Messages on Xiaomi smartphones take up gigabytes of memory over time, slow down the Messages app, and may even contain sensitive data that is better deleted. But standard deletion of a single message or chat takes hours, and the Delete All feature is often hidden in non-obvious menus. In this article, we will discuss all the working ways of mass cleaning SMS from basic to advanced, including methods for devices with MIUI 12-14 and older versions.
Xiaomi is actively modifying its standard Android Messages app by adding its own features (e.g. cloud backup via Mi Cloud), which complicates the cleaning process: some methods only work on certain versions of the firmware, while others require the activation of hidden modes. We have tested all methods on Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Poco X5 Pro and Xiaomi 13 Ultra models – and are ready to provide current instructions.
1. Standard removal through the application "Messages"
The most obvious, but not always effective, way is to use the built-in Messages tools (or Messages on global firmware), a method suitable for removing individual dialogs or batch cleaning selected chats, but has limitations: for example, you can not erase all messages at once without confirming each dialog.
To clear messages in a standard way:
- 📱 Open the Messages app on the home screen or in the app menu.
- 🔍 Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Message Settings (or Message Settings in English firmware).
- 🗑️ Go to the section Cleaning messages → Delete all messages.
- ✅ Confirm the action by ticking the box against each dialog (or use the Select All button if available).
⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI (for example, MIUI 13.0.6 for Redmi Note 11) the option to delete everything may not be available.
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If the "Select All" button is inactive, try first to delete the oldest messages (sorting by date) and then try again. Sometimes a system bug blocks mass deletion with a large amount of data.
2. Remove through MIUI storage settings
MIUI offers an alternative way to clean messages through the Warehouse menu, which is useful if the Messages app is unstable or you want to delete the data along with the cache. However, there is a caveat: the system can only delete the cache and temporary files, leaving the SMS itself intact, to guarantee that the messages will be erased:
Follow the instructions:
- Open the settings → About the phone → Storage.
- Click on Apps (or Other Apps in new versions).
- Find the list of messages and tap it.
- Choose Clear Data (not to be confused with Clear Cache!).
- Confirm the action in the dialog window.
| Action. | What's removed | Is recovery possible? |
|---|---|---|
| Clear the cache | Temporary files, thumbnails, logs | ❌ No point (data not critical) |
| Clear the data | All SMS, MMS, chat settings | ⚠️ Only through backup. |
| Remove updates | Return to the factory version of the application | ✅ Reports will continue |
⚠️ Warning: After selecting Clear Data, all messages will be permanently deleted, including archival and drafts. If you need to save important SMS, pre-export them through Settings → Communications → Message export (not available on all firmware).
3. Use of Recovery Mode (Recovery Mode)
If Xiaomi’s smartphone is unstable or the Messages app doesn’t open at all, you can use Recovery Mode, a method that is suitable for power users because it requires a device to restart and can lead to other data being lost if you choose the wrong options.
Step-by-step:
Make a backup copy of important data (photos, contacts)
Charge your phone at least 50%
Make sure you know the password from Mi-account (if binding is enabled)
Get out. SIM-Card (optional, for security reasons)-->
- Turn off your smartphone.
- Press the button combination: 🔘 Nutrition + Loudness up (for most models) Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco). 🔘 Nutrition + Loudness up + Loudness down (for Black Shark).
Recovery
Wipe Data
Wipe All Data
or
Advanced Wipe
Data
Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.
⚠️ WARNING: Wipe All Data will delete all data on your phone, including apps, photos and settings, and use this method only if other methods have failed and you are ready to reinstall the system completely. Select Advanced Wipe for selective removal and mark only the Data section (but this does not guarantee the safety of other data!).
What to do if Recovery Mode does not open?
4. Cleaning through ADB (for advanced users)
If standard methods fail and Recovery access is blocked, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting your phone to your computer and basic command line knowledge, but allows you to point-to-point delete the SMS database without resetting other settings.
Instructions:
- Enable USB debugging in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version → 7 times tap on version, then go back to Additional settings → For developers).
- Connect your phone to your PC through USB-Cable (use the original cable for stability).
- Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type: adb devices Make sure the device is identified (its serial number should appear).
- Execute the command to delete the SMS database: adb shell pm clear com.android.mms For global firmware, an alternative command may be required: adb shell pm clear com.google.android.apps.messaging
⚠️ Note: pm clear will reset all Messages app data, including notification settings and archive. If SMS continues to show after you execute the command, try restarting your phone or repeating the root procedure (not recommended for beginners).
5. Automatic cleaning through Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)
If your Xiaomi smartphone is tied to your Mi Account, you can use cloud backup to selectively delete messages, a method that allows you to restore only the desired chats after cleaning, but requires a stable Internet connection and free space in the cloud.
Algorithm of action:
- ☁️ Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
- 📱 Make sure that the Message Sync function is enabled (if not, turn on and wait for the sync to complete).
- 🗑️ Return to the Messages app and manually delete all unnecessary chats (as in the first method).
- ☁️ Go back to Mi Cloud and click Restore. → Select a backup without messages (or mark only the necessary data, such as contacts).
⚠️ Note: Mi Cloud only stores backups for 30 days (for free accounts). If you deleted SMS more than a month ago, it will not be possible to restore them.
6. Reset to factory settings (last resort)
If no other method has worked, you'll have to completely reset your phone, which is guaranteed to delete all SMS messages, but also erase all user data, including photos, apps and settings, and use it only as a last resort.
How to perform the reset:
- Back up important data through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
- Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
- Choose Delete all data and confirm the action.
- Wait for the reboot (can take up to 10 minutes).
⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) K50 Gaming) after reset, you may need to re-activate Mi Account to unlock the device. Make sure you remember the password from the account, otherwise the phone will turn into a brick».
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Factory reset is the only method that is guaranteed to delete all SMS, including hidden system copies, but it is also the most destructive: after it, the phone returns to the state of “out of the box”.