Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to transfer data when buying a new device or after a system reset. Call and message synchronization is an automatic process of copying call history and text SMS to the cloud or another device, which eliminates the loss of important information and allows you to instantly restore access to contacts.
Understanding Mi Cloud and Google’s system services helps you avoid duplicate records or accidentally delete them. Backup is not just a feature, it’s a critical security mechanism for your data. In this article, we’ll take a look at how to set up data transfers, what limitations are, and how to solve typical problems.
Many users mistakenly believe that the call history is saved automatically without their involvement, in fact, synchronization requires the correct initial configuration of the account, without active linking to the Mi Account or Google account, the data will remain only in the memory of the phone and will be lost when it breaks.
What is synchronization of calls and messages in the MIUI system
Synchronization in the Xiaomi ecosystem is the background process of exchanging data between a local smartphone storage and a remote server. When you make a call or receive an SMS, the system creates a digital copy of that event and sends it to the cloud, which allows you to access the history at any time from any device where you log in to your account.
The main tool for this is the Mi Cloud service, which is deeply integrated into the MIUI and HyperOS shell. Call history includes not just a list of numbers, but also time, duration of the conversation and the type of call (incoming, outgoing, missed).
⚠️ Note: When synchronization is enabled, the old data on the server can be replaced by the current phone data. If the new device already has important numbers, first back them up separately.
It is important to distinguish between syncing through Xiaomi account and Google account. The first option is often more flexible for owners of this brand’s equipment, as it allows you to recover data even when you initially set up a new phone before logging into Google services. Contacts and messages are two key categories that require special attention when setting up.
The main advantages of using Mi Cloud for redundancy
Xiaomi's cloud technology offers a number of undeniable advantages over manual copying: first, automation: you don't have to remember to create backups. Second, security: data is stored on secure servers and won't be lost if your smartphone crashes physically.
- 🔄 Instant data recovery in case of loss or theft of a device.
- 📱 Easy transition to a new phone without connecting cables and computers.
- 🛡️ Protection against Accidental Deletion: the ability to roll back changes or restore remote contacts.
- 🌐 Access to rooms and SMS from any device via the i.mi.com web interface.
Free storage of 5GB, provided by default, is usually quite enough for thousands of contacts and tens of thousands of people. SMS-And when you're planning to sync photos and videos in full, the space can run out quickly.
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Check sync status regularly in your Mi Cloud settings to make sure the process isn’t stopped due to space shortages or network issues.
Another plus is cross-platform, which is that while the ecosystem is focused on Android, contacts can be accessed from other devices, making the Mi Cloud a versatile tool for those who change gadgets or use multiple phones at once.
Step-by-step: how to enable contact synchronization and SMS
To activate the function, you need to perform several sequential actions in the settings menu. Make sure your device is connected to a Wi-Fi network, as the initial download of data may require traffic, although text and numbers do not take up much space.
- Open the Settings menu on your smartphone.
- Go to the Account and Sync section (or click on the top plaque with the name of the Mi Account).
- Select Mi Cloud.
- In the list of applications, find the Contacts, Messages and Call Log switches.
- Activate the necessary toggles, transferring them to the position VL.
Once turned on, the system will suggest combining local data with cloud data, and it is important to confirm this action so that the information transfer begins, and the status of the process is displayed at the top of the Mi Cloud settings screen.
☑️ Activation checklist
If you use Google Contacts as your primary storage, the path will be slightly different: Settings → Google → Settings for Google apps → Sync. Here you need to make sure that there is a tick opposite to Contacts. However, the history of calls through Google is less synced and depends on the version of Android and dialer.
Transferring data to the new Xiaomi phone
When you buy a new Xiaomi smartphone, the data recovery process is as simple as possible: At the initial setup stage, the system will prompt you to log into your Mi Account, and after authorization, you will automatically download contacts and call history.
If your phone is already set up and you just want to add data, use the built-in Mi Mover app, which lets you transfer all data, including SMS and call log, over Wi-Fi Direct from your old device to your new one, which is faster and more reliable than re-synchronizing through the cloud, especially with a large amount of data.
| Transfer method | Speed. | Internet dependency | What's transferable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Cloud | Medium | Required. | Contacts, SMS, Photos |
| Mi Mover | Tall. | Not required | All data, applications, settings |
| Google Account | Low/Mediocre | Required. | Contacts, Calendar |
| SIM-map | Low. | Not required | Numbers only (no history) |
For users switching from iPhone, the Move to iOS tool or manual import of contacts via the.vcf file is also available. However, the history of calls and SMS from iOS to Android is more difficult and often requires third-party applications like Copy My Data.
What if the contacts did not appear after logging in?
Typical problems and ways to solve them
The most common problem is duplicate conflict, which occurs when the same contact is stored in both your phone's memory and your Google account and your Mi Cloud, and the system sees them as different records, and you can solve this through the Contacts app by selecting Contact Management → Combine Duplicates.
Another common mistake is the message "Not enough space." Even free 5GB can run out if you sync photos and videos, in which case the call history and SMS will cease to be updated.
- 🗑️ Clean the cloud of unnecessary screenshots or videos.
- 📉 Turn off the synchronization of heavy files (Gallery) by leaving only contacts.
- 🔄 Check date and time on your device – incorrect settings knock down security certificates.
⚠️ Warning: If you reset your phone to factory settings, don’t immediately try to restore data from your old backup unless you’ve updated your contacts on the server before.
Also, users often complain that SMS does not arrive on the new phone, although the old one does, which means that the synchronization of messages was not activated in advance, sync only works one way (in the cloud) and only after the feature is turned on. Old SMS sent before the option is turned on will not enter the cloud.
Privacy and data security settings
Keeping your personal communications and calls in the cloud requires a security focus, and make sure your Mi Account has two-factor authentication, which will prevent attackers from accessing your history even if your password is leaked.
In privacy settings, you can restrict apps from accessing sync data. Periodically check the list of devices that have access to your account and delete those that you no longer use. → Device on i.mi.com.
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Data security depends not only on passwords, but also on monitoring active sessions, and checking connected devices regularly is a must.
Remember that encryption of data during transmission is carried out according to standard protocols, but storing backup copies on third-party servers always carries theoretical risks. SMS Bank codes and other critical financial information, unless urgently needed.