Recycle Bin on Android in the phone Xiaomi Redmi: where to look and how to recover deleted files

You accidentally deleted an important file on Xiaomi Redmi and can't find it now? Or just want to figure out where the basket is stored on Android smartphones of this brand? Unlike computers, on phones running MIUI (branded shell Xiaomi), the basket works differently — it is not always visible in the file manager and can hide in the settings of specific applications.

Where is the Redmi basket physically stored (and why is it not in standard form)

How to recover files from the Recycle Bin in the gallery, file manager and cloud Mi Cloud

What to do if the cart is empty and the files are gone forever

— Differences in the work of the basket on different versions MIUI (12 to 14) and pure Android.

Spoiler: on Xiaomi, the shopping cart is not universal – its location depends on the type of deleted file (photo, documents, video) and the method of deleting (via a gallery, guide or third-party applications).

Why Xiaomi Redmi doesn’t have a single basket like Windows

If you're used to a PC shopping cart where all the deleted files are stored in one folder, Android (and especially Xiaomi) doesn't work that way. Here are the key reasons:

• 📱 Fragmented storage system: MIUI It uses separate baskets for different types of files, like photos and videos going to the Gallery Recycle Bin and documents going to the File Manager Bin.
• 🗑️ Lack of system basket: In pure Android, the shopping cart only appears in some applications (such as Google Photos). Xiaomi added it to its proprietary utilities, but did not make it universal.
• ⚙️ Default settings: In some versions MIUI Recycle Bin is disabled – files are deleted immediately, without the possibility of recovery.

Also, on Xiaomi Redmi, the Recycle Bin can be automatically cleared after 30 days (this is the default setting).If you haven't changed it, deleted files will disappear without the possibility of recovery after a month.

⚠️ Note: If you have deleted a file through a third-party application (for example, ES Wire Explorer or Total Commander, the Xiaomi basket won't save it, in which case recovery is possible only through specialized utilities like DiskDigger or Recuva (but the chances are lower).

Where is the basket in the gallery Xiaomi Redmi (photos and videos)

Most users lose files from the gallery. On Xiaomi Redmi, the photo and video basket is hidden in the settings of the standard Gallery app.

1. Open the Gallery app (icon with multi-colored squares).
2. Slip on three dots in the top right corner (or swipe right to left to open the side menu).
3. Select the Recycle Bin (on some firmware - Recently deleted).
4. Here you will see all photos and videos deleted in the last 30 days (if you have not changed your settings).

To recover the file:

• 📸 Click on the desired photo or video (you can choose several, holding your finger).
• 🔙 Slip on the Restore button at the bottom of the screen.
• 📁 The file will return to the folder from which it was deleted (for example, in Camera or Downloads).

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

• 🔧 Recycle Bin is disabled in settings (how to enable – read in the next section).
• 🗑️ Files were deleted irrevocably (for example, through Cleanup in your phone settings).
• 📱 You've got an old version. MIUI (11), where there was no basket at all.

Open the Gallery appendix

Find three points or swipe for the menu

Select "Recently Deleted" or "Recently Deleted"

Check the shelf life (by default 30 days)-->

How to turn on a shopping cart in the gallery if it is not on the menu

If you don't have a basket item in your gallery, you can manually activate it.

1. Open the gallery → three points → Settings.
2. Scroll down to the Additional (or File Management) section.
3. Find the basket option and move the slider to the right.
4. Set up a storage period (from 1 to 60 days).

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 13 Global), the path may be different:

Gallery → Settings → File Management → Recycle Bin

If the cart does not appear after turning on:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📥 Update the Gallery app through Play Market.
• 🛠️ Reset Gallery settings: Settings → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the data (Warning: This will remove all application settings!).

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi Redmi with MIUI For China (without Google services), the shopping cart may work differently or not. In this case, use the Mi Cloud cloud for backup.

Recycle Bin in Xiaomi File Manager: Where to Look for Documents and APK

For documents, archives, APK-The basket is hidden in a standard File Manager (an app with a folder icon) to find it:

1. Open the File Manager (if not, download it from the Play Market).
2. At the bottom of the screen, tap on Categories (or Review).
3. Scroll down and select the basket.
4. There will be files deleted through this manager (but not through other apps!).

Important nuances:

• 📄 The file manager basket does not store photos and videos - there is a separate basket in the gallery for them.
• 🕒 Default storage period is 15 days (can be changed in the manager settings).
• 🚫 Files deleted through Cleanup in the phone settings do not fall into the basket!

To restore the document:

1. Check the required files.
2. Click Restore at the bottom of the screen.
3. Files will return to the original folder (such as Downloads or Documents).

The basket at the Gallery

The basket in the File Manager

Google Shopping Cart Photo

I don't know where she is.

I don't use the basket.-->

How to recover files if the basket is empty

If you don't find deleted files in the recycle bin, it doesn't always mean they're lost forever.

1. Check cloud backups

Xiaomi automatically syncs photos and documents with Mi Cloud to check:

• 🌥️ Open the Settings. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud.
• 📁 Select the Gallery or Files and check if there is any data.
• 🔙 If you find them, download them back to your phone.

2.Use third-party utilities

If your files are not in the cloud, try recovery software:

• 🛠️ DiskDigger – Searches for deleted photos and videos (requires root for deep scanning).
• 📂 Recuva (for PC) – connect your phone to your computer and scan the memory.
• 📱 Dumpster is a third-party shopping cart for Android that intercepts all deleted files.

⚠️ Warning: The more you use your phone after deleting files, the lower your chances of recovery.New data overwrites old data, so install recovery software right away and don't save anything to the device!

3. Check the.trash folder manually

Some Xiaomi firmware stores the basket in a hidden folder to find it:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB (in file transfer mode).
2. Enable the display of hidden folders (in Windows: View → Hidden Items).
3. Go to the phone’s internal memory folder and find.trash or Recycle.

If there is no folder, then your version of MIUI stores the basket in the application database (access only through root).

💡

If you lose files frequently, set up automatic backup to Mi Cloud or Google Drive. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Sync and enable the option for gallery and files.

Differences in the basket on different versions of MIUI and Android

The location and operation of the basket depend on the firmware version of your Xiaomi Redmi.

If you have a Xiaomi Redmi with global firmware (like the Redmi Note 10 Pro Global), the basket will work more stable than the Chinese version. On the Chinese MIUI (without Google services), some features may be missing.

To find out your version of MIUI:

Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Xiaomi Redmi users often experience problems with their shopping cart, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

• 🔍 I don't see a basket in the gallery. → Check if it is enabled in the settings (see section above). If not, update the Gallery app.
• 🗑️ The basket is empty, but the files have been deleted. → They may have been removed through Cleanup in the phone's settings (this is deleting without a basket.
• ⏳ Files disappeared from the cart ahead of time → You can change the storage time in the settings, and the basket is cleaned when there is a lack of memory.
• 📱 After the phone was dropped, the basket disappeared. → The basket is tied to the account. After the reset, log in to the same Mi-account to restore access.

If you delete files through ES Explorer or another third-party application, the Xiaomi Recycle Bin will not save them.

1. Check the application itself (if any).
2. Use recovery software (such as DiskDigger).

💡

The Recycle Bin on Xiaomi Redmi only works for files deleted through standard applications (Gallery, File Manager). Third-party programs have their own baskets or delete files irrevocably.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions