You're not alone: Statistically, one in three users of the messenger has lost data at least once due to accidental clicking or resetting settings. Fortunately, Redmi 9 owners have several ways to recover correspondence, from standard backups to little-known tricks with local files.
In this article, we will discuss all the working methods for returning deleted messages, including the nuances of working with Google Drive, Xiaomi internal memory, and even manual database extraction. Importantly, the effectiveness of each method depends on when the messages were deleted and whether automatic archiving is set up on your device.
1. Restore from Google Drive Backup
The most reliable way to return messages is to use the automatic backup that WhatsApp creates on Google Drive. On Xiaomi Redmi 9, this feature works steadily, but there are nuances: a copy is created only when you connect to Wi-Fi and charge the battery > 30%. If you haven’t turned off this option, the chances of success are high.
To recover the data:
- 📱 Remove WhatsApp from your smartphone (pre-check that you have access to a Google account tied to a backup copy).
- 🔄 Install the messenger again from Google Play.
- 🔑 When you first start, enter the same phone number as before.
- ☁️ On the screen will appear a suggestion to restore chats from Google Drive – confirm the action.
Important: If more than 7 days have passed since the message was deleted, the backup may have been updated and the old data will be lost, in which case try to roll back the copy manually through the Google Drive web interface (Section "App Backups").
2. Local recovery from the WhatsApp folder
If the backup on Google Drive is missing or outdated, check the local database files on the Xiaomi Redmi 9 itself. Messenger stores them in the /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases folder. These files have the.crypt14 extension (or.crypt12 for older versions) and contain the entire correspondence history.
Instructions for remediation:
- Connect your smartphone to your PC via USB (enable File Transfer mode in the notification curtain).
- Go to the internal memory folder → WhatsApp → Databases.
- Find a file called msgstore.db.crypt14 (or similar with the latest date). If it's not, check the Backups folder.
- Copy the file to your computer and rename it to msgstore.db.crypt14.current.
- Remove WhatsApp from your smartphone, then install it again.
- When you first start, the messenger will automatically find a local copy and offer to restore the data.
Enable the display of hidden files in Windows Explorer
Check the free space on your smartphone (> 1 GB)
Download the file manager (e.g. Mi File Explorer)
Disable WhatsApp Automatic Update in Play Market-->
A critical detail for Xiaomi Redmi 9: If you use the memory card as internal memory (Adoptable Storage feature), WhatsApp files can be stored in /mnt/expand/... instead of the standard path.
3. Use of third-party utilities (Root access is not required)
If the standard methods did not work, you can use specialized programs for data recovery.
- 🔍 Dr.Fone (Wondershare) – Supports text extraction even without root rights, but requires a PC connection.
- 📱 GT Recovery – works directly on your smartphone, scans internal memory for deleted WhatsApp files.
- 💾 EaseUS MobiSaver – recovers not only text messages, but also media files (photos, videos, voice).
The algorithm of actions (on the example of Dr.Fone):
- Install the program on your computer and connect Redmi 9 via USB.
- Enable USB Debugging in the developer settings (how to enable: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Return to Additional → For Developers).
- Select WhatsApp Data Recovery mode and start the scan.
- Once the process is complete, mark the messages you want and export them in either.html or.txt format.
⚠️ Warning: Free versions of software often show "ghost" files that cannot be recovered without purchasing a license. Before paying, check if the scan results show specific texts of your messages, not just service information.
4.Recovery via MIUI Backup (Xiaomi backup)
Xiaomi Redmi 9 has a built-in MIUI Backup backup system that can save app data, including WhatsApp. However, this method only works if:
- 🔄 You have enabled the Local Backup function in Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.
- 📅 A copy was created before the messages were deleted.
- 📱 You have enough space on your device (minimum 2-3 GB free).
To recover the data:
- Go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
- Select the most recent copy (check the date of creation!).
- Click Restore and confirm the action.
- After restarting the device, check WhatsApp – messages should appear.
| Method of recovery | Root is required. | Restores the media | Max. "age" of messages. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Drive | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | Up to 1 year (depending on settings) |
| Local files (.crypt14) | ❌ No. | ❌ No, only text) | Any (unless the files are overwritten) |
| Third-party utilities (Dr.Fone) | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | Up to 6 months (depending on memory fragmentation) |
| MIUI Backup | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | Until the date of the last copy |
5. Manual database extraction (for advanced users)
If none of the previous methods worked, you can try manually extracting WhatsApp's database and converting it to a readable format, which requires a little bit of technical skill, but doesn't need root rights.
Steps:
- Download the SQLite Browser program (free) on PC.
- Connect Redmi 9 to your computer and copy the msgstore.db.crypt14 file from the /WhatsApp/Databases folder.
- Use WhatsApp Key DB Extractor to extract the decryption key (you need a wa.db file from /data/data/com.whatsapp/databases folder – it can only be obtained with root access or through ADB).
- Decrypt msgstore.db.crypt14 with the key (the instructions are in the utility repository).
- Open the resulting msgstore.db file in SQLite Browser and export the message table to CSV format.
What to do if there is no wa.db file?
⚠️ Note: WhatsApp database manipulations can disrupt the messenger. If messages are displayed in hieroglyphics or the app crashes after recovery, delete the WhatsApp folder completely and install the messenger again.
6.Prevention: How to avoid future message loss
To avoid the problem of remote messages, set up Xiaomi Redmi 9 for these recommendations:
- ☁️ Enable daily backup on Google Drive: WhatsApp → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup. Select Daily and enter your Google account.
- 📁 Create local copies manually: In the same menu, click Create a copy before important events (e.g., before upgrading your phone).
- 🔄 Use it. MIUI Cloud: In Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud enable data synchronization of applications (including WhatsApp).
- 📵 Turn off automatic cleaning: In Settings → Warehouse → Cleanup Add WhatsApp to Exceptions to Keep the System from Deleting Its Files.
It's also useful to know:
- 🔐 If you delete a message for everyone (the “Delete for All” function), it is impossible to restore it – it is erased from WhatsApp servers irrevocably.
- 📴 When Redmi 9 resets to factory settings, all local copies of WhatsApp will be lost if not saved to Google Drive or PC.
- 🛡️ Check regularly that backups are being created: go to Google Drive → Backups and find the WhatsApp folder.
💡
If you often lose important messages, install an alternative client for WhatsApp, such as GBWhatsApp or FMWhatsApp. These modifications have a built-in “Anti-Delete” feature that saves all incoming messages, even if the sender erased them.