How to enter the cart on Xiaomi Android: all methods for MIUI 14/15

On smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO with firmware MIUI the "Trash" function works differently than on "pure" Android. Unlike Google Photos or standard file managers, here deleted files do not always end up in a single storage - their location depends on the type of content (photos, videos, documents) and the deletion method. In this article, we will look at all the current methods of accessing the recycle bin, including hidden features MIUI 14/15 and workarounds for older versions.

It is important to understand: Xiaomi regularly changes the logic of the recycle bin in new updates. For example, in MIUI 13 files from the gallery and the file manager were stored in different bins, and starting from MIUI 14 some of the content could be automatically cleared after 30 days. We took these nuances into account and put together universal solutions that work on most models - from Redmi Note 10 to flagships Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

If you have deleted important data and cannot find it, do not panic. In 90% of cases, files can still be recovered, even if they are not displayed in the standard recycle bin. Below you will find instructions for different scenarios: from basic access through the interface to advanced methods using ADB.

1. Standard method: shopping cart in the Xiaomi gallery

The most obvious way is through the app "Gallery" (flower icon). This method works for photos and videosdeleted directly from the gallery. If you erased files through a file manager or third-party applications (for example, Google Photos), this method will not help - proceed to the next section.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the application "Gallery"** (do not confuse with Google Photos!).
• 🔍 Click on the three horizontal lines (menu) in the upper right corner.
• 🗑️ Select an item "Trash" (on some firmware it may be called "Recently deleted").
• ⏳ All deleted media files for the last time will be displayed here 30 days (default storage period in MIUI 14+).

To restore files:

1. Select the desired photos/videos with a long tap.
2. Click "Restore"** at the bottom of the screen.
3. The files will be returned to the original folder (for example, DCIM/Camera).

⚠️ Attention: If the gallery recycle bin is empty, but you are sure that you deleted files from there, check the storage settings. In some regional versions of MIUI, the recycle bin is disabled by default. To enable it, go to Gallery settings → Advanced → Trash and activate the option.

2. Recycle bin in the MIUI file manager

File manager "Files"** (icon with a yellow folder) on Xiaomi has its own recycle bin, but it only works for documents, APKs, archives and other files deleted directly through this application. If you erased files via Total Commander, ES Explorer or connected the phone to a PC, this method will not work.

How to open:

• 📁 Launch the application "Files"**.
• 🔍 Tap on the three dots in the upper right corner → "Trash"**.
• 📄 All deleted files (except media) will be displayed here. Storage period is 15 days (may differ in MIUI 15).

Features:

• 🔄 Recovered files are returned to the folder Download or the one from which they were deleted.
• 🚫 Recycle bin in the file manager does not sync with the gallery basket.
• 📱 On some models (for example, POCO F5) the recycle bin is hidden - to see it, first delete any file through this manager.

3. MIUI: where temporary files are stored

MIUI creates hidden folders for temporary storage of deleted data. These folders are not displayed in the standard interface, but they can be accessed through enable display of hidden files or using ADB.

Method 1: through the file manager

1. Open "Files" → three dots → "Settings".
2. Activate the option "Show hidden files"**.
3. Go to the root directory (/storage/emulated/0/) and find the folders:
   • .trash — general recycle bin for files;
   • .recycle_bin — alternative storage (on some firmware);
   • MIUI/Gallery/trash — gallery recycle bin.

Method 2: through ADB (for advanced users)

If hidden folders are not displayed even after enabling the corresponding option, use the command:

adb shell ls /storage/emulated/0/.trash

To restore files from a hidden recycle bin, copy them manually to the desired directory:

adb pull /storage/emulated/0/.trash/filename.jpg /sdcard/Download/

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete or rename folders .trash or .recycle_bin manually - this may disrupt the operation of the recycle bin in MIUI If the folders are empty, but you are sure that the files should be there, try restarting the phone or checking for files. via PC.

What to do if the hidden folders are empty?

If there are no files in the .trash and .recycle_bin folders, but you recently deleted data, try:

1. Check the trash via PC (connect your phone in file transfer mode).

2. Use data recovery applications (for example, DiskDigger or EaseUS MobiSaver).

3. Make sure that the files have not been permanently deleted (for example, through the "Clear all" function in the gallery).

4. Recycle Bin in Google Photos (if used)

If you use Google Photos as the main application for viewing media files, deleted photos and videos end up in Google shopping cart, and not in the MIUI trash. Important: files in the Google trash are stored 60 days, after which they are permanently deleted.

How to open:

• 📷 Launch Google Photos.
• 👤 Tap on your avatar in the upper right corner → "Recycle Bin"**.
• 🔍 All deleted media files synchronized with your Google account will be displayed here.

How does the Google Photos Recycle Bin differ from the MIUI Recycle Bin:

Option	MIUI Trash	Google Photos Trash
Storage period	15–30 days	60 days
File types	Photos, videos, documents	Only photos and videos
Access without Internet	Yes	No (synchronization required)
Restore to PC	Via Explorer	Via photos.google.com

If you have deleted files from Google Photos, but they do not appear in the trash, check:

• 🔄 Synchronization with your account (in Google Photos settings).
• 📁 Folder "Archive"** —sometimes files are moved there instead of the trash.
• 📱 Device memory—if the files were not uploaded to the cloud, they could remain in the MIUI trash.

5. Recovering files without a recycle bin: what to do if the recycle bin is empty

If you have checked all the recycle bins (gallery, file manager, Google Photos), but there are no files there, this does not mean that they are permanently deleted. MIUI has several pitfalls that can hide data:

Reason 1: Auto-emptying the recycle bin

Starting from MIUI 14, the system can automatically empty the recycle bin when there is insufficient memory. To check this:

1. Go to Settings → Storage.
2. See if a lot of space has recently been freed up (for example, 1-2 GB).
3. If so, the files may have been permanently deleted.

Reason 2: Deleting via “Clear All”

In the MIUI Gallery there is a function “Clear all”** (in the trash menu) that destroys files immediately, without the possibility of recovery. If you used it, only specialized recovery software remains.

Reason 3: Files deleted via PC or third-party applications

If you connected the phone to a computer and deleted files via Windows Explorer or macOS Finder, they do not end up in the MIUI cart. In this case: Windows Explorer If you regularly lose important files, set up automatic backup to Google Drive or MIUI Cloud. To do this, go to

• 🖥️ Check the recycle bin on your PC (if you deleted it through it).
• 🔧 Use data recovery apps (for example, Recuva or TestDisk).

6. methods: ADB and root access

If standard methods do not help, and the files are critical, you can try low-level methods. They require technical skills and can damage the system if used incorrectly.

Method 1: Searching for deleted files via ADB

Using ADB You can scan the device’s memory for “orphan” files (those that are not linked to folders). To do this:

1. Install ADB on the PC and connect the phone in debugging mode (turns on Settings → About phone → MIUI version → tap 7 times to unlock developer options, then in Settings → Advanced → For developers enable “Debugging by USB"**).
2. Run the command to search for deleted files:

   adb shell find /storage/emulated/0 -type f -name ".jpg" -o -name ".mp4" | grep -i trash

3. If files are found, copy them to your PC:

   adb pull /path/to/found/file /local/destination/

Method 2: Recovery via TWRP (for root only)

If on yours Xiaomi custom recovery is installed TWRP, you can use it to create an image of the partition /data and further analysis on the PC using PhotoRec or Scalpel.

• ⚠️ This method requires unlocked bootloader and may lead to loss of warranty.
• 🔧 Instructions:
  1. Boot into TWRP.
  2. Select «Backup»** → check the section Data → make a backup to an SD card.
  3. Connect the card to the PC and scan the image with a recovery app.

⚠️ Attention: Using root methods may disrupt the operation of MIUI, especially on new firmware with protection ARB (Anti-Rollback). Before experiments, create a complete backup of your data.

💡

If the files are critical (for example, documents or single photos), and standard methods do not help, contact the Xiaomi service center. They have tools for low-level data recovery without the risk of damaging the device.

7 How to set up the recycle bin in MIUI: increasing the storage period and disabling auto-cleaning

By default, MIUI cleans the trash automatically after 15-30 days, but this period can be changed. It is also useful to disable auto-cleaning when there is low memory.

For the gallery:

1. Open "Gallery" → three dots → "Settings".
2. Select "Cart"**.
3. Set the desired period storage (maximum - 60 days).
4. Disable the option "Automatically clear when low memory"**.

For the file manager:

1. Open "Files" → three dots → "Settings".
2. Go to "Trash"**.
3. Set the storage period (up to 90 days on some firmware).

Limitations:

• 📅 The maximum storage period in the cart depends on the version of MIUI On MIUI 15 for global firmware it may be limited. 30 days.
• 📱 On some models (for example, Xiaomi 13T) the cart settings are hidden. To see them, first add at least one file to the cart.

Frequently asked questions about the cart on Xiaomi

❓ Why MIUI is not displayed in the cart deleted photos, although I deleted them through the gallery?
Probable reasons:
• Photos were deleted through Google Photos —check the trash there.
• Enabled option "Delete without recycle bin"** (check in the gallery settings).
• The files were moved to "Hidden album"** (MIUI gallery has such a function).
• Worked auto-clean —if more than 30 days have passed, the files could have been deleted.
❓ Is it possible to restore files from the recycle bin after resetting the phone to factory settings?

No. When hard reset (full reset) the recycle bin is cleared along with all user data. The only chance is if you made backups in MI Cloud or Google Drive.

If the reset was done recently, try data recovery apps. (for example, Dr.Fone), but the chances are minimal.

❓ Where is the recycle bin stored on a Xiaomi with two SIM cards or an SD card?

The MIUI recycle bin is always linked to the internal memory phone, even if the files were originally located on the SD card. Trash folders (.trash) are created in:

• /storage/emulated/0/.trash — the main basket;
• /storage/XXXX-XXXX/.trash — the SD card basket (where XXXX-XXXX is the drive identifier).

To see recycle bin on the SD card, connect the phone to the PC and turn on the display of hidden files.

❓ Why does the recycle bin in MIUI get emptied by itself?

Automatic cleaning can occur for the following reasons:

• 📉 Insufficient memory: MIUI empties the recycle bin if less than 10% is free memory.
• ⏳ Retention period has expired (default 15–30 days).
• 🔄 Update firmware: sometimes after an update the cart is reset.
• 📱 System optimization: in the security settings there is a function "Deep cleaning"**that can affect the recycle bin.

To avoid losses, disable auto-cleaning in the trash settings (see section 7).

❓ Is it possible to transfer files from the trash to a PC?

Yes. Connect the phone to the computer in "Transfer" mode files"** (MTP) and:

1. Open Windows Explorer or Finder (on macOS).
2. Go to folder Internal memory → .trash (turn on display hidden files).
3. Copy the necessary files to your PC.

If the folder .trash is empty, but you are sure that the files should be there, try viewing the trash through file manager on the phone (sometimes the PC does not display all files).