled).

⚠️ Note: When recovering from Mi Cloud, files can be downloaded in compressed quality (especially photos). Originals are only saved when manually backed up.

Mi Cloud|Google Photo|Both options|Do not use |Other service-->

Method 3: Recovery programs without root rights

If the standard methods didn't work, connect your phone to your PC and use specialized utilities. We tested the programs on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro and POCO X3 Pro, the best results were:

Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger (free version):

1. Download the program from the official website.
2. Connect Xiaomi to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. Select the phone drive in the program → press Dig Deep (deep scan).
4. After analysis, mark the files for recovery and save them to the PC.

💡

If the program doesn’t see the phone, turn on USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Additional → For developers.

Importantly, the longer you use your phone after deleting it, the less likely you are to recover, and programs look for signatures of files, and new data can overwrite them.

Method 4: Recovery with ADB (for power users)

If you have access to the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), you can try extracting files directly from your phone’s memory, which works even without root rights, but requires command line skills.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB Xiaomi.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to your PC and open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd).
2. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
3. Back up the data section: adb backup -f C:\backup.ab -apk -obb -shared -all On the phone confirm reservation (do not set a password).
4. Unclick backup.ab with Android Backup Extractor.

⚠️ Note: This method does not restore the files themselves, but their backups. If backup is disabled in the settings, the data may be incomplete.

Method 5: Contact Xiaomi Service Center

If files are critical (such as documents or unique photos) and self-recovery didn’t work, contact Xiaomi’s authorized service center.

What you need to know before your visit:

• 📄 Bring a check or confirmation of purchase of the phone with you.
• 🔒 If the phone has been turned on Protective mode (included) MIUI 13+), Tell the master about it – it will speed up the process.
• 💰 The cost of restoration starts from 3 000 ₽ (It depends on the model and the amount of data).

Xiaomi Service Centers in Russia and CIS:

• 📍 Official list on the Mi website.
• 📞 Support phone: 8 800 775-65-20 (call-off).

💡

The service center is the last chance to get the data back if the phone is physically healthy, and if the memory chip is damaged, recovery may not be possible.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users lose files forever because they don’t know the nuances of the Xiaomi shopping cart, and here are some of the most common mistakes:

• 🚫 Clearing the Gallery's cache/PThis removes the basket, and always check the contents before cleaning.
• 🔄 Resetting: When returning to factory settings, the basket is cleared without the possibility of recovery.
• 📲 Update MIUI Recovery: In some cases, this leads to formatting the data partition.
• 🔋 Phone discharge to 0%: if the power is suddenly turned off while writing files, they can get damaged.

To minimize the risks:

• 📁 Regularly copy important files to your PC or cloud.
• 🔄 Enable automatic sync with Mi Cloud or Google Photos.
• 📱 Use a file manager with a basket (e.g. Solid Explorer).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions