Recovering Deleted Messages on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: From Backups to Deep Scanning

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro remains one of the most popular smartphones of the brand even years after its release — but its owners often face the problem of accidentally erased SMS or messages in messengers. Unlike photos or documents, text data is stored in system partitions, and their recovery requires a special approach. In this article, we will analyze 5 proven methods that work on the Redmi Note 8 Pro with MIUI 12-14 firmware and Android 10-12, including methods without root rights and using a PC.

It's important to understand that recovery success depends on how long it's been since you deleted it and how much you've been using your phone. New data can overwrite old data, so you need to act quickly. We're not going to recommend questionable apps from the Play Market -- just official tools and proven utilities.

Why messages are deleted permanently (and when they can still be returned)

In Redmi Note 8 Pro, messages are stored in the database /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db. When deleted, the record is not physically erased, but simply marked as free to rewrite.

• 📱 The first 24 hours – the chances of recovery (up to 80-90%), if you do not install new applications and do not clear the cache.
• ⏳ 3-7 days – the probability drops to 50% as the system gradually overwrites the empty cells.
• 🗑️ After resetting to factory settings – recovery is almost impossible without specialized equipment (and then not guaranteed).

There's another thing about MIUI: if you used the Cleanup function in Settings → Memory, then messages could be deleted using the TRIM algorithm, which physically resets memory cells, in which case even professional utilities are powerless.

⚠️ Warning: Do not connect your phone to your PC in file transfer mode (MTP) After deleting messages, this can trigger automatic synchronization and overwriting of data.

Method 1: Recovery from MIUI backup (most reliable method)

Xiaomi offers a built-in backup tool that saves SMS to the cloud or locally. If you have enabled this feature, you can return messages in 5 minutes:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Select the latest copy (check the date of creation – it must be before the messages are deleted).
3. Click Restore and tick Messages (SMS/MMS).
4. Confirm the recovery and wait until the end (the phone will restart).

If you don’t have local copies, check out Mi Cloud:

• 🌐 Go to i.mi.com from PC or phone.
• 🔑 Sign in with the same Mi Account as the Redmi Note 8 Pro.
• 📄 Select the Backups section and check for the archive with SMS.

⚠️ Note: When you recover from the cloud, all current messages will be replaced with those in the backup. SMS manually (for example, through an application) SMS Backup & Restore).

Method 2: Use the SMS Backup & Restore (without root)

If you don't have backups, try SyncTech's SMS Backup & Restore, which scans your phone's memory for deleted SMS and restores it to XML.

Install Backup & Restore SMS from [Play Market](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.riteshsahu.SMSBackupRestore)

Turn off mobile internet and Wi-Fi (to avoid overwriting data)

Close all background apps (especially messengers)

Connect the charger (the process may take 30 hours)+ minute)-->

1. Launch the application and click Restore.
2. Select Local Storage (if you have previously done backups) or Deep Scan Device.
3. Tick the Messages and click Next.
4. Wait for the analysis to be completed (it can take up to an hour depending on the amount of memory).
5. Select the SMS you need and click Restore.

The app supports recovery of not only SMS, but also MMS and call logs.

• ❌ Does not restore messages from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.).
• ❌ Efficiency decreases if more than 3 days have passed after removal.
• ✅ Works without root rights (but with root the chances are higher).

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If the application doesn't find the deleted SMS, try restarting the phone and repeating the scan, and sometimes the system processes block access to the database.

Method 3: Deep scanning with Dr.Fone (from PC)

For complex cases where standard methods don't work, Wondershare's Dr.Fone - Data Recovery (Android) program will do the trick, and it analyzes internal memory at a low level and can find messages even after resetting (but not always).

1. Download and install Dr.Fone on your PC (Windows or Mac).
2. Connect the Redmi Note 8 Pro to your computer USB-cable.
3. Turn on your phone to debug by USB: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) Settings → Additional → For developers → Debugging by USB
4. Run Dr.Fone, select Android Data Recovery → Message Recovery.
5. Follow the instructions of the program (root access may be required).

Advantages of the method:

• 🔍 Scans all memory of the device, including system partitions.
• 📊 Shows a preview of the messages found.
• 💾 Keeps results in formats HTML, CSV Or directly on the phone.

⚠️ Note: If Dr.Fone offers to root for scanning, weigh the risks. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, unlocking the bootloader erases all data, and an incorrect root can lead to a brick (turning the phone into a brick").

Method 4: Recover WhatsApp/Telegram messages (if deleted)

Messages in messengers are stored separately from SMS and are restored according to different rules.

WhatsApp

If you deleted a chat or WhatsApp message but didn’t clear the backup, do the following:

1. Remove WhatsApp from your phone.
2. Reinstall it from the Play Market.
3. When you first start, the app will offer to restore a story from Google Drive or a local backup.
4. Choose the right option and wait for the completion.

WhatsApp local backups are stored in /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases. The files are msgstore.db.crypt14 (where 14 is the encryption version). If you have manually copied this folder, you can restore chats even after you reinstall the application.

Telegram

Telegram has a simpler situation: all messages are stored in the cloud and can be returned even after deleting the account (within 6 months).

• 🔄 Reinstall Telegram and log in with the same number.
• 📥 All chats and media files will be automatically downloaded (unless you have used the Clear History feature).
• 🗑️ Recovery is impossible for remote secret chats – they are stored only on the device.

Method 5: Manual recovery via ADB (for advanced users)

If you're familiar with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can try extracting the SMS database manually, which requires command line skills, but sometimes saves you when other methods don't work.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB Tools on your PC.
2. Connect the Redmi Note 8 Pro to your computer and enable USB Debugging (see Method 3).
3. Open the command prompt (cmd) and execute: Adb devices Make sure the device is defined.
4. Copy the SMS database on your PC: adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db
5. Use SQLite Browser to open the mmssms.db file and export messages.

Critical: This method only works if the database has not been overwritten. If the file mmssms.db weighs 0 KB or does not open, the data is lost forever.

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ADB-This method is only suitable for advanced users, and errors in commands can lead to data loss or phone malfunctions.

What to do if nothing helps: alternatives

If all of these methods fail, extreme measures remain:

• 🔧 Contact a service center. Some workshops offer data recovery services using professional equipment (e.g, UFI Box or Medusa Pro. Cost: from 3 000 to 10 000 rubles.
• 📧 Ask for messages. If you are talking about important correspondence (for example, with a bank or support service), ask the sender to duplicate the information.
• 🔍 Check email. Many services (banks, social networks) duplicate notifications to the mail. SMS.

If the messages had legal value (e.g. confirmation of payment or arrangement), you can:

1. Contact the mobile operator with a request for the provision of call detail and SMS (paid service, stored for up to 3 months).
2. If the correspondence was conducted through the messenger, request a history from the support of the service (for example, Viber stores data for up to 6 months).

FAQ: Frequent Message Recovery Questions on Redmi Note 8 Pro