How to transfer messengers from one Xiaomi to another: WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting moment, especially when it comes to saving important correspondence in messengers. According to statistics from 2026, 78% of Redmi users and users of the new smartphone are not interested in the new model. POCO They say that losing chat history is becoming a major headache when changing devices, but the problem is solvable: modern instant messengers offer multiple ways to migrate data, and the ecosystem is a complex one. MIUI It adds unique tools to its.

The main difficulty lies in the variety of approaches: WhatsApp requires backup in Google Drive, Telegram is synced through the cloud, and Viber offers a local backup. MIUI 14+ It implements its own migration system through Mi Mover, which does not work with all messengers. In this article, we will analyze each method in detail, from standard solutions to little-known life hacks for Redmi Note 12 models, POCO X5 and other popular lines.

We will warn you right away: transfer of messengers between Xiaomi devices on Android 13+ You need to log in to your Google account on both smartphones, even if you use local backups, due to changes in security policy. MIUI after the update of October 2023.

1.Preparation for transfer: what to do before changing the smartphone

The mistake most users make is to start migrating data after buying a new Xiaomi, and in fact, 80 percent of lost chats are caused by improperly preparing the old device.

Update. MIUI Up to the latest version through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system

Clear the messenger cache in Settings → Annexes → Application management

Connect both devices to the same 5GHz Wi-Fi network (2.4GHz can slow down transmissions)

Check the vacant space: the new Xiaomi should have a minimum of 1.5× backup

Turn off battery optimization for messengers in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery-->

Pay special attention to login. WhatsApp requires you to be linked to the same phone number and Google account that was used on your old device. Telegram just needs to know your number and have access to your phone. SMS/Viber can request additional verification via email if you haven't logged in in a while.

⚠️ Note: If the old Xiaomi enabled the function of Application Protection (in Settings) → Privacy, disable it 12 hours before transfer, otherwise messenger backups can create corrupted files.

For Redmi models K60 And there's another thing that's new: if you've used Advanced Protection, MIUI (In Settings → Additionally. → The lab, it needs to be temporarily deactivated, and this feature blocks access to application folders, which prevents the creation of local backups.

2. WhatsApp transfer between Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

WhatsApp is the most capricious messaging app in terms of migration, and it has three mandatory steps: creating a backup on an old device, transferring files, and restoring it to a new one. MIUI 14/15.

First, we create a backup copy:

1. Open WhatsApp. → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup
2. Click Create a copy (if you use Google Drive) or Local Copy
3. For Google Drive: Select the account to which the WhatsApp number is linked
4. Wait for completion (on the Redmi Note 11 with 128GB of storage, it takes up) ~15 minutes)

Now, we're moving the data to the new Xiaomi. There are two options.

⚠️ Note: If you use WhatsApp Business, the process is identical, but backups are stored in a folder /sdcard/WhatsApp Business/Databases. Don’t confuse them with regular WhatsApp – recovery from someone else’s backup will lead to data loss.

For Xiaomi users 13/14 HyperOS series has a nuance: the system can block access to the folder Android/data It's even a wired connection:

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 taps according to MIUI version in About Phone)
2. Enable USB Debugging in Developer Settings
3. Connect to your PC and use the command: adb shell pm grant com.whatsapp android.permission.MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE

3.Telegram port: cloud vs local export

Telegram is easier because of cloud sync, but there are pitfalls: the basic rule is that your chats and media files are stored on Telegram servers, but secret chats and local data are not. So the transfer process is divided into two parts.

For regular chat rooms and groups:

1. Install Telegram on the new Xiaomi
2. Sign in through SMS-code (use the same number as the old device)
3. All chats, media and files will be automatically downloaded from the cloud.

For secret chats and local data (e.g. saved messages):

1. On the old device: Settings → Additionally. → Chat data export
2. Choose chat rooms for export (you can choose without media to save space)
3. Send the file to yourself via Telegram Saved Messages or email
4. On a new device, import the file through the same path in the settings

For Xiaomi models with MIUI 15 (e.g. Redmi Note 13 Pro)+) There's optimization: when you first start Telegram, the system will suggest that you move data over Mi Mover:

• 📁 Media files from regular chat rooms
• 🔑 Local settings (themes, fonts, languages)
• 📌 Fixed messages

Secret chats and message history Mi Mover does not tolerate.

💡

If you have more than 50 GB of data in Telegram, turn on the Autoboot option before transferring. → Never in the storage settings. This will speed up the initial sync on the new device.

4.Viber portability: why a standard backup might not work

Viber uses a hybrid storage system: some data syncs to the cloud, but the main history of chats and media is stored locally, which creates problems when transferring between Xiaomi devices, especially if they are different versions. MIUI.

The standard procedure looks like this:

1. On the old device: More → Settings → Account. → Backup
2. Choose to Create a Backup and wait for completion
3. Transfer the viber.bak file from the folder /sdcard/Viber/backup new-phone
4. On the new device, install Viber, log in and select Restore from backup.

However, users POCO X4 Redmi 10 2022 often encounters a "failed to restore backup" error:

For devices with MIUI 14 and newer there is an alternative method through the Mi Mover:

• 📱 Install Mi Mover on both devices from the Mi App Store
• 🔗 Connect through QR-code (old device) → I'm sending, new. → I get it)
• 📤 Select Other Data → Viber on the list for transfer
• ⚠️ Don’t interrupt the process – on Xiaomi 12T It takes up to 40 minutes.

WhatsApp

Telegram

Viber

Other

I can't stand it, I'm starting with a clean slate.-->

5.Move over Mi Mover: When it works and when it doesn't

Xiaomi’s Mi Mover utility is marketed as a universal solution for data migration, but in practice, its capabilities are limited, and we’ll figure out when to use it and when to choose alternative methods.

✅ Mi Mover is effectively transferred:

• 📱 Contacts and call log
• 🖼️ Photos and videos from the gallery (but not from messengers!)
• 🎵 Music and documents
• 📅 Calendar and Notes by Mi Notes

❌ Mi Mover can't stand it:

• 💬 The full history of WhatsApp chats (media only)
• 🔒 Secret chats Telegram
• 📎 Viber attachments (text messages only)
• 🎮 Data from games and certain applications (e.g. Mi Fit)

Algorithms for Mi Mover:

1. Install the utility on both devices from the Mi App Store (don’t use the version from Google Play – it may be outdated)
2. On the old Xiaomi, select I send, on the new I receive
3. Scan it. QR-Connection code (make sure both devices are on the same network)
4. Select data for transfer (messengers are in the Other data section)
5. Confirm the transfer and wait until completion (on Redmi) K50 With 256GB, it takes ~1 hour)

⚠️ Note: If the new Xiaomi is installed HyperOS, and the old — MIUI 13, Mi Mover may show the "Incompatible Software Versions" error, in which case, upgrade the old device to at least one. MIUI 14 or use alternative methods.

💡

Mi Mover is suitable for basic migration, but for full transfer of messengers it is better to combine it with manual backups of each application.

6.Alternative methods: when standard methods do not work

If none of these methods worked, don’t despair. There are a few non-obvious solutions that will help even in the most difficult cases, for example, when migrating from Xiaomi to Xiaomi. POCO or between devices with different regional firmware.

🔹 For WhatsApp:

• 📱 Use Dr.Fone – WhatsApp Transfer (paid PC software, but gives 100% result)
• 🔄 If the backup in Google Drive is not restored, try creating a new backup on your old device with a different Google account.
• 📂 For models with MIUI 12 and below: copy the WhatsApp folder to SD-Map, then insert it into a new smartphone

🔹 For Telegram:

• 🌐 Export chats in.html format via Settings → Additionally. → Exporting chat history
• 📁 To transfer media, use Telegram Desktop on your PC: log in, download all files, then download them back to your new smartphone.
• 🔑 If you lose access to your account, use the recovery form (a code from the account will be required). SMS old-numbered)

🔹 For Viber:

• 📧 Send backup viber.bak to your email, then download it to your new smartphone
• 🖥️ Use Viber for PC: log in, download history, then sync with your new device
• 📞 If recovery is not working, try temporarily disabling two-factor authentication in your account settings.

For owners of Xiaomi with unlocked bootloader there is a radical method – cloning partition /data through TWRP. However, this requires technical skills and can lead to a loss of warranty.If you are willing to take a risk, follow the instructions:

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when following instructions, users often encounter problems.-5 Errors in the transfer of messengers between Xiaomi devices and how to solve them:

Another common problem is the loss of two-factor authentication verification. SMS-codes or authenticator app on old Xiaomi, transfer them in advance:

• 🔐 For Google Authenticator: Export accounts through Account Export (password required)
• 📱 For SMS-codes: move SIM-card or activate the service "Virtual second number" from the operator
• 🔑 For Microsoft Authenticator: Enable cloud backup in your application settings

If you are using Xiaomi with a double SIM-card (for example, Redmi Note) 12 Pro+ 5G), Make sure the number for WhatsApp/Telegram anchored SIM. Otherwise, you will not be able to SMS for authorization on a new device.

8. Optimization of messengers after transfer

Data portability is only half the battle. To make sure that instant messengers are fast and don’t take up too much space on the new Xiaomi, follow a few steps to optimize.

📌 For WhatsApp:

• 🗑️ Clear the cache: Settings → Warehouse → Storage management
• 📥 Turn off autoload media: Settings → Warehouse → Autoboot media
• 🔄 Enable backup: Settings → chat → Backup (recommended weekly)

📌 For Telegram:

• 🧹 Clear the cache: Settings → Data and memory → Clear Telegram cache
• 📁 Set up storage: Settings → Data and memory → Storage (set a limit) 1-2 GB)
• 🔒 Check Active Sessions: Settings → Confidentiality → Active sessions

📌 For Viber:

• 🗃️ Archive old chats: Long-click chat → Archive
• 📎 Limit File Download: Settings → Multimedia. → Autoboot
• 🔄 Enable automatic backup: Settings → Account. → Backup

For devices with MIUI 15 and HyperOS has an optional option – Deep Clean in Settings → Annexes → It removes not only the cache, but also temporary messenger files that can take up to 500 MB.

💡

After the transfer, check the notification settings for messengers in Settings → Notifications. MIUI By default, it can block pop-up alerts for new applications.

If after transfer messengers began to quickly discharge the battery, check:

1. Battery Optimization: Settings → Battery → Battery optimization (add messengers to exceptions)
2. Background activity: Settings → Confidentiality → Special permits → Auto-start
3. Sync: Disable unnecessary accounts in Settings → Accounts.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions