Recovery of SMS on Xiaomi: from backups to deep scanning

Deleted an important message on Xiaomi by mistake? Or did all SMS disappear after reset? The situation is familiar to many - especially if the passwords from the bank, confirmation codes or correspondence with loved ones were at stake. Fortunately, you can restore deleted SMS on Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark models) in several ways, both through built-in MIUI tools and using third-party utilities.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods, from simple recovery from a backup of MI Cloud to complex memory scanning through ADB. Importantly, the chances of success depend on how long it has been since the deletion and whether the phone has been used after that. The faster you start, the more likely you are to recover lost data.

Note: instructions are valid for MIUI 12-14 (including global and Chinese firmware versions).If your Xiaomi runs HyperOS, some menu items may differ, we will specify alternative paths.

1. SMS recovery via MI Cloud (official method)

The most reliable method is if your Xiaomi has been enabled synchronization with the MI Cloud. Xiaomi cloud storage automatically saves copies of messages (assuming the feature is activated in the settings). SMS:

1. Open the Settings → Xiaomi Account (or Mi Account) app.
2. Move to the MI Cloud → Synchronization.
3. Make sure the slider opposite the Message is active, and if not, turn it on and wait for the sync to complete.
4. Scroll down and click Recover Data → select a backup with the desired date.

⚠️ Note: When restoring the MI Cloud current messages on the phone will be replaced by data from the backup. SMS You have received new messages, they will be lost, and we recommend that you save them manually (for example, by taking screenshots).

If there is no date in the backup list, check:

• 🔄 Whether synchronization was enabled prior to deletion of messages (c) MI Cloud → Settings → Autosynchronization).
• 📱 Is there enough space in the cloud (free 5GB, but it can be taken up with photos).
• 🌍 Account Region: In some countries (e.g. India) MI Cloud is limited.

Local MIUI backup: Where to look and how to recover

MIUI allows you to create local backups directly to your phone, and if you've been backing up before you delete your SMS, the chances of recovery are high.

The path to the backup files:

/MIUI/backup/AllBackup/

Or (for the new versions of HyperOS):

/MIUI/backup/HyperOS/

To recover SMS from local copy:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset (or Additional → Backup in HyperOS).
2. Click Restore and select the file with the desired date (format: backup_YYYY-MM-DD).
3. Check the message box and start the process.

⚠️ Note: If you don't find the AllBackup folder, check it out:

• 🔍 Did the phone connect to the PC in file transfer mode (sometimes folders are hidden).
• 📁 Did you put the backups on? SD-card.
• 🗑️ Did you clean up your memory through Security Garbage Cleanup – it could remove old backups.

Check for the /MIUI/backup/ folder

Make sure there is enough space on your phone (needs ~200-500MB)

Turn off the mobile internet (to avoid conflicts with the MI Cloud)

Charge your phone at least 50%-->

3. Third-party programs for deep memory scanning

If you don't have backups, you'll need to scan the phone's internal memory, and you'll need programs like Dr.Fone, EaseUS MobiSaver, or Tenorshare UltData, which work by looking for traces of deleted data until new files overwrite old ones.

The following is a step-by-step instruction (as in Dr.Fone):

1. Install the program on PC (official site).
2. Connect Xiaomi to USB, enable Debugging via USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times click on version → return to Additional → For developers).
3. In the program, select Data Recovery Android → Messages.
4. Follow the instructions (root access may be required).

⚠️ Note: Recovery programs often require root rights to:

• 🔓 Cancellation of warranty (if the phone is warranty).
• 🛡️ Increases the risk of hacking (root opens vulnerabilities).
• 🔄 It can lead to a “brick” (if you install Magisk or SuperSU incorrectly).

Rootless alternative: Some programs (like DiskDigger) can scan the cache of messages, but the effectiveness is lower, but there are no risks.

4. Recovery through ADB (for advanced users)

If you're familiar with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can try extracting SMS directly from system files, which works even without root, but requires technical skills.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB Tools on your PC.
2. Connect Xiaomi to USB and check the connection with the command: Adb devices
3. Download the SMS database to sms.xml: adb backup -f sms.ab -noapk com.android.providers.telephony
4. Unpack sms.ab with Android Backup Extractor (Java needed).

The resulting sms.xml file will contain all messages in the following format:

<sms address="+79XXXXXXXXX" date="1672531200000" type="1" body=" Text of the message"/>

⚠️ Attention: Method C ADB It won't restore the remote SMS, It only copies the current ones (unless they're overwritten) and you need root rights and tools like SQLite Editor to find the remote ones.

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If adb backup gives you an error, try disabling MIUI Optimization in the developer settings (Settings → Additional → For Developers → Disable MIUI optimization).

5. Contact Xiaomi Support

If the messages are critical (e.g., contain legally relevant information), you can try to contact official Xiaomi support.The odds are slim, but in some cases they can help:

• 📧 If SMS have been removed due to firmware failure or error MIUI.
• 🔐 If you have evidence that the messages are related to fraud (e.g. codes from a bank).
• 📄 If the phone was under warranty and data loss occurred after repair in the service center.

How to make a request:

1. Go to the support page.
2. Select Online Service → Submit a Request.
3. Specify the phone model, IMEI (find in Settings → About Phone → General information) and describe the situation.

📌 Xiaomi does not keep copies of yours. SMS Support can only check system logs for crashes, but it will not restore the messages themselves.

Comparison of SMS recovery methods on Xiaomi

How to Prevent SMS Loss in the Future

So, to avoid looking for ways to recover, you should take care of the safety of messages in advance. Here are 4 reliable ways to do this:

• ☁️ Enable autosynchronization with MI Cloud: Settings → Xiaomi account → MI Cloud → Synchronization → Communications.
• 📱 Regularly create local backups: Settings → Backup (set a schedule, for example, once a week).
• 🔗 Export important SMS In the file: Open the correspondence → ⋮ → Exports (retained in.txt or.xml).
• 📧 Set up a forwarding. SMS e-mail: Some firmware has a function of automatically forwarding messages from certain numbers to the mail.

⚠️ Note: If you are using duality SIM-maps on Xiaomi, check that sync is enabled for both Sims. MI Cloud → Synchronization settings can be selected, messages from which numbers to save.

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The most reliable way is a combination MI Cloud + The cloud protects against loss when your phone is stolen, and local copies protect against synchronization failures.

FAQ: Frequent questions about SMS recovery on Xiaomi