Recycle Bin in Xiaomi: where is on the phone and how to return deleted files

You accidentally deleted an important file on a Xiaomi smartphone and now you can’t find a basket to recover it? This situation is familiar to many users, especially those who recently switched from an iPhone or Samsung to devices with a MIUI shell. Unlike Windows or macOS, where the basket is always in plain sight, in Xiaomi smartphones, the mechanism for storing deleted files works differently – and often goes unnoticed until you need it.

In this article, we will look at where the basket is in Xiaomi phones, how it works in different applications (gallery, file manager, cloud), and what to do if files are lost from it without recovery. You will also learn about the hidden nuances of MIUI, which may not show the basket at all, and how to fix it. If you are a user of the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Xiaomi 13T model, the instructions will be suitable for you.

We warn you that not all files are automatically deposited in the bin, for example, data deleted through ES Explorer or third-party applications can disappear forever, so it is important to understand which files are temporarily stored and which are not.

Recycle Bin in Xiaomi: Where to look in standard apps

Xiaomi smartphones don’t have a single basket for all file types, like a computer, but instead each system tool (gallery, file manager, cloud) has its own folder for temporary storage of deleted data.

1. The basket in the Gallery appendix (photo and video)

The most obvious place where users lose files is the MIUI gallery, where the cart works on the principle of "30 days to recover" (by default), but this deadline can be changed.

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Slip on three horizontal lines (menu) in the lower right corner.
3. Select the basket item (dumpster icon).

If you don't have a Recycle Bin, you've disabled the function in the settings.

Gallery settings → Basket → Include basket

2. basket in the "Files" (documents, APK, downloads)

Standard File Manager MIUI (Files also have a basket, but it's hidden deeper, and it's where deleted documents, archives are stored, APK-files and other data (except multimedia:

Files → Categories → Recycle Bin

Please note that if you delete files through Google Explorer or third-party managers (such as Solid Explorer), they will not be in the MIUI Recycle Bin and will be erased immediately.

3. Recycle Bin in Mi Cloud (cloud storage)

If you have Mi Cloud sync enabled, data deleted from the gallery or file manager can be saved to the cloud bin to check:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select the Gallery or Files.
3. Scroll down to the basket section.

The storage period is also limited (usually 30 days), but it can be extended to 60 days in the account settings.

Why the cart may not appear in Xiaomi

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the shopping cart simply disappears from the menu, and the reasons can be different, from the banal to the technical.

• 🔧 The function is disabled in the settings. MIUI The cart is turned off by default (especially on Redmi budget models or POCO).
• 📱 An outdated version MIUI. In the firmware older MIUI 12 baskets could work differently or be absent altogether.
• 🗑️ The basket is empty. If it doesn't have files, the menu item may not be displayed (relevant to the Gallery).
• 🔄 Reset. Once reset to factory settings, the basket is cleaned and its display may be lost.
• 🛠️ Rooting or system modification: If you installed custom firmware (like LineageOS), the standard shopping cart MIUI may not work.

If the cart is missing after the MIUI update, try the following steps:

Clear the cache of the Gallery/Files app in Settings

Reboot the phone

Update apps through the Mi App Store

Reset Gallery settings (Settings → Applications → Gallery → Storage → Reset)

-->

Special case: Cart is not available in POCO Launcher

Users of POCO smartphones (such as the POCO X4 Pro or POCO F5) sometimes find that the cart is not displayed due to an alternative launcher.

1. Install the standard MIUI launcher through Settings → Themes → Launcher.
2. Or use Google Files (has its own shopping cart).

💡

If you often work with important files, enable automatic backup in Mi Cloud (Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup). This will protect the data even if the shopping cart is cleared.

How to recover files from Xiaomi shopping cart

Finding the cart is only half the battle, and now you have to recover the files properly so you don't lose them permanently, and the process varies depending on the type of data you have.

1. Recovery of photo/video from Gallery

1. Open the gallery. → Basket.
2. Select the desired files with a long tap.
3. Click Restore (the icon with the arrow up).
4. Files will return to the original folder (such as Camera or Downloads).

2. Recovery of documents from Files

1. Go to Files → Categories → Recycle Bin.
2. Select files and click Restore.
3. Specify the folder to save (by default - Internal memory).

3.Recovery from Mi Cloud

1. Open the Mi Cloud → Recycle Bin.
2. Select files and click Restore.
3. The data is synchronized with the device within minutes.

Important nuances:

• ⏳ Recover a large number of files (for example, 500 photo may take up to 10-15 minute.
• 📁 If the original folder has been deleted, the files will be restored to the internal memory. → Restored.
• 🔒 Some system files (for example, APK applications) may not be restored due to limitations MIUI.

File Recycle Bin Recycle Bin and How to Change It

By default, MIUI stores deleted files in the bin for 30 days, after which they are automatically cleared, but this period can be changed — or disable autocleaning altogether.

For the Gallery:

Gallery → Settings (⚙️) → Recycle Bin → Storage period

Available options: 1 day, 7 days, 30 days, 60 days, Never.

For Files:

Files → Settings (⚙️) → Recycle Bin → Autocleaning

You can choose to turn off or set a period of 1 to 60 days.

For Mi Cloud:

Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Settings → Cart

The maximum storage time in the cloud is 60 days.

⚠️ Note: If you select Never in the Gallery, the cart will fill up indefinitely, which can lead to memory shortages, we recommend setting a reasonable limit (e.g. 60 days) and manually cleaning it periodically.

What to do if files are lost from the cart forever

If the storage period has expired or the basket has been manually cleaned, the chances of recovery drop dramatically, but there are several ways to recover the data, or at least some of them.

1. Check backups of Mi Cloud

Even if the files disappeared from the recycle bin, they could be saved to automatic backups to check:

1. Open Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup.
2. Check out the date of the last backup.
3. If the copy is up to date, restore the data from there.

2.Use third-party recovery programs

For Android, there are utilities like DiskDigger, Recuva (via PC) or Dumpster that scan the device's memory for deleted files.

• 🔍 The effectiveness depends on how long it has been since the removal.
• 📵 Some programs require root access to work.
• ⚠️ Do not install recovery programs on the same disk where the files were stored – this will reduce the chances of success.

3. Contact Xiaomi Support

If the files were critical (such as documents or unique photos), you can try to contact Xiaomi via:

Settings → About the phone → Feedback

Specify the device model (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Redmi Note 11 Pro+, etc.), the MIUI version, and describe the problem. In rare cases, engineers can help with data recovery from cloud servers.

💡

The faster you start recovering from deletion, the better the chances of success, and each new memory record (install applications, take photos) reduces the likelihood of file returns.

How to permanently delete files without passing the basket

Sometimes you need to erase data without recovery, such as when selling a phone or deleting sensitive information, and there are several ways to do this at MIUI:

1.Remove via "Storage Settings"

1. Open the Settings → Storage.
2. Select a category (such as Images or Documents).
3. Click on the file and select Delete Forever (Do not Delete!).

2. Hand-cleaning of the basket

If the files are already in the cart, but you want to erase them without waiting 30 days:

Gallery/Files → Cart → Select Everything → Delete Forever

3.Use of Safe Mode

To completely delete system files or application residues:

1. Reboot your phone in Safe Mode (press the power button → long tap on Turn off → Reboot in Safe Mode).
2. Delete files through the standard manager.
3. Reboot back.

⚠️ Note: If you are using Xiaomi with an unlocked bootloader or custom firmware, some methods of irrevocable removal (for example, through the use of a customized firmware). TWRP) This can lead to loss of warranty.

Comparing Xiaomi’s cart with other brands

The mechanism of temporary storage of files differs from manufacturer to manufacturer, for clarity, compare how the basket works in Xiaomi, Samsung, Google Pixel and iPhone:

As you can see from the table, MIUI offers more flexibility in setting up storage times, but it loses out on convenience because of disparate shopping carts. For example, at Samsung, all deleted files are stored in one place, making it easier to search.

If you often work with files on different devices, look for cross-platform solutions like Google Photos or Dropbox, where the shopping cart syncs between all gadgets.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the cart in Xiaomi