How to delete SMS on Xiaomi Redmi 9: all ways + security tips

Xiaomi Redmi 9 remains one of the most popular budget smartphones even years after its release, and owners often face the need to clean the memory of accumulated messages — whether it is spam, outdated confirmation codes or just unnecessary correspondence. In this article, we will analyze all possible ways to delete SMS on Redmi 9, including mass cleaning, working with backups and the nuances of different versions of MIUI (from 12 to 14).

It is important to understand that simply clicking "Delete" in the Messages app does not always solve the problem: some SMS can remain in cache or sync with the Mi Cloud. We will show you how to completely erase messages without a trace, and also tell you what to do if standard methods do not work.

1. Standard deletion through the "Messages" app

The most obvious way is to use the built-in Messages app (an icon with a white envelope on a green background), a method that is suitable for selectively deleting individual messages or entire dialogs. Here's how it works:

• 📱 Open the Messages app on the home screen or in the app menu.
• 🔍 Find the dialog you want in the list (you can use the search at the top of the screen).
• 🗑️ Press and hold your finger in a message or dialogue. → Select other messages (if you need to delete several messages).
• 🚮 In the upper panel will appear the icon of the basket – tap on it and confirm the action.

If you want to delete all messages from one contact, just open the dialog, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Delete chat. Note: in MIUI 14 this item may be called Clear Chat – the functionality remains the same.

⚠️ Note: When removing the dialogue through Clear the chat in MIUI 13/14 messages can remain in the archive (if the archiving function is enabled).To check the archive, scroll down the chat list and click Archive.

Mass removal of SMS: how to erase everything at once

When you've accumulated hundreds of messages, it's not rational to delete them one at a time. Redmi 9 has a built-in mass cleaning feature, but it's hidden in the app's settings. Here's how to find it:

1. Open Messages → tap on three dots in the upper right corner.
2. Select Settings → Additional (in some versions of MIUI, this option is called Message Management).
3. Click Clear Messages → tick the types of messages to delete (SMS, MMS, spam).
4. Confirm the action by clicking Delete at the bottom of the screen.

This method allows you to delete all SMS messages over a certain period of time (for example, messages older than 30 days), useful if you want to leave recent correspondence, but get rid of old confirmation codes or advertising.

Check if there are any important messages (codes, passwords, confirmations)

Make a backup copy (see Section 4)

Close all background applications to speed up the process

Make sure the battery is more than 20% charged.

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If the Message Clearup option is not available in your MIUI version, try an alternative path:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Messages → Memory → Clear data

⚠️ Warning: This method will delete all app data, including settings and chat history. Use it only if other methods have failed.

3. Delete via File Manager: Where SMS is stored

Messages on Android (including Xiaomi) are stored as a database in the system folder. If standard methods don't work, you can try to delete files manually, and this will require a file manager with access to root (for example, MiXplorer or Solid Explorer).

The path to the SMS folder:

/data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db

Instructions:

• 🔓 Allow access to hidden folders in file manager settings.
• 📂 Follow the path (root access may be required).
• 🗃️ Find the file mmsms.db is the database of all your SMS and MMS.
• 🗑️ Delete or rename the file (e.g. in mmssms.db.bak).
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone.

⚠️ Note: Deleting mmssms.db will result in the total loss of all messages, including those stored in the archive, and this method should only be used if other methods have failed or if you are sure that a backup copy has been created.

4. Backup and recovery of SMS

Before mass deletion of messages, make sure to back up your important data if you accidentally delete something you need. Redmi 9 has two main backup methods:

If you're using Mi Cloud, note that messages don't sync instantly, that once you delete an SMS on your phone, they can stay in the cloud for up to 24 hours, and that you can force them to update the data.

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn off Message Synchronization (move the slider).
3. Wait 10 seconds and turn on the sync again.

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If you plan to sell or redeem Redmi 9, turn off SMS backup to Mi Cloud before resetting to factory settings. Otherwise, new owners of the device will theoretically be able to recover your messages through their account (if they do not reset the cloud).

5. SMS removal via ADB: for power users

If standard methods don’t work (for example, because of a bug in the Messages app), you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and basic command line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

1. 🖥️ Install. ADB Tools on the computer.
2. 📱 On Redmi 9, turn on Debugging by USB: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Tap 7 times) Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB
3. 🔌 Connect your phone to your PC through USB (Select the File Transfer Mode).
4. 💻 Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (macOS/Linux) Enter: Adb devices (the name of your device should appear).
5. 🧹 To delete all SMS, execute the command: adb shell content delete --uri content://sms/

If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:

adb shell


su




rm /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db




exit




exit

⚠️ Note: Adb shell content deletes all SMS without recovery if no backup has been created).

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Use ADB only if other methods have not worked, and this method is suitable for power users, as the wrong commands can disrupt the system.

6. Features of SMS removal in different versions of MIUI

Messages may vary depending on the MIUI version, and the following are key differences for Redmi 9, which officially supports MIUI 11 to MIUI 14 versions:

If some features (such as mass cleaning) are missing after the MIUI update, try:

• 🔄 Reset the application settings Messages: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Communications → Warehouse → Clear the cache
• 📥 Install an alternative SMS application (e.g. Google Messages or Textra) SMS).
• 🔧 Reverse to the previous version MIUI (If the new version contains critical bugs).

7 What to do if SMS is not deleted

Sometimes messages can get stuck in the device’s memory even after trying to delete them.

• 🔄 App cache: Clear Message cache in settings (Settings) → Annexes → Communications → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
• 📁 Damaged database: If the file mmsms.db is corrupted, the application may not see new messages or delete old ones. ADB file manager (see section 3).
• ☁️ Cloud Sync: If sync is enabled with Mi Cloud or Google, deleted messages can be restored automatically.
• 🛠️ System failure: In rare cases, resetting the application Messages to factory: Settings helps → Annexes → Communications → ⋮ → Reset the settings

If none of the methods worked, try installing a third-party SMS app (like Google Messages) and making it the default app, and then you can delete old messages through the new app.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing SMS on Xiaomi Redmi 9