Where to find the Recycle Bin on Android: searching for deleted files in 2026

Have you accidentally deleted an important photo, document or video on your smartphone and now you don’t know where is the recycle bin located on Android? Unlike Windows or macOS, where the Recycle Bin is always visible, things work differently on mobile devices. There is no single system solution here - it all depends on the phone manufacturer, firmware version and even on the type of deleted files.

In this article we will look at all possible ways to find the recycle bin on Androidincluding built-in functions from Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei and other brands, as well as third-party applications for data recovery. You will learn how to get back deleted files from Galleries, Google Photos, File manager and even from cloud storages. And if the recycle bin is disabled on your device, we’ll show you how to enable it or bypass this limitation.

1. Built-in basket in the Gallery: where to look for Samsung, Xiaomi and others

Most modern smartphones on Android have a built-in basket right in the standard application Gallery. However, its location and file storage period differ depending on the manufacturer. For example, on Samsung Galaxy deleted photos are stored for 15 days, and on Xiaomi Redmi —only 10.

To find the trash can in the Gallery:

• 📱 On Samsung: open Gallery → ☰ (menu) → Trash. Files are stored here until automatic cleaning.
• 📱 On Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco: go to Gallery → Albums → Cart. In some firmware MIUI the cart is hidden - you need to enable it in the application settings.
• 📱 On Huawei/Honor: open Gallery → ☰ → Recycle Bin. Here the files are stored for 30 days.
• 📱 On Google Pixel and "clean" Android: there is no basket in the Gallery - deleted photos immediately go to Google Photos (about this below).

If you don’t see the cart in the menu, check your Gallery settings. For example, on Xiaomi the path is like this: Gallery → ☰ → Settings → Cart → Enable cart. On some devices, the function may be disabled by default.

⚠️ Attention: Built-in cart in Gallery does not save videos and documents —photos only. For other types of files, use File manager or cloud services.

2. Recycle Bin in Google Photos: how to recover deleted photos and videos

If you use Google Photos for backup, then all media files deleted from your phone automatically go to the cloud recycle bin. This works even on devices without a built-in recycle bin in the Gallery (for example, on Google Pixel or Motorola).

To recover files from Google Photos:

1. Open the application Google Photos.
2. Click on your avatar → Trash (or ☰ → Trash in older versions).
3. Select the files you need and click Restore.

The storage period in the Google Photos recycle bin is 60 days. After this, the files are deleted permanently. If you deleted photos from the recycle bin manually, you can only restore them through archive (if they were moved there) or using specialized apps.

Service	Storage period in cart	File types
Google Photos	60 days	Photo, video, GIF
Samsung Gallery	15 days	Photo only
Xiaomi Gallery	10 days	Photos and screenshots
Yandex Drive	30 days	All file types

If you don’t see deleted files in the Google Photos recycle bin, check:

• 🔍 Whether backup was enabled (Settings → Backup and synchronization).
• 🔍 Did you delete files from the recycle bin manually.
• 🔍 Did you expire 60-day retention period.

3. Recycle Bin in the File Manager: where to look for deleted documents and APK

Unlike the Gallery, where almost all manufacturers have a cart, in standard File Manager Android the cart function is less common. It is available on some devices Samsung (application My Files), Huawei (application Files) and in separate firmware Xiaomi.

How to check the recycle bin in the File Manager:

• 📁 On Samsung: open My Files → ☰ → Trash. All deleted files (except system ones) are stored here for 15 days.
• 📁 On Huawei: go to Files → ☰ → Recycle Bin. Storage period is 30 days.
• 📁 On Xiaomi: the recycle bin in the standard file manager appears only after manual activation in the settings (Files → ☰ → Settings → Recycle Bin → Enable).
• 📁 On “pure” Android (for example, Google Pixel or Nokia): there is no recycle bin in the File Manager. Use third-party applications (see section. 5).

If you do not see the Recycle Bin in the menu, try updating the File Manager via Google Play. On some devices, the function appears only after updating.

⚠️ Attention: Recycle Bin in the File Manager does not save files deleted through other applications (for example, via Total Commander or ES Explorer). It only works for files deleted directly through the standard manager.

Open the standard File Manager|Check the menu (☰) for the "Trash" item|If not, update the application via Google Play|Try a third-party manager (for example, Files by Google)-->

4. Cloud storage: recycle bin in Yandex Disk, Mail.ru Cloud and OneDrive

If you If you use cloud services to store files, then deleted data may be in their recycle bins. This is true for Yandex Disk, Mail.ru Cloud, OneDrive and other services. The main advantage is that files are stored longer than in the local recycle bin of a smartphone.

Where to look for the recycle bin in popular cloud services:

• 🌥️ Yandex Disk: open the application → ☰ → Shopping cart. Files are stored for 30 days. Mail.ru Cloud. data-i="168">Me → Recycle Bin. Storage period is 30 days.
• 🌥️ Mail.ru Cloud: ☰ → Cart. Files are stored for 30 days.
• 🌥️ OneDrive: Me → Cart. Storage period - 30 days (93 days for subscribers Microsoft 365).
• 🌥️ Google Drive: ☰ → Recycle Bin. Files are stored for 30 days (60 days for corporate accounts).

To restore files from the cloud recycle bin, select them and click Restore. They will return to the folder from which they were deleted. If you deleted a file from the cloud recycle bin manually, you can only restore it through the service support (and not always).

If you do not remember which cloud service you used, check all installed applications for storing files. on Samsung can be installed by default Samsung Cloud, where there is also a recycle bin.

What to do if a file is deleted from the cloud recycle bin?

If the file was deleted from the cloud storage trash, try:

1. Check file versions (Google Drive and OneDrive have a change history).

2. Contact service support - sometimes files can be restored within 7-14 days after final deletion.

3. Use specialized apps for recovery (for example, DiskDigger or Recuva), but the chances are minimal if the file has been deleted long ago.

5. Third-party applications for recovering files without a recycle bin

If your device does not have a built-in recycle bin and the files have not been synchronized with the cloud, the only option left is to use third-party data recovery applications. They scan the phone's memory and try to find deleted files before their place is overwritten by new data.

Top 5 applications for file recovery on Android:

• 🛠️ DiskDigger - recovers photos, videos and documents. There is a free version with limitations.
• 🛠️ Recuva (for PC) —if you connect your phone to a computer as a drive, you can scan the memory through this app.
• 🛠️ Dumpster —creates its own recycle bin for all deleted files (works as an addition to the system).
• 🛠️ EaseUS MobiSaver — paid application with a high recovery rate.
• 🛠️ GT Recovery - supports recovery of messages, contacts and files.

How to use such applications:

1. Install the application from Google Play.
2. Give access to the device memory.
3. Select the type of files to scan (photos, videos, documents).
4. Wait until the scan is completed and select files to recover.

Important: The less you use the phone after deleting files, the higher the chances of recovering them.. New data (photos, applications, updates) overwrite deleted files, making recovery impossible.

⚠️ Attention: Some recovery applications require root access. This is risky: you could lose your warranty or damage your system. Before using such apps, make a backup copy of your data.

6. How to enable the recycle bin if it is not on your phone

If your device does not have a built-in recycle bin, you can enable it manually (on some firmware) or install a third-party solution. For example, on Xiaomi i Samsung the recycle bin is often disabled by default, and on “pure” Android it is not there at all.

Ways to enable the recycle bin:

• 🔧 On Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco:
  1. Open Gallery → ☰ → Settings → Cart.
  2. Activate the switch Enable cart.
  3. Set the storage period (from 1 to 30 days).
• 🔧 On Samsung:
  1. Open My Files → ☰ → Settings → Trash.
  2. Enable the function and set up automatic cleaning.
• 🔧 On "pure" Android (for example, Google Pixel):
  1. Install Files by Google from the Play Market.
  2. Open ☰ → Settings → Recycle Bin and enable the function.

🔧 Universal method:

1. Install the application Dumpster —it will create a virtual recycle bin for all deleted files.

If you cannot find the recycle bin settings, try updating phone firmware. In new versions MIUI, One UI or EMUI the function may appear automatically.

Also pay attention to automatic trash cleaning. On some devices it triggers when there is insufficient memory. To avoid this, set the minimum free space threshold in the storage settings. data-i="240">automatic emptying of the recycle bin

7. Frequent errors: why the recycle bin does not work or is empty

Sometimes the recycle bin on Android is there, but does not display deleted files or does not open at all. Here are the most common reasons and ways to eliminate them:

Problem	Cause	Solution
The Trash is empty, although the files were deleted	The files were deleted not through the Gallery/File Manager, but through another application	Check the recycle bin in the application through which you deleted the files (for example, Google Photos or Total Commander)
The recycle bin does not open	The Gallery/File Manager application has crashed	Clear the application cache (Settings → Applications → Gallery → Storage → Clear cache)
Files disappear from the recycle bin ahead of time	Automatic cleaning when there is a shortage memory	Disable automatic cleaning in the recycle bin settings or free up space on the device
There is no "Trash" item in the menu	The function is disabled or not supported by the firmware	Update the Gallery/File Manager application or install a third-party solution (for example, Dumpster)

If none of the methods help, check if synchronization with the cloud is disabled. For example, in Google Photos the shopping cart only works when backup is enabled. To check this:

1. Open Google Photos.
2. Go to Settings → Backup and sync.
3. Make sure the function is enabled.

If there is a problem is saved, try using web version of the service (for example, photos.google.com for Google Photos). Sometimes the browser displays files that are not visible in the mobile application.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the shopping cart on Android

Is it possible to recover files if the recycle bin is empty?

Yes, but the chances depend on how long ago the files were deleted. If the recycle bin is empty, try:

• Check cloud services (Google Photo, Yandex Disk etc.).
• Use applications for recovery (DiskDigger, EaseUS MobiSaver).
• View in folder DCIM/.thumbnails - sometimes thumbnails of deleted photos remain there.

If files were deleted a long time ago (more than a month ago), restore them unlikely.

Why is there no recycle bin on my phone?

The absence of a recycle bin may be due to:

• The phone's firmware (on "pure" Android there is no recycle bin by default).
• A disabled function in the settings (for example, on Xiaomi or Samsung).
• Using a third-party file manager (for example, Total Commander), which does not support the recycle bin.

Solution: update the firmware, enable the recycle bin in the settings, or install a third-party application (for example, Dumpster).

How to increase storage life files in the trash?

The storage period depends on the firmware and application:

• On Samsung: maximum 15 days (cannot be changed).
• On Xiaomi: can be set from 1 to 30 days in the settings Galleries.
• In Google Photos: always 60 days.
• In Yandex Disk: always 30 days.

If you need to store files longer, use cloud services or regularly transfer important data to your computer.

Is it possible to recover deleted messages or contacts?

The Recycle Bin on Android stores only media files and documents for recovery. messages And contacts use:

• Backups to Google Account (Settings → Google → Backup).
• Applications like GT Recovery or SMS Backup & Restore.
• Synchronization with Viber/WhatsApp (if cloud backup is enabled).

Restoring messages without a backup is almost impossible.

What to do if the Recycle Bin is not emptied automatically?

If files remain in the Recycle Bin for longer than the set period, this may lead to memory full. To fix:

1. Open the Recycle Bin manually and empty it (Select all → Delete permanently).
2. Check the automatic cleaning settings (on Xiaomi: Gallery → Settings → Trash → Auto cleaning).
3. If the function is broken, clear the application cache Gallery/File Manager.