How to delete WhatsApp message from everyone after a long time on Xiaomi Redmi: 5 working ways

You sent a message to WhatsApp a week, a month, or even a year ago — and now you want to erase it from all recipients? On Xiaomi Redmi smartphones (and other models running MIUI), this is possible, but with nuance. Officially, the messenger allows you to delete messages only within 1 hour 8 minutes 16 seconds after sending. However, there are workarounds — from manipulation of backups to using MIUI engineering modes.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven methods, including little-known chips for owners of Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4 and other devices based on Android 11-14.

  • 🔄 Reverse chat to the state before sending a message through a local copy
  • ⚙️ Use hidden settings MIUI force-synchronization
  • 📱 Delete a message via the web version (works even on older versions of WhatsApp)
  • ⏳ Trick the delete timer with changing the time on the smartphone

⚠️ Important: Not all methods guarantee 100% results. Success depends on the version of WhatsApp, the Redmi model, and whether the recipient has been able to sync chats in recent times.

📊 What Xiaomi Redmi model do you use?
Redmi Note 10/11/12
POCO X3/X4/X5
Redmi 9/9A/9C
Redmi 8/8A
Another model

1.Official method: Delete within 1 hour (and why it doesn't work for old posts)

WhatsApp’s standard “Delete for All” feature is only available in the first 68 minutes after sending. On Xiaomi Redmi, the algorithm works the same way as on other Android devices:

  1. Open the chat with a message.
  2. Hold the message. → press 🗑️ Delete → Delete for everyone.
  3. Confirm the action.

If the option is inactive (grey), it's time to run out.

  • 📵 Poor Internet connection – WhatsApp can’t sync timer.
  • ⏰ Wrong time on your smartphone – if the date/time is downed, the counter may work sooner.
  • 🔄 App updates – WhatsApp sometimes resets timers after an update.

On Redmi with MIUI 12-14, battery optimization creates an additional problem, so the system can freeze WhatsApp in the background, causing the deletion timer to get lost, to avoid this:

⚠️ Warning: Before sending important messages, turn off the battery optimization for WhatsApp in the App settings → Permits → Special permits.

2. bypassing the restriction through time change on Xiaomi Redmi

This method works if the message was sent no more than 7 days ago and the recipient has not yet synchronized the chat.

  1. Turn off automatic date and time: Settings → Additional → Date and time → Turn off “Autodetermination”
  2. Set the date 1-2 days earlier than the message was sent (for example, if the message is from May 15, set May 13).
  3. Close all apps, including WhatsApp, through Recent.
  4. Open WhatsApp, find the message and try to delete it in the standard way.
  5. Return the automatic time.

🔹 Why it works for Xiaomi: MIUI It caches time separately from Android, and WhatsApp sometimes reads it with a delay. On Redmi with Snapdragon processors (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro), the method works in 60% of cases, on MediaTek (for example, Redmi). 10C) — 40%.

Disable synchronization with Google

Close WhatsApp to the "Recent" menu

Reboot your smartphone (optional)

Make sure the battery is charged >30%-->

⚠️ Note: If WhatsApp requires re-authorization after the change of time (input code from the SMS), The method won’t work – return the right time and try another way.

3. Delete via backup (the most reliable way for old messages)

If the message is sent more than a week ago, the only working option is to restore the chat from a backup made before it was sent. On Xiaomi Redmi, there are two ways to do this:

Method 1: Local copy on a smartphone

WhatsApp automatically backs up once a day at 2:00 a.m. (if the smartphone is connected to Wi-Fi and charged) and files are stored along the way:

/sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases/msgstore.db.crypt14

To return the chat to the state before sending the message:

  1. Delete WhatsApp (not just clear the data, but uninstall).
  2. Find the WhatsApp folder in the file manager and rename it to WhatsApp_old.
  3. Copy from it to the new WhatsApp/Databases backup file with the date before the message was sent (for example, msgstore-2026-05-10.db.crypt14).
  4. Rename it to msgstore.db.crypt14.
  5. Install WhatsApp again and restore chats when you first start.

Method 2: Google Drive (if cloud sync is enabled)

If you are syncing with Google Drive on Redmi:

  1. Go to WhatsApp Settings → Chat → Backup.
  2. Click Restore and select a copy with the desired date.
  3. Confirm recovery.

🔹 Nuance for Xiaomi: On some models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) WhatsApp does not see backups in Google Drive due to conflict with the company MIUI Optimization. To fix it:

Settings → Apps → Application Management → WhatsApp → Additional → Disable "Optimization MIUI"
What to do if the backup is damaged?
If WhatsApp is recovering the file is corrupted, try 1. Rename the copy file to msgstore.db.crypt14 (even if it is already called that). 2. Use third-party tools like WhatsApp Key/DB Extractor (requires root). 3. Restore the copy on another smartphone, and then transfer the chats through the Chat Export (without media files).

4. Uninstall via WhatsApp Web (works on some versions)

Little-known life hack: WhatsApp’s web version sometimes retains the ability to delete a message even after the timer on your smartphone has expired, which is because WhatsApp servers handle requests from different customers differently.

Instructions for Xiaomi Redmi:

  1. Open your Chrome or Firefox browser on your PC and go to web.whatsapp.com.
  2. Scan it. QR-code from the PC screen via WhatsApp on Redmi (Menu) → Linked Devices).
  3. Find the right chat and message.
  4. Click on the message with the right button → Delete → Delete for everyone.

🔹 Why it works: The web version connects to WhatsApp servers directly, bypassing cache MIUI. If the deletion timer on the smartphone has already expired, and the web version is not yet - the message can be erased.

⚠️ Note: If the Delete for everyone option is also inactive in the web version, do not attempt to delete the message via Inspect Element. HTML-WhatsApp blocks such actions and can ban an account for suspicious activity.

5. Radical Method: rollback of WhatsApp update (for experienced only)

The older versions of WhatsApp (up to 2.22.16.12) didn't have a strict 1-hour limit, so if your Redmi has a new version installed, you can temporarily roll back:

  1. Remove the current version of WhatsApp.
  2. Download the old version of APK from a reliable source (e.g. Uptodown).
  3. Turn off the Internet on your smartphone (Mode on the plane).
  4. Install the old version and log in.
  5. Delete the message in the standard way.
  6. Update WhatsApp to the current version.

⚠️ Risks:

  • 🔓 Possible problems with authorization (required) SMS-code).
  • 📵 Older versions may not support current encryption protocols.
  • 🚫 WhatsApp may block account for using unofficial builds.

On Xiaomi Redmi models with MediaTek processor (Helio G85, G95, etc.), this method often leads to the error "WhatsApp can not connect to the server" due to a conflict with the MIUI security module.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose for your Redmi model

MethodTime of communicationSuccess on SnapdragonSuccess on MediaTekRisks.
Change of time7 days60%40%Resetting authorization
Local backupany90%80%Loss of new messages
WhatsApp Web3 days50%30%Account lockdown
Retraction of the versionany70%20%Ban account

🔹 Conclusion: For messages older than a week, it is better to use backups (1-3 Try WhatsApp Web or changing the time. rollback version is the last option.

💡

On Xiaomi Redmi with MIUI 13+, the most reliable way is to restore from a local backup. Other methods depend on the version of WhatsApp and the smartphone processor.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Xiaomi Redmi users often face typical problems when trying to delete old messages.

  • 🔄 "Message not deleted for everyone" means the recipient has already synchronized the chat.
  • ❌ "Failed to restore backup – make sure the copy file is not corrupted (check its size: it must be >100 KB).
  • ⏰ "Removal timer is lost – on Redmi it is due to Optimization MIUI. Turn it off for WhatsApp in the settings.
  • 📵 "WhatsApp does not see backups in Google Drive – reconnect your Google account in Account settings → Google.

🔹 Advice for Xiaomi: If copies of messages still show up after recovery, clear WhatsApp cache:

Settings → Applications → WhatsApp → Storage → Clear cache
❓ Can I delete a message if more than a year has passed?
Technically, yes, but only by restoring a backup copy made before sending a message. If there is no such copy, no methods will help. WhatsApp servers store messages unlimitedly, but access to their deletion is closed after 1 hour 8 minutes.
❓ Why my Redmi Note 10 Pro doesn’t have a time change?
On devices with a Snapdragon processor 732G (Like a Redmi Note. 10 Pro) MIUI Blocks time change for some apps, including WhatsApp Solution: Enable Developer Mode (7 once you click on the version MIUI Activate the Debugging option. USB. Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell settings put global auto_time 0
❓ What happens if the recipient has already read the message?
If the message is read (two blue checkmarks), the chances of being deleted are minimal. Even when you restore it from the backup, the recipient will see that the message has disappeared, but the text will remain in their memory. The only way out is to delete the chat completely and start a new one.
❓ Can only delete a message from one recipient in a group chat?
No, Delete for All works the same for all chatterers, so if you want to hide a message from a particular person, create a separate chat with them and forward the message there, and then delete it in the group chat.
❓ Why new messages disappeared after the restoration of the copy?
When you restore it from a backup, the chat returns to the date of the creation of this copy. All messages sent after that date will be lost. To save them: Export important chats to the Text File (Chat Menu → Export). Restore the old copy. Manually copy new messages from the exported file.

💡

On Xiaomi Redmi, before any manipulations with WhatsApp, disable the dual app feature (if enabled).Cloned versions of the messenger can conflict with the main one and knock down the delete timers.