Xiaomi’s “Recently Deleted” folder: Where to look, how to recover files, and why it’s not in the gallery

You accidentally deleted an important photo, video or document on a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone — and now you can’t find the “Recently Deleted” folder to return files? Don’t panic: in MIUI, this feature works differently than on “pure” Android. Unlike Google Photos or the standard gallery, where deleted files are stored for 30-60 days, in Xiaomi’s firmware, the recovery mechanism depends on the shell version, file type and even the device model.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can find a folder with deleted files on Xiaomi, from the obvious (gallery and file manager) to the hidden (system directories and the cloud), and explain why a folder can suddenly disappear after a MIUI update or reset, and what to do if files are lost forever. At the end, you will find an FAQ with answers to frequent errors and instructions on setting up automatic backup so you don’t lose data anymore.

1.Where to look for the folder "Recently deleted" in the Xiaomi gallery

The easiest way to get a deleted photo or video back is to check the built-in MIUI gallery, but there's a nuance here: since MIUI 12.5, the interface has changed, and the folder may be hiding under a different name or not at all.

Open the Gallery app (the flower icon) and follow the following steps:

• 📁 Slip on three horizontal lines (menu) in the lower right corner.
• 🔍 In the album list, scroll down to the "Baskbasket" or "Recently Deleted" section).
• ⏳ If there is no folder, check the Device tab (not the Cloud) – sometimes files are sorted by source.
• 🔄 On some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro or XP) POCO F5) The folder appears only after the first deletion of the file.

Important: By default, files are stored in the Recycle Bin for 15-30 days (depending on the version of MIUI). After that, they are deleted irrevocably. To extend the term, go to Gallery Settings → Recycle Bin → Recycle Bin → Recycle Bin and select a maximum (60 days).

2.Why the folder "Recently deleted" is not in the gallery - 5 reasons

If you don’t find a shopping cart in the gallery, the problem may be one of the following:

A critical feature of MIUI is that if you delete files through a file manager (not a gallery), they will be placed in another basket, which you should look for in the Files app.

3. How to find a basket in the file manager Xiaomi

The Files (or File Manager) system application on Xiaomi also has its own folder for deleted files, which works independently of the gallery and can contain documents, APKs, archives and other types of data.

1. Open the Files app (if not, download it from the App Store).
2. Slip on three dots in the top right corner and select "Basket" (or Trash).
3. Click on the file and select “Restore” (up arrow icon).

⚠️ Note: In some versions MIUI (for example, MIUI 13 for Redmi Note 10) The file manager basket is disabled by default:

1. Go to File Manager Settings → Recycle Bin.
2. Enable the option “Save deleted files”.
3. Set a storage period (maximum 30 days).

Open Files | Find the Recycle Bin tab in the menu |Enable the Recycle Bin function in the settings |Try to restore files-->

If files were deleted via a PC (for example, when connecting the phone as a flash drive), they will not get into the MIUI Recycle Bin. In this case, only specialized recovery software (Section 5) will help.

4.Where deleted files are physically stored on Xiaomi: the path to the folder

Technically, the recently deleted folder is a hidden system directory that doesn't appear in a standard Explorer, but it can be accessed through root rights or ADB. Here are the paths to the MIUI baskets:

• 📸 gallery: /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.gallery/files/Trash
• 📁 File manager: /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.mi.android.globalFileexplorer/files/trash
• ☁️ Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud):** There is no local path, only through the web interface

⚠️ Warning: Trying to manually copy files from these folders without root permissions can cause data corruption.If you are not sure about your actions, use standard recovery methods (sections 1-3).

For advanced users: If you have root, you can connect to your phone via ADB and execute the command:

adb shell ls /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.gallery/files/Trash

This will display a list of files in the gallery basket. To recover a file, use:

adb pull /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.gallery/files/Trash/name file.jpg /path/on/pc

5 How to recover files if the basket is empty or not

If the files are not displayed in the gallery or file manager cart and the storage period has not expired, try these methods:

Method 1: Checking the Mi Cloud Cloud

If your Xiaomi enabled sync with Mi Cloud, deleted files could be saved in the cloud basket:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select “Gallery” or “Files” (depending on the type of data).
3. Scroll down to the “Basket” (or Trash) section.
4. Restore the necessary files to the device.

Method 2: Recovery via PC (without root)

If the files have been deleted recently (during the 1–2 In the days before, you can try to restore them with the help of programs for Windows/macOS:

• 💻 Recuva (free, suitable for photo/video)
• 💻 DiskDigger (there is a version for Android, but requires root)
• 💻 EaseUS MobiSaver (paid, but with trial period)

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Start the program and select your Xiaomi drive.
3. Start the scan (deep analysis will take 10–30 minutes).
4. Save the files found on the computer.

Importantly, the less you use your phone after deleting files, the better the chances of recovery, and new data (photos, apps, cache) can overwrite deleted files.

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If you're recovering photos, look for files with extensions.jpg,.png,.heic (for iPhone photos). Videos usually have extensions.mp4 or.mov. Word/Excel documents look for.docx,.xlsx.

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

If you want to completely erase files from your shopping cart (for example, before selling your phone), do the following:

For the gallery:

1. Open the Gallery» → «Basket».
2. Slip "Management" (or three dots in the corner).
3. Select “Clean the cart” or “Remove forever”.

For the file manager:

1. Open the Files» → «Basket».
2. Click "Clean" (Basket icon with a cross).
3. Confirm the action.

⚠️ Note: after this operation, files cannot be restored by standard means. MIUI. If there was confidential data on the phone, we also recommend:

• 🔒 Complete reset of settings (Settings) → The phone. → Resetting settings).
• 🔄 Format internal memory (in the reset menu, select “Clear everything»).
• 📱 For complete cleaning, use utilities like SD Maid (requires root).

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Even after resetting, you can restore files with specialized software (such as Autopsy or Foremost). If you sell a phone, format memory via fastboot with the command fastboot format userdata.

7.How to set up automatic backup so you don’t lose files

In order not to search for the folder “Recently deleted”, set up automatic saving of important data:

Method 1: Synchronize with Mi Cloud

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Enable “Gallery Synchronization” and “File Synchronization”.
3. Set daily backups in the cloud settings.

Method 2: Google Photos (alternative to Mi Cloud)

• 📱 Install Google Photos from Play Market.
• 🔄 Enable “Backup and Sync” in the App Settings.
• ☁️ Choose “High Quality” (Free Unlimited Storage) or “Original Quality” (from Google Drive quota).

Method 3: Local backup on PC

Regularly copy important files to your computer:

• 🖥️ Connect your phone to your PC through USB (regime MTP).
• 📂 Copy the folders. DCIM (Photo/video, Downloads and Documents on your hard drive.
• 🔄 Use programs like Syncthing to automatically synchronize.

Tip: If you have a lot of photos, set up automatic upload to Google Photos or Mi Cloud only over Wi-Fi to avoid wasting mobile traffic.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi’s “Recently Deleted” folder