How to completely empty the recycle bin on a Xiaomi smartphone: 4 proven methods

Have you deleted photos, videos or documents on Xiaomibut they still take up space? Most likely, the files ended up in recycle bin - temporary storage, where the data remains for up to 30 days. Many users forget that the recycle bin on Androiddevices (especially on Redmi i POCO) works on the principle of “soft deletion”: files do not disappear immediately, but are only moved to a hidden folder. This is useful if you accidentally erased something important, but over time the recycle bin grows and eats up gigabytes of memory.

In this article we will look at how to find and empty the trash on Xiaomi from standard methods through Gallery i Files to hidden system folders. We will also explain why files may remain in memory after deletion, and what to do if the Recycle Bin is not emptied. The instructions are relevant for all modern models: Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13 Pro+, POCO F6 and others with a shell MIUI 14/15 or HyperOS.

We warn you: some methods require access to system folders, so first check if there are any important files in the recycle bin. If you have already tried to clear it through the standard settings, but the memory was not freed up, the problem may lie in the application cache or duplicates. Read on to understand all the nuances.

Where is the recycle bin on Xiaomi and how to open it

On smartphones Xiaomi the recycle bin does not have a separate shortcut on the desktop - it can only be found inside certain applications. The main places where deleted files are hidden:

• 📷 Gallery (Photo): deleted images and videos are stored here. Opens through the app menu.
• 📁 Files (File Manager): contains a recycle bin for documents, APKs, archives and other types of files.
• 🌐 Google Photos: if synchronization is enabled, deleted files may remain in the cloud trash for up to 60 days.
• 🔄 System folder .trash: a hidden directory where files deleted through third-party file managers are located (for example, Total Commander or FX File Explorer).

Most often, users encounter with a basket in Gallery i Files. To open it:

1. Launch the application Gallery (icon with a flower or camera).
2. Tap on the three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner → select Cart.
3. Similarly in Files: open the application → go to tab Categories → scroll down to the item Trash.

If there is no item Trash it means you have never deleted files through these applications, or they have already been automatically cleared (by default MIUI stores deleted data for 30 days). In this case, check the system folder .trash —we will talk about it in the next section.

Method 1: Emptying the Trash through standard applications

The simplest method is to use the built-in tools MIUI. It is suitable for most users and does not require root access or technical skills. Let's look at step by step how to empty the trash in Gallery and Files.

Through the Gallery (for photos and videos)

1. Open Gallery → click on the three dots (⋮) → Cart.
2. In the upper right corner, tap Manage (or Edit on older versions MIUI).
3. Select the files you want to delete permanently, or click Select all.
4. Click Delete → confirm the action.

Through Files (File Manager)

1. Run application Files → go to the tab Categories.
2. Scroll down to the section Trash and tap on it.
3. Click Clear in the upper right corner or select files manually → Delete.

If buttons Empty no - this means the trash bin is empty. Check other applications (for example, Google Photos) or system folders.

Method 2: Deleting the hidden .trash folder manually

Not everyone knows, but on Xiaomi (as on other Androiddevices) there is a hidden system folder .trashwhere files deleted through third-party file managers are stored. It is not visible in the standard File Manager, but it can be found using Total Commander, FX File Explorer or through ADB.

Attention: deleting files from this folder is irreversible. If you are not sure that there is garbage there, check first! contents.

Instructions via Total Commander

1. Install Total Commander from Google Play.
2. Open the application → go to the root directory (/).
3. Enable the display of hidden files: Settings → Display → Show hidden files.
4. Find the folder .trash (can be located in /storage/emulated/0/ or /sdcard/).
5. Delete its contents or the entire folder.

Via ADB (for advanced users)

If you have access to ADB, you can empty the Recycle Bin with the command:

adb shell rm -rf /sdcard/.trash/*

This command will recursively delete all contents folders .trash. Be careful - recovery will be impossible!

What to do if the .trash folder is not deleted?

If the system gives the error "Permission denied", then you do not have permission to delete. Try:

1. try.

2. Use Root Explorer (root access is required).

3. Connect your smartphone to the PC and delete the folder via Windows/MacOS (sometimes the rights are reset).

Method 3: Emptying the Google Photos Trash

If you use Google. Photo for backup, deleted files can remain in cloud cart up to 60 days. They take up space both in the cloud and (sometimes) in the device memory. To clear it:

1. Open the application Google Photos.
2. Tap on your profile avatar in the upper right corner → Cart.
3. Click Manage → select files → Delete permanently.
4. Confirm the action (you may need to enter your account password Google).

Important: files deleted from the Google Photos recycle bin cannot be restored! If you synced photos with the cloud, copies of them may remain on Google servers even after you empty the recycle bin on your phone.

To avoid duplicate data, disable automatic uploading to Google Photos:

1. Open Google Photos → avatar → Photo settings.
2. Select Backup and synchronization → disable slider.

Method 4: Resetting cache and data applications

Sometimes the recycle bin is not emptied due to a malfunction of Galleries or Files. In this case, resetting the cache and application data will help. This is safe for the system, but all application settings will be reset to factory settings (for example, sorting files in File Manager).

How to reset the cache and data:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Manage applications.
2. Find Gallery or Files (depending on the problem).
3. Tap Storage → Clear cache and Clear data.
4. Reboot your phone.

After resetting, the trash bin should be empty. If the problem persists, try reinstalling the application:

1. In the same application settings, click Delete updates (if the button is active).
2. Then update the application via Google Play.

Why the recycle bin on Xiaomi is not emptied: 5 reasons and solutions

Have you tried all the methods, but files are still taking up space? Here are the most common reasons and their solutions:

Problem	Cause	Solution
The Trash is empty, but the memory is full	The files have been deleted, but their thumbnails remain in DCIM/.thumbnails	Delete the folder .thumbnails via the file manager
The "Clear" button is inactive	System failure or lack of rights	Reboot your phone or reset application data
Files are returned after deletion	Automatic synchronization with the cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud)	Disable synchronization in your account settings
Folder .trash is not deleted	Occupied by a system process or not authorized	Use ADB or Root Explorer
Trash is not displayed in Files	The function is disabled in the settings MIUI	Enable the recycle bin: Settings → Storage → Recycle Bin → Enable

If none of the methods helped, there is a problem may be deeper - for example, damage to the file system or virus software, blocking deletion. In this case:

• 🛡️ Check your phone for viruses. (Malwarebytes or Dr.Web).
• 🔧 Check the file system via Recover Mode (press Power + Volume up when loading → Wipe & Reset → Repair Storage).
• 📱 Reset to factory settings (the last option if other methods did not work).

How to recover files from the Xiaomi recycle bin

If you accidentally emptied the trash or deleted the necessary files, you can still get them back - but only within 30 days (for MIUI) or 60 days (for Google PhotosHere's how to restore data:

From Gallery or Files trash

1. Open Gallery or Files → go to Trash.
2. Select the required files → click Restore.
3. The files will be returned to their original folders (for example, DCIM/Camera for photos).

From Google Photos

1. Open Google Photos → Recycle Bin.
2. Select files → Restore.
3. The data will be returned to the main library and synchronized with the device.

Using third-party utilities (if the Recycle Bin has already been emptied)

If the recycle bin is empty, but the files were recently deleted, try recovery apps:

• 🔍 DiskDigger (free version searches for photos and videos).
• 📂 Recuva (requires connecting the phone to a PC).
• 🛠️ EaseUS MobiSaver (paid, but with a high recovery percentage).

Attention: the less you use the phone after deleting files, the higher the chances of recovering them. When new data is written, old files are overwritten!

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the recycle bin on Xiaomi

How many days are files stored in the Xiaomi recycle bin?

Default - 30 days. For Google Photos - 60 days. After this, the files are deleted automatically.

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

No, in MIUI this parameter is not configurable. you can manually empty the recycle bin less frequently or archive important files.

Why is memory not freed after emptying the recycle bin?

Possible reasons:

• Files are duplicated in the cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud).
• Thumbnails left in DCIM/.thumbnails.
• The system cache is not updated (reboot the phone).

How to disable the recycle bin on Xiaomi?

Q MIUI the recycle bin cannot be completely disabled, but you can:

• Reduce the storage period of files (there is no such option, but you can clear it manually).
• Use third-party file managers without a recycle bin (for example, Amaze File Manager).

Is it safe to delete the .trash folder?

Yes, this is a system folder for temporary files. Deleting it is not possible will damage the operation Android, but data recovery will become impossible.

If your question is not covered in the article, clarify the details in the comments. For example, indicate the phone model, version MIUI and the steps you have already tried!