Recovery of Remote SMS on Xiaomi: A Complete 2026 Guide

Deleting important SMS messages on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones is a familiar situation. Whether you accidentally erase your bank correspondence, lose your confirmation code, or delete valuable messages from loved ones, there are chances of them returning. Unlike photos or documents, SMS is stored in a separate Android database, and their recovery requires specific methods.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to restore SMS on Xiaomi devices, from standard MIUI functions to advanced technical solutions. Importantly, the effectiveness of the methods depends on whether less than 24 hours have passed after deleting and whether the phone was actively used (new messages or installing applications can overwrite deleted data).

Let’s start with step-by-step instructions – from simple to complex.

1. Checking the messaging basket in MIUI

Many users don’t know that MIUI 12+ has a built-in SMS basket, similar to a file basket, which is activated by default, but stores messages for a limited time — usually 30 days.

To check the basket:

1. Open the Messages app (an envelope icon).
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → select the basket.
3. View the list of deleted SMS. To restore, click on the message and select Restore.

⚠️ Note: If the cart is empty or the option is missing, then:

• 📱 Your version. MIUI older than 12 (update system in Settings) → The phone. → Update MIUI).
• ⏳ It has been more than 30 days since the removal.
• 🔧 The function was manually disabled (check in Message Settings). → Additionally. → Basket).

2. Recovery via MI Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

MI Cloud automatically backs up SMS when it's enabled, which is the most reliable way, but only works if you pre-set it up.

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → MI Cloud.
2. Make sure the Message slider is active and the date of the last backup is indicated next to it.
3. If you have a backup, reset to factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Reset) and select Restore from MI Cloud when you first set up.

🔹 Important nuances:

• 🔄 Recovery from the cloud will erase all current data on your phone (photos, contacts, apps). → Additionally. → Backup and reset.
• ⏱️ The process can take up to 1 hour depending on the amount of data.
• 📡 Requires a stable connection to Wi-Fi.

💡

If you are not sure if there is a backup in MI Cloud, check it out via the web version: go to i.mi.com, log in and open the Devices section" → "Backup copies".

3. Use of third-party applications (without root)

If the cart is empty and MI Cloud didn't help, try specialized utilities that scan the phone's internal memory for remnants of deleted SMS. The best options for Xiaomi are:

Instructions for SMS Backup & Restore:

Install the app from Google Play| Launch and click "Restore" |Select backup file (if any) |Tick "Messages" and click "Next" |Confirm recovery and restart the phone-->

⚠️ Note: Applications without root can only restore those SMS, which have not yet been overwritten with new data:

• 📲 Install new applications,
• 💬 Received/sent many messages,
• 📷 Take a lot of photos/video,

The chances of recovery fall sharply, and in such cases, move to the ADB method (section 5).

4.Restore through Google Backup

If your Xiaomi backup is enabled in Google Drive, there is a chance to return SMS via it. This method works even if MI Cloud is disabled.

How to check and restore:

1. Go to Settings → Google → Backup.
2. Make sure that the Google Drive Backup slider is active and the last sync date is indicated next to it.
3. Perform a reset of the phone to factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Resetting).
4. When you first set up, select Copy Data from another device → From a Google backup.

🔹 Limitations of method:

• 🔍 Google reserves SMS Only if App Data Backup is enabled (check in Google Account Settings).
• 📅 Data is restored as of the last synchronization date (may be irrelevant).
• 📱 After recovery, all current data on the phone will be erased.

5. Advanced Method: Recovery through ADB

If the previous methods didn’t work, the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool is a low-level system access tool that allows you to extract an SMS database (mmssms.db) even without root rights, but requires a computer and minimal technical skills.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on PC.
2. On the phone, activate the Developer Mode (go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times).
3. Enable USB debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
4. Connect your phone to your PC via USB (select File Transfer Mode).
5. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) in the folder with ADB and type:

adb devices


adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db

📌 What to do with the file mmssms.db:

• 🖥️ Open it through SQLite Browser (free program) or online service sqlitebrowser.org.
• 🔍 Go to the Data Review tab → SMS table: All messages will be there, including deleted ones (marked as deleted)=1).
• 📤 Export the right ones. SMS into CSV or TXT.

💡

The ADB method works even if the phone is not rooted, but requires that no more than 1-2 days after deleting the SMS, and the more active you use the phone, the lower the chances of success.

⚠️ Attention: When working with ADB:

• 🚫 Do not change other files in the folder /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/ — This can cause the system to fail.
• 🔌 Do not disconnect your phone from your PC while copying your database.
• 📉 If the adb pull command gives a Permission denied error, then your Xiaomi model requires unlocking the bootloader (instruction in Section 6).

6. Recovery with unlocked bootloader (for experienced)

If standard methods fail and SMS is critical, you can unlock the bootloader and get root permissions, which will give you full access to system files, but will deprive you of warranties and may lead to blocking some functions (for example, Google Pay).

Instructions:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool (requires a Mi Account and wait 7-15 days).
2. Install custom recovery (such as TWRP) for your model.
3. Please use Magisk to obtain root rights.
4. Use DiskDigger or Root Explorer to scan the /data partition for deleted SMS.

🔧 Risks of the method:

• 🔐 Loss of warranty (if the phone is under warranty).
• 🛠️ Possibility of "bricking" the device with firmware errors.
• 🔒 Blocking some banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff, etc.).

💡

Before unlocking the bootloader, make a full backup via TWRP or MIUI Local Backup, which will help restore the phone if something goes wrong.

7. Contacting a service center: when nothing helps

If all of these methods fail, the last option is to physically recover data from the memory chip, which is an expensive procedure (5,000 to 20,000). ₽), Sometimes the only way to get back the lost ones. SMS.

When to contact the service:

• 💔 SMS critically important (e.g., evidence for the court, data for the business).
• 📱 Phone is physically damaged (drowned, broken, not turned on).
• ⏳ It’s been more than 7 days since the removal and other methods have not worked.

🔍 How to choose a service:

• 🏆 Look for centers with chip-off recovery equipment (e.g, PC-3000 flash UFI Box).
• 📄 Check reviews on 2GIS or Yandex.Maps.
• 💰 Check the cost in advance – some services only charge for successful recovery.

⚠️ Warning: Be careful of fraudsters! Never mail your phone to questionable services. Better choose a center with the ability to bring the device in person and observe the process.

FAQ: Frequent questions about SMS recovery on Xiaomi