How to Return Deleted WhatsApp Messages to Xiaomi: The Complete 2026 Guide

Why are messages disappearing and can they be returned?

Deleted WhatsApp messages on Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi and POCO) are a problem that thousands of users face every day, and the causes of data loss can range from accidentally clicking Delete for All to dropping your phone to factory settings, but the good news is that 80 percent of messages can be recovered if you act quickly and correctly.

The main recovery mechanism is built on backups that WhatsApp creates automatically. On Xiaomi, these backups are stored either in Google Drive (if an account is attached) or locally in the device’s memory along the /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases path. However, there are nuances: for example, if you delete a message with the “Delete for All” option, it can not be returned even through a backup – this feature eras data from WhatsApp servers irrevocably.

In this article, we’ll break down all the current recovery methods, including hidden MIUI features that only work on Xiaomi devices. Importantly, the sooner you start, the better the chances of success – some methods only work in the first 7 days after uninstalling.

Method 1: Restore from Google Drive (official method)

This is the most reliable method, but it works only if three conditions are met:

• 🔄 You have enabled the automatic backup function in WhatsApp;
• 📱 The phone is tied to the same Google account as when creating a backup;
• 🕒 Since the last backup, no more than 7 days have passed (otherwise the data will be rewritten).

To recover messages:

1. Remove WhatsApp from your phone (important: don’t just clear the data, completely uninstall it).
2. Go to Settings → Google Accounts → [your email] → Sync and make sure the Contacts and Drive option is enabled.
3. Install WhatsApp again from Google Play.
4. When you first start, enter the same phone number as before.
5. When a request for recovery from Google Drive appears, click Restore.

Check Wi-Fi connection (backups weigh 100)+ MB)|Make sure there is enough space on the phone (at least 1GB free)|Use the same phone number and Google account|Do not interrupt the recovery process (it can take up to 30 minutes)-->

⚠️ Note: If you have already installed WhatsApp after deleting messages and missed the recovery step, reinstallation won’t help – the backup from Google Drive is only downloaded once when you first set up.

Method 2: Local backup on Xiaomi (Hidden Databases folder)

On all Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 and other models), WhatsApp creates local backups once a day at 2:00 a.m. These files are stored in a hidden folder and can save your messages even if Google Drive is disabled.

Instructions for remediation:

1. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable and enable file transfer mode (MTP).
2. Open the device’s internal memory and follow the path: /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases If the folder is not visible, turn on the display of hidden files in the Explorer settings.
3. Find files like msgstore.db.crypt14 (the most recent) and msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt14 (backups from previous days).
4. Rename it. msgstore.db.crypt14 into msgstore_BACKUP.db.crypt14 (in case of error).
5. Select the backup you want (by date) and rename it to msgstore.db.crypt14.
6. Remove WhatsApp and install it again. When you first start up, the app will find the local backup and prompt you to restore it.

Critical information for Xiaomi owners: on devices with MIUI 14+, the Databases folder can be protected by the system. If you can’t see files even after you turn on the hidden folder display, use a file manager with root rights (such as FX Explorer) or connect your phone to your PC via ADB.

Never | Once a month | Once a week | Daily (automatically) | Only before important events-->

Method 3: Recovery via MIUI Backup (exclusive for Xiaomi)

Xiaomi smartphones have a built-in MIUI Backup backup feature that can store app data, including WhatsApp.This method works even if you reset your phone to factory settings, but previously created a backup through Settings → About Phone → Backup.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Select the last backup (note the date – it must be before the messages are deleted).
3. Click "Restore" and select only "Application Data" (so as not to wipe other settings).
4. After recovery, reinstall WhatsApp – messages should appear.

⚠️ Warning: This method will restore all the data of the applications, not just WhatsApp, if you install new programs after the backup, their settings will reset, and the method does not work if the backup was created after deleting messages.

Method 4: Use of third-party utilities (for advanced users)

If the official methods didn’t work, you can try specialized programs for data recovery.

• 🔧 Dr.Fone – WhatsApp Recovery (paid but with a free trial);
• 🔧 iMobie PhoneRescue (works with the phone) MIUI 12+);
• 🔧 Tenorshare UltData (supports encrypted WhatsApp backups).

The algorithm of actions (on the example of Dr.Fone):

1. Install the program on your PC and connect your phone via USB (enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then return to Additional → For Developers).
2. Select the “Data Recovery” mode of WhatsApp.
3. The program scans the device memory and shows the available backups (including remote ones).
4. Select the desired messages and click "Restore".

⚠️ Note: Before using third-party utilities:

• 🛡️ Check the program on VirusTotal (many "restores" contain malicious code);
• 🔒 Disable the antivirus while scanning (it can block access to system files);
• 📴 Do not connect your phone to other devices during the process (this may interrupt the scan).

💡

If the utility does not find backups, try manually specifying the path to /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases folder in the program settings. On some Xiaomi models (for example, Redmi K50), the path may be different: /storage/emulated/0/WhatsApp/Databases.

Method 5: Recovery through notifications (if messages have recently arrived)

Little-known life hack: If a message has been deleted within the last 24 hours, its text could have been saved in MIUI notification history.This method only works for incoming messages and requires you not to clear the notification log.

How to return the text of the message:

1. Open Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification log.
2. Enable the option "Notifications log" (if it was disabled).
3. Scroll down the list and find notifications from WhatsApp with the desired date.
4. Click on the notification – sometimes the full text of the message is displayed (unless it was too long).

Limitations of the method:

• 📌 Works only for text (photos, videos and documents are not saved);
• 📌 Shows only the first 100 characters of the message;
• 📌 Does not restore outgoing messages.

💡

The notification log in MIUI stores data for up to 30 days, but after manually cleaning or rebooting the phone, the old records may disappear.

What do you do if nothing helps?

If all of these methods do not work, there are two options:

1. Call for WhatsApp support: Write to official email support@whatsapp.com with the subject "Recovery of deleted messages: 📱 Phone model: Xiaomi Redmi Note 11, POCO F4 etc.); 🔢 Phone number (linked to your account); 📅 Date and time of deletion of communications; 🔗 Logs from a folder. /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases (Attach files to msgstore.db.log).

The answer may come in 3-7 days, but the chances of success are low – support rarely recovers data deleted by the user.

Try recovery through IMEI

Some Xiaomi service centers offer a service of data extraction by IMEI phone. It is expensive (from 5000 rubles) and only works if:

• 🔧 The device was not re-interrogated;
• 🔧 Messages deleted no more than a month ago;
• 🔧 You can provide a check for the purchase of the phone (to confirm ownership).