How to transfer SMS from Xiaomi to Xiaomi: all the ways 2026

Transfer SMS-Messaging between Xiaomi smartphones may seem like a trivial task, but in practice, users face nuances, from the lack of an option in Mi Mover to problems with compatibility of backup formats. In 2026, the situation was complicated by the transition of some devices to HyperOS, where standard methods of data transfer work differently than on the Internet. MIUI 14.

This article covers all the current ways, from official tools to workarounds for old and new models. We tested each method on pairs of devices (Redmi Note 12 + POCO X5 Pro, Xiaomi 13T + Redmi A2) and identified pitfalls: for example, why Mi Mover sometimes “does not see” a message or how to circumvent the restriction on carrying more than 1000 SMS at a time. If you need to save not only text but also attachments (photo, video from MMS), there is a solution here too.

Particular attention was paid to the transfer of messages between devices on different versions of the firmware (MIUI ↔ HyperOS, as the most common cause of failure, is adapted to the latest updates to Xiaomi Cloud and Google Drive services for June 2026.

1. Official method: Mi Mover (for MIUI and HyperOS)

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary data migration tool, but its capabilities depend on the firmware version. On MIUI 14 and later, it portes SMS automatically, and on HyperOS it may need to manually configure.

How it works:

• 📱 Connect both smartphones to the same Wi-Fi network (required 2.4 GHz – 5 GHz is not supported!).
• 🔄 On your old phone, open Settings. → The phone. → Data Transfer (Mi Mover).
• 📲 On your new phone, select “I am a new user” and scan. QR-code from the old device.
• ✅ In the data list for transfer, tick "Messages" (if there is no option - see the section "Problems with Mi Mover").

Important: on HyperOS, the path to Mi Mover has changed — now it is in Settings → Additional → Data Transfer. Also note that SMS transfer takes 2-3 times longer than contacts or photos, due to the features of encryption.

Charge both phones at least 50% | Disable VPNs and firewalls | Make sure the new phone has enough memory (SMS takes ~1–2 MB per 1,000 messages) | Check that both devices have the latest version of Mi Mover installed (update via Google Play if needed)

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⚠️ Note: If the new phone already has a Mi Account, log out before transferring – otherwise Mi Mover will only offer a recovery from the cloud, not a direct transfer.

2.Move over Xiaomi Cloud (cloud reservation)

The cloud method is suitable if you have a Mi Account and a stable Internet, the advantage is that you can transfer messages selectively (for example, only dialogues in the last month).

• ☁️ Free rate allows you to store up to 5000 SMS (Old messages are automatically deleted).
• 🔒 Messages are encrypted, but Xiaomi can review them at the request of law enforcement (specified in the user agreement).
• ⏳ Recovery from the cloud takes up to 30 minutes (depending on the number of messages).

Step-by-step:

1. On your old phone: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup → Messages → Turn on sync.
2. Wait for the download to complete (progress is displayed in the notification curtain).
3. On a new phone: log in to the same Mi Account, go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Restore and select a backup with messages.

⚠️ Note: If you used two-factor authentication in Mi Account, disable it before restoring messages, otherwise the system may block access to the backup for 24 hours.

3. Manual export/import via SMS Backup & Restore

The Backup & Restore SMS app (from SyncTech) is a versatile solution for transferring messages between any Android device, including Xiaomi. It saves SMS in.xml format, which can be edited manually (for example, to remove unnecessary dialogs before importing).

Advantages of the method:

• 📁 Stores all metadata: sending time, delivery status, contact names.
• 🔄 It works even between MIUI HyperOS (tested on Xiaomi 14 and Redmi Note 10 Pro).
• 📊 Allows you to filter messages by date or contact before export.

Instructions:

1. Install Backup & Restore SMS on both phones.
2. On your old phone: open the app → Settings → Export → Select XML format → Click Export. The file will be saved in the /SMSBackupRestore folder.
3. Transfer the file to your new phone (via Bluetooth, Google Drive, or cable).
4. On a new phone: in the app, select Restore → specify file → confirm import.

Important: After importing messages may not immediately appear in the application Messages reboot phone or manually update the list of dialogues by pulling the screen down.

4. Google Drive Transfer (for devices with Google Mobile Services)

If your Xiaomi has Google services installed (not just Mi Services), you can use the built-in backup feature in Google Drive.This method is suitable for porting between Xiaomi and other Android devices, but has a limitation: messages older than 90 days are not saved.

How to move:

1. On your old phone: Settings → Google → Backup → turn on “Messages” (if you don’t have an option, see below).
2. Click on “Create a backup now” and wait until it is completed.
3. On a new phone: When you first start, select a recovery from Google Drive or do it manually in the same settings.

If the backup settings do not have the item "Messages":

• 📌 Install the Google One app.
• 🔧 Turn on backup in it. SMS: Settings → Backup → Management of backups → Communications.

Mi Mover|Xiaomi Cloud|SMS Backup & Restore|Google Drive|Manual export via ADB|Other method

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⚠️ Note: Message recovery from Google Drive replaces all current messages SMS If there's any important dialogue, export it separately first.

5. Transfer over ADB (for power users)

The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) method is the most reliable, but requires command line skills.

• 🔧 Other methods do not work (for example, on custom firmware).
• 📦 We need to move over 10,000. SMS (Mi Mover's limitation).
• 🔒 Conservation required MMS full-budget.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB Tools on your PC.
2. On your phone, turn on USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap the build number → go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the commands: adb backup -f sms.ab -app com.android.providers.telephony adb restore sms.ab

The sms.ab file will be created in the folder with ADB. You can transfer it to a new phone and restore it with the same team. Please note: the password for the archive (if requested) is the password for the archive. PIN-code of your phone.

1. Change. USB-cable (original cable with data transmission support).

2. In the developer settings, enable USB Debugging (security options) and allow debugging for your PC.

3. Install Xiaomi USB Drivers drivers from the official website.

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6. Transfer of messages by means of SIM-cards (limited method)

Older Xiaomi models (like Redmi) 4X or Mi A1) maintain SMS on SIM-map, but this method has many limitations:

• 📶 Only textual ones are saved. SMS (without MMS, emoji, formatting).
• 💾 Memory volume SIM-Cards are limited (usually 20-50 messages).
• ⏱️ The process takes up to 10 minutes for 10 messages.

How to move:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Press your finger on the desired dialogue → “More” → “Copy on SIM”.
3. Put it in. SIM-Card to new phone and import messages: Messages → Settings → Import with SIM.

This method is relevant only for 2G-models or if you need to transfer several critical messages without access to other methods.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even with official tools, users are experiencing errors, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 📵 Flight mode or energy saving is turned on (they block background synchronization).
• 🔄 Have Mi Mover, Google Play Services and Messages been updated to the latest version.
• 📡 Are you using it? VPN Proxies: They interfere with the work of Xiaomi Cloud.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions