Changing your smartphone is always stressful, not only because you get used to a new interface, but also because you need to migrate data, and when to move your SMS to Xiaomi is especially acute, as text messages often store confirmation codes, important correspondence with banks, or just memorable dialogues. Unlike contacts that are automatically synchronized through a Google account, SMS requires separate attention and the right approach.
Xiaomi’s modern ecosystem offers several built-in tools that make this process as simple and secure as possible. However, users often face nuances that are not obvious at first glance: from the need to activate specific permissions to choosing the right backup format. We will analyze all available methods, from the native Mi Mover application to third-party utilities, so you can choose the best option for your situation.
Before you start porting, it’s important to understand that old methods like SIM cards are a thing of the past and are not suitable for modern smartphones with large amounts of memory. You do not need to be a technician to perform this operation, but attention to detail will be required. Below we will look at proven algorithms of actions that ensure that your correspondence is safe when you switch to a new Redmi or POCO.
Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration
The most efficient and quickest way the manufacturer offers is to use the proprietary Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on most MIUI and HyperOS devices, making it available out of the box, and the main advantage of the method is the speed of data transfer over a local Wi-Fi channel without using Internet traffic.
To get started, you need to run the app on both devices, and on the old phone, you choose the role of "Sender", and on the new Xiaomi, you choose the role of "Receiver". QR-If you have a code or manual connection to the network you've created, the system will tell you to choose the data types to transfer. It's critical that you not just click "All" but make sure that the selected items are ticked against the Message item or SMS.
⚠️ Warning: When transferring via Mi Mover, make sure the screens of both phones don't go out.While the process is usually stable, accidentally falling asleep on an old device can break the connection and interrupt packet transmission.
The copying process can take anywhere from minutes to an hour, depending on the amount of correspondence accumulated and the number of embedded media files (MMS). Once the procedure is completed, the new device will receive a data recovery notification. The system will automatically distribute the messages across dialogs, preserving the chronology and read statuses, if supported by the firmware version.
☑️ Checklist for preparation for Mi Mover
Backup through Google Account
The second most popular method that works on all Android devices, including Xiaomi, is sync through Google’s cloud services, ideal for those who want to have a perpetual backup available at any time, even if the phone is lost or broken. However, it’s worth considering that Google doesn’t always sync SMS by default in some regions, so manual settings check is required.
To activate this feature, go to your phone's settings and search for the Google section. From the menu, select Backup and make sure the Data Backup switch is active. The list of services to be saved must have an SMS option. If it's not there, it's possible that your Android version or Google Play Services regional settings don't support direct synchronization of text messages to the cloud without third-party utilities.
When you first set up a new Redmi or Xiaomi smartphone, you just need to enter the same Google account that was used on the old device, and the system will prompt you to restore data from the last copy, which happens automatically after you connect to Wi-Fi.
- 📱 Convenience of automatic synchronization when changing the device.
- ☁️ Data is stored in a secure Google Drive cloud.
- ⚙️ A stable internet connection is required to download.
- 🔒 Ability to encrypt the backup copy with a password.
Applications for SMS Backup & Restore
If the built-in tools don't work for some reason or you want to have full control of the process, the best solution is to use specialized software, which has been the leader in this niche for many years, the application SMS Backup & Restore from the developer SyncTech, which allows you to create full copies of correspondence in XML format, which is easy to read and restore on any Android smartphone.
Installation of the application requires advanced permissions. After you run, you will need to choose what exactly you want to save: only SMS, only MMS or call logs. For Xiaomi users, it is also important to allow auto-start and work in the background, otherwise the system can kill the process of creating a backup in the middle. Once you create a backup file, it can be saved locally or immediately sent to the cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive).
⚠️ Note: When recovering data through third-party applications on new versions MIUI The system may request confirmation of installation several times. SMS. You will need to manually allow the app to be an “app for” SMS by default" at the time of recovery.
The recovery process takes literally a couple of minutes. You download a backup file to a new phone, launch an app, select a file, and hit Recover. All messages will appear in the standard Messages app as if they were never deleted. This is the only way to guarantee that you can transfer SMS to Xiaomi if you change the platform (for example, switch from an iPhone or a button phone).
What if the application does not see backup files?
Local backup of the MIUI system
Shell MIUI And the new HyperOS has a powerful built-in local backup tool that many people forget about, and it creates a complete cast of the system or parts of it directly into the internal memory or into the internal memory. SD-This is a great option if you don’t have a second phone for Mi Mover or a stable Internet for the cloud.
To create a copy, go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore. Here you can select “Mobile Device” and tick “Messages.” Once you create a backup file (it will have the.bak extension), it must be copied to a new phone. The file is usually located in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder.
On the new device, you have to put the file in a similar directory, and then you pick Restore from the recovery menu, find the file, and start the process, and the good thing about this is that it doesn't require any additional software to be installed, and it works at the system level, which minimizes the risk of compatibility errors.
| Method | Speed. | We need the Internet. | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Tall. | No. | Low. |
| Google Sync | Medium | Yes. | Low. |
| SMS Backup App | Tall. | Optionally. | Medium |
| Local backup | Medium | No. | Medium |
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Save the local backup file (.bak) to your computer or external drive. If you crash when you transfer to your new phone, you will have a fresh copy of all the data that can be restored later.
Transfer messages from iPhone to Xiaomi
iPhone owners who decide to move to the Xiaomi ecosystem will need a special approach, since direct synchronization of iMessage with Android is impossible due to the closedness of Apple. The only reliable way is to use the Move to iOS app (the reverse does not work) or specialized software on the computer, but for Xiaomi, the Move to Android app from Google or the same Mi Mover, if it supports iOS in your version.
The most universal method is to use the Send Anywhere app or similar cross-platform solutions that transmit data via a web interface or direct connection. However, it is worth noting that porting conventional SMS from an iPhone is often limited by iOS security policies. iMessage will not carry over as usual, since it is a proprietary protocol of Apple.
To successfully transfer normal SMS (green bubbles) to an iPhone, you need to install an intermediary application that exports the messaging database to a readable format and then import it to Redmi. The process requires care: you need to allow access to messages on your iPhone, which can cause security alerts. After exporting, the file is transferred to Android and opened through a compatible import application.
- 🍏 iMessage is not supported on Android devices.
- 🔄 It is necessary to install applications on both smartphones.
- 📂 Normal. SMS successfully transferred through conversion.
- ⏳ The process may take longer due to format conversion.
Solving problems and errors during transfer
Even if all instructions are followed, users can encounter errors. One of the most common problems is the message “Data failed to recover” or the absence of messages after the process is completed. Often this is due to a lack of access rights. In modern versions of Android (11, 12, 13, 14), access to SMS is strictly regulated. Make sure that the restore application is authorized to “Access to all files” and the status “Main SMS application”.
Another problem is broken backup files. If the backup process is interrupted (the battery is dead, the cable is gone), the file can be corrupted, in which case recovery is impossible, and the system will give an error, and the only way to avoid data loss is to always check the integrity of the backup immediately after it is created, trying to open it on the same device.
Users also complain about duplicate messages, which happens if you have used several methods in a row (for example, Mi Mover, then Google), to avoid mush in the dialogues, before recovering from the Google cloud, it is better to reset the settings of the message application or clear its data if this is possible without losing important information, or simply do not turn on Google sync if you have already used Mi Mover.
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The main cause of transfer errors is an unstable connection or interruption of the process. Always bring the operation to the end and do not switch between halfway methods.