How to permanently delete messages on Xiaomi Redmi 7A: 5 proven methods

Deleting messages on Xiaomi Redmi 7A seems like a simple task — until you encounter nuances. Some users want to free up memory, others want to hide personal correspondence, others try to understand why SMS does not disappear after clicking on the cart. In this article, we will examine all the ways to delete messages, from the standard features of the Messages app to the intricacies of working with messengers like WhatsApp or Telegram.

The Redmi 7A feature is the use of a MIUI shell that modifies standard Android applications, which means that the interface and deletion logic may differ from pure Android. For example, there is a Smart Cleanup feature that automatically removes old SMS, but not everyone knows how to set it up. We will also look at how to completely erase messages without the possibility of recovery, which is important if you are selling or transferring a phone.

Important: Some methods (e.g., Settings → Memory) only work on certain versions of MIUI. We will clarify which methods are relevant for Redmi 7A based on Android 9 Pie with MIUI 10-12.

1. Delete messages through the standard application “Messages”

The most obvious way is to use the built-in Messages app (an envelope icon) that supports both SMS and MMS. Here's how to delete correspondence:

1. Open the Messages app on the home screen or in the app menu.
2. Press and hold your finger on the desired chat (or SMS-chain) until the selection flag appears.
3. Mark any messages you want to delete. The top panel will show a basket icon (🗑️).
4. Click on the basket and confirm the action in the pop-up window.

If you want to delete all messages at once, use the group selection function:

• 📌 Slip on a round three-point badge (⋮) top-right.
• 📌 Choose Choose All or Delete All (depending on version) MIUI).
• 📌 Confirm removal.

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 11 and below remote SMS They first get into the basket folder and they're stored there for 30 days. To erase them forever, go to the basket (the icon in the upper left corner) and manually clean it.

Make a backup copy of important messages|Check the folder "Basket" for old ones. SMS|Close the background applications to speed up the process|Turn off sync with Mi Cloud if it is enabled-->

2. How to delete messages in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber)

The standard Messages app doesn't manage messaging. For WhatsApp, Telegram, or Viber, use the built-in features of those apps. Let's look at each case separately.

On WhatsApp:

1. Open the chat room you want to clean.
2. Tap the name of the contact or group at the top of the screen.
3. Scroll down and select Clear Chat (remove messages only from you) or Delete Chat (remove chat from the list, but messages will remain in the archive).
4. For complete removal: Settings → Chat → Backup → Delete the backup (if it is in Google Drive).

On Telegram:

• 🔄 To delete the message from yourself: click on it → Delete → Remove for yourself.
• 🔄 To remove for all: select Delete for all (only valid for 48 hours after sending).
• 🔄 To clean up the whole chat room: ⋮ → Clear history.

On Viber:

• 📱 Click on the chat. → ⋮ → Delete chat (messages will remain with the interlocutor).
• 📱 To delete a separate message: hold it → Delete.

⚠️ Note: Telegram posts deleted through Clear History disappear only from you. The interlocutor will continue to see them. For complete deletion, use the Delete Account (in the settings), but this will delete all your correspondence.

WhatsApp|Telegram|Viber|SMS|Other-->

3. Automatically clean messages through "Smart Cleanup"

The MIUI Smart Cleanup feature automatically deletes old SMS, freeing up memory, and is useful if you receive a lot of one-time messages (e.g. from banks or services).

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
2. Slip on Smart Cleanup.
3. Turn on the Message Clearing switch.
4. Set up rules: for example, delete SMS over 30 days or from certain senders (e.g., promotional mailings).

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ It does not require manual control.
• ✅ Frees up memory without your involvement.
• ✅ You can set up a whitelist for important contacts.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ It may accidentally remove the necessary SMS, unless you set up exceptions.
• ❌ It does not work with messengers (only with standard ones). SMS/MMS).

4. Completely delete messages without recovery

If you sell or transfer Redmi 7A, the usual deletion of messages is not enough – they can be restored with special programs.

Method 1: Reset to factory settings

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose to erase all data.
3. Enter the password (if set) and confirm the reset.

Method 2: Rewrite memory (for power users)

If you want to delete only messages without dropping the entire phone:

• 🛠️ Install the Secure Delete app from Google Play.
• 🛠️ Select the option to Rewrite free space (it will take a few hours).
• 🛠️ After completion, remove the application itself.

⚠️ Warning: Secure erase reduces the life of flash memory. Do not use this method more than 1-2 times a year.

5. Delete messages via Mi Cloud (if synchronization is enabled)

If your Redmi 7A is synced to Mi Cloud, messages can be duplicated in the cloud to remove them from the cloud:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Check if Message Sync is on, and if so, turn it off.
3. Visit i.mi.com from your computer.
4. Sign in and go to the Messages section.
5. Remove unnecessary correspondence manually.

Important: Once removed from the cloud, sync can return messages back to the phone.

• 🔗 Turn off sync before deleting messages on your phone.
• 🔗 Clear the cache of the Messages app (Settings) → Annexes → Communications → Memory. → Clear the cache).

💡

If you use Mi Cloud frequently, set up an automatic cloud cleanup of old data. Go to Mi Cloud → Settings → Auto Cleanup and set a storage limit (e.g., 3 months).

6. Recovery of accidentally deleted messages

If you have removed important SMS You can try to restore them, or you can use the messenger, and success depends on how long ago the deletion took place and whether backups were used.

For SMS:

• 🔄 Check the Recycle Bin folder in the Messages app (available in MIUI 10–12).
• 🔄 If Google sync is enabled, try restoring it via Google Drive (Settings). → Google → Recovery).
• 🔄 Use third-party utilities like this SMS Backup & Restore (required root for deep scanning).

For messengers:

• 📲 WhatsApp: Restore from Google Drive backup (Settings) → chat → Backup).
• 📲 Telegram: Messages are stored in the cloud – just reinstall the app and log in to your account.
• 📲 Viber: Backups are created automatically when reinstalled.

⚠️ Note: Do not install new apps or save files to your phone after deleting messages – this reduces the chances of recovery, as new data overwrites old ones.

💡

The most reliable way to avoid data loss is to back up regularly, enable automatic sync in Mi Cloud or Google Drive, but remember that this takes up space in the cloud.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When deleting messages on Redmi 7A, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

Another common mistake is to try to delete messages through the file manager. Some users search for the folder with an SMS in /storage/emulated/0/, but in MIUI messages are stored in a protected area of the system (/data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/), and without root permissions, you can not get there.

If you are facing another problem, check:

• 🔧 Is the firmware updated (Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system).
• 🔧 Is there enough free memory (minimum 500 MB required for stable operation).
• 🔧 Are there any conflicts with antiviruses (for example, Mi Security can block changes in messages).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions