Recycle Bin in Xiaomi Redmi phone: where is it and how to use it?

Have you accidentally deleted an important file on your Xiaomi Redmi and can't find it? Or just want to figure out how the Recycle Bin in MIUI's firmware works to avoid future data loss? Unlike computers where the Recycle Bin is always in sight, Xiaomi smartphones often have questions about its location and functionality, especially if you've recently switched from iOS or another Android device without a proprietary shell.

In this article, we will not only show you where exactly the cart on Xiaomi Redmi is (including the Note 12, Redmi 10, Redmi 9 and others), but also explain how it works in different scenarios: for photos, documents, apps and even messages. You'll learn how many days files are stored in the trash, how to restore deleted files irrevocably, and why sometimes the shopping cart can disappear from the menu. MIUI, This will help protect your data from accidental deletion.

Where is the basket on Xiaomi Redmi: the main ways to access

In MIUI, the Recycle Bin is not a universal repository for all file types, but its location and appearance depend on whether you delete a file, a photo, a document, a message or an application. Let's look at all the options.

The most obvious way is through the standard Files app, which is where the Recycle Bin is available for most user data, but not for system files, and to open it:

1. Run the Files app (if it isn’t on the home screen, search through a device search).
2. In the lower menu, tap on the Categories section (or the Browser in older versions of MIUI).
3. Scroll down to the basket item (dumpster icon).

If you have deleted photos or videos, the cart can be located right in the Xiaomi Gallery:

• 📷 Open the Gallery app.
• Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → Basket.
• 🔍 Removed media files are stored here for 30 days (by default).

It's important to understand that MIUI doesn't have a single shopping cart for the entire device, for example, deleted messages in SMS or notes have their own "junk buckets" inside their respective applications, but files downloaded through a browser or received over Bluetooth most often end up in the Files application basket.

⚠️ Note: If you have deleted a file through Google Photos or another third-party application (e.g, ES Explorer, look for the basket inside this application. MIUI They're not stored!

How to recover files from the cart on Xiaomi Redmi

The recovery process depends on the type of file and where it was deleted, so let's look at the step-by-step instructions for the most common cases.

Photo and video recovery

If you have deleted media files through the standard Xiaomi Gallery:

1. Open the gallery → three points → basket.
2. Select the desired files with a long tap (or tick).
3. Click Restore at the bottom of the screen.
4. Files will return to the folder from which they were deleted (for example, Camera or Downloads).

The storage period in the gallery basket is 30 days, after which the files are deleted irrevocably, and they can only be restored using specialized programs (for example, DiskDigger or Recuva).

Recovery of documents and other files

For documents, archives, APKs and other files:

1. Open the Files → Categories → Recycle Bin.
2. Select files and click Restore.
3. If the option is inactive, check if the storage period has expired (by default 15 days for regular files).

Check the shelf life in the basket

Make sure there is enough memory on the device.

Reboot the phone.

Try to recover via PC (by connecting the phone as a drive)-->

If files have been deleted from the memory card, the recycle bin may not work – in this case, we recommend using SD Card Recovery on your computer.

Special cases: messages, notes, contacts

For these types of data, there are separate rules:

• 💬 SMS/MMS: Deleted messages are stored in the Messages application basket (30 To recover: open the application → three-point → Basket → Select messages → Restore.
• 📝 Notes: In the Notes app, the cart is available via the menu (three lines) → Shelf life: 7 days.
• 👤 Contacts: Recovered contacts via Google Contacts (if synced) or Mi Account (within 30 days).

⚠️ Note: If you deleted a file through Explorer (e.g., Total Commander), System Recycle Bin MIUI It won't save it. In this case, use data recovery software immediately!

Why the cart may not show up on Xiaomi Redmi

Sometimes users find that the Recycle Bin section disappears from the menu, for several reasons:

Another common reason is the MIUI update, and after major updates (e.g., from MIUI 12 to MIUI 13), the cart settings may be reset.

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and check the relevance of the firmware.
2. If the update was recent, restart the device.
3. If the shopping cart never appeared, reset the Files application settings (in the app menu in the phone settings).

Hidden Recycle Bin in MIUI: What You Didn't Know

The shopping cart in Xiaomi Redmi has several hidden features that can be useful:

• ⏳ Change of storage period: By default, files are stored for 15-30 days, but this can be changed. → Basket → Storage period and choose from 1 to 60 days.
• 🗑️ Auto-cleaning: In the same settings, you can enable automatic cleaning of the basket when you don't have enough memory.
• 🔒 Password Protection: In some versions MIUI (for example, MIUI 14 for Redmi Note 12 can be installed PIN-This will protect your deleted files from prying eyes.
• 📁 Sorting by type: In the application basket Files can be filtered by extension (for example, show only.pdf or.apk).

Another little-known fact: if you deleted the file from an external drive (a flash drive or a flash drive). SD-cards, it may not get into the basket MIUI. In this case:

• Connect the drive to the computer.
• Use programs like Recuva or TestDisk to scan.
• If the drive is formatted, the chances of recovery fall sharply - in this case, only professional software (for example, R-Studio) will help.

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If you often work with important files, turn on backup in Mi Cloud. Go to Settings → Mi Account → Cloud → Backup and select the data you want, which will allow you to recover files even after you completely reset your phone.

What to do if files are permanently deleted (the basket is empty)

If the file is not in the trash or deleted, it's not lost. Here's a recovery algorithm.

1. Check out cloud storage: 🌥️ Mi Cloud (if synchronization was enabled). ☁️ Google Drive or Google Photos (automatic backup).
2. Use a PC: Connect your phone to your computer in File Transfer mode. Run a recovery program (e.g. EaseUS MobiSaver or Dr.Fone) Choose a deep scan (a protracted but effective exercise).
3. Check Temporary Folders: Some applications (such as messengers) store temporary copies of files in folders like /Android/data/com.example.app/cache. Use a root-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer) to find them.

If the file was deleted a long time ago (more than a month ago), the chances of recovery are minimal.

• 🛑 Don’t write new data to your phone – it can overwrite deleted files.
• 🔧 Contact Xiaomi Service Center – sometimes specialists can extract data using professional equipment (relevant for physically fit drives).

⚠️ Note: Data recovery software often requires root rights. On newer Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 13), unlocking the bootloader can result in a loss of warranty!

How to permanently delete files from the Recycle Bin (without recovery)

If you want to completely erase files without the ability to restore them (for example, before selling a phone), just cleaning the shopping cart is not enough.

1. Recycle Bin: Files: Categories → Recycle Bin → Clean. In Gallery: Three Dots → Recycle Bin → Clean Everything.
2. Download and run a secure deletion application (e.g. Shreddit or Secure Delete) and select the option to rewrite multiple times (e.g. DoD 5220.22-M).
3. Phone Reset: Go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset. Select Erase all data and confirm. To clean it completely, reset 2-3 times in a row.

If you are selling or transferring a phone, we also recommend:

• 🔐 Delete your Mi Account (in your account settings).
• 📱 Disable all syncs (Google, Mi Cloud, social networks).
• 📌 Take out the memory card and SIM-map (if any).

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Even after resetting, files can be recovered using specialized software. To completely remove, use a combination of cleaning the cart, overwriting data and multiple resets.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the cart on Xiaomi Redmi