How to recover deleted messages on Xiaomi phone: all the ways from backup to special programs

You're not alone: according to statistics, one in three smartphone users has lost at least one SMS or instant messenger message. Fortunately, you can even restore messages on Xiaomi without root rights — if you act quickly and correctly. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods, from standard MIUI functions to professional utilities that will save data even after resetting.

The rule is, the sooner you start recovering, the better the chances of success. Android doesn't delete files instantly, they're labeled "free" and gradually overwritten with new data. So if less than a day has passed since deleting, the probability of returning messages reaches 80-90%. After a week, the chances drop to 30-40%. Next, detailed instructions for different scenarios, from accidentally erased SMS to lost chats on WhatsApp or Telegram.

1.Recovery through MIUI backup

The most reliable way to do this is to use the built-in backup feature in MIUI, and if you've ever enabled automatic data storage, messages could be saved to the cloud or local storage.

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset.
2. Select Local Backups or Xiaomi Cloud (if you used sync).
3. Find the date of the copy created before deleting the messages and click Restore.

⚠️ Note: When you restore from a backup, all current data (including new messages) will be replaced with saved data. SMS, First, export them manually through the Messages app (More menu» → «Exports»).

Save new messages to a text file|Check the space available on the phone (you need to). ≥1GB)|Connect to Wi-Fi (for cloud recovery)|Battery charge ≥50%-->

If you don’t have local copies, try the Xiaomi cloud.

• 🔄 Go to Settings. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Communications.
• 📥 Turn on sync and wait for data to load (may take up to 10 minutes).
• 🔍 Check the Remote folder in the Messages app – sometimes SMS They are there instead of being removed completely.

2.Use Google Drive to Recover SMS

Many Xiaomi users are unaware that Google automatically backs up SMS when sync is enabled to return messages:

1. Make sure that the phone has a Google account that was used before deleting.
2. Go to Settings → Google → Backup.
3. Check if the Data Backup option is enabled and when the last save was.
4. If the date is right, reset your phone to factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset) and select recovery from Google Drive when you first set up.

⚠️ Note: This method only works if the backup was activated before the messages were deleted.If you have never turned on the feature, there is no data in Google Drive. Also remember that the reset will delete all current data on the phone - make a separate copy of contacts and photos before the procedure.

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After discharge:

• 📱 When you first set up, select Copy Data from an Android Device.
• 🔗 Log in to the same Google account you used before.
• ⏳ Wait for the recovery to be completed (may take up to 30 minutes).
• 📩 Check out the Messages app - old ones SMS should appear.

3. Recovery through specialized applications

If you don't have backups, third-party utilities will help, and we tested 5 popular programs and selected the two most effective for Xiaomi:

We recommend starting with DroidKit, which is the easiest solution without root rights.

1. Download and install DroidKit on your PC (official website).
2. Connect Xiaomi via USB (enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then go back to Additional Settings → For Developers).
3. Select Data Recovery Mode → Messages.
4. Follow the program prompts (confirmation on your phone may be required).
5. After scanning, mark the desired SMS and click Restore.

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If the program does not find messages, try connecting the phone in File Transfer (MTP) mode instead of Charging. To do this, pull the notification curtain and select the connection type.

The EaseUS MobiSaver or GT Recovery will require more action:

• 🔧 GT Recovery requires root rights – getting them on Xiaomi can block Mi Account 10-15%).
• 📱 Before using such programs, disable the antivirus - it can block the scan.
• ⏱️ Full scanning takes 1-2 The hour (depends on the amount of memory of the phone).

4. Recovery of messages in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber)

Remote chats in instant messengers are restored differently than SMS. Consider three popular services:

WhatsApp

If you deleted WhatsApp messages but have a backup:

1. Remove the app and install it again from Google Play.
2. When you first set up the system will prompt you to recover data from Google Drive or local copy.
3. Select the last copy before deleting messages.

⚠️ Note: Local copies of WhatsApp are stored in a folder /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases. If you were clearing the phone's memory, these files could have been deleted. Check the folder through any file manager (e.g. Mi File Manager).

Telegram

Telegram has a unique feature – secret chats and cloud storage:

• 🔒 Secret chats are deleted forever – they can not be restored.
• ☁️ The normal chats are synchronized to the cloud to return messages:
• 📥 If messages are missing after the update, try Reinstall Telegram – when you first start it will offer to restore data.

Viber

Viber automatically backs up, but only if the feature is enabled in the settings:

1. Open More → Settings → Account → Backup.
2. If you have a copy, click Restore.
3. If not, check the /sdcard/Viber/backup folder for files with the.vcf extension.

5. Manual recovery via ADB (for power users)

If none of the methods worked, you can try to extract messages through Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires command line skills, but sometimes saves even without root rights.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB on your PC (download Google’s Platform Tools).
2. Connect Xiaomi to USB and enable USB Debugging (as in the DroidKit section).
3. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
4. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices should appear serial number of your phone.
5. Backup your SMS data: adb backup -f sms.ab -apk com.android.providers.telephony
6. On the phone, confirm the creation of a copy (leave the password empty).
7. The sms.ab file will appear in the folder with ADB. Use the Android Backup Extractor program to retrieve messages.

⚠️ Note: This method only works if the data SMS If more than a week has passed since the deletion, the chances are minimal, and not all Xiaomi models support backup through the service. ADB — On some devices (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro) you may need to unlock the bootloader.

6. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If the messages are critical (for example, contain legally relevant information) and self-recovery did not help, you can contact the official service center Xiaomi.The service is paid and does not guarantee 100% result, but in some cases, specialists can extract data using professional equipment.

What you need to know before your visit:

• 💰 The cost of data recovery in the Xiaomi service is from 3 000 to 10 000 rubles (depending on the complexity of the service).
• ⏳ Time limit for implementation — 3-7 workday.
• 📄 You will need a passport and a check (guarantee card) for the phone.
• 🔒 If the phone has been enabled data encryption, recovery is almost impossible.

The addresses of the service centers can be found on the official website of Xiaomi in the section "Support". Before visiting, you must:

1. Make a full copy of your phone’s current data (in case the recovery damages your existing information).
2. Check by phone whether the center is engaged in data recovery – not all services provide this service.
3. Don’t say that you tried to restore the data yourself – this can be the reason for denial of warranty service.

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An official service center is the last chance to return data, but it does not guarantee the result. If messages are critical, consider alternative methods (for example, requesting a duplicate SMS from a carrier).

7 Prevention: How to avoid future message loss

To avoid looking for recovery options, you should set up automatic backups in advance. Here are the proven methods for Xiaomi:

• 📱 MIUI Cloud: Enable Message Synchronization in Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud. 5GB of storage is free.
• ☁️ Google Drive: Activate backup in Settings → Google → Backup.Google provides 15GB for free.
• 💬 Messengers: In WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber, set up automatic copy saving (in the settings of each application).
• 📂 Local Copies: Export important copies once a month SMS to the file via the "Messages" application (More → Exports).

Also useful:

• 🔄 Check regularly (every 3 months) to see if backups are being created.
• 📵 Avoid cleaning memory through functions such as garbage cleaning in MIUI — They can delete temporary messenger files.
• 🔋 Don’t bring the battery to 0% – it can interrupt the backup process.

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FAQ: Frequent questions about post recovery on Xiaomi