How to return deleted SMS on Xiaomi phone: from backups to ADB

Deleting important SMS messages on Xiaomi smartphones is a situation that almost every user faces. Messages with confirmation codes, addresses, passwords or personal correspondence can disappear in a single click: accidental click, resetting settings or even a viral attack. Fortunately, the manufacturer has provided several ways to restore, and third-party tools expand these capabilities. But there are nuances: the faster you start acting, the better the chances of success.

In this article, we will discuss all current methods, from standard MIUI functions to advanced technical solutions. It is important to understand that not all SMS can be restored: if the message was deleted long ago (more than 30 days), and backups were not created, the chances are minimal. Also the phone model plays a role: on the Redmi Note 12 and POCO X5, the algorithms may differ from the old Mi 8 or Mi A2. We took these features into account and collected instructions that work on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices running MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS.

Recovery via MI Cloud: The Official Way From Xiaomi

MI Cloud is Xiaomi's cloud storage that automatically saves copies of SMS when activated, and it's the most reliable method, but it only works if you meet two conditions:

• 🔄 Sync was enabled before the message was deleted. → Xiaomi account → MI Cloud → Synchronization of data.
• 📱 Phone tied to account MI. Without authorization, access to the cloud will be closed.

To recover the SMS:

1. Open Settings → Xiaomi Account → MI Cloud
2. Select the Data Recovery option.
3. Find Messages in the list and click Restore.
4. Confirm the action and wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 10 minutes).

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If MI Cloud does not have an SMS backup, check if sync is disabled due to battery savings. In MIUI, some functions are blocked in the background by default.

⚠️ Attention: Recovery from MI Cloud will overwrite current messages if you receive new ones after deleting them SMS, We recommend that you save them manually (for example, with screenshots) or export them through the Messages app (Export option in the menu).

2. Local backups: where Xiaomi hides your SMS

Many users don’t know that MIUI automatically creates local message backups — even if cloud sync is disabled — that are stored in a hidden folder and can be restored through the standard Backup app.

Instructions:

1. Open the Backup app (an icon in the form of a yellow cloud with an arrow).
2. Go to the Locals tab.
3. Find the last backup (sort by date) and click on it.
4. In the data list, mark Messages and start recovery.

If the backup is missing, try to find it manually through the file manager:

• 📁 Open up. MI File Manager (or any other conductor with access to root folders).
• 🔍 Cross the path: /MIUI/backup/AllBackup/.
• 📄 Look for files with.bak extension and a name containing sms.

⚠️ Attention: Local backups are stored for a limited time (usually 30 days) and automatically deleted when memory is scarce.If the phone has recently been reset to factory settings, these files may have disappeared.

3. Third-party applications: when standard methods do not work

If MI Cloud and local backups didn’t work, we tested 5 popular apps and selected the two most effective ones for Xiaomi:

The most common option is SMS Backup & Restore:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Launch and select Restore.
3. Specify the path to the backup (if any) or start a memory scan.

Dr.Fone is suitable for deep recovery without backups, but it requires a PC connection and may not work on new Xiaomi models with a bootloader lock (for example, Redmi Note 13 Pro+).

4. ADB-Teams: for experienced users

If you’re familiar with Android Debug Bridge (ADB), you can try extracting SMS directly from the system database, which only works until you overwrite the memory (for example, before you install new apps or update the system).

Instructions:

1. Install ADB on PC (you can download from the official website).
2. Turn on USB Debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times), then Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging over USB.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the commands:

adb shell


su




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




exit




exit




adb pull /sdcard/mmssms.db

The mmsms.db file will be copied to your computer. Use SQLite Browser or online services like DB Browser to view it. Look for an sms table, which stores all messages, including deleted ones (marked as deleted=1).

Debugging is on. USB|Xiaomi drivers installed|Charging the phone > 50%|Backup copy of current data created-->

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB If you don't have any experience, you can crash your phone. Don't edit your system files directly, just copy the database for analysis. On HyperOS devices, the path to the file may be different: check the current version through the adb shell ls command. /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/.

5. Calling for Xiaomi: When Nothing Helps

If all of these methods fail, the last chance is official support for Xiaomi, which allows the manufacturer to recover data from server logs, but only if strict conditions are met:

• 📝 You have a check or warranty card confirming the purchase of the phone.
• 🔐 Account. MI attached to the device and did not change after removal SMS.
• ⏳ It has been no more than 60 days since the removal.

To make a request:

1. Go to the Xiaomi support website.
2. Choose your country and your phone model.
3. Fill out the form, specifying in the subject: Recovery of deleted SMS by IMEI.
4. Attach screenshots of the purchase confirmation and account details MI.

The term of consideration of the request is from 3 to 14 days. Service is paid (from 1000) ₽), In our experience, Xiaomi is able to meet 60 percent of the time if all the documents are provided.

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Official recovery through support is the only legal way to get SMS deleted more than a month ago, but it requires proof of phone ownership.

6.Prevention: How to avoid future SMS loss

To avoid looking for recovery methods, you just need to set up automatic backups. In MIUI and HyperOS, this is done in 2 minutes:

1. Open Settings → Xiaomi Account → MI Cloud
2. Activate the data synchronization switch.
3. In the list, select Messages and turn on reservations.
4. Set up a schedule: Daily or when connecting to Wi-Fi.

Additional measures:

• 📲 Export important SMS manually via the Messages application (export option to the XML).
• 🔒 Set a password for the Messages app (in the app settings).
• 🚫 Turn off automatic cleaning in Settings → Warehouse → Cleanup.

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS phones (e.g. Xiaomi 14 or Redmi) K70) The backup algorithm has changed. SMS synchronized only when the active connection to MI Cloud over mobile (Wi-Fi may not work) check this in your account settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about SMS recovery on Xiaomi