Where do deleted files go on Xiaomi: how to go to the cart and return data

When you delete photos, videos or documents on a Xiaomi smartphone, many users do not suspect that files do not disappear forever – they fall into a hidden basket. This feature is built into the MIUI firmware and works on the principle of “soft removal”, similar to computer OS. However, finding a basket on a Redmi or POCO is not so easy: its icon does not appear on the home screen, and the path depends on the version of the shell and the model of the device.

In this article, we will discuss all the ways to access the cart on Xiaomi phones, including hidden methods for older versions. MIUI. We also learn how to recover files when they are missing from the trash, and why the folder is sometimes empty despite recent deletions. MIUI 12–15.

If you delete an important file and you don't find it in the trash, don't panic. In 80 percent of cases, you can get it back even after you clear the trash, but it requires you to act quickly, and the longer you delay recovery, the greater the risk of overwriting the files with new data.

1. Where is the basket on Xiaomi: the standard way

In most modern Xiaomi smartphones (starting with MIUI 12), the shopping cart is built into the standard Files app to open it:

Step 1. Launch the Files app (a blue tag folder icon). If it's not on the home screen, search the system (swipe down the screen and type "Files").

Step 2. In the bottom menu of the app, tap the "Baskbasket" section. If there is no item, update the app through Google Play or use alternative methods from the following sections.

Note that on some models (such as the POCO X3 Pro or Redmi Note 10), the basket may be called “Recently Deleted” or “Deleted Files”, and its location depends on the regional firmware – in the global version of MIUI, the path may differ from the Chinese one.

If the file is empty after deleting, check:

• 📅 Storage period: by default, files are stored in the bin for 30 days, after which they are automatically deleted.
• 🗑️ File type: basket MIUI does not store data from certain applications (such as WhatsApp or Telegram).
• 🔄 Manual cleaning: You may have already cleaned your cart through your storage settings.

2. Alternative path: through storage settings

If the standard method didn’t work, try to find the cart through system settings. This method works on all versions of MIUI, including older ones (e.g. MIUI 11 on the Redmi Note 8):

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings → Storage.
2. Slip on the item "Clean" or "Free space" (on some firmware - "Storage Analysis").
3. Wait for the scan to be completed and scroll down to the Recycle Bin or Deleted Files section.
4. Click on the line to see the list of files and the possibility of recovery.

⚠️ Note: This section only displays files deleted through system applications (Gallery, Files, Downloads) files erased through third-party programs (e.g., files deleted through third-party programs, ES The guide, there will be no.

If the Recycle Bin section is not in the storage settings, this may mean:

• 📱 On your device an outdated version MIUI (12th), where the basket is implemented differently.
• 🔧 The function is disabled through the developer settings (rarely, but occurs on custom firmware).
• 🛠️ There was a system failure - try to restart the phone.

💡

If the Recycle Bin doesn't show up in the settings, try resetting the Files app. Go to Settings → Apps → Application Management → Files → Storage → Clear the data. After you reboot, the Recycle Bin should appear.

3.The basket in the gallery: how to recover photos and videos

Photos and videos deleted through the standard MIUI Gallery are placed in a separate bin that is not associated with the shared folder of deleted files.

Method 1. Through the Gallery appendix:

1. Open the Gallery (the icon with colored squares).
2. Slip along three horizontal lines in the upper left corner (menu).
3. Select "Recently Deleted" or "Recently Deleted".
4. Select the files you need and click "Restore" (the icon with the arrow up).

Method 2. Through Google Photos (if sync is enabled):

If you use Google Photos, deleted photos are stored in its shopping cart for 60 days:

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Slip on your profile in the upper right corner.
3. Choose the basket.
4. Find the files you need and click "Restore".

⚠️ Note: If you delete photos before you connect to your Google account, they won’t be in the Google Photos Recycle Bin. MIUI (section).

4. Hidden basket on older versions of MIUI (up to 12th)

On devices with MIUI 11 and older (e.g., Redmi Note 7, Mi 9), the cart can be hidden or operated differently.

Method 1. Through the file manager:

1. Open any file manager (such as Total Commander or FX File Explorer).
2. Go to /storage/emulated/0/.recycle or /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/RecycleBin
3. If the folder exists but is empty, try to enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.

Method 2. via ADB (for advanced users):

If the Recycle Bin is not displayed even through the file manager, it can be activated by the command:

adb shell settings put global recycle_bin_enabled 1

After completing the command, restart the phone - the basket should appear in the Files app.

⚠️ Note: Some custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience) MIUI In this case, use cloud backups or data recovery programs.

5 Why the basket is empty: possible causes and solutions

A common problem: the user deletes the file, but it is not in the basket.

• ⏳ Autoclean: files are stored in the bin for a maximum of 30 days, after which they are deleted permanently.
• 🧹 Manual cleaning: You or another application (such as a garbage cleaner) may have deleted files from the trash. → Warehouse → Cleanup → Journal.
• 📁 File type: basket MIUI Does not save: Root folder files (/) Application data (e.g. game saving) Files deleted via adb or root
• 🔄 Sync failure: If a file was deleted during a system update or crash, it might not have made it to the Recycle Bin. /lost+found via file manager.

If the file is critical, try to restore it with the following programs:

• 📱 DiskDigger (for Android) – scans internal memory.
• 💻 Recuva or EaseUS (for PC) – if you connect your phone as an external drive.

Important: Once you delete a file, immediately turn off the Internet and do not install new applications. Each data record reduces the chances of recovery.

6. How to permanently delete files from the Recycle Bin (without recovery)

If you want to completely erase files from the Recycle Bin so that they can not be restored even through special programs, follow the following steps:

Method 1. Cleaning through settings:

1. Open the Settings → Storage → Cleaning.
2. Select "Basket" and click "Clean."
3. Confirm the action.

Method 2: Manual removal (for experienced users):

To ensure that files are deleted without recovery:

1. Connect your phone to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Use CCleaner or BleachBit to irrevocably erase free space.
3. Or run the command in ADB: adb shell rm -Rf /storage/emulated/0/.recycle/*

⚠️ Note: Permanent deletion of files may affect the operation of some applications if they referenced erased data, for example, after cleaning the basket, thumbnails in the gallery or save in games may disappear.

💡

Cleaning the cart through system settings does not guarantee permanent deletion. Use specialized programs or ADB commands to completely erase data.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When working with the shopping cart on Xiaomi, users often make mistakes that lead to data loss, and here are the most common ones:

• 🔄 Ignoring backups: Many rely only on the cart but don't set up automatic backups in Google Drive or Mi Cloud Solution: Enable sync in Settings → Accounts. → Mi Cloud → Backup.
• ⏳ Forgetting about the storage period: files in the basket are stored for only 30 days, then deleted automatically.Solution: regularly check the basket and restore the desired files.
• 🗑️ Cleaning the cart on the machine: some memory cleaners (such as Clean Master) delete files from the cart without confirmation. Solution: disable automatic cleanup in the settings of such applications.
• 📱 Do not check cloud carts: forget that Google Photos and Mi Cloud have their own carts with a different shelf life.Solution: check all possible sources (see table in section 3).

To minimize the risk of data loss:

• 📌 Set up automatic backup in Mi Cloud or Google Drive.
• 🔍 Before cleaning the basket, check its contents.
• 🛡️ Use reliable file managers (such as Solid Explorer) that show hidden folders.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)