You accidentally deleted important photos from your Xiaomi smartphone and can't find them now? Don't panic: MIUI has a built-in cart that temporarily stores deleted images. However, its location and file retention period depend on the firmware version, the phone model, and even the application you deleted the photos through. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to find a basket on Xiaomi, restore photos from it, and what to do if the Recently Deleted folder is empty or missing.
It's important to understand that the Xiaomi Recycle Bin doesn't work like it does on iPhones or computers. There's no single garbage bucket for all files -- every application (Gallery, Google Photos, file manager) can have its own folder for temporary storage. Moreover, some versions of MIUI 12-14 have the Recycle Bin disabled by default! We'll show you how to turn it on and where to look for hidden backups.
Where is the basket in the standard Xiaomi Gallery
If you deleted a photo through the Gallery app, the photos should be in the Recently Deleted folder.
- Open the Gallery app on your Xiaomi.
- Slip along three horizontal lines (menu) in the lower right corner.
- Select the Recycle Bin or Recently Deleted (in English version of firmware).
- If the folder is not available, check the settings (more on this below).
The Gallery Recycle Bin stores photos for 30 days (in MIUI 14 and later) or 15 days (in MIUI 12-13) and then they are deleted permanently. Note: if you manually cleaned the cart or reset your phone to factory settings, you can't recover them through the Gallery.
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If you don't have the right photos in the Gallery Recycle Bin, check the MIUI/Album/Recycle folder through any file manager (e.g. Files by Google or built-in Explorer).
How to turn on the basket if it is not in the Gallery
In some versions of MIUI (especially on the Redmi or POCO budget models), the shopping cart in the Gallery is disabled by default.
- Open the Gallery and tap the three points on the top right.
- Select Settings → Recycle Bin.
- Activate the switch Turn on the basket.
- Set a storage period (maximum 60 days).
If you don't have a "Baskbasket" option in your settings, your version of the Gallery doesn't support this feature.
- 📱 Update the Gallery app through Google Play.
- 🔄 Install an alternative gallery (e.g. Google Photos or Simple Gallery).
- 🔍 Check hidden folders through the file manager (instruction below).
Recovery in Google Photos: An Alternative Way to Restore
If you synced photos with Google Photos, the deleted photos could end up in his shopping cart, which is stored for 60 days (as opposed to 15-30 days in a standard Gallery) to find them:
- Open the Google Photos app.
- Slip on your avatar in the upper right corner.
- Pick the basket.
- Find the right photos, highlight them and click Restore.
Important: if you delete photos directly from Google Photos, they will fall into his shopping cart. But if you delete them through a standard Xiaomi Gallery, then the photos may only end up in the MIUI basket (or even a chasm if the shopping cart is turned off).
What if there is no Google Photos?
Search for deleted photos through the file manager
If the Recycle Bin in the Gallery is empty or missing, try to find deleted photos manually through the file manager.
- Open Explorer (built into MIUI) or install Files by Google.
- Go to Internal Storage → MIUI → Album.
- Look for folders with names: Recycle is the standard Gallery basket..trash is a hidden folder with deleted files. Pictures/.thumbnails — Miniatures (sometimes left even after the originals are removed).
If there are no folders, try to enable the display of hidden files:
- In the file manager, tap on three points → Settings.
- Activate the option to show hidden files.
- Repeat the search in DCIM, Pictures and MIUI folders.
- Use Recovery Programs to Recover: 📱 DiskDigger (works without root rights, but does not restore all files). 🖥️ Recuva or EaseUS (if you connect your phone to a PC).
⚠️ Warning: Do not install recovery programs on the same disk (or memory partition) where deleted photos were stored.
Contact the service center.
Critical information: If you delete a photo after the MIUI update (especially from MIUI 12 to MIUI 14), standard recovery methods may not work. In newer firmware versions, Xiaomi has changed the way it stores files, and the basket is sometimes “reset” after the update, in which case only a recovery via PC or access to the service remains.
Why photos don’t get into the cart and how to fix it
Sometimes users find that deleted photos disappear immediately, bypassing the shopping cart.
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The basket is missing at the Gallery | Disabled in settings or not supported by MIUI version | Turn it on manually (instruction above) or update the Gallery |
| Photos are deleted immediately (without basket) | Delete via file manager, not gallery | Use only the Gallery to remove the photos. |
| The basket cleans itself. | Storage expired (15-30 days) or memory optimization worked | Increase the shelf life in the settings or turn off automatic cleaning |
| Photos are not recovered from the basket | File damage or gallery error | Restart your phone or use the file manager |
If you lose a photo often, set up automatic backups:
- 🔄 In Google Photos: Settings → Backup and synchronization.
- ☁️ In Mi Cloud: Settings → Accounts. → Mi Cloud → gallery.
- 💾 On external drive: regularly copy the photo to a flash drive or PC.
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On Xiaomi models with MIUI 14 and later, the Gallery basket stores photos for up to 60 days, but only if it is included in the settings. In older versions (MIUI 12-13), the shelf life is 15 days, and on budget smartphones, the basket may not be at all.
Common mistakes when searching for a cart on Xiaomi
Many users make the same mistakes when trying to find deleted photos.
- 🚫 Search for the shopping cart in the Settings of the phone. It is only in the Gallery app or Google Photos, but not in the system settings.
- 🚫 Delete the Gallery app, which can lead to loss of access to the cart and all photos.
- 🚫 Clear the Gallery cache through the application settings. This won't free up space, but it can remove thumbnails and basket data.
- 🚫 Use "Memory Optimization" in Settings → Memory if you don't save important photos, this feature can automatically clear the cart.
Also not worth it:
- 📵 Formatting a memory card or internal memory will delete all data without the possibility of recovery.
- 🔋 Lowering phone to 0% – at a critically low charge, the system can automatically clean temporary files, including the shopping cart.
- 🔄 Update MIUI immediately after removing the photo - sometimes updates reset the settings of the cart.
⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi smartphones with dual firmware (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro) the shopping cart can work separately for each user profile. If you use multiple accounts, check the shopping cart in each of them!