Owners of popular smartphones Xiaomi i Redmi often face a situation where the internal memory of the device is critically full, although the user is sure that he has deleted all unnecessary files. This happens because in the shell MIUI and new HyperOS, as well as in the standard Android, deleting data does not always mean instantly erasing it from the drive. The system moves them to a special buffer, which many users call the “trash”, although technically it is just a hidden folder with deferred deletion.
Ignoring this step means that gigabytes of photos, videos and documents continue to take up valuable space, causing the interface to slow down and the inability to install new applications. Understanding Files in the Recycle Bin take up disk space until they are permanently deleted or the storage period expires (usually 30 days).is key to effectively managing smartphone resources. In this guide, we will look in detail at all the ways to clear these temporary storages in various system applications.
The developers Xiaomi implemented the delayed deletion feature as a protective mechanism against accidental loss of important data. However, for an experienced user, this becomes an obstacle when you urgently need to free up space. The cleaning process is not a single button throughout the entire system; it is distributed across different applications, such as Gallery, Explorer and Files. Below we will look at each of these scenarios separately so that you can conduct a complete audit of your device.
Emptying the Trash in the Gallery application
The most common source "hidden" junk is an album with deleted items in a standard image viewing application. When you erase a photo or video, it does not disappear without a trace, but is moved to a special album. You can find it by opening the application Gallery and going to the tab Albums. Scroll down the list to the very end, where you will see a folder called Deleted or Recently Deleted.
Inside this folder all media files deleted in the last 30 are stored days. The system will automatically erase them after this period, but if you need the space right now, you will have to act manually. Click on the button Clear or select the trash can icon in the upper corner of the screen. Confirm the action in the pop-up window, and the memory will be instantly freed.
Be extremely careful when performing this operation, since restoring files after manual cleaning from this album using standard means becomes impossible. If you accidentally deleted something important, check the contents of the folder first before clicking the all-delete button. For selective cleaning, you can hold your finger on a specific file and select only it.
⚠️ Attention: After clearing the “Deleted Items” album in the Gallery, restoring photos through the menu of the application itself becomes impossible. Make sure that there are no necessary pictures among the files.
If you use the Xiaomi Cloud cloud service, check the web version of the storage before cleaning - sometimes files deleted on the phone are still saved in the cloud for some time.
Deleting files from system Explorer
In addition to photos, users often work with documents, archives and installation files through the built-in file manager. In smartphones Redmi this application is usually called Explorer or File Manager. The logic of operation here is similar to the gallery: deleted documents end up in the local application trash, where they continue to take up space.
To get to it, launch Explorer and go to the section Categories or click on the menu icon (three bars) in the upper left corner. In the list that opens, find the item Trash. Not only your personal documents can accumulate here, but also remnants from unpacking archives or old versions of applications.
The Trash interface in Explorer allows you to sort files by deletion date. This is useful if you only want to remove old junk, leaving recent files in case you need them in the coming days. Click on the clear icon, usually located in the upper right corner, to erase all content.
- 🗑️ Click on the menu icon in the Explorer application to access settings.
- 📂 Select the "Trash" item in the list of categories or tools.
- ✅ Confirm the complete deletion of all accumulated files.
Working with the Cleaning and Security application
In the ecosystem Xiaomi there is a powerful system application Securitythat combines the functions of an antivirus and a memory cleaner. Many users use it to quickly clear the cache, but forget that it has its own mechanism for working with deleted files, which can duplicate the functions of other applications or have its own characteristics.
Launch the application Security and select the tool Cleaning. After scanning the system, click on the clean button. However, in order to manage the recycle bin, sometimes you need to go into the settings of the cleaning application itself. In some versions MIUI there is a separate section for managing deep cleaning, where you can configure the automatic removal of files from temporary storage.
Using this tool is preferable to manual deletion, since algorithms Security can find the remains of files that the user does not see in standard folders. Regular launch of this utility helps keep the system in good shape and prevents the accumulation of “digital fat.”
⚠️ Attention: The functions of the “Security” application may differ depending on the firmware version (Global, China, EEA) and Android version. If you do not find the trash item, check the settings of the specific cleaning module.
Why are files returned?
Sometimes after cleaning, files appear again. This happens if synchronization with the cloud (Google Photos or Mi Cloud) is not configured correctly and restores deleted items from a backup.
Features of cleaning in Google Photos and Google Files
Modern smartphones Redmi often come with pre-installed services from Google, which have their own data storage rules. The application Google Photos and file manager Files by Google are independent of system applications Xiaomi and have their own baskets.
In the application Photo from Google remote pictures are stored in the folder Trash for 60 days (for regular users) or up to 30 days (in some configurations). This is an independent storage: emptying the Trash in the system Gallery Xiaomi will not affect files in Google Photoif you used this particular application to delete.
A similar situation with the application Files (blue icon with the letter G). It has its own section Cart in the side menu. If you deleted files through this manager, they will be located here. It is important to check both sources to achieve maximum free space.
| App | Shelf life in cart | Path to cart |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Gallery | 30 days | Albums → Deleted |
| Google Photos | 60 days | Library → Trash |
| Explorer MIUI | Indefinitely (until manual cleaning) | Menu → Trash |
| Files by Google | 30 days | Menu → Trash |
Xiaomi system recycle bin and Google recycle bin - these are different storage facilities. Emptying one does not affect the other, so check both applications.
Automatic configuration and disabling of the recycle bin
For those who do not want to constantly monitor the filling of temporary folders, it is possible to configure automatic deletion or completely disable the recycle bin function. This is relevant for users who prefer to delete files permanently and immediately, without the risk of clogging up memory.
In application settings Gallery you can find an item responsible for the lifetime of deleted elements. In some versions of the shell, the option “Delete immediately” is available, which bypasses the Trash stage. However, it is worth remembering that this deprives you of insurance against accidental clicks.
You can also use third-party scripts or ADB commands for advanced users to change the behavior of the system at a deeper level, but for most, standard settings in the application menu are sufficient.
- ⚙️ Go to settings for a specific application (Gallery or Explorer).
- 🕒 Find the “Deleted Items” or “Recycle Bin” section.
- 🚫 Disable the saving function or set the minimum period (if available).
⚠️ Attention: Disabling the Recycle Bin means that any deleted file will disappear irrevocably instantly. Use this option only if you are confident in your actions.
☑️ Checking free space
What to do if the recycle bin is not emptied or the files are returned
Sometimes users are faced with a paradoxical situation: they empty recycle bin, but after a while they see that the space is occupied again, or the files appear in the “Deleted Items” album again. This is often due to the operation of background synchronization processes.
The main reason for this behavior is active synchronization with cloud services. If you deleted a photo on your phone, but it remains in the cloud Mi Cloud or Google Drive, the system may try to restore a local copy or cache of this file. In this case, you need to check the synchronization settings in your account.
There may also be errors in the operation of the file system. In this case, it is recommended to restart the device after cleaning. If the problem persists, you can try clearing the cache of the Gallery application itself through the menu Settings → Applications → All applications → Gallery → Clear cache.
Hidden folders .thumbnails
Sometimes it is not the files themselves in the trash that take up space, but thumbnails that the system generates for them. Cleaning the .thumbnails folder in the root of the internal memory can give an additional increase in free space.
Regular hygiene of the digital space of a smartphone Redmi is the key to its fast operation. Understanding where exactly the deleted data is hidden allows you to control the situation and avoid unpleasant surprises in the form of a “Memory full” message at the most inopportune moment.
Where is the physical Recycle Bin folder in the file system?
Physically, the Gallery Recycle Bin files are usually stored in a hidden directory .MIUI/Gallery/cloud/.galleryRecycleBin in the internal memory. Access to it is possible only if you have root access or through special file managers with access to system folders.
Is it possible to restore files after emptying the recycle bin?
No using standard system tools. After clearing the Deleted Items folder, links to files are erased. Recovery is only possible using specialized data recovery software (for example, DiskDigger) if the memory sector has not yet been overwritten with new information.
Why are files that I did not delete displayed in the trash?
This may occur due to synchronization from other devices connected to your Mi Account or Google account. If you deleted a photo on a tablet or computer, it may appear in the phone's trash as part of the overall synchronization history.
Does emptying the trash affect the speed of the phone?
Yes, indirectly. When the storage is more than 90% full, the speed of writing and reading data drops. Emptying the recycle bin frees up space, which allows the memory controller to work more efficiently and reduces the load on the system when creating new files.
How to empty the recycle bin in all applications at once?
There is no single “Empty all” button for all system recycle bins. You need to go to Gallery, Explorer and Google Photos in sequence. However, using the Security application can partially automate this process by deleting cached remains.