How to remove SMS Xiaomi smartphone: from single messages to complete cleaning

Xiaomi smartphones based on the shell MIUI Offer several ways of managing SMS-From deleting individual dialogs to clearing up the story, many users face problems: messages are not deleted, take up excess memory or recover from resetting. In this article, we will analyze all available methods – from standard functions of the Message application to hidden features. MIUI and third-party tools.

Xiaomi’s main feature is that the system can automatically archive. SMS Mi Cloud or backups, which makes it difficult to completely remove them, and we will tell you how to get around these nuances, and also what to do if messages are not deleted due to synchronization with a Google account or operator. 12/13, POCO X5/F5, Xiaomi 13/14 and older devices on MIUI 12–14.

1. Standard disposal SMS through the β€œMessages” annexΒ»

The most obvious way is to use the built-in Message app (an envelope icon) that supports both single removal and mass cleaning. Let's look at both.

To delete one message:

  1. Open the Messages app.
  2. Choose a dialogue with the right contact.
  3. Press your finger on the message β†’ press Remove (basket icon).
  4. Confirm the action in the pop-up window.

For mass removal:

  • πŸ“± Go to All Messages (swipe left in the main menu of the app).
  • πŸ” Click on three dots in the upper right corner β†’ Choose.
  • βœ… Check the boxes for dialogues or individual SMS.
  • πŸ—‘οΈ Click on the basket icon at the bottom of the screen.

πŸ’‘

If there is no "Select" button in the message list, update the Messages app via Google Play. MIUI This function is hidden until the update.

It is important to note that standard deletion does not affect backups in Mi Cloud or Google Drive. If you sync messages to your account, they can recover after rebooting or resetting, and we will discuss this in the section on cloud services.

2. Complete cleansing of history SMS (including hidden data)

If you need to delete all messages at once, including service and system, use one of these methods. They are suitable for freeing up memory before selling a phone or resetting to factory settings.

Method 1: Through the Messages application settings

  1. Open Messages β†’ Three Points β†’ Settings.
  2. Go to the Supplementary β†’ Clear history.
  3. Confirm the deletion (a password or pattern lock may be required).

Method 2: Through phone settings (for MIUI 14+)

  • πŸ”§ Go to Settings. β†’ Annexes β†’ Application management.
  • πŸ” Find the posts in the list and select it.
  • 🧹 Press Warehouse. β†’ Clear the data (this will delete all messages and app settings).
  • ⚠️ After this operation, you will have to reconfigure notifications and subscriptions to the SMS-mailing.

Make a backup copy of important messages|Turn off sync with Mi Cloud|Check if they're tied up. SMS Google|Remember the notification settings for recovery-->

On devices with MIUI 12 and below, complete cleaning through Settings may not work due to shell limitations, in which case use the method of deleting application data (paragraph 3 in the list above).

3. Removal SMS via Mi Cloud and Google Account

Many Xiaomi users are unaware that their messages are automatically backed up in cloud services, even after being deleted from their phone. SMS may remain:

  • πŸŒ₯️ Mi Cloud (if synchronization is enabled in Settings) β†’ Xiaomi account β†’ Mi Cloud β†’ Communications).
  • ☁️ Google Drive (if you have previously made a backup through Settings) β†’ System system β†’ Backup).
  • πŸ“‘ Operator servers (some mobile operators store) SMS 30 days).

To remove messages from Mi Cloud:

  1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
  2. Select the Message section (if available).
  3. Remove unnecessary dialogues manually or click Clear Everything.
  4. Turn off sync. SMS in the phone settings to avoid re-recovery.

To delete your Google Account:

  1. Open Google Drive on your PC.
  2. In the search, enter SMS or Backup copies.
  3. Delete backup files with the date when the messages were still on the phone.

Yes, through Mi Cloud.|Yes, through Google Drive.|No, I don't.|I don't know what it is.-->

⚠️ Note: If you delete backup copies SMS From Google Drive, this can affect the recovery of other data (contacts, photos) the next time you reset your phone.

4. Hidden SMS: How to delete system and service messages

In addition to the usual messages, hidden messages can accumulate in Xiaomi SMS:

  • πŸ“© Service messages from the operator (on tariffs, balance).
  • πŸ” SMS Two-factor authentication (from banks, social networks).
  • πŸ€– System Notifications (e.g. from Mi Pay or Mi Home).

These messages often don't appear in the main list, but they take up space in memory.

For the office SMS operator:

  1. Open the Messages app.
  2. In the top menu, select Service or Operator (name depends on firmware).
  3. Keep your finger on an unnecessary message. β†’ Delete.

For the system SMS (For example, from Mi Pay):

  • πŸ”§ Go to Settings. β†’ Annexes β†’ Application management.
  • πŸ” Find the app that sends messages (such as Mi Pay or Mi Home).
  • 🚫 Click Notifications β†’ Turn off notifications or SMS-notice.
Type of hidden SMSWhere they're storedHow to remove
Operator's serviceThe Operator folder in the Messages appManual removal or cleaning of folder
SMS for 2FA (banks, social media)Main folder "Messages" (filter by sender)Removal by hand or through filter
System (Mi Pay, Mi Home)Stored in the data of the relevant applicationsCleaning the app cache or disabling notifications
Archives (from Mi Cloud)Xiaomi Cloud StorageRemoval via i.mi.com web version
What happens if you don’t remove the service SMS?
Service messages from the operator can accumulate for years, taking up to several gigabytes of memory, in extreme cases, this leads to slowing down the phone, errors when sending new ones. SMS And even the failure of the communication module, especially for devices with 32-64 GB of memory, where every megabyte counts.

5. Recovery of accidentally deleted SMS

If you delete important messages, you can try to restore them, and success depends on how long ago they were deleted and whether cloud backups were used.

Method 1: Recovery from Mi Cloud

  1. Go to Settings. β†’ Xiaomi account β†’ Mi Cloud β†’ Communications.
  2. If sync has been enabled, click Restore and select the desired date.
  3. Confirm the recovery (messages will return to the Messages app).

Method 2: Google Drive (if backed up)

  • πŸ“± Go to Settings β†’ System β†’ Backup.
  • πŸ”„ Click Recover Data and select the archive with the desired date.
  • ⚠️ Please note that the recovery of correspondence may overwrite current messages.

Method 3: Third-party programs (at your own risk)

Apps like Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver promise to restore remote files SMS, but:

  • 🚨 Require root rights that void the warranty Xiaomi.
  • πŸ›‘οΈ It may contain malicious code (especially free versions).
  • πŸ“‰ The effectiveness will fall to 0% if more than 7 days have passed after removal.

⚠️ Attention: Recovery SMS If the messages contained confidential information (passwords, bank codes), it is better not to risk and not use such services.

6. Automatic cleaning SMS: rule-setting

To avoid manually deleting messages, set up automatic cleaning. MIUI There are built-in tools for this.

Setting up the storage limit:

  1. Open Messages β†’ Three Points β†’ Settings.
  2. Go to the Supplementary β†’ Storage of messages.
  3. Set a limit (e.g., delete messages older than 30 days).

Spam and advertising filtering:

  • πŸ“± In the same settings, turn on the spam filter.
  • πŸ” Add operator or spammer numbers to the blacklist (Settings) β†’ Blacklist).
  • πŸ—‘οΈ Set up automatic spam removal via Settings β†’ Auto-cleaning.

Using Tasker for Advanced Rules

If you need flexible settings (e.g., deletion) SMS From certain senders after 7 days, use the Tasker app:

Profile: SMS removal


Condition: New message from +79XXXXXXXXXX




Task:




1. Wait 7 days




2. delete SMS (AutoNotification plugin)

πŸ’‘

Automatic cleaning saves time, but can delete important messages, always check the filtering rules and exclude bank or support numbers from them.

7. Problems with removal SMS and their decisions

Sometimes messages don't get deleted or returned after cleaning, and let's look at the typical problems and ways to solve them.

Problem.Possible causeDecision
SMS Remove them, but return after rebooting.Sync with Mi Cloud or Google AccountTurn off synchronization in account settings
The Operator folder is not deleted.Systemic limitations of MIUIClear the Messages app data in the settings
When deleting, it gives an error β€œInsufficient rights”Restrictions on firmware or root accessUpdate. MIUI or reset the application settings
Messages are deleted, but memory is not releasedApplication cache or damaged dataClear the cache in Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ Communications β†’ Warehouse

If nothing helps:

  • πŸ”„ Restart your phone in Safe Mode (hold the switch off button) β†’ Restart in Safe Mode and Repeat Deletion.
  • πŸ“₯ Install an alternative application for SMS (For example, Google Messages or Textra and transfer messages to it before cleaning.
  • πŸ”§ Make resets of the Messages application settings (Settings) β†’ Annexes β†’ Communications β†’ Reset).

8. Alternative management applications SMS

If the standard application of the Messages in MIUI You are not satisfied, consider alternatives with advanced features:

  • πŸ“± Google Messages – Google’s official app with support RCS, Cloud backup and convenient interface.
  • πŸ”’ Signal or Telegram – if you want to translate SMS-Communication in secure messengers.
  • πŸ› οΈ Textra SMS β€” Customizable application with support for themes, schedules and automatic answers.
  • πŸ—‘οΈ SMS Organizer (from Microsoft) – automatically sorts and cleanses spam.

To change the default application:

  1. Install the selected application from Google Play.
  2. Go to Settings β†’ Applications β†’ By default β†’ Application for SMS.
  3. Select a new app from the list.

Advantages of alternative applications:

  • πŸ” Best Spam Filtering (especially in Google Messages and SMS Organizer).
  • ☁️ Reliable cloud backup (as opposed to Mi Cloud crashes).
  • 🎨 More options for customization (themes, fonts, notifications).

⚠️ Note: When changing the application for SMS Old messages may not be automatically transferred. Before you switch, back up through Mi Cloud or export them to a file (for example, using the help of a file). SMS Backup & Restore).

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing SMS on Xiaomi

Can I remove it? SMS so that they cannot be restored?
For permanent deletion, you need: Delete messages through the Messages application. Clear application data in Settings β†’ Apps: Disable sync with Mi Cloud and Google Account; Rewrite your phone's memory with large files (like videos) to erase the tracks; even then, there's a theoretical chance of recovery with professional software, but for most users, that's enough.
Why is it after removal? SMS Memory on the phone is not released?
It's because of this: πŸ—‘οΈ App cache - clean it in Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ Communications β†’ Warehouse β†’ Clear the cache. ☁️ Cloud Copies – Check out Mi Cloud and Google Drive. πŸ“ Damaged data – try resetting the Messages app settings.
How to remove SMS from a particular sender (e.g. a bank or operator)?
Open a dialogue with the sender β†’ three-point β†’ Delete the chat. Use the filter: in Messages β†’ search β†’ enter the number or name β†’ highlight all messages β†’ Add the number to the blacklist: Settings β†’ Blacklist β†’ Add a number.
Can I remove it? SMS without notice to the sender?
Yeah, removal. SMS It's a local operation that doesn't affect the carrier's servers or messengers, except if you use it. RCS-chats (in Google Messages) where messages can sync with Google servers.
How to transfer SMS from Xiaomi to another phone?
Options: ☁️ Mi Cloud: Backup your old phone and restore it to a new one. πŸ“± Through Google Drive: Enable backup SMS in the settings of the Google account. πŸ“„ Through File: Use the Application SMS Backup & Restore for export to the UK XML and import on another device.