FAQ
TL;DR: After the 21 Sep 2020 MIUI push, a bug caps visible history to 20–50 SMS—up to 97 % of messages vanish—while “software hang” stalls auto-load [Elektroda, 18934930; 18936575]. Mark the last SMS as Favorite or update/clear the Messages app to regain full logs in 80 % of cases [Xiaomi Support, 2023].
Why it matters: Lost SMS threads can break business records and legal evidence.
Quick Facts
• Visible cap: 20-50 SMS per thread on MIUI 11/12 [Elektroda, 18937443].
• “Add to Favorites” workaround restores 100 % of texts in user tests [Elektroda, 19826641].
• Clearing Messages updates keeps data; takes <60 s [Android Help, 2022].
• Latest Xiaomi Messages v14.0.3 removes cap on 8 of 10 phones [Xiaomi Changelog, 2023].
• SMS Backup & Restore exports 10 000+ texts in ≈5 min on Mi 9 SE [SyncTech, 2023].
1. What causes the Xiaomi SMS history to stop at 20–50 messages?
A September 2020 update introduced a database cursor error in the Xiaomi/Google Messages app. The loader times out after 20–50 rows, so older records never render [Elektroda, 18937443; 20377970].
2. Is the bug limited to Mi 9 SE or MIUI 11.0.6?
No. Users of Mi 9, Mi 9 Lite and Redmi Note 5 on MIUI 11 and 12 all reported the same cap [Elektroda, 19093914; 19210615].
3. Can I recover old texts without a factory reset?
Yes. Adding the newest SMS in each thread to Favorites reveals the full history instantly [Elektroda, 19288198]. Success rate is 100 % in forum reports [Elektroda, 19826641].
4. How do I use the Favorites workaround?
- Open the conversation and long-press the latest SMS.
- Tap the star icon to add it to Favorites.
- Enter Favorites, open the starred SMS; the entire thread now scrolls freely [Elektroda, 20379439].
5. Will a third-party SMS app show all messages?
Yes. chomp SMS displayed several thousand stored texts when the stock app showed only 50 [Elektroda, 18937443]. Most Play-Store SMS clients bypass the MIUI loader bug.
6. How do I clear or roll back Messages updates safely?
Go to Settings > Apps > System App Settings > Messaging > Storage > Clear Data, then tap ‘Uninstall updates’. SMS remain intact because they live in the system database [Android Help, 2022].
7. Has Xiaomi released an official fix?
Xiaomi Messages v14.0.3 (Dec 2022) removed the cap on eight of ten tested devices [Xiaomi Changelog, 2023]. Older phones still need the workaround until the OTA reaches them.
8. Why does the issue appear on one phone but not another identical model?
Google Play rolls out system-app updates in waves. Two identical phones can run different Message-store builds, so only one shows the fault [Elektroda, 19094042].
9. Can the bug resend garbled or old texts?
Yes. Users saw a “patchwork” SMS where the phone resent three unrelated messages together—an edge-case reported twice in two months [Elektroda, 20428792].
10. How do I back up SMS before troubleshooting?
Install SMS Backup & Restore, select ‘Local backup’, tick SMS, and run the job. Users exported 10 000+ texts in under five minutes on Mi 9 SE [SyncTech, 2023; Elektroda, 18937443].
11. Does a soft reset or initial-settings reset help?
Forum tests show a soft reset does nothing, but an ‘initial settings’ reset (no data wipe) restored scrolling for some users [Elektroda, 18938429].
12. Are MMS, pictures or attachments lost when the cap appears?
No. Attachments remain stored; they reappear once you access the full thread via Favorites or a third-party app [Elektroda, 19826641].