Recovering Deleted Call Records on Xiaomi Phones: From Backups to Deep Scanning

Deleting the call history on Xiaomi smartphones is a problem faced by both owners of budget Redmi and flagship Mi 13 Ultra or POCO F5. The reasons for data loss are different, from accidentally clicking "Clear Journal" to crashing after a MIUI update or resetting to factory settings. Fortunately, in most cases, records can be returned - if you act quickly and correctly.

In this article, we’ll break down all the recovery options available, from standard Xiaomi tools to third-party utilities, and explain why some methods only work in the first hours after uninstalling. Importantly, the effectiveness depends on the phone model, the MIUI version, and whether backups were enabled. For example, on Xiaomi 12T Pro with MIUI 14, the recovery algorithm through MI Cloud is different from the procedure on the Redmi Note 10 with MIUI 12.5.

Before you start, check:

• 🔄 Synchronization with MI Cloud – If it was active, the chances of returning data are higher.
• ⏳ Time after removal - the less hours passed, the better.
• 📱 Phone model – on some devices (e.g, POCO X3 Pro) the loader is required to be unlocked.

Recovery via MI Cloud: The Official Way From Xiaomi

The most reliable and secure method is to use the built-in MI Cloud backup feature, which automatically saves your call history if:

• 📁 In the settings of the Mi Account, synchronization of calls is enabled.
• 🌐 The phone was connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data) after the last deletion.
• ⏰ No more than 30 days have passed since the data loss (reservation period of backup copies in the MI Cloud).

To recover calls through the cloud:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account → MI Cloud.
2. Select Data Recovery (or Manage Backups on older versions of MIUI).
3. Find the last backup with the date before deleting calls and click Restore.
4. Check the item Log of calls and confirm the action.

If you don't have a backup, check:

• 🔒 You may have logged in to another Mi Account (for example, after resetting your phone).
• 📵 On some models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) Call synchronization is disabled by default.

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Before recovering via MI Cloud, make sure there is enough free space on your phone – the process can take up to 1-2 GB of temporary files.

2. Local backups: where Xiaomi stores call history

If cloud sync hasn’t been configured, check local backups. Xiaomi smartphones automatically create them when:

• 🔄 Updates MIUI through settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• ⚙️ Reset to factory settings (if the option “Save data” is selected»).
• 📲 Connect to Mi PC Suite (a utility for PC from Xiaomi).

To find and restore a local copy:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB (File Transfer Mode).
2. Go to the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder on the internal drive.
3. Find a file with the.mbk extension (for example, backup_20260515.mbk).
4. Copy it on your PC and use the official Mi Backup Extractor utility to extract data.

Critical detail: local copies are overwritten with each new backup, and if you backup after deleting calls, the previous version will be lost.

3 Third-party applications: restoration without root rights

If you don't have backups, you can try specialized utilities that scan the phone's internal memory for traces of deleted data.

• 🔍 DiskDigger – Supports call recovery without root, but with limitations.
• 📱 GT Recovery works on most Redmi models and POCO.
• 🛠️ EaseUS MobiSaver – paid version scans deeper than free counterparts.

Instructions for DiskDigger (free version):

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Start and select Basic Scan (without root).
3. Wait until the scan is completed (it can take 10 to 30 minutes).
4. In the results, find the Call Logs section and mark the necessary entries.
5. Press Recover and save the data in.csv or.xml format.

⚠️ Note: Apps without root rights only recover data that has not yet been overwritten by new files. If you install programs or download media files after deleting calls, the chances of success drop dramatically.

4.Root Rights Recovery: Deep Scanning

If standard methods don't work, and data is critical, you can try root-based full memory scanning, which is suitable for advanced users and requires:

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (on most Xiaomi this erases all data!).
• 📱 Installed Magisk or SuperSU for root.
• 💻 Autopsy or Scalpel programs for analyzing raw memory images.

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader via Fastboot (instructions for Xiaomi: official website).
2. Install TWRP Recovery and run Magisk to get root.
3. With ADB, create a partition image of /data: adb shell su dd if=/dev/block/mmcblk0pXX of=/sdcard/data.img (replace mmcblk0pXXX with the current partition, find it through ls/dev/block).
4. Copy data.img on your PC and scan it with Autopsy.

⚠️ Attention: Unlocking the bootloader on Xiaomi resets the phone to factory settings! Before the procedure, save all important data. On some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro), unlocking takes up to 72 hours due to manufacturer restrictions.

Backup all data on the PC

Make sure the phone model supports unlocking

Download the official Xiaomi drivers for ADB

Prepare a memory card (at least 16 GB) for the partition image-->

5. Alternative methods: SIM-map

If calls have been made or received recently (within 1-3 months), they can be requested from a mobile operator.

• 📞 Calls were going through SIM-Card (not VoIP, not Wi-Fi Calling).
• 📄 You have a passport and a number contract (to confirm ownership).
• ⏰ The operator stores the details (most Russian operators have a period of 3 months).

How to request details:

1. Call the operator support (for example *111# for MTS, *555# for Beeline).
2. Order extended detail (usually paid service, cost - 50-300) ₽).
3. Specify the period for which the data is needed (maximum 3 months).
4. Get the file by email or in your personal account (.pdf or.xlsx format).

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Does not show remote contacts - only numbers.
• ❌ No information about missed calls unless they were recorded by the network.
• ❌ Virtual operators (for example, Tele2, Yota) detail may not be complete.

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Detailing from the operator is the only way to return call numbers if the phone was reset to factory settings without backups.

6.Prevention: How to avoid losing your call history in the future

To avoid the problem again, set up automatic backup:

• ☁️ Turn on the sync. MI Cloud: Settings → Mi Account → MI Cloud → Synchronization → Calls (include)
• 📅 Schedule local backups: Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset → Local backups
• 🔄 Use third-party services such as Google Contacts (stores call history for numbers from the address book).

Additional measures:

• 🚫 Do not clean the call log through cleaner apps (such as Xiaomi’s Clean Master or Security).
• 📵 Avoid installing questionable applications that request access to the Call Log.
• 🔋 Regularly check the health of the drive through Settings → Memory. → Diagnosis (on MIUI 13+).

Tip for POCO and Redmi owners: If you often clear the log, install the Call Logs Backup & Restore app from Google Play.It automatically saves the history to Google Drive or to a memory card.

FAQ: Frequent questions about call recovery on Xiaomi