How to return remote SMS to Xiaomi: all ways (including Redmi and POCO)

You're not alone: according to statistics, one in three smartphone users at least once lost an SMS due to accidental clicking or resetting. Fortunately, on Redmi devices, POCO and other Xiaomi lines, recovery is possible - even if you did not make backups. In this article, we will analyze 7 proven methods, from simple (via the Mi Cloud cloud) to complex (using ADB and root rights).

It is important to understand: success depends on three factors: (1) time (the earlier you start recovery, the better the chances), 2 phone model (on Xiaomi Mi 11 and newer not all methods work because of encryption), 3) actions after deletion (if you continued using the phone, new data could overwrite old messages).

Recovery via Mi Cloud (official method)

The most reliable method for Xiaomi owners is synchronization with the Mi Cloud, and if the feature was activated before the SMS was deleted, the chances of success are close to 100%.

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Make sure the switch opposite "Sync Messages" is on (green).
3. Scroll down and click Restore → select a backup with the desired date.

⚠️ Note: If sync is disabled, this method will not work, and Mi Cloud only stores data for 30 days - after expiration, copies are automatically deleted.

For POCO devices (e.g., POCO X5 Pro), the path may be different: Settings → Memory → Backup → Google Drive or Mi Cloud, depending on the version of MIUI. If you don’t find Messages in the cloud, try the alternative methods below.

2.Use of Google Drive (for messages linked to Gmail)

Many Xiaomi users don’t know that you can back up your SMS to Google Drive through standard Android settings.

• 📱 You are logged into a Google account on your phone.
• 🔄 Settings option enabled → Google → Backup → Backup of data.
• 📅 The last copy is created before the message is deleted.

To restore:

1. Go to Settings → System → Recovery and Reset.
2. Select Data Recovery → Specify your Google account.
3. In the list, find the "Messages" section and confirm the recovery.

⚠️ Note: This method will restore all messages from the backup, not selectively. If you received new SMS after creating the backup, they will be lost.

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Before recovering through Google Drive, export your current messages to the.xml file via the SMS Backup & Restore app (available in the Play Market) to avoid losing your current data.

3. rootless recovery programs (DroidKit, Tenorshare UltData)

If there are no cloud copies, specialized software will help. For Xiaomi, the following are suitable:

Instructions for DroidKit (based on the example of Redmi Note 12):

1. Install the program on your PC and connect your phone via USB (enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times click on the build number).
2. Select the Android Data Recovery mode → Messages.
3. Follow the program’s prompts (you may need to install Xiaomi drivers).

Critical nuance: on new models (for example, Xiaomi 13T) without root, programs will show only metadata messages (number, date), but not text.

4. Recovery through ADB (for advanced users)

If you have experience with ADB, you can try extracting SMS directly from your phone’s memory, which works without root, but requires:

• 🖥️ Computers with installed ADB Tools and Xiaomi drivers.
• 🔌 Included debugging by USB (see previous section).
• 📱 Phone with a charge of at least 50% (to avoid shutdown during the process).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and check the connection:


adb devices




2. Create a backup copy of the SMS database:




adb backup -f sms.ab -noapk com.android.providers.telephony




3. on the phone confirm the creation of a backup (do not set the password!).




4. Uncancel the sms.ab file with the android-backup-extractor tool.




5. Open the resulting file sms.db in the SQLite Browser program → the table "SMS".

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 14 And the new SMS database can be encrypted, and you'll need to unlock the bootloader and manually extract the file. /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db through TWRP.

5. Restoration with root access (maximum efficiency)

If your Xiaomi has unlocked a bootloader and installed Magisk or SuperSU, the chances of recovery increase to 80-90%.

Instructions for DiskDigger:

1. Install the app from the Play Market (root required).
2. Select the "Full Scan" section (not quick!).
3. Check "Messages (SMS/MMS)" and click Scan.
4. After completion, select the SMS you need and click Restore (save in.xml or.txt format).

🔹 Advantages of the method:

• 🔍 Scans all memory, including deleted data.
• 📅 Shows the date and time of each message.
• 📤 Allows you to restore investments (photo, video from the MMS).

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi Mi 10, POCO X3 Pro) after receiving root, Mi Cloud and Google Pay cease to work. Before the procedure, create a full backup through the TWRP.

Install Magisk through TWRP|Create a backup. NVRAM and IMEI|Disable encryption in settings|Charge the phone to 100%-->

6. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If independent attempts are unsuccessful, the last option is to contact the official Xiaomi service.

• 📱 Device for warranty (opening the case will cancel it).
• 🔧 Physical memory recovery is required (for example, after a phone drops).
• 📜 The communication has legal value (necessary for the court).

The cost of the service in Russia (2026):

🔹 What to take with you:

• 📄 Passport (to confirm possession of the phone).
• 📱 Charger and cable.
• 💳 Check or warranty card (if any).

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi service centers in 90% of cases refuse to restore data if the phone is not turned on or has damage to the board).

7.Prevention: How to avoid future loss of SMS

To avoid the problem of losing messages, set up automatic backup:

Method 1. Mi Cloud (recommended for all Xiaomi models):

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Activate "Message Sync" and "Automatic Backup".
3. Set the copy frequency to “Daily” or “When connecting to Wi-Fi”.

Method 2.SMS Backup & Restore application:

• 🔄 Automatically saves SMS to Google Drive, Dropbox or memory card.
• 📥 Allows you to recover messages selectively (by date or contact).
• 🔒 Encrypts backup copies with a password.

Method 3. Export to.xml file (for archiving):

1. Install Backup & Restore SMS from Play Market.
2. Click Create Backup → Select the.xml format.
3. Save the file to your PC or cloud (e.g., Yandex.Disk).

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Even if you don't plan on recovering SMS, back up regularly, and 60 percent of the time, your data is lost due to an accidental reset or MIUI update.

FAQ: Frequent questions about SMS recovery on Xiaomi