Recovery of Remote SMS on Xiaomi: From Backups to Deep Scanning

Why do SMS messages disappear from your phone and can they be returned?

Deleting important messages on Xiaomi is a familiar situation, and the causes of data loss can range from accidentally clicking “Delete everything” to crashing after a MIUI update or resetting. Fortunately, in most cases, it is possible to restore deleted SMS to Xiaomi — even if you did not back up before.

Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark models) store messages in the database /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db. When you delete, the record is not physically erased – it is simply labeled as “free” and can be overwritten with new data. This means that the chances of recovery are higher the faster you start taking action.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods for returning SMS – from standard MIUI tools to specialized utilities, and learn how to protect messages from loss in the future and what to do if none of them worked.

Method 1: Recovery via MI Cloud (if synchronization was enabled)

The most reliable way to return deleted messages is to use the cloud service MI Cloud, which automatically saves SMS if sync has been activated in the settings of the Xiaomi account.

1. Open Settings → Xiaomi Account → MI Cloud
2. Scroll down to the Data Sync section.
3. Make sure the switch opposite the Message is on (green).

If the synchronization is active, follow the instructions:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in to your Xiaomi account.
2. In the menu on the left, select Messages (or SMS in English).
3. Find the dialogs you need and copy the text manually or export them to the file.

⚠️ Attention: MI Cloud only stores messages 30 days after deletion, and if more time has passed, this method will not work.

If the site does not have a Messages section, then the sync is disabled, in which case, move to the next method.

Method 2: Local backups in MIUI (without root)

MIUI has a built-in backup feature that can save SMS to check for backups:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backups.
2. Look for backups available. Look for files with a date prior to deleting messages.
3. Click on the right backup and select Restore (note that this will overwrite the current data!).

If there are no local copies, try to find them manually through the file manager:

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

⚠️ Warning: Recovery from the local backup will return all data to the date it was created, which means that newer messages, contacts, and settings may disappear.

If backups are not available or are too old, move on to the next method.

Method 3: Recovery applications (without root)

If previous methods didn’t work, try specialized utilities that scan the phone’s memory for “invisible” data and can find deleted SMS.

Instructions for SMS Backup & Restore (the most reliable option):

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Launch and press Restore.
3. Select a backup file (if any) or click Search on the device.
4. Check the necessary messages and confirm the recovery.

If the application does not find remote SMS, try DroidKit for PC:

• 🖥️ Install the program on the computer from the official website.
• 📱 Connect Xiaomi to the USB (Turn on the debugging. USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press the assembly number → Come back to the extra. → For developers).
• 🔍 Select Data Recovery Mode → Messages and wait for the scan to end.

⚠️ Note: Do not install recovery apps on the system partition of the phone (for example, in the system partition). /system/app). This could lead to failure. MIUI loss of warranty.

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Before scanning, turn off mobile internet and Wi-Fi on your phone, which will prevent deleted data from being overwritten with new messages.

Method 4: Restoration with root rights (for power users)

If your Xiaomi has root access, the chances of returning SMS are much higher, and you can work directly with the messaging database, which is only suitable for hard-wired devices with an unlocked bootloader and Magisk/TWRP installed.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Go to /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/.
3. Copy the mmsms.db file to your computer (use ADB pull or MTP).
4. Open the file with SQLite Browser (Free PC Utility).
5. In the sms table, find the body column (message text) and the address (sender number).
6. Export the required records to CSV or SQL-file.

For automatic recovery, you can use SMS Backup & Restore with root access:

• 📲 Open the app and go to Settings → Extended.
• 🔧 Enable the option to use root to restore.
• 🔄 Run the scan – the utility will find even those messages that do not appear in the standard application.

If the database is not in the folder, try searching for it in the file. /data/user_de/0/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/ (newer versions MIUI).

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Root access gives you the best chance of recovery, but it is not guaranteed and can disrupt MIUI. Use this method only if other methods have not worked.

Method 5: Contact Xiaomi Service Center (official assistance)

If the messages are critical (e.g., contain data for two-factor authentication or legal evidence), you can contact the official Xiaomi service center.

What needs to be done:

• 📞 Find the nearest service on mi.com.
• 📋 Prepare documents confirming the purchase of the phone (check or warranty card).
• 💾 Do not perform a reset or flashing – this will reduce the chances of recovery.
• 💰 Clarify the cost of the service (on average from 1,500 to 5 000 rubles depending on the complexity of the service).

Xiaomi service centers in Russia and CIS usually work with partners (for example, Communication Service or TechnoDrive). Before visiting, check by phone whether they are engaged in data recovery - some centers specialize only in hardware repair.

⚠️ Note: If the phone was purchased informally (for example, brought from abroad), the service center may refuse assistance due to the lack of warranty for the region.

What to do if none of the methods worked?

If all of these methods have not yielded results, there are two options:

1. Verification SIM-Some operators (for example, MTS or Beeline) store copies of SMS on their servers. Contact the communication salon with your passport and ask for a history of messages for the desired period.
2. Operator log analysis: The court orders mobile operators to store metadata of messages (numbers, dates) for 6 months, and if SMS is of legal importance, submit a request through the court or the police.

It's also worth checking out:

• 📧 Spam folder in the standard Messages app – sometimes important SMS messages get there.
• 🔄 Included in other messengers (for example, Telegram or Viber), if the sender duplicated the message.
• 📥 Mail – many services (banks, social networks) duplicate SMS with codes on email.

If the messages contained unique information (such as passwords), urgently change the data to access the associated accounts. Use password managers (such as Bitwarden or KeePassDX) to store backup copies of the codes.

How to protect your SMS from future loss?

To avoid repeated loss of messages, set up automatic backup:

1. Enable sync with MI Cloud: Settings → Xiaomi Account → MI Cloud → Data Sync → Messages (enable)
2. Install Backup & Restore SMS and set up a weekly backup in Google Drive or on a memory card.
3. Export important messages manually: Messages → Click on the dialogue. → ⋮ → Exports

Additional measures:

• 🔐 Use Application Protection in Settings → Annexes → Blocking applications so that you do not accidentally delete messages.
• 📱 Regularly check the Recycle Bin folder in the Messages app (in some firmware) MIUI Remote SMS is stored there for 7 days).
• 🔄 Before the update MIUI Make a full backup through Settings → The phone. → Backup and reset.

If you often work with important SMS (for example, for business), consider switching to alternative cloud-based messengers like Telegram or Signal.

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Even if you haven't lost your messages now, set up a backup today, and statistics show that 60 percent of users experience data loss at least once a year.

FAQ: Frequent questions about SMS recovery on Xiaomi