How to recover deleted SMS on Xiaomi phone: expert guide

Sudden disappearance of important messages on a smartphone can be a real problem, especially if the correspondence contains confirmation codes, addresses or business information. Xiaomi users often face a situation where cleaning the storage or accidental touch leads to data loss. Fortunately, the architecture of the Android operating system and the proprietary shell MIUI (or HyperOS) provide several mechanisms for protecting information.

There is a myth that it is impossible to recover deleted data without the help of expensive hackers or intelligence agencies, but this is not true. In most cases, it is quite possible to perform the recovery of SMS on your own, using built-in synchronization tools or specialized software. The key factor for success is the speed of reaction: the sooner you start acting after the discovery of a loss, the higher the chances of a positive result.

In this guide, we will take a closer look at all the current ways to return messages, from cloud services to local backups, and we will look at both the standard system tools and proven third-party solutions that have proven effective on Redmi and POCO devices.

Checking the cloud storage Mi Cloud

The first and most likely place where your data could have been saved is the manufacturer's proprietary cloud. Mi Cloud service by default often offers automatic synchronization of contacts and messages if a user is logged in to their Mi Account, the fastest way, without requiring a connection to a computer or installing additional software.

First, you need to make sure that the sync function was active before you delete it. Go to your phone's settings and find the account section, that's where the key to managing your backups is stored, and if the tick is on the Messages box, your data is on the company's servers.

  • πŸ“² Open Settings and go to the Mi Account section.
  • ☁️ Select the Cloud and click on the Recover Data icon.
  • πŸ“© In the list, select "Messages" and specify the desired date for creating a backup copy.
  • πŸ”„ Click the Restore button and wait for the process to be completed.

⚠️ Warning: The Mi Cloud recovery process will completely replace current messages on your phone with those in backup. All new SMS messages that come after the backup date will be lost, so make sure you don't need fresh correspondence.

It is important to note that the amount of free space in the Mi Cloud is limited to 5 GB. If you actively used photo and video sync, the space for text messages could run out, and the last copy could have been created a long time ago.

πŸ“Š Do you use cloud sync on Xiaomi?
Yeah, all the time.
Sometimes I turn it on.
Never used it.
I don't know where to find it.

Use of Google Drive backups

An alternative and often more reliable way to store data is the Google ecosystem.The Android operating system has a built-in backup mechanism that is activated by default when you first turn on your smartphone.Unlike proprietary solutions, this method is tied to your Gmail account.

To check for saved messages, you need to go to your system settings and find the data recovery section. Google saves not only app listings, but also SMS history if the corresponding switch was active. This is especially true for those who have previously switched from one Android smartphone to another.

Google data resetting requires a complete factory reset of the phone, which is a radical method, but it ensures that the entire system is back to state at the time the last copy is made. Before you start, make sure you have access to the Wi-Fi network, as the process can take a considerable time.

β˜‘οΈ Pre-reset check

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  1. Perform a complete reset of the device through the Settings menu β†’ About the phone β†’ Reset settings.
  2. When you first set up, log in to the same Google account you used earlier.
  3. In the β€œCopy Applications and Data” step, select the β€œRestore from the Cloud” option.
  4. Select the desired backup by date and start the process.

It is worth considering that recovery from Google Drive can take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of data and the speed of the Internet connection, at which time it is better not to use the phone, so as not to interrupt the critical process of writing memory sectors.

Local Recovery through Security Application

In the shell. MIUI And the new HyperOS preinstalled the system application Security, which includes the functionality of creating local backups, and many users ignore this tool, not knowing that it can save a full copy of the system, including the ability to save a full copy of the system. SMS, directly to the internal memory or SD-map.

If you have ever manually backed up or set up automatic copy creation in this application, your messages may lie in a hidden system directory. Backup files have a special extension and are protected from accidental deletion by conventional methods, which increases the chances of their safety.

ParameterDescriptionLocation.
Type of dataSystem settings, SMS, Call logInternal memory.
The path to filesMIUI/backup/AllBackupFile manager
FormatEncrypted archive (.bak)Unedited
Access.Only through the Security ApplicationPassword required

To start recovery, open the Security app, go to the "Reserve and Restore" section, and select the "Mobile Device" tab. The system will prompt you to select one of the available restore points. If the desired date is found, just click the restore button.

What happens if the MIUI/backup folder is empty?
If there are no files in the directory, then automatic local copy creation has been disabled, in which case you can try searching for files with the.bak extension at the root of internal memory or on a memory card using file search.

The thing about this method is that it works autonomously, without going to external servers, and it provides a high level of privacy, because your communications don't leave the device, but if the phone was flashed or the memory was completely cleaned, those files could be destroyed along with the rest of the data.

Application of third-party software for deep analysis

When standard methods fail, specialized PC software comes to the rescue. Software like Dr.Fone, Tenorshare UltData, or DigiDigger can scan a smartphone's memory for residual files. These utilities don't look for active databases, but for their "traces" in unwritten sectors.

These programs often require USB debugging mode to be activated, which is a hidden developer mode that gives the computer extended permissions to access the phone's file system, and without this step, deep scanning is usually impossible.

The process of using third-party software is as follows:

  • πŸ’» Install the selected program on a computer running Windows or macOS.
  • πŸ”Œ Connect the phone with a cable and allow debugging by USB developer-menu.
  • πŸ” Run scanning of the device through the program interface.
  • πŸ“‚ After analysis, select the found SMS and click "Restore".

⚠️ Note: Using third-party data recovery software is often a paid service.The free versions usually only show that data can be recovered, but require the purchase of a license for the extraction process itself.

The effectiveness of such programs depends on how actively you used the phone after deleting messages. If new information (photos, apps, new messages) has already been written to the place of deleted SMS, then the data overlap will make recovery impossible even for professional software.

πŸ’‘

To increase the chances of success immediately after deleting the SMS, put the phone in aeronautical mode, which will prevent the system from writing new logs and data into memory, keeping the structure of the sectors unchanged.

Analysis of SIM-card and messengers

Sometimes users confuse SMS with messages that came through Internet channels, or look for data on the Internet. SIM-It's important to understand the difference: classics. SMS It's stored in the phone's memory, not on the SIM plastic, but some older phone models could have saved a limited number of SIM messages.

Check the contents SIM-You can use the standard messaging app to open the app's settings and find "Settings" SIM-maps” or β€œReports on SIM-If it's empty, your data has never been there.

It's also worth checking your connected devices. If you have a tablet, a second phone, or a computer that logs in to the same messenger or email client account, the information may be there. Synchronizing notifications sometimes allows you to save text messages in your notification history or as an email report.

In the case of instant messengers (Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram), the situation is different: they have their own cloud storage, for example, in Viber you can restore the history of correspondence from the local backup, which is created daily at 2:00 a.m., You need to reinstall the application and agree to restore the first run.

Preventing Data Loss in the Future

The best way to combat loss of information is to create regular backups. Set up automatic sync with Mi Cloud or Google Drive right now so you don't have to face the challenge of finding recovery utilities in the future. It'll take a couple of minutes, but it'll save you hours of nerves.

Use SMS management apps that have their own backup function, such as SMS Backup & Restore, which allows you to automatically send copies of all messages to you by email or upload them to Google Disk on a schedule.

πŸ’‘

Automating the backup process is the only guaranteed way to never lose important messages. Manual copy creation is too unreliable because of human error.

Check the integrity of your backups periodically. There's nothing worse than finding out in a crisis that autosynchronization has been off for the past six months because of a password error or storage overflow. Regularly auditing your phone's settings is a habit of a power user.

Can I restore SMS without root rights?
Yes, most of the methods described (Mi cloud, Google Drive, local backup) do not require superuser rights. Only deep scanning of memory by third-party software sometimes requests Root access for maximum effect, but basic recovery is possible without it.
How long do remote SMS messages stay in memory?
Physically, the data stays in place until the system decides to write new information on top of it, which can take anywhere from a few minutes to several weeks, depending on the activity of the phone and the amount of free memory.
Does the phone model (Redmi, POCO) affect the way you recover?
No, since all devices run on Android and use a single file system for SMS databases. The interface may vary slightly between versions of MIUI, but the logic of cloud services and applications is the same for all.
Is it safe to transfer data to third-party programs?
Use only proven software from known developers, and when you use recovery software, you give them access to personal information, so there is a risk of data leakage, and it is recommended that you change passwords after using such tools.