How to delete all SMS in Xiaomi Redmi: step-by-step instructions

Modern Xiaomi Redmi smartphones accumulate huge amounts of data, and text messages occupy a special place. Over time, a crowded inbox can not only make it difficult to find the right information, but also negatively affect the overall speed of the device. Many users wonder how to quickly and effectively delete all SMS in Xiaomi Redmi to make room or just clean up correspondence.

MIUI offers several built-in messaging tools that allow you to clean both manually and automatically. Understanding these mechanisms is critical for those who value the cleanliness of the interface and the security of their personal data. In this article, we will take a detailed look at all the deleting methods available, from simple actions in a standard application to the use of advanced system functions.

It is worth noting that the removal procedure may vary depending on the firmware version and model of your smartphone. However, the basic principles of messaging remain the same throughout the Redmi ecosystem.

Standard method of removal through the Messages application

The most obvious and accessible method is to use a regular application that is preinstalled on each device. The interface is intuitive, but hides a few useful features for mass list management. To start cleaning, open the Messages shortcut on your desktop or in the application menu.

In the dialog list that opens, you need to select the specific correspondence you want to eliminate. Click on it and hold your finger for one to two seconds until the action menu appears or the highlight mode is activated, which is the standard procedure for most Android shells, allowing you to go from viewing to editing.

Once the Select Mode is activated, a toolbar will appear at the top of the screen, where you can tick multiple dialogs at once or use the "Select All" button if your goal is total sweep. After highlighting all unnecessary chains, click on the basket icon, usually located in the bottom corner or in the top menu.

• 🗑️ Press and hold the dialogue to go into the highlight mode.
• ✅ Use the “Select All” button to instantly cover all correspondence.
• 📂 Check the Spam or Blocked folder, there may be extra messages too.

The system will request confirmation of action to prevent accidental deletion, an important security element of MIUI that gives you one last chance to come to your senses, and once confirmed, all the SMS you select will be permanently deleted from the device's memory.

Use of the “Cleanup” function in the Security application

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones have a powerful system tool that is often underrated by users. The Security (or Security) app contains a Cleanup module that scans the device for junk files, including old and unnecessary messages, a method that is especially convenient when you need to delete a large amount of data at once without going through each dialog manually.

Run the Security app and select Cleanup. The system will automatically analyze the storage. The scan results often show the category "SMS" or "Messages", which indicates the number of messages accumulated and the volume occupied by them.

⚠️ Warning: Automatic cleanup can remove not only spam, but also important codes from banks or delivery services if they are classified by the system as "old." Carefully check the list before final deletion.

Here you can select specific categories of messages to delete, such as Read or Unknown Numbers, which allows for more selective cleaning, saving important conversations with loved ones.

The advantage of this method is that it affects not only text content, but also nested media files, if they were obtained through MMS. This helps to free up significantly more space than simply deleting text.

Delete messages through the “Card” mode and sorting

The MIUI shell offers different types of message list display, which can greatly simplify the navigation and deletion process. In some versions of the firmware, you can view as a card or list sorted by date, size or sender. You can switch between views by clicking on the menu icon (three dots or stripes) in the upper right corner of the Message app.

Size sorting is particularly effective if you want to make room for memory, and messages with pictures, stickers, or long chains will take the top of the list, and by highlighting these heavy dialogues, you quickly clear megabytes of space.

Also worth paying attention to in-app folders. In modern versions of Android and MIUI, messages are often divided into Personal and Notifications. Cleaning the Notifications folder is safe and allows you to get rid of thousands of messages from delivery services, stores and services without touching personal correspondence.

Set up automatic cleaning and storage limits

To avoid returning to the issue of manual removal, Xiaomi Redmi allows you to configure automatic management of message history, which is especially useful for those who receive a lot of service SMS and do not want to constantly monitor their number.

Go to Messages, click on the menu (three dots) and select Settings. Find the section related to “Additional Settings” or “MMS/SMS settings.” There may be an option to “Delete old messages” that activates automatic erasure of messages when a certain limit is reached.

• 📉 Set a limit of 1,000 messages so that the system can delete the oldest messages.
• 🔒 Turn off MMS saving to save space if you don’t use them.
• 📅 Set up a message retention period (for example, 30 days) for automatic rotation.

It's important to understand that automatic cleaning works like FIFO (First In, First Out) -- the oldest messages are first deleted, so if you want to save some long-standing dialogue, you'd better archive it or take a screenshot.

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Enable sync with Mi Cloud before setting up autodelete so you can recover accidentally deleted important correspondence within 30 days.

Removing SMS via computer and third-party utilities

For advanced users who need to delete thousands of messages at once or conduct in-depth analysis of content, there are methods of working through a computer. Using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or specialized software to manage a smartphone gives full control over the database of messages.

To work through ADB, you'll need to enable USB debugging mode in the Developer Menu. By connecting your phone to your PC, you can use commands to clean your SMS database. This is a radical method that deletes all messages instantly.

adb shell pm clear com.android.mms

This command completely cleans the data of the message applications, including all SMS and MMS. Be very careful: data recovery after such an operation is impossible by standard means. There are also programs like Mi PC Suite or third-party managers like AirDroid that allow you to manage messages through a browser or interface on a PC, highlighting them with a mouse and deleting them in groups.

⚠️ Attention: Use of teams ADB A syntax error can lead to the deletion of the wrong data or unstable operation of system applications.

Third-party apps from Google Play, such as "SMS Organizer" or various cliners, can also help sort and delete.They often have more flexible filters, such as removing all posts from short numbers or containing certain keywords.

Recovery of deleted messages and backup

Before you finally delete all your SMS in Xiaomi Redmi, you should consider backing up. In the digital world, the phrase “measure seven times” is more relevant than ever. Accidentally removing an important confirmation code or a memorable message can be a nasty surprise.

MIUI has a built-in backup tool. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore. Select Messages data type and create a backup on your internal drive or in the Mi Cloud. It only takes a couple of minutes, but it will save your nerves in the future.

If you have already deleted and you haven’t created a copy, the chances of recovery depend on the time since you deleted it. In the Messages App Recycle Bin (if supported by your version of MIUI), deleted files are stored for up to 30 days, and you can try to restore data from a full Google backup if it was done automatically.

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Regularly backing up messages is the only guaranteed way to avoid losing important information when cleaning your phone.