Where is the Recycle Bin on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Recovering Deleted Files

Have you accidentally deleted an important file on a Xiaomi smartphone and now you don’t know where to look for a shopping cart? or are you trying to figure out why some data disappears forever? This article will help you understand all the nuances of working with the shopping cart on Xiaomi devices, from the standard features of MIUI to the hidden capabilities of the file manager and cloud storage.

Unlike computers, where the basket is always in sight, on Xiaomi smartphones, its location depends on the type of deleted data: photos, documents, messages or applications have different recovery mechanisms, we will take a detailed look at where to look for deleted files in different scenarios, how to set up automatic backup and what to do if the basket is empty.

We will pay special attention to hidden folders that MIUI creates for temporary storage of deleted data, as well as deal with the nuances of the basket in different versions of firmware - from MIUI 12 to HyperOS. If you are a user of Redmi, POCO or flagship models Xiaomi 13/14, here you will find the latest instructions for your device.

1.Basket in Xiaomi's standard file manager

The main place Xiaomi stores deleted files is the built-in file manager (Files by Google or the standard MIUI File Manager). However, not all users know that the basket works selectively here: it only stores files that were manually deleted through the manager interface, and not through a gallery or third-party applications.

To find the basket:

1. Open the Files app (the folder icon on the desktop).
2. In the lower menu, tap on the Categories section (or Review in new versions).
3. Scroll down and select the Recycle Bin (Dumpster Icon).

Inside, you'll see all the deleted files, sorted by date.

• 🗑️ Recover files (click on three dots next to the file) → Restore).
• ⏳ Clean the cart completely (Clean the button in the upper right corner).
• 🔍 Search by name (magnifying glass icon at the top).

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If the Recycle Bin is empty, check the file manager settings: go to Settings → Recycle Bin and make sure the feature is enabled. In some regions (e.g. EU), it may be disabled by default due to GDPR.

An important nuance: files in the Recycle Bin are stored for a maximum of 30 days (in MIUI 14+, this period can be extended to 60 days in the settings), after the expiration of the period, the data is deleted irrevocably, and the Recycle Bin does not work for files deleted through:

• 📸 Gallery (photo/video included in the album "Recently deleted").
• 📱 Application Manager (APK-files are deleted immediately).
• 🌐 Cloud services (such as Mi Cloud or Google Drive).

2. Photo and video basket in the Xiaomi Gallery

Photos and videos deleted through the standard Xiaomi Gallery do not fall into the shared file manager bin, but instead they are sent to a special album recently deleted, where they are stored for up to 30 days (in HyperOS - up to 60 days), which works independently of the file manager and has its own features.

How to find the album:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Slip on three horizontal lines (☰) top-left.
3. Scroll down and select Albums. → Recently deleted.

In this album, you can:

• 🔄 Recover photos/video (select files) → press Restore).
• 🗑️ Clean the album completely (Clean the button at the top).
• 📅 View the date of deletion (click on the file) → detail).

Album limitations:

• 🚫 Does not restore files deleted through File Manager or Explorer.
• 📱 Does not work for screenshots if they are deleted through notification (swipe down) → Delete).
• 🔒 Encrypted files (e.g. from a Private Folder) cannot be recovered.

Every week.|Once a month|Only when you lose files.|Never checked.-->

Recycle Bin in Mi Cloud: How to Recover Files from the Cloud

If your Xiaomi has Mi Cloud sync enabled, deleted files can be saved to the cloud basket, which is true for photos, contacts, notes and some documents, but there are important nuances:

How to check your cloud cart:

1. Open your browser and go to i.mi.com (the web version of Mi Cloud).
2. Sign in under the same account as on your smartphone.
3. On the left menu, select the basket (dumpster icon).

The cloud can store files for up to 60 days (depending on the type of data) and can restore:

• 📷 Photos and videos (from the album Mi Cloud).
• 📝 Notes (Mi Notes).
• 📇 Contacts (if synchronization is enabled).
• 📁 Some documents (e.g. from Mi Drive).

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The Mi Cloud cloud cart does not duplicate the local smartphone basket. If the file is deleted only from the device (without synchronization), it will not be in the cloud!

The limitations of Mi Cloud:

• 📱 Files deleted offline do not get into the cloud bin.
• 🔄 Recovered files are returned to the original folder on the smartphone only when connected to the Internet.
• 💾 The cart volume is limited to your Mi Cloud tariff (free – 5 GB).

If you don’t find files in the cloud cart, check:

⚠️ Note: Sync with Mi Cloud must be enabled before deleting files. If you disable it after deleting, the data will not be accessed by the cloud. Also make sure that deleted files are uploaded to the cloud before they are deleted from the device.

4 Hidden folders and system baskets: where else can files be stored

In addition to standard baskets, MIUI creates hidden folders for temporary storage of deleted data, which are not displayed in a regular file manager, but can be accessed through Explorer or ADB.

Where to look for hidden baskets:

To see these folders:

1. Install Explorer (e.g. Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the Explorer settings.
3. Follow one of the paths from the table above.

Important:

• 🛠️ Not all folders are available without root rights, /data requires unlocking the loader.
• 🔧 Files in hidden baskets may have changed names (for example, IMG_20231015_123456.jpg.recycle).
• 🚨 Deleting files from these folders is irreversible – they don’t make it to the main shopping cart.

Enable the display of hidden files in the Explorer|Check the folder. /MIUI/Gallery/cloud/private/recycle_bin|Check the folder. /MIUI/FileExplorer/recycle_bin|Use it. ADB-Search command (if there is a root)|Check out the Mi Cloud cloud cart-->

5.Why the Xiaomi basket might not work

Sometimes users find that the shopping cart is empty, even though the files have been deleted recently, and the reasons can vary from system settings to firmware errors.

Frequent causes:

• 🔄 Auto-cleaning: in MIUI There's a function to automatically clean the cart if you don't have enough memory. → Memory. → Auto-cleaning.
• 📱 Lack of basket in the region: in some countries (e.g. EU) the basket is disabled by default due to the lack of a cart GDPR. Enable it manually in the file manager settings.
• 🔧 Firmware error: after updating MIUI Or HyperOS can reset. Try restarting the device.
• 📁 Delete via third-party applications: files deleted through Google Files, ES The conductor or other managers fall into their own baskets.

How to restore the basket:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Files → Memory and click Clear Cache.
2. Update the File Manager via Play Market or App Store.
3. Check the permissions of the application: Settings → Applications → Files → Permissions (Store and File Management must be enabled).

⚠️ Attention: If you are using POCO Launcher or custom shells, standard basket MIUI It can be replaced by an alternative, in which case, check the launcher settings or install the original. MIUI File Manager from APKMirror.

6. Alternative ways to recover deleted files

If files are not found in the recycle bin, don't despair - there are several alternative methods for recovering them. The effectiveness depends on how long it has been since the deletion and whether the device has been used after that.

Recovery methods:

• 🔍 Recovery applications: 📱 DiskDigger (works without root, but with limitations). 🛠️ Recuva (requires a smartphone to be connected to a PC). 🔧 EaseUS MobiSaver (paid version with deep scanning).
• 💾 Backups: Check Google Drive (if backup is enabled). Restore data from Mi Cloud (Backups section). Use local backups (folder) /MIUI/Backup/AllBackup).
• 📡 ADB-commands (for experienced users): adb shell ls /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Gallery/cloud/private/recycle_bin This command will show the contents of the hidden gallery basket.

What increases the chances of recovery:

• 🛑 Do not write new files to your device after deleting them.
• 🔋 Do not drain the battery to 0% – this can lead to cleaning the cache.
• 📴 Turn off the internet when using recovery software (to avoid overwriting data).

⚠️ Attention: Recovery software often requires root permissions for deep scanning. Be careful: unlocking the bootloader resets all data on the device! If you don't have a backup, you'd better contact the service center.

7.Setting up the cart: how to extend the shelf life and enable backup

To avoid data loss in the future, set up your cart and backup beforehand. MIUI and HyperOS have some useful options to help save files even after accidental deletion.

How to set up the basket:

1. Open the File Manager → press three points (⋮) → Settings.
2. Select a Recycle Bin and set a maximum shelf life (up to 60 days).
3. Enable the option of Automatic Backup (if available).

Configuring backup:

• 📱 Mi Cloud: Go to Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud. enable sync for Gallery, Contacts and Notes. set up Automatic Backup (daily or when connected to Wi-Fi).
• 📁 Local Backups: Use Settings → System system → Backup. Create a backup for SD-card.
• 🌐 Google Photos: Install the app and enable Backup and Sync. Photos will be stored in the Google Photos Recycle Bin for up to 60 days.

Additional advice:

• 📂 Create an Important folder on your internal drive and eliminate it from automatic cleaning.
• 🔄 Check your cart regularly (e.g. once a week) and clean up unnecessary files manually.
• 📱 Use the Private Folder in MIUI for important documents (it is password protected and does not fall into the basket during normal deletion).

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It takes 5-10 minutes to set up a backup in Mi Cloud and Google Photos, but saves years of memories. Don't put it off for later!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)