How to delete all messages on Xiaomi Mi 5: 5 proven ways

The Xiaomi Mi 5, launched in 2016, is still a popular device due to its balance of performance and price. However, over time, even this flagship accumulates a huge amount of unnecessary messages, from spam to outdated SMS from banks and services. If you are faced with the need to completely clear the history of correspondence, it is important to do it correctly so as not to lose important data and not disrupt the work of system applications.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to delete messages on the Mi 5 – from standard MIUI tools to hidden functions and third-party utilities. We will pay special attention to data security and the nuances that arise when working with different versions of firmware (from MIUI 7 to MIUI 12).

Before you start cleaning, make sure you have a backup of important messages – especially if it’s confirmation codes, two-factor authentication data or correspondence with banks. In some cases, it’s almost impossible to restore deleted SMS on Xiaomi Mi 5 without a backup due to the peculiarities of storing data in MIUI.

1. Delete messages through the standard application “Messages”

The easiest and safest way to clear email is to use the built-in Messages app (or Messages in global firmware), which is suitable for all versions of MIUI and does not require superuser rights. Here's how to do it:

1. Open the Messages app on the home screen or in the app menu.
2. Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to Message Management or Message Clearance (the name may vary depending on the version of MIUI).
4. Select the option to Delete all messages or Clear History.
5. Confirm the action by pressing OK in the dialog box.

If your MIUI version does not have a direct option for mass removal, you can use an alternative method:

• 📌 Press any message in the dialog list to activate the selection mode.
• 🔍 Click on the Select All Messages icon (usually located in the top bar).
• 🗑️ Slip on the basket icon (Delete) and confirm the action.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi Mi 5 firmware (e.g., some of the firmware, MIUI 8 for China region, mass removal may not work for messages from system applications (e.g. notifications from Mi Cloud), in which case you will have to manually delete them or use third-party utilities.

Back up important SMS | Check if there are no message-linked confirmation codes |Close all background apps that use SMS (banks, instant messengers) | Make sure the phone has enough charge (minimum 30%)

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2. Clean through phone settings (for MIUI 9 and later)

Starting with MIUI 9, the Xiaomi Mi 5 has the ability to manage messages through system settings, which is useful if the standard Message application is unstable or absent (for example, after resetting).

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Messages app (or Messages) in the list and tap it.
3. Choose a storage (or memory)
4. Click Clear Data (this will delete all messages and settings of the app) or Clear Cache (remove only temporary files).

It is important to understand the difference between these options:

If the Messages app starts to work incorrectly after cleaning the data (for example, new SMS does not appear), try restarting the phone or updating the app via Google Play (for global firmware).

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Before clearing the Messages app, check if you are using it to receive two-factor authentication codes (2FA). Some services (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) may require re-activation after deleting the SMS.

3.Use of the "Security" application for deep cleaning

MIUI firmware for Xiaomi Mi 5 has a built-in Security (or Security) app that allows you not only to delete messages, but also to optimize the operation of the phone. This method is suitable if you want to comprehensively clean the phone of garbage, including SMS.

1. Open the Security app (the shield icon).
2. Go to the Cleanup or Deep Clean section.
3. Wait until the system scan is completed.
4. In the results, find the Message block or SMS/MMS.
5. Check the unnecessary messages and click Clear.

The advantage of this method is that the Security app analyzes not only user messages, but also:

• 📤 System notifications that may take up space in memory.
• 📥 Spam and advertising SMS (If the spam filtering function is enabled).
• 🔄 Duplicate messages that are sometimes created when synced with the Mi Cloud.

⚠️ Note: In some versions MIUI (for example, MIUI 10 for Chinese region) The Security app may suggest removing messages along with other "unnecessary" data, such as app cache or temporary files. Be careful - do not clear sections that are not related to the SMS, unless they are sure of their appointment.

Once a week.|Once a month|Only when memory ends|Never clean.|Another option-->

4. Delete messages via Recovery Mode (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work (for example, due to a crash in the Messages application or a virus attack), you can use Recovery Mode, which is suitable for a complete reset of data, including SMS, but requires caution – if you do not do it correctly, you can lose all data on the phone.

Instructions for Xiaomi Mi 5:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power and Volume buttons up simultaneously until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select the language (usually English or Chinese).
4. Go to Wipe & Reset (or Data Cleanup).
5. Select Wipe All Data (full reset) or Wipe Cache (cache cleanup, does not affect SMS).
6. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.

Important: This method deletes all data on the phone, including:

• 📱 Contacts (unless synced with Mi Cloud or Google).
• 📷 Photos and videos in internal memory.
• 🎵 Music and uploaded files.
• 📱 Installed applications and their data.

If your goal is to delete only messages, not all data, it is better to use other methods in this article. Recovery Mode should be used only in extreme cases, for example, if the phone is infected with a virus that blocks access to SMS.

5. Third-party applications for SMS management

If embedded tools MIUI You may not be satisfied with this, but you can use third-party apps from Google Play that offer additional features such as backup, spam filtering, and mass deletion by criteria (for example, all posts are older than the ones you use). 30 Here's the top of the days.-3 Proven applications for Xiaomi Mi 5:

Before installing a third-party application, consider:

• 🔒 Check permissions: the application should only request access to the SMS, Contacts and Warehouse (excessive permits may indicate malware).
• 📥 Download apps only from the official Google Play or Mi App Store (for Chinese firmware).
• 🔄 Some applications (e.g. Pulse) SMS) Registration required for data synchronization.

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Third-party SMS applications may conflict with the standard Messages in MIUI application. If notifications of new SMS no longer arrive after installation, check the default settings of the application in the Settings → Applications → Default Applications section.

6 How to Recover Accidentally Deleted Messages

If you delete important SMS on the Xiaomi Mi 5, not all is lost – there are several ways to get them back, however, success depends on how long ago the messages were deleted and whether the memory cleanup features were used after that.

Method 1: Recovery through Mi Cloud

If your phone is synced to Mi Cloud, try restoring messages from the backup:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select Data Recovery or Backup Copies.
3. Find the last backup you made before deleting your messages and restore it.

Method 2: Using data recovery software

If sync with Mi Cloud is disabled, you can try specialized utilities such as:

• 🖥️ Dr.Fone (for PC) - Restores SMS, contact and media files.
• 📱 DiskDigger (for Android) – works without root rights, but with restrictions.
• 🔧 GT Recovery – Supports recovery of WhatsApp and standard messages SMS.

⚠️ Note: Data recovery software only works if no new data has been written to the deleted messages, and the more active you use your phone after deleting, the lower your chances of successful recovery. Also avoid installing programs on the Xiaomi Mi 5 itself – it is better to connect the phone to your computer.

Method 3: Contacting the Communications Operator

Some mobile operators (e.g. MTS, Beeline, MegaFon) store the history of SMS on their servers for 3-7 days.

• 📞 Call in support of the operator and request a copy of the messages (passport required).
• 📧 Write a statement through the personal account on the operator’s website.
• 🏦 Contact the communication salon with a passport (in some cases you can get a printout). SMS).

Please note that operators do not always provide this service and can charge (usually 100-300 rubles), and they do not restore MMS - only text SMS.

FAQ: Frequent questions about deleting messages on Xiaomi Mi 5