Messages filled on Xiaomi: 7 proven ways to solve the problem

You try to send or save an SMS to Xiaomi, but instead you see an annoying notification: “Message memory is full” This error blocks new messages, interferes with the work of instant messengers and can even cause malfunctions in the phone, the reason lies in the limited amount of memory allocated for SMS in the firmware MIUI – especially relevant for budget models like Redmi 9A or Poco M3, where the limit can be as little as 200-500 messages.

In this article, 7 working ways to clear the memory of messages, from basic (hand-removal) to radical (setting reset), we will discuss why the problem occurs even when the phone is empty, how to circumvent the limitations of MIUI and what to do if messages are not deleted. All instructions are tested on current versions of firmware (2023-2026) and are suitable for Xiaomi, Redmi, Poco and Black Shark smartphones.

Why is the memory full when there is space on the phone?

Many users mistakenly think that SMS is stored in the phone’s shared memory, but in fact MIUI allocates a separate partition in the system memory (usually /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony) to the messages, which is severely limited in volume, and even if you have 50 GB of internal storage available, this partition can be crowded.

Main reasons:

• 📱 Limit SMS In the old versions: In the old versions MIUI (The limit was 200-500 messages to 12.5), and the new ones (13-14) increased it to 1000-2000, but for active users this is not enough.
• 🗑️ Accumulation of service messages: Operators send hundreds of 'junk" SMS (advertising, balance notices, MMS), place.
• 🔄 Sync errors: If you use Google Messages or Mi Messages with cloud backup, repeat syncs duplicate messages.
• 🛠️ Failures after the update: When transitioning from MIUI 12 on MIUI 13 Sometimes Storage settings get confused SMS.

Interestingly, the problem is more common on budget models (Redmi 8A, Redmi Note 9) due to memory optimization. Flagships (Xiaomi 13, Mix Fold 3) are less likely to encounter this error due to the increased system partition.

Method 1: Manually cleansing messages through a standard application

The most obvious method is to manually delete unnecessary SMS, but MIUI has a nuance: the standard Message app doesn't always show all the stored data.

1. Open the Messages app (the envelope icon on the desktop).
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner → select Settings.
3. Go to the Message Management section → Clearing of messages.
4. Check the boxes: 🗑️ Spam and promotional messages 📊 Old posts (select period: 3-6 months) 📎 Investments. MMS (photo, video, audio)

Delete

If the menu does not include Message Clearup, use an alternative path:

1. Press any message in the list → select Select Select.
2. Mark all unnecessary SMS (you can tap on the date to select the whole group).
3. Click on the basket in the top menu.

The best apps for Xiaomi:

Instructions for cleaning through SMS Backup & Restore:

1. Install the application and provide access to SMS.
2. Go to the Manage Messages section.
3. Sort messages by Size (size) – so you will find the most “heavy” MMS.
4. Select the unnecessary and press Delete.

💡

Before mass removal, export important items SMS in file: in SMS Backup & Restore Choose Backup → Local Backup → keep on SD-map.

Method 3: Clearing the cache and data of the Messages application

If messages are not deleted or the error persists, the problem may be in the damaged application data. Resetting the cache and storage of com.android.mms often solves the problem:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Messages app (or Messaging on English firmware).
3. Slip the vault. → Clear the cache.
4. Then select Clear Data (this will delete all SMS, including drafts!).
5. Reboot the phone.

Important: Once the data is cleaned, the Messages app will reset to factory settings, and if you used it to send MMS, you'll have to reconfigure the APN settings.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, Xiaomi) 11T) post-reset SMS You may not be able to come in temporarily. In this case: Go to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Access points (APN). Select your operator and save the settings again.

Method 4: Change the SMS limit through the engineering menu (for advanced ones)

In MIUI firmware, you could increase the SMS limit to version 12.5 through the engineering menu. In newer versions, this method doesn't work on all models, but it's worth a try. Careful: wrong actions can lead to failures!

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and type the combination: ##4636## (some models may not work, then use the alternative method below).
2. Select Phone Information → scroll down to the SMS block.
3. Find the parameters: SMS limit for SIM 1 (limit for the first) SIM-map) SMS limit for SIM 2 if there is a second SIM)

500

1000

Save the changes and restart the phone.

If #4636## does not work, try:

• 🔧 Use the application MTK Engineering Mode (for MediaTek processors).
• 📱 Install Activity Launcher and find hidden activity com.android.settings.TestingSettings.

Method 5: Transfer SMS on SIM-map

If you don’t want to lose important messages, move them to the SIM-- A map or a cloud storage:

• 📶 SIM-The card stores only text (without emoji and formatting), the limit is 20-50 messages.
• ☁️ The cloud (Mi Cloud or Google Drive) keeps the full history, but requires the internet to sync.

Instructions for transfer to SIM:

1. Open Messages → select the necessary SMS (press your finger).
2. Tap it on three points. → Copy on SIM.
3. Choose. SIM-If you have two cards, then you can confirm them.

For the backup in Mi Cloud:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Activate the Message Slider.
3. Press Sync and wait until it is completed.

If Mi Cloud does not sync SMS, check:

• 🔄 Internet availability (Wi-Fi or mobile data).
• 🔒 Log in to one Xiaomi account on all devices.
• 📱 Is there enough space in the cloud (free 5 GB).

💡

Transfer SMS on SIM-The card is a temporary solution. Once the card is extracted, the messages will not be available. For long-term storage, use the cloud or export to the file.

Method 6: Resetting phone settings (last resort)

If none of these methods work, you'll have to reset hard, and it will delete all the data from your phone, including SMS, contacts, and installed apps, and only use this method if you:

• 🔄 The error appears even after cleaning. SMS.
• 📱 Phone brakes or overheats due to memory overflow.
• 🔧 Other methods are technically impossible (e.g., file system is damaged).

Resetting instructions:

1. Make a backup of important data (photos, contacts, chats of messengers).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose Delete all data (or Factory Reset).
4. Enter your password (if required) and confirm the reset.
5. After restarting, set your phone as new.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi 12, Redmi) K50) After reset, you may need to re-activate your Mi Account. If you forget your password, use the official recovery service.

Method 7: Update the firmware (if the bug is the cause)

Some versions of MIUI (e.g. 12.0.3-12.0.8) had an error that caused SMS memory to fill up on its own, even if there were few messages. Xiaomi fixed the bug in newer builds.

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If a new version is available, download and install it.
4. After the update, restart the phone.

If the update does not come automatically:

• 🌍 Check the firmware region: go to Settings → Additionally. → Region and select Russia (or your country).
• 🔄 Use manual firmware via Fastboot or Recovery (for power users only!).
• 📡 Connect to another Wi-Fi network (sometimes updates are blocked by the provider).

The list of versions of MIUI that had an SMS memory bug:

Frequently asked questions