How to delete all SMS on Xiaomi Redmi 5: the complete guide

Redmi smartphones, including the popular fifth-generation model, often accumulate huge volumes of text messages over the years of use, which can be confirmation codes, promotional mailings from banks or just old dialogues that are pathetic to remove, but it makes no sense to store them. Xiaomi owners face a situation where a standard cleaning of one message takes too long.

There are several proven ways to quickly free up memory and clean up your correspondence. Mass deletion is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also a way to speed up the Messages app. In this article, we will look at all the available methods, from standard MIUI functions to the use of third-party utilities.

Don't worry about the time or the technical knowledge involved, the MIUI shell interface is designed to allow users to manage content intuitively, but there are some nuances that you should be aware of so you don't accidentally lose important information.

Standard cleaning through the Message Menu

The simplest and most secure method, which does not require additional software, is built directly into the Messages app. Unlike some other vendors, Xiaomi provides a convenient tool for group dialogue management. You do not need to open each correspondence separately.

To start, open the standard application, which usually has an envelope icon and is signed "Messages" or "Messages." In the upper right corner or at the bottom of the screen (depending on the version of MIUI), there is a control menu.

Once you select the deletion function, the system will prompt you to select specific dialogs, or you can select specific numbers or use the "Select All" function, and it is important to understand that when you select all dialogs, absolutely all incoming and outgoing messages will be deleted.

  • πŸ“± Open the "Messages" app on the main screen.
  • πŸ—‘οΈ Click on the menu icon (three dots or gear) to access the options.
  • βœ… Select the "Delete" option and tick off unnecessary dialogs.
  • 🚫 Confirm the action by pressing β€œOK” or β€œDelete” in the pop-up window.

β˜‘οΈ Pre-deletion check

Done: 0 / 4

Note that some firmware versions may require additional confirmation via PIN or pattern lock input if accidental deletion protection is enabled.This is a standard security measure for Redmi 5.

Use of the cleaning function in the Security application

In Xiaomi’s ecosystem, the service centerpiece is the Security app, which contains a powerful Cleanup tool that analyzes the device for junk files, cache and, importantly for us, old messages, a method often more effective because it removes messages that may have been lost in the standard interface.

Run the Security app and find the Cleanup section, and the system will scan and suggest that you delete temporary files, but you need to go to deeper settings to work with SMS, often hidden in the Deep Cleanup section or available after clicking on the magnifying glass bin icon.

⚠️ Attention: Deep Cleaning in the Security app may suggest removing not only SMS, but also call history or app cache.

If a standard scanner doesn't find messages, try using the built-in Acceleration tool. Sometimes it tags old dialogs as slowing down. MIUI algorithms analyze the age of messages and suggest that they be deleted if they are older than a certain period, such as a month or a year.

πŸ“Š How often do you clean your phone’s text message?
Once a week.
Once a month
Only when memory is full
Never clean.

Removing spam and blocking unwanted numbers

One of the main reasons for memory clutter on Redmi 5 is the mailing list, and there's built-in anti-spam in the MIUI shell that automatically filters those messages into a separate folder, and cleaning that folder is a great way to make room quickly.

To get to spam, open your message settings or the Security app and select Antispam. Here you will see a list of blocked messages. Unlike the regular Inbox folder, content can be deleted in bulk without risking losing important personal communications.

Xiaomi allows you to block keyword messages.If you constantly receive casino or credit ads, add those words to the blacklist.

Type of messageDeleting methodRisk of data loss
Personal SMSManual allocationHigh-pitched
Spam advertisingAntispam folderLow.
Codes from banksSearch by numberMedium.
System notificationsApplication settingsLow.

πŸ’‘

To quickly block spam-mailing add the word "STOP" in the settings of the blacklist if the mailing comes from different numbers, but contains the same text.

Remember to check the Spam folder regularly, as some legitimate messages from delivery services or clinics may mistakenly get there.

Cleaning through third-party file managers and applications

If Redmi 5’s built-in tools don’t seem flexible enough, you can use third-party solutions. Google Play Market has a variety of SMS management apps, such as SMS Backup & Restore or Clean Master, that provide more detailed control over your messaging database.

These programs often sort messages by date, but also by size, type, or sender, which allows you to delete all messages that contain pictures (MMS) that take up the most space, for example. Third-party utilities also allow you to back up before you delete them, which is a great help.

When using third-party software, be sure to request permission to access SMS, without which the application will not be able to see the contents of your database, be careful with applications that require suspicious permissions that are not related to their functionality.

⚠️ Note: When installing SMS cleanup applications from unreliable sources, you risk passing your personal correspondence to third parties.

One of the most effective methods is the use of ADB-And when you connect the phone to a computer, you can run a command to clean the database, but that requires you to set up debugging mode. USB.

adb shell pm clear com.android.mms

This command will completely clear the message application data, which is equivalent to deleting all SMS messages. Use it only if you are confident in your actions and have made a backup.

Recovering deleted messages and working with backups

Often, the question β€œhow to delete” arises after a user accidentally erased important information. On Xiaomi Redmi 5 with the MIUI shell there is a built-in cloud sync function. If it was activated, your messages could be saved to your Mi Cloud account or Google Drive.

To check, go to your phone's settings, select "Mi Account" and go to the "Cloud" section, where you can see when the last SMS sync was. If the date is current, you can restore messages by simply turning on sync again or resetting the settings with recovery from the copy.

Can I recover my SMS without a backup?
Recovering remote SMS without a prior backup on a modern smartphone is almost impossible due to data encryption.The only chance is specialized software for a PC that scans memory, but success is not guaranteed and requires Root rights.

If you use Google Messages instead of the standard one, your correspondence can be stored in Google Drive. Check the settings of this application, the Backup section, which will indicate the account and the date of the last saved copy.

So if you delete the extra and then you recover, the garbage will come back. Make a new clean copy after you remove the unnecessary one.

Common mistakes and tips for optimizing memory

Many Redmi 5 users forget that SMS is not the only data type that takes up space: MMS attachments, pictures and videos in messages weigh significantly more than text. When cleaning, try to delete dialogs with media files first.

Another common mistake is ignoring the Deleted folder, and in some versions of MIUI, deleted messages first end up in a cart that lasts 30 days, and to make room immediately, you have to clear the cart as well.

  • πŸ—‘οΈ Regularly check the folder "Basket" in the message app.
  • πŸ“Έ Remove the old ones. MMS With photos and videos, they take megabytes.
  • πŸ”„ Backup important codes to your notes or cloud.

πŸ’‘

Completely clearing SMS on Xiaomi Redmi 5 is system-safe, but irrevocable for data. Always check the content before mass deletion.

Also worth mentioning is the effect of a crowded SMS base on smartphone speed: When the number of messages exceeds several thousand, the application can start to run slower, and contact search can take longer. Regular memory hygiene is useful for device performance.

If you have not cleared the space after deleting all the messages, there may be a problem in the app cache. Go to Settings β†’ Applications β†’ Messages β†’ Memory and click Clear Cache. This will not delete the texts, but will remove temporary files.

Will the text messages be deleted if you take it out? SIM-map?
No, SIM-The card in modern smartphones, including Redmi 5, is used only for identification on the network. All messages are stored in the internal memory of the phone.
Can I restore SMS after resetting to factory settings?
Only if you back up to Mi Cloud or Google Drive before reset, and in a normal Hard Reset, all data, including SMS, is deleted irrevocably.
Does SMS take up a lot of space on Redmi 5?
Text messages take up negligible space (kilobytes), but if you have a lot of MMS with photos, audio or video, they can take up hundreds of megabytes and even gigabytes of memory.
How to remove SMS from a specific number?
Open the dialog with that number, click on the menu (three dots) and select "Delete." Or in the general message list, press your finger on the dialog and select deletion. Some versions of MIUI have a search by the number at the top of the message list.