How to delete Mi messages on Xiaomi: all ways to clean chats and SMS

Why users want to delete Mi messages and what kind of app

Mi Messages app (or Messages in global firmware) is a standard messenger from Xiaomi, which by default handles SMS, MMS and RCS-Messages on all brand devices, including Redmi, POCO And Black Shark, despite its user-friendly interface and integration with the ecosystem. MIUI, Many users face the need to clear their correspondence history – whether it is private messages, spam or system notifications.

Reasons for deletion range from simple memory release to a desire to keep privacy before selling a phone. For example, in MIUI 14, messages can take up to 500 MB when used actively, and some users note that the application does not always correctly sync with the Mi Cloud, which causes important data to be duplicated or lost. In addition, in recent versions of MIUI, an automatic archiving feature has appeared that can store deleted messages in a hidden partition - this makes it difficult to completely clean.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to delete messages, from manual cleaning to reset via ADB, and also explain how to avoid typical errors, such as accidentally removing important SMS from banks or services.

Method 1: Manually Delete Messages via Application

The simplest method is to clean up right in the Mi message interface, which is suitable for deleting individual chats or the entire story at a time.

• 📱 Open the Messages app (the envelope icon on the desktop).
• 🔍 Press and hold your finger on the desired chat (or SMS), then select other messages if you want to delete several messages.
• 🗑️ In the top menu, click on the basket (Delete) and confirm the action.
• 🧹 For complete cleaning of all messages go to ⋮ (three-point) → Settings → Clear all messages.

It is important to note that MIUI 13/14, after deleting the message, enters the basket (stored for 30 days), where it can be restored.

1. Go to the Recycle Bin (the icon in the bottom menu of the application).
2. Select messages or click Clear the basket.
3. Confirm the action with a password / fingerprint if the protection is enabled.

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If you are using dualities SIM-maps, in the application settings you can choose, messages from which card to clean - it is useful if one of the SIM used only for work.

Method 2: Remove via phone settings (without opening the application)

If the Mi Message app doesn’t open or you want to clear your cache and data completely (including settings), do so through system settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Messages (or Messages) in the list and select it.
3. Click Warehouse → Clear the data and Clear the cache.

⚠️ Warning: This method removes all of the app's data, including notification settings, blacklists, and archived messages. Once cleaned, the app will return to factory settings, and you'll have to reconfigure it. RCS (if you use).

For Redmi Note 12 users and later: in some firmware, the Clear Data option may be hidden behind additional confirmation. If the button is inactive, click Reset Settings first (if available).

Method 3: Using a file manager to delete a database

For power users, there is a method of deleting messages directly through the file system, which is useful if the Mi message application is unstable or you want to delete only certain files (for example, attachments).

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with access to root folders (such as Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /data/data/com.android.mms/files/ or (for global firmware): /data/data/com.miui.mms/files/
3. Delete files with the.db extension (e.g. mmsms.db) is a message database.
4. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Attention: To access the folder /data/data/ You need root rights. Without them, you can't see these files. Incorrectly deleting system files can cause the Mi messaging application to crash!

If you don’t have root, the alternative is to use ADB (see next section). Also remember that in MIUI 14, some messages can be stored encrypted, and deleting them through the file manager does not guarantee complete cleanup.

Method 4: Remove via ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t help (e.g. messages aren’t deleted due to a crash), you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which is a method that is suitable for cleaning data without root rights.

Step-by-step:

1. Enable USB Debugging in the Developer Settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version – Press 7 times, then return to Additional → For Developers).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm clear com.android.mms or (for global firmware): adb shell pm clear com.miui.mms
3. Reset the device.

This command will completely reset the Mi app messages, including:

• 📤 All right. SMS/MMS/RCS-message.
• ⚙️ Notification and Topic settings.
• 📁 Archival and draft messages.

USB | Installed ADB drivers on PC | Phone connected in file transfer mode | Backup of important messages-->

For users of POCO F5 and other HyperOS models, the path to the package may be different in new firmware. To find out the exact application ID, use the command:

adb shell pm list packages | grep mms

Method 5: Automatic cleaning through Mi Cloud (synchronization)

If you use Mi Cloud for backup, you can clear messages via a web interface or sync settings, which is convenient if you need to delete messages on multiple devices at the same time.

How it works:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization.
2. Turn off sync for messages.
3. Return to the Mi Message app and manually clear the data (see Method 1).
4. Turn on sync back – now there will only be new messages in the cloud.

Important: If you don’t turn off sync before clearing, deleted messages can be restored the next time you update your data from the cloud, and note that Mi Cloud has a limited history (usually last 3 months).

What to do if messages are not deleted

Sometimes users find that messages don't disappear after cleaning, and here are the typical reasons and solutions:

• 🔄 Cache not cleared: After deleting, restart your phone or manually clean the app cache (Settings) → Annexes → Communications → Kesh).
• ☁️ Sync with Mi Cloud: Disable cloud sync before cleaning (see Method 5).
• 📁 Hidden backups: B MIUI 14 There is an automatic backup function in the messages /MIUI/Backup/AllBackup. Delete the folder manually.
• 🛠️ Database failure: If messages are duplicated or not deleted, try resetting the app through ADB (Method 4).

For Xiaomi 13/14 models with HyperOS: If the problem persists, check for updates to the Mi message app in the Mi App Store. In newer versions, the cleaning bug bugs are often patched.

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If messages return after deletion, first disable all backup sources (Mi Cloud, Google Drive, local backups), and then repeat the cleanup.

FAQ: Frequent questions about deleting Mi messages