How to view remote SMS on Xiaomi phone: all working methods of 2026

Can I restore deleted messages to Xiaomi?

Deleting an important SMS is one of the most frustrating situations for a smartphone owner: on Xiaomi phones (including Redmi, POCO and Mi models), messages are deleted irrevocably only at first glance. In fact, you have a chance to return them - but success depends on three key factors:

1. Post-deletion time. The faster you start recovery, the more likely you are to succeed. MIUI doesn't immediately overwrite the memory cells where the messages were stored, so you can retrieve the data in the first hours (and sometimes days).

2.Availability of backups.If your Xiaomi has automatic backup enabled in MI Cloud or through Settings → System and Device → Backup, the chances of recovery are close to 100%.Even a manual copy made a month ago can save the situation.

3 Delete method: If you manually erase messages (click "Delete"), they are easier to return than after factory reset or memory formatting, in which case you will need specialized tools like ADB or Root access.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods, from simple (via the cloud) to complex (using a PC).

Method 1: Recovery via MI Cloud (the most reliable method)

MI Cloud storage is the first tool worth checking out. Xiaomi automatically backs up SMS if your account settings are synced, and even if you don't remember if you activated it, try logging into the cloud — sometimes copies are created by default.

To recover messages:

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Go to Accounts → Mi Account (or just find MI Cloud through a search in the settings).
3. Sign in to your account if you are not already logged in.
4. Select the Backup section.
5. Check the list of available copies. If there is a version with the desired date, click Restore.

⚠️ Note: When recovering from the cloud, all current data on the phone (including new SMS) will be replaced with those in the copy.We recommend saving important messages manually (for example, with screenshots) or exporting them through the Messages app.

If you don't have the right copy in the cloud, go to the next way, and check the MIUI/Backup/AllBackup folder in your phone's internal memory, and sometimes local copies are saved there.

Check Wi-Fi connection (copies can weigh several gigabytes)

Make sure there is enough free space on the phone.

Save important current data (photos, contacts, new SMS)

Charge your phone at least 50% (recovery may take time)-->

Method 2: Using standard MIUI backup

If sync with MI Cloud is disabled, check local backups. MIUI allows you to create backups manually — you may have done this before, but you forgot. These copies are stored directly on your phone and do not require the Internet to recover.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → System and device → Backup.
2. Press Local Backups.
3. Select the most recent copy (orientate by date of creation).
4. Click Restore and confirm the action.

⚠️ Note: If there are no local copies, but you remember you were backing up on another Xiaomi phone, plug in the old device and transfer the copy file (.mbk) to the new smartphone.

💡

Before you restore it from a local copy, check the contents of the file. To do this, rename the file from.mbk to.zip and open it with the archiver, and inside it will be an SMS folder with messages in XML format.

Method 3: Recovery applications (without Root)

If you don't have backups, try specialized utilities that scan your phone's memory for the "remnants" of deleted data, and importantly, these programs only work until you first overwrite the memory, so if you install new apps, download files, or update the system after you delete the SMS, your chances of success drop dramatically.

The best apps for Xiaomi:

• 📱 DroidKit – supports recovery without Root, works with MIUI 12/13/14.
• 🔍 EaseUS MobiSaver – scans deep layers of memory, but requires a PC connection.
• 📲 GT Recovery is a simple interface, but may not be able to cope with the new models of Redmi.
• 💾 DiskDigger – free version only searches for photos, but paid restores and SMS.

Example of recovery via DroidKit:

1. Install the program on PC (official site).
2. Connect Xiaomi via USB (enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times click on the version, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
3. Select the Data Recovery mode.
4. Check Messages and click Scan.
5. After scanning, select the SMS you need and save them to your PC or phone.

⚠️ Warning: Don't install recovery apps on the phone that deleted the text. This can overwrite the very memory sectors where the message remains are still stored!

Method 4: ADB-Teams (for advanced users)

If you have experience with Android Debug Bridge (ADB), you can try extracting the SMS database manually.This method does not require Root rights, but requires a PC connection and command line knowledge.

Instructions:

1. Download and install ADB on PC (for example, through Platform Tools).
2. Enable USB Debugging on Xiaomi (see Method 3).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command prompt (cmd) in the ADB folder.
4. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
5. Download the SMS database: adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db
6. Open the mmsms.db file through a database program (e.g. DB Browser for SQLite).
7. In the SMS table, find your messages and export them.

⚠️ Attention: On new versions MIUI (14+) The path to base may be different. If the team doesn't work, try it:

adb pull /data/user_de/0/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db

Also note that some Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi Note 12 or POCO F5) can block access to system folders even through ADB.

💡

ADB-This is a good method if you have recently deleted your SMS and haven't updated your system. The longer it takes, the less likely it is that the mmssms.db database still contains the data you need.

Method 5: Root access (extreme case)

If none of these things work, the last option is to get a Root, which is a risky method, because:

• 🔓 Cancelling the phone warranty.
• 🛡️ Could be disrupting work. MIUI (For example, banking applications will stop working).
• 🔄 Requires unlocking the bootloader, which erases all data on the phone.

If you are prepared for risk, follow the instructions:

1. Unblock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi website (you will need a Mi Account and wait 7-15 days).
2. Install custom recovery (TWRP) for your model.
3. Sweep through Magisk to get a Root.
4. Download a file manager with Root support (such as Root Explorer).
5. Go to /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/ and copy the file mmssms.db.
6. Open the database through SQLite-editor and export messages.

⚠️ Attention: On phones with MIUI 13/14 Snapdragon chipset (e.g. Xiaomi) 13 or Redmi K60) Unlocking the bootloader can lead to hardware lock (brick). XDA Developers or 4PDA.

What do you do if nothing helps?

If all methods are exhausted, but messages are not restored, two options remain:

1. Contact a service center. Some workshops offer data recovery services with professional equipment (for example, Chip-Off or JTAG). The cost starts from 5,000 rubles, but the chances of success are high even after resetting.

2. Try to restore SMS from the operator. Some mobile operators (for example, MTS or Beeline) store message logs for up to 3-6 months. Contact the communication salon with your passport and ask for a printout of incoming / outgoing SMS for the desired period. The service is paid (about 300-500 rubles), but sometimes this is the only way out.

⚠️ Note: If deleted messages contain confirmation codes (e.g. from banks or social networks), it is useless to restore them - they are no longer valid. Instead, immediately request new codes through official channels (bank website, service support).

FAQ: Frequent questions about SMS recovery on Xiaomi