How to Recover Removed SMS on Xiaomi Redmi: A Complete 2026 Guide

Did you accidentally erase an important message with a bank code, password or personal data? Or did your phone eat all your emails after reset? Recovering remote SMS on Xiaomi Redmi is possible - but only if you act quickly and correctly. In this article, we will discuss 7 proven methods, from standard MIUI features to professional utilities that will return your messages even after a hard clean.

The rule is, the less you use your phone after deleting, the better the chances of success. Every new SMS, app or photo you install can overwrite old data. β†’ SIM-maps and mobile networks β†’ Transfer data) and start recovery.

We tested all the methods on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Redmi 10 and POCO X5 Pro models with the latest versions of MIUI 14/15 (Android 13/14). The instructions are also valid for older devices like the Redmi 5 or Note 8 Pro, but with reservations – we will discuss this below.

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1. Recovery via MIUI Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

If your Redmi is synchronized with MI Cloud, the chances of returning SMS are maximum. The cloud automatically saves copies of messages once a day (with active Wi-Fi).

  • πŸ”„ Synchronization should be enabled before removal – check in Settings β†’ Xiaomi account β†’ MI Cloud β†’ Communications.
  • ⏳ You can only recover SMS that were on your phone in the last 30 days (older ones are deleted from the cloud forever).
  • πŸ“± The phone must have the same Xiaomi account as when you create a backup.

Step-by-step:

  1. Open Settings β†’ Xiaomi Account β†’ MI Cloud
  2. Scroll down to the Data Management section and select Messages.
  3. Click Restore and select the desired date (copies are available for the last 7/15/30 days depending on the model).
  4. Confirm the recovery – messages will appear in the standard Messages app in 2-5 minutes.

⚠️ Note: If you log out of your Xiaomi account after deleting your SMS or reset your phone before the factory settings, the cloud will not be able to recover data. β„–3.

πŸ“Š Have you ever used it? MI Cloud for backup?
Yeah, regularly.
Once only.
No, I don't trust clouds.
I was not aware of this function.

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Local MIUI backup (without cloud)

MIUI allows you to create local backups directly to your phone or memory card. If you have ever backed up through Settings β†’ About Phone β†’ Backup and Reset β†’ Local Backup, chances are there are for you to return the SMS.

How to restore:

  • πŸ“ Connect your phone to your PC or open a file manager (such as Files from Xiaomi).
  • πŸ” Go to the folder. MIUI/backup/AllBackup (internal memory or SD-map).
  • πŸ“… Find the folder with the date when the copy still contained the necessary SMS (name format: backup_20260515_123456).
  • πŸ“² Copy this folder to a safe place (for example, to your computer), then return to Settings. β†’ Backup and reset β†’ Restore from backup and select the file.

Important: Local MIUI backups are encrypted, so if you reset your phone to factory settings, you can't restore data from that copy -- you'll need the old device password.

What to do if the backup is damaged?
If the error "File is corrupted" appears during recovery, try: 1. Rename the backup folder by removing the characters " ", "-" or spaces. 2. Restore a copy on another Xiaomi device with the same version of MIUI. 3. Use the Mi Backup Extractor utility (requires PC and root rights).

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3. Applications for SMS recovery (without root)

If you don't have backups, we've tested 5 popular programs and selected the two most effective for Xiaomi Redmi:

AnnexXiaomi supportRecovery without rootMax. depth of scan.Cost
DroidKitβœ… All models.βœ… Yes, up to 70%)3 monthsFree (limit 10 SMS)
FonePaw Android Data Recoveryβœ… Krasmi/POCOβœ… Yes, up to 50%)2 months$29.95 (full version)
GT Recovery⚠️ Partially (requires) USB-debugging)❌ No, I need root)1 yearFree of charge.

Instructions for DroidKit (the easiest option):

  1. Install DroidKit on PC (Windows/Mac).
  2. Connect Redmi to USB, enable Debugging via USB (Settings β†’ About Phone β†’ MIUI Version β†’ 7 times, then Additional β†’ For Developers β†’ Debugging by USB).
  3. In the program, select Data Recovery Android β†’ Messages.
  4. Follow the hints (the program will automatically scan the phone’s memory).
  5. After scanning, mark the necessary SMS and click Restore.

⚠️ Note: The free version of DroidKit only shows preview messages (the first 10 characters (~$30).

Battery charge > 50%|Mobile Internet shut down|Debugging is on. USB|Installed drivers Xiaomi on PC|Free 1GB on your phone-->

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4.Restore with Google Drive (for users of Google Messages)

If you use Google Messages instead of the standard Messages app from Xiaomi, your SMS could automatically be saved to Google Drive.

  • πŸ“± Open Google Messages β†’ tap on the profile avatar β†’ Message settings β†’ Backup and restoration.
  • πŸ”„ If Backup is enabled, click Restore and select the latest copy.
  • ⏱️ The process will take from 5 minutes to an hour (depending on the number of messages).

Google only saves SMS if you explicitly enabled this feature – it is disabled by default on all Xiaomis. If the option was active, you can recover messages even after resetting your phone (provided you log in to the same Google account).

Limitations:

  • 🚫 Does not work with the standard Messages app from Xiaomi.
  • πŸ•’ Only SMS is restored, not MMS deposit.
  • πŸ“… Copies are stored for a maximum of 60 days (after which they are automatically deleted).

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5. Phone routing and deep scanning

If none of the above methods worked, the last chance is to get root rights and scan the phone’s memory at a low level – a risky method (may result in loss of warranty or buildup of the device), but sometimes the only way to return the SMS after resetting.

Step-by-step:

  1. Unlock the bootloader: Go to Mi Unlock and download the utility. Connect Redmi in Fastboot mode (turn off the phone, then press Power + Volume down). Follow the program instructions (you will need a Xiaomi account and wait 7-15 days to unlock).
  2. Install TWRP: Download TWRP for your Redmi model. Squeeze recovery via command: fastboot flash recovery twrp.img fastboot boot twrp.img
  3. Get root: In TWRP, install Magisk. Reboot your phone.

Restore the text.

  • Install MyBackup Pro or Titanium Backup (requires root).
  • Scan the section /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db.

⚠️ Note: After receiving root, do not update your phone through OTA β€” This will result in root rights loss and possible data loss. TWRP.

πŸ’‘

Before unlocking the bootloader, make a full backup via TWRP (even if the phone isn't rooted) which will save your data if something goes wrong.

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6. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If the messages are critical (e.g., contain court evidence or financial data), you can try contacting Xiaomi’s official service center.

What you need to know:

  • πŸ’° Cost: from 5 000 to 20 000 rubles (depending on model and complexity).
  • ⏱️ Timeframe: 3-4-10 working days.
  • πŸ“„ Documents: passport and telephone check (if any).
  • πŸ”’ Privacy: Data is not transferred to third parties, but Xiaomi may refuse to restore for legal reasons.

Addresses of service centers:

  • πŸ“ Moscow: 12 centers (for example, Belorusskaya, 1st Tverskaya-Yamskaya str., 25).
  • πŸ“ St. Petersburg: 5 centers (for example, Kupchino, Bucharest street, 72).
  • πŸ“ Regions: Check on the official map.

⚠️ Note: Service centers do not recover data if the phone has been physically damaged (for example, drowned or crashed), in such cases only a data recovery laboratory (for example, a data recovery laboratory) will help, ACE lab HDD Recovery).

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7.Prevention: How to avoid future loss of SMS

To avoid losing important messages, set up automatic backups right now:

  • πŸ”„ MI Cloud: Settings β†’ Xiaomi account β†’ MI Cloud β†’ Messages (enable synchronization).
  • πŸ“ Local Backup: Create copies weekly through Settings β†’ Backup and reset.
  • πŸ“§ Export to Gmail: In Google Messages, enable Settings β†’ Message export (saves SMS in.csv format).
  • πŸ“± Third-party annexes: SMS Backup & Restore automatically sends copies to Email or Google Drive.

Additional advice:

  • 🚫 Do not store important codes (from banks, social networks) only in SMS – duplicate them in Google Keep or 1Password.
  • πŸ” Set a password for the Messages app (via Settings) β†’ Annexes β†’ Communications β†’ Application protection).
  • πŸ“΄ Clean up unnecessary SMS messages (especially from banks and services) regularly – this will reduce the risk of data leakage when your phone is stolen.

πŸ’‘

Even if you don't plan on recovering your text now, set up a backup today.It will take 5 minutes, but save you hours of nerves in the future.

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FAQ: Frequent questions about SMS recovery on Xiaomi

Can I restore SMS after resetting to factory settings?
Yes, but only if: You had MI Cloud sync enabled (restore through the cloud), you made a local backup to the memory card (copy it on your PC and restore it through Settings), you're ready to root and use specialized utilities like Dr.Fone. If none of this works, go to the service center - they can extract data directly from the memory chip (expensive but effective).
Will programs like Recuva or EaseUS help you recover SMS?
No. These programs are designed for computer hard drives and don't work with Android memory. Smartphones need specialized utilities: DroidKit (without root), Dr.Fone (with root), Tenorshare UltData (supports MIUI). Regular file recovery for PCs is useless.
How much does it cost to restore SMS in the service center?
Prices depend on complexity: Type of recovery Cost (β‚½) Programmatic timeframe (through MI Cloud/TWRP) 1 500–3 000 1–2 Chip-off (removal of memory chip) 8 000–20 000 5–10 Recovery after physical injury 15 000–30 000 10–14 Xiaomi does not restore data from phones purchased unofficially (without a Russian guarantee).
Can I recover an SMS that was deleted a year ago?
Even if you haven't cleared the phone's memory, the odds are minimal: πŸ“… MI Cloud stores SMS for a maximum of 30 days. πŸ“± Local backups MIUI Re-recording when creating new. πŸ” Recovery software like DroidKit scans only the spare memory sectors that have been overwritten for a year, and the only chance is if the phone has been off the whole time (like in a desk drawer.
Why are SMS messages displayed without contact names after recovery?
This is normal β€” programs only restore text messages and numbers, but do not link them to contacts. To fix: Export restored SMS to a.csv file (via DroidKit or SMS Backup & Restore). Open the file to LibreOffice Calc or Excel. Manually match numbers to names from your phone book. Import the corrected file back to your phone. If contacts are too many, use services like Truecaller to automatically identify names by numbers.