How to delete SMS on Xiaomi Redmi 7: 5 proven ways

The Xiaomi Redmi 7 is still a popular device among users who value reliability and functionality. SMS-Messages can take up precious space in memory, slow down messengers or simply create a mess. Unlike modern models with cloud storage, on Redmi 7 messages are stored locally by default - and their removal requires a special approach.

In this article, we will look at all the current ways to clean SMS, from standard deletion through the Messages app to hidden MIUI functions, which are not known to everyone. Special attention will be paid to mass deletion, recovery of accidentally erased messages and data security, because some methods can lead to irreversible consequences. If you are looking for a way to free up memory or just clean up correspondence, read on.

1. Standard deletion through the "Messages" app

The most obvious and safe way to do this is to use the built-in Messages app (or SMS/MMS in some versions of MIUI), which is suitable for removing both individual SMS and entire dialogs. Importantly, the Redmi 7 with MIUI 10-12 may have slightly different interfaces, but the overall logic is maintained.

To delete a single message:

1. Open the Messages app (an envelope icon on the home screen or in the app menu).
2. Choose a dialogue with the right contact.
3. Press and hold your finger on the message you want to delete until the checkbox appears.
4. Click on the basket icon (or Remove) in the top panel.

For mass removal:

• 📱 Go to the dialog list and click on three dots (⋮) top-right.
• 🗑️ Select Delete Messages → Check the desired dialogs or use the filter by date.
• ⚡ Confirm action – messages will be deleted irrevocably (unless backup is enabled).

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If there is no “Delete Messages” button in the dialog list, update the Messages app via Google Play or clear its cache in your phone’s settings.

⚠️ Note: When you delete the entire dialogue, all the attachments (photos, videos, audio) will also be erased. If they are important, save them to the Gallery or the cloud.

2. SMS removal via MIUI system settings

MIUI offers an alternative way to manage messages through the Settings section, which is useful if the Messages app is unstable or you prefer a system approach, especially for users who have third-party messengers disabled (for example, Google Messages).

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Search the list of “Messages” (or com.android.mms) and open it.
3. Select Warehouse. → Data management.
4. Click Clear Data (this will delete all messages, including drafts!).

The advantage of this method is that it resets the application cache, which can eliminate the lags, but when cleaning the data, the notification settings and the personalization of the application interface will also reset.

3. Manual removal via File Manager (for power users)

If standard methods do not work (for example, due to an application failure), you can manually delete SMS through File Manager. This method requires caution, since incorrect actions can damage system files.

Step-by-step:

1. Open File Manager (or any other file manager with access to system folders, such as Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db Note: the path may vary depending on the version of MIUI.
3. Delete the file mmsms.db is the database of all SMS.
4. Reboot the phone.

Once rebooted, the Messages app will create a new database, but all the old messages will be lost, a method that is virtually equivalent to completely resetting the correspondence.

⚠️ Note: Without root rights, you will not be able to see the folder /data/data/ In a standard File Manager, you will need to access either a rooted device or ADB-Teams (see next section).

4. SMS removal via ADB (for advanced users)

If you're familiar with Android Debug Bridge (ADB), you can delete messages using the command line, which is useful when the phone is getting stuck or the screen is not responsive to touch, and you'll need a computer with Xiaomi drivers installed and USB debugging enabled on the phone.

Instructions:

1. Connect Redmi 7 to your PC via USB and enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times on the line with the version to activate developer mode).
2. Open the command prompt (or Terminal on Mac/Linux) and type: Adb devices Make sure the device is defined.
3. Execute the command to delete all SMS: adb shell content delete --uri content://sms/

To remove messages from a specific number, use the filter:

adb shell content delete --uri content://sms/ --where "address='+79123456789'"

This method instantly clears all messages, but does not affect MMS (multimedia messages).

adb shell content delete --uri content://mms/

Enable debugging by USB| Install Xiaomi drivers on PC| Check connection via adb devices| Make backup of important messages | Close all messengers on the phone-->

5. Automatic cleaning through third-party applications

If embedded tools MIUI You are not satisfied, you can use third-party applications for management SMS. They offer advanced features: automatic cleaning on schedule, spam filtering and backup. Consider the top-3 Proven utilities for Redmi 7:

• 📲 SMS Organizer (from Microsoft) – sorts messages by category (banks, delivery, promo) and offers smart cleaning of old ones SMS.
• 🔍 Clean Master – has a module for mass removal of messages and memory optimization.
• 📥 SMS Backup & Restore – Allows you to export your messages to XML before removing and then restoring them if necessary.

How to set up automatic cleaning in SMS Organizer:

1. Install the app from Google Play and give you access to SMS.
2. Go to Settings. → Autocleaning.
3. Enable the option to delete messages older than 30 days (threshold can be changed).
4. Add exceptions for important contacts in the Ignore section.

⚠️ Note: Third-party applications require permission to access SMS, What could be a privacy risk: Install only proven high-rated utilities (4.5)+ Google Play and read reviews about data collection.

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The side of the application is convenient for automatic cleaning, but never store bank card or password data in them - use only official messengers for sensitive information.

6 Recovery of Remote SMS on Redmi 7

If you accidentally delete important messages, you can try to restore them. Success depends on whether backups were turned on and how long ago the cleanup took place. Redmi 7 has three main ways:

Method 1: Recovery from the MIUI backup

• 🔄 Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.
• 📦 Select Local Backups and find a file with a date when the messages were still on the phone.
• 🔙 Click Restore and select only Message (so as not to overwrite other data).

Method 2: Recovery programs

If you don't have a backup, try a utility like Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver that scans your phone's memory for deleted data, and it's important that you don't write new files to your phone after you delete your SMS, which reduces your chances of recovery.

Method 3: Contacting the Communications Operator

Some operators (such as MTS or Beeline) store SMS history on their servers for up to 3-7 days, call support and check if you can recover messages from your number, and you will need a passport to verify your identity.

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If you regularly clear SMS, set up automatic backup in Settings → Sync → Mi Cloud. This will allow you to recover messages even after a phone reset.

7. Security and optimization tips

Deleting SMS is not only about freeing up memory, it is also about privacy, and the following recommendations will help avoid data leakage and optimize the phone:

• 🔒 Encrypt backups: If you export SMS In the file, use archivers with a password (for example, 7-Zip WinRAR).
• 🚫 Avoid public Wi-Fi when sending sensitive messages – they can be intercepted.
• 📊 Monitor Memory Use: Go to Settings → Memory to see how much space messages take up (sometimes hundreds of megabytes!).
• 🔄 Set up automatic cleaning: C MIUI There is a Cleanup function (icon with broomstick) that can suggest removing old ones SMS.

If you sell or transfer Redmi 7 to another person, it is not enough to simply delete messages.

1. Settings → About the phone → Resetting settings.
2. Choose Delete all data and confirm.
3. After resetting, the phone will return to factory settings, and all messages will be erased without the possibility of recovery.

⚠️ Note: Even after a reset, data can be recovered by specialized programs (e.g. Oxygen Forensic).If you are paranoid about security, use the "Fill zeros" function in the reset menu - this will make it difficult to recover.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removal SMS on the Redmi 7