How to remove SMS on Xiaomi: from selective removal to complete cleaning

Why SMS removal on Xiaomi requires a special approach

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones run on the MIUI shell, which is radically different from pure Android. Here even standard operations like deleting messages have nuances, from hidden functions in the Messages app to synchronization features with the Mi Cloud. For example, when you normally delete SMS, they can remain in backups or cache of the system, taking up space and creating risks of data leakage.

Another problem is storage fragmentation, and in Xiaomi, messages can be duplicated in several places:

• 📱 Local phone memory (folder) /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/)
• ☁️ Mi Cloud (if synchronization is enabled)
• 🔄 Cache of the Messages application (cleaned separately)
• 📎 Backup copies in MIUI Backup or third-party services

Without an integrated approach, removal will be incomplete.

In this article, 5 proven ways to delete SMS on Xiaomi, including hidden methods for power users, as well as instructions for recovering accidentally erased messages. All methods are tested on Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12 and POCO F5 models with MIUI 14/15.

Method 1: Standard removal through the Messages app

The most obvious, but not always effective, method is suitable for selectively deleting individual messages or dialogs, and it is important that it does not clear data from the cloud and cache.

Instructions:

1. Open the Messages app (the envelope icon).
2. Press and hold your finger on the desired dialogue (or message within it).
3. In the top panel will appear toolbar – select Remove (basket icon).
4. Confirm the action by pressing OK.

For mass removal:

• 🔍 Click on three dots in the upper right corner → Select messages.
• 📋 Check the boxes for unnecessary dialogues or use Choose all.
• 🗑️ Click Delete (in some versions) MIUI button hidden under the swipe to the left).

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 14+ When you delete the dialog via swipe to the left, the messages go to the Recycle Bin (stored for 30 days). → Select messages → Delete forever.

Turn off sync with Mi Cloud (Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Messages)

Check backups in MIUI Backup (Settings → About Phone → Backup)

Clear the Messages app cache (Settings → Applications → Messages → Storage)

Take screenshots of important messages (if you need to save information)

-->

Method 2: Completely clean all SMS via MIUI settings

If you want to delete all messages immediately (for example, before selling a phone), use the built-in reset feature, which clears the entire history of SMS, including system notifications from the operator, but does not affect multimedia files (MMS).

Step-by-step:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Messages (or Messaging in English firmware) in the list and open it.
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.
4. Confirm the action by entering a password or pattern lock (if requested).

After that, all SMS will be erased without the possibility of recovery through standard means.

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO X3, Redmi 9) After cleaning the data, the Messages app can reset to factory settings. To avoid losing settings (such as notification signals), export them through Settings before cleaning. → Sounds and vibrations → Notification settings.

Method 3: Delete via File Manager (for power users)

This method allows you to manually erase the SMS database, which is useful if the standard methods do not work (for example, due to an application failure). ADB.

Instructions for users with root:

1. Install a file manager with access to system folders (e.g. Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Go to /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/
3. Delete files: mmssms.db - SMS database/MMS mmssms.db-journal – a temporary file

Reboot the phone.

For users without root (via ADB):

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times press to unlock the developer mode).
2. Follow the command: adb shell pm clear com.android.providers.telephony

Method 4: Remove SMS via Mi Cloud (if synchronization is enabled)

If your Xiaomi has Mi Cloud sync enabled, messages can be duplicated in the cloud even after local deletion to erase them completely:

Steps:

1. Open your browser on your PC or phone and go to i.mi.com.
2. Sign in with the same Mi Account as you do on your phone.
3. Select the Message section (if not, synchronization is disabled).
4. Mark unnecessary dialogs or use a filter by date.
5. Press Delete. → Confirm.

Recommendations for the selection of an application:

Before using third-party applications:

1. Check reviews and rankings on Google Play (avoid programs with a score below 4.0).
2. Do not provide access to SMS applications with questionable permissions (for example, requests to send paid messages).
3. Create a backup through MIUI Backup (Settings → About Phone → Backup).

💡

The application side may conflict with MIUI. If after cleaning, SMS stopped coming, reset the network settings: → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.

How to Recover Accidentally Deleted SMS on Xiaomi

If you erase important messages, you can try to get them back, and success depends on how long ago the deletion took place and whether the cleaning functions were used after that.

Recovery methods:

1. From the MIUI Recycle Bin: Open the Messages → Recycle Bin App. Select the messages you want → Restore. Only works if the messages were deleted no more than 30 days ago.
2. Through Mi Cloud: Go to i.mi.com → Recycle Bin. Find deleted messages and restore them.

Pre-sync is required.

With third-party utilities:

• Use programs like Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver (requires a PC connection).
• Effectiveness: ~60% for messages deleted within 7 days.

After that, recovery will not be possible even through specialized programs.