Where is the basket in the phone Xiaomi: search and restore deleted files

You accidentally deleted an important file on a Xiaomi smartphone and now you don't know where to look for a shopping cart? Or just want to figure out how the remote storage system in MIUI works? Unlike computers, where the shopping cart is always in plain sight, on smartphones, its location depends on the type of file and the application through which it was deleted. In this article, we will examine all possible options in detail, from the standard MIUI shopping cart to hidden folders in Google Photos and Gallery applications.

It is important to understand that not all files enter the Recycle Bin automatically. For example, documents from Downloads or application data are often permanently deleted, but photos, videos and certain types of files can be stored in temporary storage for 7 to 30 days depending on your settings. Next, we will show you where to look for the Recycle Bin on different Xiaomi models (including Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 and others), as well as how to recover files if they are already missing from the Recycle Bin.

1. Standard MIUI basket: where to look and how to use

In MIUI 12/13/14, the Recycle Bin is built into the File Manager application by default, but its location is not always obvious - many users simply do not notice this feature.

1. Open the Files app (the icon with the folder on the desktop).
2. In the lower menu, tap on the Categories section (or Review in older versions of MIUI).
3. Scroll down the list – there will be a basket item with a bin icon.

If you do not have a "Basket" item in the Files app, this may mean:

• 📱 You use custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience) where the function is disabled.
• 🔧 The cart is disabled in the settings (more on this below).
• 🗑️ You deleted files through another app (like Google Photos) and they ended up in its shopping cart.

In a standard MIUI basket, files are stored for 30 days, then automatically deleted.

1. Select the desired files with a long tap.
2. Click Restore in the lower menu.
3. Select the folder to restore (by default – the original directory).

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If the Recycle Bin is empty but you are sure you have recently deleted files, check the date filter in the upper right corner of the Files app.

2.The basket in the Xiaomi Gallery: recovery of photos and videos

The Gallery app on Xiaomi has its own shopping cart, separate from the system one, and this applies to all models, from the Redmi 10 to the flagship Xiaomi 14.

1. Open the Gallery (an icon with a flower or photo).
2. Tap on three points (⋮) top-right.
3. Select the Recycle Bin (or Recently Deleted in some versions).

There are a few nuances here:

• 📸 Photos and videos are stored in the Recycle Bin for 15 days (as opposed to 30 days in the Files").
• 🔒 Files deleted from SD-cards that do not fall into the gallery basket.
• 🌐 If you use Google Photos, deleted photos can be in its shopping cart (more on this below).

To recover media files:

1. Select the necessary photos/video.
2. Click Restore (Icon with arrow down).
3. The files will be back in the album All photos.

3. Google Shopping Cart Photos: How to Recover Files from the Cloud

If you use Google Photos to back up, deleted photos may be in its shopping cart — even if you deleted them through the standard Xiaomi Gallery.

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Slip on the profile avatar in the upper right corner.
3. Pick the basket.

Features of the Google cart Photos:

• 🗓️ Files are stored for 60 days (longer than in the MIUI).
• ☁️ Deleted files take up space in the cloud until they are completely deleted.
• 🔄 If you restore the file, it will return to the photo album and to the device (if sync is enabled).

Important: if you delete a file from the Google Photo Recycle Bin, you can no longer restore it with standard means, in which case only specialized software will help (for this in the section on recovery).

Xiaomi |Google Photo| Other standard | Third-party (e.g. QuickPic) |I don't know-->

4.Where else could be a basket on Xiaomi: hidden options

Beyond the standard places, the shopping cart can be hidden in other apps and services, and let’s look at the less obvious options:

And you should pay special attention to Xiaomi's Mi Cloud, which is cloud storage, and if you have backup enabled, remote files can stay in the cloud basket even after you clear the local cart.

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select Storage Management.
3. Scroll down to the basket section.

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If you don’t find a shopping cart in Mi Cloud, make sure you have file sync enabled in your Xiaomi account settings.

5. How to turn on the basket if it is not in the settings

On some Xiaomi devices (especially custom firmware or older versions of MIUI), the basket can be disabled by default to activate it:

1. Open the Files app.
2. Tap on three lines (☰) top-left.
3. Select Settings.
4. Find the basket item and turn on the switch.

If the basket item is not in the settings, try:

• 🔄 Update Files App via Play Market or App Store MIUI.
• 📲 Install an alternative file manager (e.g. Files by Google) where the basket is stable.
• 🛠️ Reset the Files application settings in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Files. → Warehouse → Clear the data.

Make sure the Recycle Bin is enabled in settings | Check all possible applications (Gallery, Google Photos, Mi Cloud)| Don't connect the device to your PC until recovery (risk of overwriting data) | Back up your current files-->

6 What to do if the Recycle Bin is empty: Recover deleted files

If files are missing from the cart or you cleared it by mistake, there are a few ways to return them:

Method 1: Recovery through Mi Cloud backup

If you have synced with Mi Cloud:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select Data Recovery.
3. Please specify the date of the backup (before deleting files).
4. Select data types for recovery (e.g. Gallery).

Method 2: Using Recovery Software

For deep scanning of memory devices suitable programs:

• 🖥️ DiskDigger (for Android, no root required).
• 🖥️ Recuva (for PCs, if you connect your phone as a drive).
• 🖥️ EaseUS MobiSaver (paid but with high recovery percentage).

The more important thing is that the less you use your phone after deleting files, the better the chances of recovering them, and the new data can overwrite deleted files.

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If you are recovering files via a PC, connect your phone to File Transfer (MTP) mode, not Charge.

7. How to permanently delete files without passing the shopping cart

If you want to permanently delete files without sending them to the Recycle Bin, there are a few ways:

• 🗑️ In the Files app: highlight files → Delete → Choose Delete Forever (not Move to the Recycle Bin).
• 🔧 Through Settings. → Warehouse → Cleanup: Files are deleted without recovery.
• 💾 For SD-Maps: Formatting the map will permanently delete everything (but pre-copy important data!).

⚠️ Warning: Permanently deleting files from internal memory can result in data loss if they are not synced to the cloud.Always check backups before final deletion.

8. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Xiaomi users often face typical problems when working with the basket.

• 🔍 "The basket is not displayed" → Check Files Application Settings or Update It.
• ⏳ "Files disappear from the cart before the deadline" → Automatic cleaning may be enabled if memory is lacking (check in Settings) → Warehouse).
• 📁 "Recovered files are not returned to the original folder" → Provide a path for manual recovery.
• ☁️ "Files recovered but disappeared after synchronization" → Turn off Google Photos or Mi Cloud while you recover.

Another common mistake is the confusion between the shopping carts of different applications, for example, you can search for a file in the Gallery Recycle Bin while it is in the Google Photos Bin. Always check all possible sources.

⚠️ Note: If you are using two-factor authentication for Mi Cloud, make sure you have access to backup codes before recovering files.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions