How to return deleted SMS on Xiaomi phone: all the ways of 2026

Remove an important message on Xiaomi and don't know how to return it? This problem is familiar to many owners of smartphones Redmi, POCO or Mi. Fortunately, even after cleaning the chat or resetting the options, the chances of recovery of SMS remain — if you act quickly and correctly. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of returning deleted messages, from standard MIUI functions to professional tools.

It's important to understand that success depends on how long ago SMS was deleted and backups were used. If messages disappeared after a system upgrade or factory reset, the odds are lower, but they are. If you've already written new data on top of old ones (for example, received hundreds of new messages), recovery may not be possible. Let's figure out what to do first.

1. Checking the basket in the app “Messages”

Many Xiaomi users don’t know that the standard Messages app has a built-in shopping cart where messages are stored for 30 days after being deleted, the easiest way to return SMS without additional software.

To check the basket:

• 📱 Open the Messages app on your Xiaomi.
• 🔍 Put three points on it (⋮) top-right.
• 🗑️ Select the Recycle Bin (or Removed in some versions) MIUI).
• 🔄 Find the desired message, click on it and select Restore.

If the cart is empty or there are no messages, move on to the next method. Note that in some MIUI firmware (especially on older models), the basket may be disabled by default, in which case this method will not work.

⚠️ Attention: The shopping cart in the Messages is automatically cleared after 30 days. If it's been more than a month, this method won't help.

2.Restore from MIUI backup

Xiaomi automatically backs up data, including SMS, if Backup is enabled.

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset.
2. Press Local Backups.
3. See if there are fresh backups with a date before the messages are deleted.

If you have a backup, restore the data:

• 🔄 Select the right backup and press Restore.
• ✅ Check Messages (you can remove marks from other data, so as not to overwrite the excess).
• 📲 Confirm the recovery and wait for the process to be completed.

Important: When you recover from the backup, current messages can be overwritten. If you receive new SMS after you delete, it is better to save them manually (for example, copy text to notes) before restoring them.

3.Use Mi Cloud for Recovery

If your Xiaomi has Mi Cloud sync enabled, the chances of returning SMS are much higher, and this method works even after you reset your phone to factory settings if you used the same Xiaomi account.

Instructions:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Make sure that Message Sync is enabled (if not, turn on and wait for completion).
3. Click Restore and select the date when the messages were still on the phone.
4. Confirm the recovery and wait for completion.

Important: Mi Cloud only stores backups of SMS for 30 days, if messages were deleted earlier, this method will not work, and also make sure you have enough space in the cloud (free 5 GB is available).

⚠️ Note: When you recover from Mi Cloud, all current messages in the Messages app will be replaced with those in the backup.

Make sure your phone is connected to Wi-Fi|Check the free space in the Mi Cloud|Save important current messages|Charge your phone at least 50 times%-->

4.Programs for recovery without ROOT

If the standard methods did not help, you can use third-party programs.

• 🔧 Dr.Fone (Wondershare) - Recovers text, contacts, photos, works without root, but with limitations.
• 📱 EaseUS MobiSaver – Xiaomi Redmi Supports, POCO, Free version shows the data found, but you need a paid license to recover it.
• 🔍 GT Recovery -- specializes in messaging and calling, requires a phone connection to a PC.

Example of recovery through Dr.Fone:

1. Download and install the program on PC (official site).
2. Connect Xiaomi via USB (enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap on version → go back to Additional Settings → For Developers).
3. Select the Android Data Recovery mode.
4. Mark Messages and click Next.
5. Wait for the scan and select the messages to recover.

Warning: Free versions of these programs often show "found" data, but require payment to save. Before buying, check if the program recognizes your Xiaomi model (some programs do not work with new MIUI 14/15 firmware).

5. Recovery with ADB (for advanced users)

If you have experience with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can try extracting SMS directly from your phone’s memory, which does not require root rights, but is only suitable for tech-savvy users.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB on PC (you can download from the official Android website).
2. Connect Xiaomi to USB and enable USB Debugging (see previous section).
3. Open the command prompt (or Terminal on Mac/Linux) and type: adb backup -f sms.ab -noapk com.android.providers.telephony
4. On the phone, confirm the creation of a backup copy (do not set a password).
5. Once complete, disconnect your phone and extract data from the sms.ab file using Android Backup Extractor.

The resulting archive will have an sms.xml file that can be opened in any text editor and search for the desired messages, a method that does not work on all versions of MIUI, as Xiaomi sometimes blocks access to system data.

⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB You can damage your data if you use it incorrectly. Do not change your system files if you are not sure what you are doing.

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Before using ADB, make a full phone backup via Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. This will help restore data if something goes wrong.

Reconstruction of c ROOT-rights (maximum efficiency)

If your Xiaomi has one ROOT-You can access the database directly, you can get the best chance of getting back the text message:

• 🛠️ Titanium Backup – backs up all data, including SMS.
• 📂 Root Explorer – allows you to manually copy the database file mmsms.db from the folder /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/.
• 🔄 SMS Backup & Restore – a specialized application for backup and recovery of messages.

Recovery via SMS Backup & Restore:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and provide it. ROOT-access.
3. Click Restore and select the right backup (if any).
4. If there are no copies, click Backup to save current messages, then manually copy the file mmssms.db and restore it via Root Explorer.

The advantage of this method is 100% recovery if the database file is not corrupted, but obtaining root rights on new Xiaomi models (for example, Redmi Note 13 or Xiaomi 14) can lead to loss of warranty and problems with updates.

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ROOT-rights give full control over the system, but are deprived of guarantees and may disrupt the work of the system MIUI. Use this method only if other methods have not worked.

7. Contact Xiaomi Support

If the messages are critical (e.g., containing account recovery data or legal information), you can try to contact official Xiaomi support, but the chances of success are minimal – the company does not provide user data recovery services.

What can be done:

• 📧 Write to the chat support through the official website.
• 📞 Call the hotline (for Russia: 8 800 700 02 03).
• 🏬 Contact the Xiaomi service center with a passport and a check for purchase.

Be prepared to provide:

• IMEI phone (you can find out by command *#06#).
• Date and time of deletion of messages.
• Approximate content of SMS (to confirm ownership).

In most cases, support will decline assistance by citing privacy policies, but if the communications are related to a criminal case, you can request a formal request through the court, in which case Xiaomi can provide the data to law enforcement.

Frequent Questions (FAQ)