Recovery of SMS on Xiaomi: from backups to professional tools

Why are SMS messages disappearing from Xiaomi phones and can they be returned?

Accidental deletion of messages, factory resets, or MIUI failures are problems that almost every Xiaomi smartphone owner faces. Unlike photos or contacts, SMS often contain critical information: confirmation codes, payment data, correspondence with banks or colleagues, and their loss can be a serious inconvenience.

The good news is that it is possible to restore SMS to Xiaomi in most cases, even if you did not back up before. The effectiveness of the method depends on how long ago the messages were deleted, whether the functions of synchronization with the cloud were used, and whether new data was written on top of the old ones. For example, if after deleting you continued to actively use the phone, the chances of recovery are reduced - new SMS can overwrite old devices.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to return lost messages, from standard MIUI tools to professional utilities, and how to protect yourself from similar situations in the future by setting up automatic backups.

Method 1: Recover SMS via MIUI Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

If your Xiaomi has MIUI Cloud sync enabled, the chances of returning messages are as high as possible, and this method works even after you reset your phone to factory settings, the main thing is to use the same Mi Account to which the backup was attached.

To restore SMS via the cloud:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Xiaomi account → MIUI Cloud.
• 🔄 Make sure the slider opposite "Sync Messages" is active. If not, turn it on and wait until the process is complete.
• 📥 Click Restore and select the most recent backup with the right messages.
• ⏳ Wait for the recovery to be completed (may take up to 10 minutes depending on the amount of data).

Important: MIUI Cloud only stores backups of SMS for 30 days from the last sync. If messages were deleted earlier, this method will not work. Also, consider that when you restore current messages in your phone will be replaced by data from the cloud - save important SMS in advance.

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Before recovering through MIUI Cloud, check if there is enough space in the phone's memory. If less than 500MB is available, delete unnecessary files or transfer them to a memory card.

Method 2: Using Google Drive to Recover

Many Xiaomi users are unaware that Google automatically backs up SMS when sync is enabled, a method that works on all smartphones with MIUI where a Google account is tied and does not require root rights.

Instructions for remediation:

1. Make sure that the phone has Google Drive installed and you are logged in to your account.
2. Go to Settings → Google → Backup.
3. Check if the option “Data Backup” is enabled and when the last saving was performed.
4. If the backup is relevant, reset your phone to factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Reset settings).
5. When you first set up after reset, select data recovery from Google Drive and specify the desired copy.

⚠️ Note: This method does not allow selective recovery SMS — All data from backup (applications, settings, contacts) is returned. If you do not want to lose current data, manually save it beforehand.

Method 3: Local MIUI backups (without cloud)

Xiaomi offers a built-in local backup tool that users often ignore. If you’ve ever done a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local Backup, the chances of recovery are high.

How to recover SMS from local copy:

• 📁 Connect your phone to your PC and copy the folder MIUI/backup/AllBackup from internal memory to computer (in case of failure).
• 🔍 On your phone, go to Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset → Local backups → Restore.
• 📅 Select the backup date where the messages are present.
• ✅ Check only the "Messages" item (so as not to erase other data) and click Restore.

💡 Tip: Local copies take up a lot of space, but you can store them on a memory card. SD-map, before creating a backup, select Settings → Memory. → Default storage → Memory map.

Make sure the copy contains SMS (see creation date)

Free space on the phone >1 GB

Battery charge >50% (recovery may take time)

Disconnect mobile internet (to avoid synchronization conflicts)-->

Method 4: Professional programs (Dr.Fone, Tenorshare UltData)

If standard methods don't work, specialized tools like Dr.Fone or Tenorshare UltData come to the rescue, scanning the phone's memory at a low level and can find messages even if they were deleted months ago.

Pros:

• ✅ Selective recovery (only the necessary ones can be returned) SMS).
• ✅ Works without backups (scans internal memory).
• ✅ Xiaomi supports all generations (including Redmi, POCO, Black Shark).

Cons:

• ❌ Requires a connection to the PC and install the program.
• ❌ Deep scanning requires root access (risk of losing warranty).
• ❌ Paid features (free version only shows preview messages).

The following is a step-by-step guide for Dr.Fone:

1. Download and install the program from the official website.
2. Connect Xiaomi to your PC via USB-cable (turn on debugging by USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Additional → For developers).
3. In the program, select Data Recovery Android → Messages.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen (you may need to confirm access on your phone).
5. After scanning, mark the desired SMS and click Restore.

⚠️ Note: If you plan to use recovery software, do not install new apps or save files to your phone after you delete them. SMS. Each new memory record reduces the chances of a successful recovery.

Method 5: Contact Xiaomi Support

If the messages were critical (such as those containing litigation data or financial transactions), you can try to contact official Xiaomi support, but the chances of success are minimal for several reasons:

When support can help:

• 📞 If you lose SMS associated with a hardware failure (for example, after repairs at a service center).
• 🔧 If the phone was on warranty and the reset was made by the fault of a service engineer.

When support fails:

• 🚫 The messages were deleted by the user (even accidentally).
• 🚫 No backups in MIUI Cloud or Google Disk.
• 🚫 It has been more than 30 days since the removal.

To appeal for support:

1. Go to the Xiaomi Support website.
2. Select the phone model and problem category (Data and backup).
3. Describe the situation in as much detail as possible (date of deletion, whether there were backups, phone model).
4. Attach screenshots (e.g., an empty list of SMS or recovery errors).

📌 Key takeaway: Xiaomi’s official support does not restore data unless it’s due to a data error, but in rare cases, they may provide access to server logs (for example, if they are not able to access the data from the server). SMS They were lost due to a failure in MIUI Cloud).

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The best chance of recovering an SMS is in the first 72 hours after deleting, and the longer you wait, the higher the risk of overwriting the data.

How to protect your SMS from future loss

The best way to avoid recovery problems is to set up automatic backups. Here are 3 proven methods:

1. MIUI Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

• 🔄 Turn on the sync. SMS: Settings → Xiaomi account → MIUI Cloud → Synchronization of messages.
• 📅 Set the backup frequency (daily or weekly).

2. Google Drive.

• ☁️ Activate backup: Settings → Google → Backup → Backup of data.
• 📱 Make sure that the list of data reserved contains “Messages".

3. Local copies

• 💾 Create backups regularly through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset → Local backups.
• 📁 Store copies on a memory card or external drive.

🔐 Additional protection: For sensitive messages (such as access codes), use specialized applications such as SMS Backup and Restore:

• Export SMS in.xml or.csv format.
• Send copies to email automatically.
• Encrypt backup copies with a password.

Frequent questions about SMS recovery on Xiaomi