Owners of smartphones Xiaomi Redmi often face the problem of lack of free space precisely because of forgotten files in special storages of deleted data. When you erase a photo or document, they do not disappear forever, but are moved to a temporary buffer so they can be restored. Trash in the system Android on the shell MIUI continues to take up precious gigabytes until you manually confirm their permanent deletion. This is especially critical for the model Redmi 9, which may be equipped with a limited amount of internal memory.
In this article we will look in detail at how to find and clear these hidden partitions in various standard applications. You will learn where deleted media files are hidden in the Gallery, how to manage the buffer in a cloud service Google Photos and what to do with files in system Explorer. Understanding the data storage structure will help you effectively manage device resources without installing third-party software.
You must take into account that the shell interface MIUI may differ slightly depending on the firmware version installed on your device. Despite the visual differences, the logic of the file system remains the same for the entire ecosystem Xiaomi. Below are the current ways to access storage settings for current software versions.
Features of the recycle bin in MIUI on Redmi 9
The system MIUIinstalled on Redmi 9implements the function of temporary storage of deleted objects by default in several system utilities. This is done to protect the user from accidental loss of important information, but many are not aware of the limits of such storage. Typically, files are in a buffer from 30 to 60 days, after which they are deleted automatically, but until this point they take up disk space.
It is important to distinguish between the concepts of local recycle bin and cloud storage. In standard Gallery Xiaomi, deleted items are stored locally on the phone's flash memory. At the same time, the service Google Photos synchronizes remote objects with a cloud account if the corresponding option is enabled. This means that cleaning in one application does not always guarantee cleaning in another.
Before mass cleaning, carefully review the contents of the trash - sometimes accidentally deleted screenshots or important documents that can still be recovered end up there.
Users often wonder why memory is not freed immediately after clicking the delete button in an album. The answer lies in the architecture of the file system: the delete operation only changes the status of the file to “marked for deletion” and moves it to a hidden directory. Only the command Empty Trash initiates physical erasing of data bits from the drive.
Emptying the Trash in the standard Xiaomi Gallery
The most common scenario for garbage accumulation is associated with photographs and videos. The built-in application Gallery on Redmi 9 has its own algorithm for working with remote media. To get to the hidden storage, you need to perform a sequence of actions in the application interface:
Launch the application and go to the tab Albumslocated at the bottom of the screen. Scroll down the list to the very end, where the service section is usually located. In some firmware versions, this item may be called Recently deleted or simply Trash. Clicking on this item will open access to all files awaiting final destruction.
- 🗑️ Click the button Clear in the upper corner of the screen to delete all elements at once.
- 🖼️ Select individual photos with a long tap if you need to delete only part of the files.
- ↩️ Use the button Restoreif you notice important frames among the deleted ones.
After confirming the action, the system will ask for final consent, since the process is irreversible. Files deleted from this section by means MIUIdisappear from the physical media instantly. After this procedure, it will no longer be possible to restore them using standard phone means.
☑️ Checking the Gallery
Managing deleted files in Google Photos
Most modern smartphones Android, including Redmi 9, have the application preinstalled. Google Photos. It works independently from Xiaomi System Gallery and has its own deleted data storage structure. If you use this service to view pictures, cleaning should be done here.
Open the application and tap on the icon Library in the lower right corner of the interface. In the menu that appears, find the tile with the name Trash. Inside, you'll see all the photos and videos that have been deleted from synced folders in the last 60 days (or 30 days for non-synced local files).
⚠️ Warning: Deleting a file from the Google Photos Trash on your phone will cause it to disappearing from the cloud storage on all devices associated with this account.
For complete cleaning, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Empty trash. The system will warn you that the files will be deleted permanently. This action is especially important if you are using a plan with limited cloud space, since the trash can also consumes your storage quota.
The difference between local and cloud deletion
If a photo is deleted only from the phone, but is in the cloud, it will remain in the Google Photos trash. If deleted from the cloud, it will disappear everywhere.
Emptying the Recycle Bin in File Explorer
In addition to media files, users often work with documents, archives and installation packages through the system file manager. On Redmi 9 this application is called Explorer (or File Manager). It also has the function of temporarily storing deleted objects, which many people forget about.
Launch the application and go to the category Files or Internal storage. In the top menu or sidebar (depending on the interface version), find the menu icon with three stripes or dots. The drop-down list must contain the item Trash. If it is not there right away, check the settings of the application itself.
| File type | Retention period | Storage location |
|---|---|---|
| Photo/Video | 30 days | Gallery / Google Photo |
| Documents | 30 days | MIUI Explorer |
| Downloads | No cart | Deleted immediately |
| Audio files | 30 days | Explorer / Player |
Inside the Trash section of Explorer, you can select specific folders or files to delete. This is useful if you have downloaded a lot of APK files or PDF documents that are no longer needed. Regularly checking this section helps maintain the cleanliness of the file structure.
Xiaomi System Explorer stores deleted files separately from the Gallery, so you need to clean both applications for maximum effect.
Third-party applications and instant messengers
Popular instant messengers such as Telegram or Viber, as well as office packages like Microsoft Office or WPS Office, often have their own built-in recycle bin mechanisms. They do not depend on system settings Android and require an individual approach to cleaning.
For example, in Telegram deleted messages and media files end up in a special folder Recently Deleted in the privacy settings or in the general list of chats (depending on the client version). They are kept there for 5 seconds for undoability, but cached files may remain in memory longer. In office applications, the Recycle Bin is usually located in the menu File → Recents → Recycle Bin.
To clear the cache of such applications, it is best to use built-in optimization tools MIUI. Go to the application Security, select Cleaning and scan the system. The utility will find garbage not only in system folders, but also in the cache of third-party apps, offering safe deletion.
Automatic memory cleaning and optimization
Manually deleting files is an effective but labor-intensive method. On Redmi 9 you can set up automatic scripts or use built-in tools to keep the system clean. The shell MIUI offers a powerful set of utilities for these purposes, available out of the box.
The application Security has a section Acceleration i Junk cleaning. Running these functions regularly removes temporary files, remnants of uninstalled applications, and empty folders. In addition, in the Gallery settings you can find an option to automatically empty the trash after 30 days, which is worth activating if you do not plan to restore files.
It is also recommended to use the function Deep cleaningavailable in the same application Security. It analyzes large files, duplicate photos, and rarely used applications. This allows you to free up a significant amount of space without the risk of deleting system-critical data.
⚠️ Warning: Automatic cleaning features may not work correctly if your phone is set to aggressive energy-saving settings. Check whether the work of background processes for system utilities is not limited.
What to do if the recycle bin is not emptied or is hidden
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the recycle bin item is not in the menu or the empty button is inactive. This may be due to an application malfunction, an outdated software version, or specific privacy settings. In such cases, additional actions are required.
The first step should be updating the problematic application through the store Google Play or GetApps. Developers often fix interface display errors in new versions. If the problem persists, try clearing the cache of the Gallery or Explorer application itself through the menu Settings → Applications → All applications.
In rare cases, hiding the Recycle Bin may be due to the enabled mode Second space or Guest mode. Switch to your main user profile to access all system file management features. If all else fails, rebooting the device often solves temporary software glitches.
Why is the "Empty" button gray?
This means that the recycle bin is empty or 0 files are selected. Make sure that you are really in the deleted items section and not in the main album.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to recover photos after emptying the recycle bin on Redmi 9?
No using standard system tools. Once you confirm emptying the Recycle Bin, the files are permanently deleted. Recovery is only possible using specialized PC software when connecting the phone in debug mode, but success is not guaranteed.
How much space does the recycle bin take up on my phone?
The volume depends on the number and size of deleted files. High-definition video files can take up several gigabytes. The exact size can be seen by going to the corresponding section of the basket - the number of items and total weight are usually displayed there.
Is the basket deleted when resetting the phone to factory settings?
Yes, a Hard Reset erases all user information, including the contents of the basket in all applications. After the reset, the phone will be like new, without the possibility of restoring any data.
Why are there different deleted pictures in Google Photos and Gallery?
These are different applications with different databases. Xiaomi Gallery shows files locally, while Google Photos works with synchronized data. A file can be deleted in one place, but saved in another if synchronization was disabled or occurred with a delay.
How to disable the recycle bin so that files are deleted immediately?
In the standard MIUI Gallery, you cannot completely disable the recycle bin, you can only configure the retention period. Some third-party file managers have the option “Delete past the recycle bin,” but for system applications this security feature is usually required.