WhatsApp allows you to delete messages that you send, but with a tight time frame. On Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI, the process has its own peculiarities, from the limitations of the firmware itself to the nuances of the messenger. If you try to erase a message that you sent a week, a month or even a year ago, the standard method will not work, but there are workarounds — from hidden functions to technical tricks.
In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of deleting old WhatsApp messages on Xiaomi (including Android 12/13/14) models, their limitations and risks, and explain why some methods stopped working after the 2023-2026 updates, and what to do if the message is already read or saved by the recipient.
Why WhatsApp won’t delete a message in a month
WhatsApp officially allows you to delete messages only for 2 days 12 hours after sending, this restriction is imposed for:
- 🔒 Preventing abuse (e.g., removing evidence after conflicts).
- 📱 Synchronize data between devices (messenger servers do not store the history of conversations indefinitely).
- ⚠️ Protection against technical failures (in case of long-term storage, the risk of data loss increases).
On Xiaomi, the situation is complicated by MIUI:
- 🛡️ Built-in Security and Optimization features can block WhatsApp background activity, interfering with synchronization.
- 📦 The messenger cache on Xiaomi is cleared more aggressively than on “pure” Android, which sometimes leads to the loss of chat history when trying to manipulate.
⚠️ Note: If a message is read or forwarded, deleting it from you does not guarantee that the recipient will disappear.In some versions of WhatsApp (e.g. 2.23.24.*), the forwarded messages are stored in the database even after deleting them.
Method 1: Delete via "Cancel shipment" (if the deadline has not expired)
If less than 2 days and 12 hours have passed since sending, use the standard function:
- Open the chat with a message.
- Hold the message. → press 🗑️ Delete → Choose Delete for All.
- Confirm the action.
Xiaomi may have delays due to MIUI Optimization, but if the Remove button is inactive:
- 🔄 Restart WhatsApp via Settings → Annexes → WhatsApp → Forced stopping.
- 📶 Check your internet connection (use mobile data if Wi-Fi blocks requests).
Disable the battery optimization for WhatsApp in MIUI|
Update WhatsApp to the latest version|
Clear the app cache (Settings → Apps → WhatsApp → Memory)|
Switch to mobile internet if Wi-Fi is unstable-->
Method 2: Bypassing restrictions through time resetting on the device
This method works if the message is sent no more than 7 days ago (after which WhatsApp blocks the time change).
- Turn off the automatic date and time in Settings → Additional → Date and time.
- Set the date 1–2 days ago (for example, if it is June 10, set it June 8).
- Open WhatsApp, find the message and try to delete it through Delete for Everyone.
- Return the correct date and time.
Xiaomi may then require:
- 🔄 Rebooting the device (sometimes) MIUI Resets the time settings after the reboot).
- 📱 Re-authorization in WhatsApp (the application may request a request) SMS-code).
⚠️ Note: After WhatsApp upgraded to version 2.24.8.* (May 2026), this method stopped working for messages older than 48 hours.
Never.|
1-2 times a month |
Every week |
Every day.-->
Method 3: Delete via backup (for messages up to 7 days)
If the message is less than a week old, you can roll back the chat to "before sending" through the backup.
- Remove WhatsApp from the device.
- Install it again from Google Play.
- In the recovery phase, select the backup created before sending the message.
On Xiaomi, nuances:
- 📁 Backup copies of WhatsApp are stored in /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases. Before reinstalling, copy the file msgstore.db.crypt14 PC-only.
- 🔧 If MIUI Does not show the WhatsApp folder, enable the display of hidden files in any file manager (for example, in Files by Google).
| WhatsApp version | Max, time for removal | Does time reset work? | Does the backup pullback work? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.23.24* and below. | 7 days | Yes. | Yes. |
| 2.24.1. – 2.24.7. | 48 hours. | Partially. | Yes. |
| 2.24.8* and above. | 48 hours. | No. | Up to 7 days. |
Method 4: Remove via ADB (for advanced users)
If the message is more than a week old and you are ready for technical manipulation, you can try changing the system time via ADB (Android Debug Bridge).
- 🖥️ Computers with installed ADB Tools.
- 🔌 Included debugging by USB on Xiaomi (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to press to unlock the developer settings).
- 📱 Unlocked bootloader (some Xiaomi models require unlocking via Mi Unlock Tool).
Instructions:
adb shell
su
date -s "YYYYMMDD.HHMMSS" # Set a date before sending a message
exit
exitThen open WhatsApp and try to delete the message. Then return the correct date:
adb shell su -c "date -s `date +%Y%m%d.%H%M%S`"⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi with MIUI 14 and later, this method can result in the blocking of your WhatsApp account due to the detection of suspicious activity!
What happens if WhatsApp blocks your account?
Method 5: Alternative methods (if nothing worked)
If the message was sent more than a month ago, the standard methods will not work.
- 💬 Request to Recipient: Ask to delete the message manually (no manual deletion notices are available on WhatsApp).
- 📵 Chat Blocking: Archive or block chat to hide the message from yourself.
- 🔄 Change number: The last option is to create a new WhatsApp account (the old story will remain with the recipient).
Xiaomi can also use MIUI’s incognito mode to hide notifications:
- Go to Settings → Notifications → Incognito mode.
- Add WhatsApp to the list of hidden apps.
- This won’t delete the message, but it will hide it from the notification feed.
💡
If you frequently send messages that you want to delete, use the Disappearing Messages feature on WhatsApp. Enables in chat settings → Disappearing Messages → Select a time limit (24 hours, 7 days or 90 days).
What to do if a message has already been read or saved
If the recipient read or saved the message (for example, takes a screenshot), deleting it from you will not delete it from him.
- 📸 Check if the message is saved in the Gallery (screenshots are automatically saved to the Screenshots folder on Xiaomi).
- 🔍 Use a keyword chat search to find all the mentions.
- 🚫 If the communication contains sensitive information, consider legal measures (in some countries, the sharing of personal data without consent is punishable by law).
On Xiaomi, you can disable the automatic saving of media files from WhatsApp:
- Open WhatsApp. → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Gallery preservation.
- Turn off the automatic saving option.
💡
The only reliable way to avoid problems is to think before sending. WhatsApp is not designed to “erase tracks,” and all workarounds have limitations and risks.