Have you accidentally deleted an important photo or document on your Xiaomi Redmi and now you can’t find the recycle bin? Unlike computers, where the recycle bin is always visible, on Android smartphones (including Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10/13C and other models) this section is often hidden or works differently. In this article we will look at where to look for the recycle bin in MIUIhow to recover files from it and what to do if it suddenly disappeared after the update.

The main problem is in different logic of the recycle bin on Xiaomi. Depending on the version MIUI (12, 13 or 14), phone model and even the type of files (photos, videos, documents), the path to the trash can differ. In addition, some applications (for example, Gallery or Files) have their own baskets that do not synchronize with each other. We have collected all the current methods - from standard to hidden.

If you deleted files a long time ago (more than 30 days ago), the chances of recovery through the recycle bin are minimal - the system automatically cleans it. In this case, proceed to the section about deep recovery. First, check out simple methods!

In most Redmi the basket for media files is built into the standard application Gallery (Mi Gallery. It stores deleted photos and videos for 15–30 days (depending on settings). To open it:

  1. Launch the application Gallery (icon with multi-colored squares).
  2. Tap on the three horizontal lines (☰) in the upper right corner.
  3. Select the item Trash (or Deleted in older versions of MIUI).
  4. Click on the file and select Restore (down arrow icon).

Important: if the item Cart is not in the menu, it means:

  • 📱 You are using third-party gallery (for example, Google Photos) - check the cart in it.
  • 🔄 The function is disabled in the settings - turn it on Gallery → Settings → Trash.
  • 🗑️ The Trash is empty or the files were deleted more than 30 days ago.
💡

If there is no "Trash" item in the gallery, try updating the application via Play Market —in new versions of MIUI 14 the function has been returned.

2. Trash in the “Files” application (for documents and other types)

For documents, APKs, archives and other files, the trash can is in the standard File Manager (application Files from Xiaomi). Algorithm of actions:

  1. Open the application Files (folder icon).
  2. Go to tab Categories (bottom of the screen).
  3. Scroll down and select Cart (trash can icon).
  4. Long tap select the required files and click Restore.

In MIUI 14, the trash can in the "Files" may be missing if you previously cleared it manually or disabled the function in the settings. To get it back:

  1. Open Files → Settings (⚙️).
  2. Select Cart and turn on the switch.
  3. Set the storage period (maximum 30 days).
Why do files disappear from the recycle bin prematurely?

If the free space on the phone runs out, MIUI automatically empties the recycle bin, even if the storage period has not expired. To avoid this, leave at least 10% free space on the internal drive.

3. Recycle Bin in Google Photos (if synchronization is enabled)

If you use Google Photos for backup, deleted photos and videos go to its recycle bin. It stores files 60 days (unlike 30 days in MIUI). To restore: Google Photos data-i="115">Select

  1. Open the application Google Photos.
  2. Tap on your avatar (or initials) in the upper right corner.
  3. Select Trash.
  4. Select files and click Restore.

⚠️ Attention: If you deleted a photo from Google Photos Manually (not through the Xiaomi gallery), it will not appear in standard MIUI cart. These two storages are not synchronized!

Application Storage period Types files Where to look
MIUI Gallery 15–30 days Photo, video Menu (☰) → Cart
MIUI files up to 30 days Documents, APK, archives Categories → Cart
Google Photos 60 days Photo, video Profile → Cart
OneDrive 30–90 days Any files Menu → Recycle Bin
📊 Which Recycle Bin do you use more often?
Standard in MIUI
Google Photos
OneDrive/Cloud
I don’t know where she
Other

4. Hidden recycle bin in MIUI: how to enable it if it is not there

On some Redmi (especially after updating to MIUI 13/14) the recycle bin may be disabled by default. To activate it:

  1. Open Settings → Applications → Application management.
  2. Find Gallery or Files and tap on them.
  3. Select Storage → Data management.
  4. Turn on the switch Trash (if any).

If there is no item, try resetting the application settings:

Settings → Applications → Gallery/Files → Storage → Clear data

⚠️ Attention: After clearing the data in Gallery all albums and settings will be reset, but the files on the phone will remain.

Is it enabled recycle bin in the "Galleries" settings?

Are the "Files" and "Gallery" applications updated to the latest version?

Is there enough free space on the phone (minimum 1 GB)?

Have you tried restarting the phone after the changes?-->

5. Recovering files without a recycle bin: deep scanning

If files are deleted more than 30 days ago or the recycle bin is empty, try specialized utilities. They scan the phone's internal memory at the file system level. The best options for Redmi:

  • 🛠️ DiskDigger —recovers photos and videos even after formatting (requires root for deep scanning).
  • 📁 Recuva (for PC)—connect the phone to the computer in File transfer mode and scan the drive.
  • 🔍 Dumpster is an alternative recycle bin for Android that intercepts deleted files.

Instructions for DiskDigger (without root):

  1. Install the application from Play Market.
  2. Select Start basic scan.
  3. Mark file types (for example, JPG, PNG).
  4. After scanning, select the files and click Recover.

⚠️ Attention: Do not save recovered files to the same drive from which they were deleted! Use the cloud or an external memory card to avoid overwriting.

💡

The sooner you begin recovery after deletion, the higher the chances of getting your files back. Each new entry on the phone (photo, installation of applications) reduces the likelihood of success.

6. Frequent problems and solutions

Problem 1: The Trash in the gallery is empty, but the files were recently deleted.

  • Check Google Photos or OneDrive - the files may have been deleted from there.
  • Make sure you did not use the function Empty Trash manually.
  • Try it search by phone (swipe down on the main screen) - sometimes files remain in the folder DCIM/.thumbnails.

Problem 2: After updating MIUI, the recycle bin disappeared.

  • Update applications Gallery and Files via Play Market.
  • Reset the application settings (see section 4).
  • If that doesn’t help, use Google Photos as the main gallery.

Problem 3: You cannot restore files - the button is inactive.

  • Check whether there is enough space on the phone (minimum required 500 MB of free space).
  • Restart the phone - sometimes this solves MIUI glitches.
  • Try to restore files via PC (by connecting the phone as a USB drive).
What to do if the phone does not see the memory card?

If the files were on the SD card, remove it and connect it to the computer via a card reader. Use apps like PhotoRec or TestDisk to scan. Do not format the card - this will destroy the data irrevocably!

7. Alternative methods: backups and clouds

If the standard methods did not work, check:

  • 🔄 MIUI backups: go to Settings → About phone → Backup. If a copy was created before deletion, restore it (but this will return all data to the date of the copy!).
  • ☁️ Cloud storage: check Mi Cloud (if synchronization was enabled), Yandex Disk, Mail.ru Cloud.
  • 📧 Mail and instant messengers: sometimes files are sent to your email or to Telegram (section Saved messages).

⚠️ Attention: restoring from a MIUI backup will reset the current settings and applications. First save important data (contacts, SMS) to the cloud or on a PC.

If none of the methods help, the last chance is to contact the service center Xiaomi. Specialists can extract data using professional equipment (for example, Chip-Off), but this is expensive and does not guarantee 100% results.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the recycle bin on Redmi

Is it possible to increase the storage period for files in the recycle bin?

In standard MIUI applications, the maximum period is 30 days. To bypass this limitation:

  • Use Google Photos (60 days).
  • Install a third-party recycle bin, for example Dumpster (customizable period).
  • Regularly transfer important files to the cloud or PC.
Why is the recycle bin not emptied automatically?

If the recycle bin is full, but the files are not deleted after the expiration date, check:

  • Settings Galleries → Recycle Bin → Auto Cleanup (the switch must be turned on).
  • Free space on the phone (if less than 1 GB, MIUI pauses cleaning).
  • Application updates (there are bugs in older versions).

To force empty the trash, press Manage → Clear everything.

How to restore files after resetting the phone to factory settings?

After hard reset standard methods do not work. Try:

  1. If it was turned on Mi Account, log in after. reset - the system will offer to restore the data.
  2. Use PC apps like EaseUS MobiSaver (scan the internal memory of the phone).
  3. Check the memory card (if there was one) on another device.

⚠️ The chances are extremely low - a reset erases the data at the file system.

Where is the recycle bin stored on Redmi with custom firmware (for example, Pixel Experience)?

On unofficial firmware, the MIUI recycle bin is missing:

  • Use Google Photos or Files by Google (have their own recycle bin).
  • Install Simple Gallery (open source and recycle bin functionality).
  • Set up automatic backup to the cloud.
Is it possible to recover deleted messages from SMS or instant messengers?

The Trash in MIUI does not store SMS or chats. To restore:

  • SMS: use SMS Backup & Restore (if there was a backup).
  • WhatsApp/Telegram: check backup copies in Google Drive or local files in the folder /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases.
  • Viber: restore your account on a new device - chats will be downloaded from the cloud.

⚠️ Without a backup, it is almost impossible to restore messages.