How to return remote SMS on Xiaomi phone: all working methods

Have you deleted an important message on Xiaomi and don’t know how to restore it? Don’t panic – even after cleaning the SMS folder, the chances of returning data remain. In this article, you will find 5 proven ways to find remote SMS on Redmi, POCO and other models with MIUI firmware. We will analyze both standard system tools and specialized applications that work even without root rights.

It's important to understand that recovery success depends on two factors -- the time since it was deleted and the activity of using the phone after that. Every new message, photo or installed application reduces the chances of returning old data. So you need to act quickly. If you're looking for a way to return SMS that were deleted more than a month ago without backups, the probability of success is minimal - but it's worth a try.

1. Checking the messaging basket in MIUI

Many users don't know that MIUI 12 and later has a built-in SMS shopping cart where messages are stored for up to 30 days after deletion, the first and easiest way to recover.

To check the basket:

• 📱 Open the Messages app (the envelope icon)
• 🔍 Click on three dots in the upper right corner → pick the basket
• 📤 Find the right message, hold your finger on it. → press Restore.
• 🔄 After recovery, the SMS will appear again in the main list.

If the cart is empty or your MIUI version doesn't (relevant to older models like the Redmi Note 5), move on to the next method. Note: the cart is automatically cleared when memory is overflowing or after a system update.

2.Restore from the MI Cloud backup

If your Xiaomi has automatic backup enabled in MI Cloud, the chances of returning SMS are much higher.The system saves messages once a day when connecting to Wi-Fi. Here's how to check and restore data:

Step instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → MI Cloud
2. Make sure the Message slider is on (if not, no copies were available)
3. Click Restore → Select the backup date
4. Confirm the recovery (the process will take 2-5 minutes)

⚠️ Note: When restoring the MI Cloud all current SMS created after the backup date will be deleted irrevocably.We recommend saving important messages manually (for example, screenshots).

Take screenshots of important current SMS

Check the available space on the phone (need ≥500 MB)

Connect to a stable Wi-Fi

Charge your phone ≥50%

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If you don't have backups in the cloud, try local recovery via Settings → About Phone → Backup. You can store manual copies here.

3. Use of applications for SMS recovery

When standard methods don't work, third-party utilities come to the rescue. For Xiaomi, without root rights, you can:

The most reliable option without root is SMS Backup & Restore, which works even on new models like Xiaomi 13 Pro:

• 📥 Install the app from Google Play
• 🔍 Start the scan (select SMS only)
• 💾 Save the messages found in XML or TXT
• 📤 Restore them back to the standard app

GT Recovery is good for deep root scanning, but remember: getting root resets the phone to factory settings and can take no warranty. On POCO X3 and newer models, unlocking the bootloader takes up to 7 days of waiting.

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Before using any recovery applications, turn off mobile internet and Wi-Fi – this will prevent deleted data from being overwritten by new messages.

4. Manual search in system files (for advanced)

All SMS on Android (including Xiaomi) are stored in the database mmssms.db. When you delete a message, it is not erased immediately, but marked as deleted. With the help of SQLite editor, you can try to extract this data.

Instructions for users with root:

1. Install Root Explorer or FX File Explorer


2. Go to /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/




3. Copy the file mmssms.db to your computer




4. Open it through DB Browser for SQLite




5. Fulfill the request:




SELECT * FROM sms WHERE deleted=1;

⚠️ Note: Mistakes with the mmsms.db file can result in the loss of all messages or the failure of the Message application. Without experience with databases, it is better to use specialized utilities from the previous section.

5. Contact Xiaomi Support

If the messages are critical (e.g., contain data for two-factor authentication or legal information), you can try to contact official support Xiaomi.

• 📄 Confirmation of purchase (checks, warranty card) will be required)
• 🕒 The term of consideration of the request - up to 30 days
• 💰 Service paid (from 1500 to 5000 rubles depending on the model)
• 🔒 The data will only be retrieved to your device (without transferring to third parties)

For reference:

1. Go to the Xiaomi Support Website
2. Select Online Chat or Repair Request
3. Specify the problem: Data recovery → Remote SMS
4. Attach the screenshot of IMEI (type *#06#)

The official service center Xiaomi in Moscow is located at the address: Baumanskaya, Bakuninskaya str., 71. Before your visit, be sure to register through the website - without a record you will not be accepted.

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Official data recovery guarantees security, but is only suitable for mission-critical communications due to the high cost and long lead times.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users lose their chances of recovering SMS messages due to errors, and this is what you can't do after deleting messages:

• 📲 Install new applications (they overwrite memory)
• 🔄 Make a reset to factory settings
• 📁 Clear cache or application data Messages
• 🔋 Discharge your phone to zero (this can damage your file system)

Version incompatibility is also a common problem, for example, a backup of an SMS made on MIUI 11 may not be restored to MIUI 14, in which case converting the file via SMS Backup & Restore (export to XML option) will help.

Another life hack: If you use Google Messages instead of the standard app, check the web version – sometimes messages are saved to the Google cloud even after you delete them from your phone.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions