How to Transfer WhatsApp Data from iPhone to Xiaomi: All Working Ways in 2026

Moving from iPhone to Xiaomi smartphone is not only about changing the ecosystem, but also about moving important data, among which WhatsApp chats occupy a special place. Unlike photos or contacts, the history of correspondence in the messenger is stored in encrypted form and does not lend itself to simple copying through the cloud or cable. The problem is complicated by the fact that Apple and Google use different backup formats: iCloud for iOS and Google Drive for Android, which are incompatible with each other.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways WhatsApp can migrate data from iPhone to Xiaomi, from the official Move to iOS solution (yes, it works the other way around!) to alternative methods using third-party utilities. We’ll focus on the nuances of media recovery, which are often lost when you move between platforms. If you’re afraid of losing years of correspondence or are unsure of your technical skills, this guide will help you avoid errors and keep all data intact.

Why you can’t just copy WhatsApp chats from your iPhone to Xiaomi

Many users mistakenly believe that it is enough to copy the WhatsApp folder from the iPhone to Xiaomi via the computer or the cloud, and the problem is solved.

• 🔒 Different backup formats: iOS creates backups in.icbu (encrypted via iCloud), and Android uses.crypt14 Google Drive. These formats are incompatible.
• 📱 Ecosystem Restrictions: Apple blocks direct access to application files (iOS sandbox), and WhatsApp on Android stores data in an open folder /sdcard/WhatsApp.
• 🔄 Account binding: When you first start on a new device, WhatsApp requires you to restore from a backup associated with your phone number.Without the right backup, chats won't carry over.

Also, even if you manage to extract backup files from your iPhone, WhatsApp on Xiaomi will refuse to restore them because of the backup signature verification, so special tools or workarounds are required.

⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to manually edit WhatsApp backup files (e.g., change the extension from.icbu to.icbu.crypt14). This will damage the data and make recovery impossible.

Move to iOS (Yes, It Works!)

Since 2022, WhatsApp has added support for transferring chats between iOS and Android through Apple’s Move to iOS app, which is the most reliable method, since it uses official chats. API It doesn't require manual intervention, but it has limitations:

• 📲 It only works on new Xiaomi devices (or after a complete reset).
• 🔌 Requires a physical connection of iPhone and Xiaomi to the same Wi-Fi network.
• ⏳ The process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of data.

Step-by-step:

1. iPhone Preparation: Update WhatsApp to the latest version in the App Store. Create a fresh backup in iCloud: open WhatsApp → Settings → chat → Backup. Connect your iPhone to charging and Wi-Fi.

Data portability

• On your iPhone, open Move to iOS and follow the instructions.
• Select the WhatsApp option in the list of data portable.
• Wait until the process is complete (don’t interrupt the connection!).

Both devices have the latest version of WhatsApp installed.|

iPhone and Xiaomi are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (5 GHz is not supported)|

Xiaomi has enough free space (the volume of chats) × 1.5)|

Google account on Xiaomi is not tied to another WhatsApp number-->

Once the transfer is complete, WhatsApp installed on Xiaomi will automatically restore chats from the data transmitted. Media files (photos, videos, voice) will only be transferred if they were saved in the iPhone gallery separately.

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If the transfer is stuck in the Preparation phase, restart both devices and repeat the process. VPN or change Wi-Fi network to 2.4 GHz.

Alternative method: Dr.Fone transfer (for power users)

If the official method did not work (for example, due to a Move to iOS crash or the lack of the possibility of resetting Xiaomi), you can use a third-party utility Dr.Fone - WhatsApp Transfer from Wondershare. ~$30), but it supports the transfer of all data, including:

• 💬 Personal and group chats (with emojis, stickers, reactions).
• 📸 Photos, videos, documents and voice messages.
• 🔗 WhatsApp call history.

Step-by-step:

1. Installation and Preparation: Download and install Dr.Fone on your computer (official website). Connect your iPhone and Xiaomi to your PC via USB (Enable the file transfer mode on Xiaomi).
2. Create a backup on your iPhone: In Dr.Fone, select the WhatsApp Transfer module. Click Backup WhatsApp messages and wait until it is completed (the backup will be saved on your PC).

Recovery on Xiaomi

• In the same module, select Restore to Device.
• Specify the target device (Xiaomi) and confirm the recovery.

⚠️ Note: When using Dr.Fone, disable two-factor authentication in WhatsApp on your iPhone before creating a backup. Otherwise, the recovery on Xiaomi may end in an Authentication failed error.

Official (Move to iOS)|

Third-party utilities (Dr.Fone, Backuptrans)|

Manual transfer through backup|

I haven't decided yet.-->

Manual transfer through local backup (for technically savvy)

This is a method that works if you have access to a computer and you're willing to work with files manually, and it's free, but it requires care, and the idea is to extract the backup from your iPhone, convert it to Android, and then restore it to Xiaomi.

You will need to:

• 🖥️ Computer with macOS or Windows.
• 📱 jailbreak iPhone (to access WhatsApp files).
• 📱 Xiaomi with root rights (optional, but simplifies the process).
• 🛠️ Utility: iMazing (or iExplorer), WhatsApp Key/DB Extractor.

Step-by-step process:

1. Removing the backup from iPhone: 1. Connect the iPhone to your PC and open iMazing. 2. Go to the "Apps" section" → Select WhatsApp. 3. Export the Documents folder (there are files in there). msgstore.db.crypt14 etc.).
2. Backup conversion: 1. Download WhatsApp. Key/DB Extractor (https://github.com/EliteAndroidApps/WhatsApp-Key-DB-Extractor). 2. Launch the utility and specify the path to the extracted files. 3. Get decrypted files msgstore.db and wa.db.
3. Xiaomi Preparation: 1. Install WhatsApp on Xiaomi, but don’t run it. 2. Connect Xiaomi to your PC and copy the converted files to a folder: /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases/ 3. Rename msgstore.db to msgstore.db.crypt14.
4. Recovery: 1. Launch WhatsApp on Xiaomi. 2. Enter the same phone number as on your iPhone. 3. During the recovery phase, select a local backup.

This is the most complex method, but it gives you complete control, but without jailbreaking on your iPhone or rooting on Xiaomi, it might not work.

Transfer of media files: how not to lose photos and videos

Even if you managed to transfer text chats, media files (photos, videos, voice messages) often stay on the iPhone, and can be transferred separately in several ways:

• 📁 Using Google Photos: On iPhone, install Google Photos and enable autoload. On Xiaomi, log in to the same Google account and wait for sync.
• 🔗 Through cloud services: Upload files to Dropbox, OneDrive or Yandex Drive with iPhone. Download them to Xiaomi and move them to a folder WhatsApp/Media.
• 🖥️ Through the computer: Connect your iPhone to your PC and copy the folder WhatsApp/Media Transfer files to Xiaomi to the corresponding folders (WhatsApp Images, WhatsApp Video, etc.).

Important: After transferring media files, reboot Xiaomi so WhatsApp updates the gallery. If the files don't show up in chat rooms, check:

• Correct folder structure (e.g., folder structure, WhatsApp/Media/WhatsApp Images/Sent).
• Presence of.nomedia file in folders (if any, delete it).
• Storage permissions for WhatsApp (Settings) → Annexes → WhatsApp → Permits).

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Media files sent or received before the last iPhone backup is created will not be automatically transferred.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you migrate WhatsApp from your iPhone to Xiaomi, users face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

If none of these methods worked, try alternative tools:

• 🛠️ Backuptrans WhatsApp Transfer (paid but supports transfer between any devices).
• 🛠️ iCareFone Transfer (free trial available).
• 🛠️ Syncios WhatsApp Transfer (works without the help of the root/jailbreak).

⚠️ Warning: Don't use pirated versions of paid utilities to port WhatsApp. They often contain malicious code that can steal your data or block your account. Official tools (even paid ones) are more reliable and safer.

What to do after a successful transfer

When chat rooms are finally in place, there are a few important steps left to avoid problems in the future:

1. Set up automatic backup: Open WhatsApp on Xiaomi → Settings → chat → Backup. Select Google Drive and specify backup frequency (recommended Daily). Make sure your Google account on Xiaomi has enough space.
2. Check Contact Sync: Import Contacts with iCloud to Xiaomi via Settings → Accounts. → iCloud. Update your WhatsApp contacts: Settings → Update.

Optimize storage

• Delete old media files: Settings → Warehouse → Management.
• Turn on the option to Save in the Gallery only for important chats.

It is also recommended that:

• 🔒 Enable two-factor authentication in WhatsApp (Settings) → Account. → Two-step verification).
• 📱 Check notification settings (Settings) → Notifications) as they are dropped on transfer.
• 🔄 Update WhatsApp to the latest version via Google Play (Xiaomi sometimes receives delayed updates).

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If after transferring some stickers or emojis appear as squares, update the WhatsApp app and fonts on Xiaomi (Settings) → Additionally. → Fonts).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions