MI Messages on Xiaomi: a complete guide to a branded messenger

Introduction: Why MI Messages raise so many questions

If you’ve recently switched to a Xiaomi, Redmi, or POCO smartphone, you’ve probably noticed a pre-installed MI Messages app (or Mi Messages in international firmware), which many users confuse with regular SMS, don’t understand why they need it, and even try to remove — but it’s not just a take of standard messages, but a full-fledged hybrid messenger that combines SMS, MMS and Xiaomi’s proprietary features.

In this article, we will explain what MI Messages are, how they differ from classic SMS and other messengers (like WhatsApp or Telegram), how to configure them correctly and why some functions may not work, and how to protect your messages from prying eyes and what to do if the application suddenly stopped sending SMS. Spoiler: the problem most often lies not in the application itself, but in the operator settings.

What is MI Messages: Understand the Terms

MI Messages is a branded application from Xiaomi, which by default replaces the standard SMS-It's an app on the brand's smartphones. It has three key functions:

• 📩 Normal. SMS/MMS — Sending and receiving text messages over a mobile network (as in any phone).
• 🔗 Internet Messages – text exchange via Wi-Fi or mobile Internet (similar to Apple’s iMessage, but with limitations).
• 🔒 Branded features – spam filter, cloud backup, integration with other Xiaomi services (e.g. Mi Cloud).

It's important to understand: MI Communications ≠ MIUI Messages. One is a specific application, and the other is a generic term for all messengers in the shell. MIUI. Also don’t confuse it with Mi Chat (an outdated Xiaomi messenger that was shut down in 2020) or Mi Pay (a payment service).

The main advantage of MI Messages over standard SMS is the free sending of messages between Xiaomi users over the Internet (if both have Internet messaging enabled), but there are also pitfalls: for example, without a connection to the network, messages go away as normal SMS (for which the operator charges money).

How Internet Messages Work in MI Messages

The Internet Messages (or Mi Internet Messages) feature allows you to send texts, photos and files over the Internet without spending money on SMS.

1. Both interlocutors should use Xiaomi – if the recipient has a phone of another brand, the message will go away as a regular SMS.

To enable Internet messages:

1. Open MI Messages.

If the function does not appear in the settings, check:

• 📱 Version MIUI (must be at least 12.5).
• 🌍 Telephone region (in some countries the function is disabled).
• 🔄 App updates (go to the Play Market or App Store).

Distinguish MI Messages from SMS, WhatsApp and Telegram

Many people ask, "Why do you need another messenger if you have WhatsApp or Telegram?" The answer lies in the unique features of MI Messages that competitors do not have.

When to use MI Messages:

• 📶 If you have a weak Internet and you need to send a message urgently (it will go as if you are not on the Internet). SMS).
• 💰 If you want to save money on SMS When communicating with other Xiaomi users.
• 🔐 If privacy is important (messages can be blocked with a password).

When to choose WhatsApp/Telegram:

• 👥 For group chats with friends on different platforms.
• 📎 To send large files (in) MI Messages limit - 100 MB).
• 🌍 If the interlocutor is not on Xiaomi.

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MI Messages is a hybrid of SMS and messenger that helps when there is no Internet or you need to save on messages, but for full communication with users of other brands, you better use WhatsApp or Telegram.

How to set up MI Messages for maximum convenience

The default is out of the box, but a few tweaks will make it even more convenient.

1. Disable delivery notifications (so you don’t get annoyed): Settings → Notifications → Delivery Report (off)
2. Enable a dark theme (if not automatically activated): Settings → Themes → Dark
3. Set up backup (so you don’t lose messages when you reset your phone): Settings → Backup → Mi Cloud (enable)
4. Add a signature (e.g. your name): Settings → Signature

If you frequently send SMS to short numbers (for example, to pay for services), add them to your favorites so you don’t enter them every time:

1. Open the short-numbered chat room.
2. Slip three points up there. → Add to the select few.

Disable delivery reports|Enable backup in Mi Cloud|Add a signature to communications|Set up a spam filter|Check the priority of sending (internet or SMS)-->

Attention, if you're using two SIM-maps, in the settings you can choose which one to send SMS default:

Settings → SIM-map → SIM for SMS

Security: How to Protect Your Messages in MI Messages

Unlike WhatsApp or Telegram, where messages are encrypted with end-to-end encryption, MI Messages do not have this level of protection, but there are ways to increase privacy:

• 🔐 Password locking of the application: Settings → Confidentiality → Block the application After that when opening MI Communications will be required PIN-finger-print.
• 🚫 Spam filtering: Settings → Spam and blocking → Enable spam filter The application will automatically send suspicious SMS spam.
• 🗑️ Autodelete old messages: Settings → Storage → Auto-delete (set a deadline of 30 days, for example) Useful if you are afraid someone will read your correspondence.

⚠️ Note: If you are selling or transferring your phone to another person, be sure to delete messages via Settings. → Storage → Delete all messages. Just resetting to factory settings isn't enough -- messages can stay in the device's memory!

Another important point: MI Messages sync to Mi Cloud, which is convenient if you change your phone, but it creates a risk of data leakage, to turn off sync:

Settings → Mi Cloud → Synchronization of messages (off)

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If you're afraid someone will read your SMS, use the Private Mode feature in MI Messages. To do this, hold your finger on the message → Hide. It will disappear from the main list and will only be available after you enter the password.

Frequent problems with MI Messages and how to solve them

Even Xiaomi's proprietary app has crashes, and here are the most common problems and solutions:

If MI Messages don’t open at all, try:

1. Clear the app cache: Settings → Applications → Application management → MI Messages → Clear the cache
2. Update the app through the Play Market.
3. Reset network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI They may have temporarily disappeared because of a sync failure, try rebooting your phone or check the Archive folder in the app itself.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions about MI Messages