How to Recover Deleted Messages on Xiaomi Redmi: Everything from Backups to ADB

Deleting important messages on a Xiaomi Redmi smartphone is a familiar situation. Whether it’s customer correspondence, confirmation codes or private messages, losing them can be a serious problem. Fortunately, in most cases, it’s possible to restore SMS on Android — even if you didn’t back up before. In this article, we’ll look at all the current methods, from standard MIUI features to advanced tools like ADB and specialized applications.

It's important to understand that recovery success depends on three factors: time since it was deleted, backups, and the type of memory where messages were stored. For example, if you used Chat Backup on Google Drive, the odds of returning an SMS are close to 100%. If you deleted it a week ago without backups, you'd have to rely on low-level methods with the risk of losing other data. Next, a detailed analysis of each option with step-by-step instructions and pitfall warnings.

1.Recovery through MIUI backups

The most reliable and secure way is to use Xiaomi’s built-in backup tools, which the company has integrated into MIUI two backup mechanisms: on-premises (on-device) and cloud-based (via Mi Account), which, if you’ve turned this feature on at least once, can be returned in 5 minutes.

Local backups are stored in /MIUI/backup/AllBackup and contain application data, including SMS. Cloud copies are synchronized with Xiaomi servers and are available to the linked account. Limitation: cloud backup only works if the function was activated before the deletion of messages.

• 📱 Local Backup: Go to Settings → The phone. → Backup and reset → Local backup. Select the last copy and click "Restore».
• ☁️ Cloud Backup: In the same settings, select Restore from Mi Cloud, log in and tick Messages».
• ⚠️ Warning: When recovering from the cloud, all current SMS First, export important messages manually (see section 3).

A critical nuance for Redmi Note 10/11/12: in these models, the cloud backup SMS is disabled by default. To work, you need to manually enable message synchronization in Settings → Accounts → Mi Account → Data Synchronization.

2. Use of Google Drive (for SMS and MMS)

If you have used Google backup services, the chances of returning messages are high.Backup by Google One automatically saves SMS/MMS for Android 8.0+ devices.

1. Backup is created only when connected to Wi-Fi and charging.
2. Recovery is possible only when the phone is set up initially (after reset).

To check for backup:

1. Open Google Drive on your computer.
2. In the search box, type:backup.
3. Check the date of the last backup – if it is older than the date of deletion of the SMS, the data can be restored.

For recovery:

1. Reset your phone to factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Resetting).
2. When you first set up, select “Recover Data” and log in to the same Google account where the backup was.
3. At the data selection stage, mark “Messages”.

⚠️ Warning: This method erases all current data on the phone. If there is important information on the device, first save it to a PC or other media.

Backup of current data on PC

Record or photograph important settings

Make sure your Google account is the same as your backup

Connect your phone to a stable Wi-Fi network-->

3. Manual export/import of SMS via applications

If you don’t have backups, but your messages were recently deleted (within 1-2 days), you can try exporting your current SMS to a file and then import it back, which works because Android doesn’t immediately clear the memory after deletion—the data stays on the system until it’s overwritten.

This will require an SMS Backup & Restore app (available on Google Play).

1. Install the application and open it.
2. Click “Set up a backup” → select “Messages” → “Backup”.
3. Save the backup file to the cloud or memory card.
4. Remove all current SMS manually (this will clear the system cache).
5. In the application, select “Restore” and download the saved file.

Alternative annexes:

• 📲 Super Backup & Restore – Supports Exports XML and TXT.
• 🔄 SMS Backup+ — synced with Gmail (messages are saved as emails).
• 🛡️ Droid Transfer – works via PC, suitable for mass recovery.

⚠️ Note: Applications without root rights only recover messages that have not been overwritten by the system. If more than 3 days have passed since deleting, the chances are minimal.

4. Recovery through ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don't work, you can try extracting SMS directly from the Android database using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires USB debugging and basic command-line knowledge enabled.

Instructions:

1. Turn on USB debugging: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Return to Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging by USB.
2. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
3. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db

This command will copy the SMS database to your computer.

1. Use SQLite Browser to open the mmssms.db file.
2. Go to the tab "Data Review" → table sms.
3. Export the desired messages to CSV or SQL.

For recovery:

1. Edit the database (remove unnecessary records).
2. Return the file back to your phone:

adb push mmssms.db /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/

Important: Reboot the device after that. If the database can't be rewritten, try using an adb shell with superuser rights (root needed).

5. Restoration with Root Rights (Root)

If you have Magisk or another root rights manager installed on your Redmi, the chances of returning SMS are much higher, and with root access, you can scan internal memory at the file system level and recover deleted data even if it was deleted long ago.

The best recovery apps with root:

• 🔍 DiskDigger – scans memory at a deep level, supports recovery SMS and MMS.
• 📂 Undelete – works with the file system ext4/f2fs, Xiaomi.
• 🛠️ GT Recovery – specializes in data recovery after a reset.

Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger:

1. Install the app and provide root access.
2. Select "Full Scan" (full scan).
3. Check "Messages" and click "Start".
4. After scanning, select the SMS you need and click Recover.
5. Save the recovered data in either TXT or XML format.

⚠️ Note: Root access applications can recover data deleted months ago, but: - Each scan reduces the chances of successful recovery (data overwritten). - Do not save recovered files to the same memory partition from which they were deleted.

💡

If you often lose important messages, set up an automatic SMS backup in Google Drive or Mi Cloud. To do this, select “Schedule backups” in SMS Backup & Restore and specify the frequency (for example, once a week).

6. Contact Xiaomi Support

If all of these methods fail, the last hope is official Xiaomi support, which can restore data from cloud backups if:

• You have a Mi Account attached and confirmed.
• The cloud backup function has been activated on the device.
• No more than 30 days have passed since the removal.

To appeal for support:

1. Go to the Mi Support website.
2. Select "Contact Us» → «Online Chat or Email Support».
3. Provide: IMEI of the phone (*#06#) Date and time of deletion of messages, proof of ownership (checks, warranty card).

The time limit for processing the request is 3 to 7 days, and the support does not restore data deleted more than a month ago, or if the backup is disabled in the settings.

Alternatively, you can visit the Mi Service Center in your city, and you can find the addresses through the official Mi Community app or on Xiaomi's website, and the service center can extract data directly from the memory chip (unless the phone has been reflashed).

💡

Official support for Xiaomi is the only legal way to restore SMS without the risk of loss of warranty or data, but success depends on the availability of cloud backups and the limitation period for deletion.

7. How to prevent future message loss

To avoid the problem of remote SMS again, set up automatic backup and follow the simple rules:

• 🔄 Enable cloud backup: For Mi Cloud: Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization of data → Messages. For Google Drive: Settings → Google → Backup.
• 📱 Use third-party backup apps: Set up weekly backups in SMS Backup & Restore: Export important correspondence to the PDF Droid Transfer.
• 🚫 Avoid "dangerous" actions: Don't manually clean the Messages app cache. Don't use "memory optimizers" - they often delete temporary files SMS.

For the Redmi Note 11/12 Pro+ and later, Xiaomi has added the Message Cart feature (similar to the iPhone) to enable it:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Click on three points → “Settings” → “Basket”.
3. Set a storage period for remote SMS (from 1 to 30 days).

With this feature, deleted messages will be stored in the basket for a specified time, and they can be restored with a single click.

FAQ: Frequent questions about SMS recovery on Xiaomi