How to Transfer SMS from Xiaomi to Xiaomi via the Cloud: A Detailed Guide

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, especially when it comes to saving important data. SMS-And messages have a special place, like confirmation codes, bank correspondence, important notifications, or just heart-warming dialogue. MIUI Offers a convenient tool for portability – Mi Cloud (Xiaomi cloud), which allows you to synchronize messages between devices without loss.

In this article, we will discuss the only official way to transfer SMS through the cloud, which works on all Xiaomi models with MIUI 12 and later, including the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Xiaomi 13 Ultra and others. It is important to understand that alternative methods (for example, through Google Drive or third-party applications) either do not support SMS or require root rights. Mi Cloud is integrated into the system and guarantees the safety of data when configured correctly.

Before you start, make sure you have a Mi Account (you can create it right on your smartphone) and a stable Internet connection, which takes 5 to 30 minutes depending on the number of messages and the speed of the network. Ready? Then get started!

1. Preparation of devices for SMS transfer

Before synchronization, you need to take several critical steps on both smartphones – both the old one (from which we transfer) and the new one (where we transfer), skipping either of them can lead to data loss or incomplete synchronization.

First, check the MIUI version on both devices. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. The minimum supported version is MIUI 12. If you have an older firmware, update it through Settings → System Update. Cloud sync SMS on versions below 12 is unstable or absent.

Check out the MIUI version (minimum 12)

Connect both phones to Wi-Fi (not mobile internet!)

Make sure that your old phone has SMS sync enabled.

Battery charge for both devices > 50%

Free space in Mi Cloud (minimum 100 MB)-->

Second, make sure that both smartphones share the same Mi Account. If the new phone hasn’t added an account yet, do so via Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Account. Linking to the same account is a prerequisite for data synchronization.

⚠️ Note: If you previously used another Mi Account on your old phone, you’re tied to it. SMS They won’t be transferred to a new phone even after you change your account, so save messages manually (e.g., through screenshots or export to a file) and then set up the cloud.

2. Enable SMS sync in Mi Cloud on old phone

Now, to the most important step, set up sync on the source device. Open Settings and go to Accounts and Sync → Mi Account. Here you will see a list of data that can be synced: contacts, notes, photos and, of course, SMS.

Activate the slider in front of the Message (SMS) item. The system can request confirmation, agree. After that, the initial sync will start, which can take a few minutes. Progress is displayed in the same menu. If sync is 0%, check the Internet connection or restart the phone.

After successful synchronization, it is recommended to manually check whether messages are saved in the cloud.

1. Open a web browser on a computer or other device.
2. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
3. Select Messages from the menu – all your SMS should be displayed here.

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If you plan to reset your old phone to factory settings, wait for full synchronization of SMS in the cloud, and after resetting, the data from the device will be deleted, and it can only be restored from the backup.

3. SMS transfer to the new Xiaomi smartphone

Once messages are successfully uploaded to Mi Cloud, you can start restoring them to the new device, and it is important that the new phone is clean (preferably after resetting to factory settings) or at least without previously synchronized SMS from another account, otherwise data conflicts may arise.

Connect your new smartphone to the internet and follow the following steps:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Account.
2. Sign in with the same account as your old phone.
3. Activate the Message Slider (SMS).
4. Wait for the synchronization to be completed (time depends on the number of messages).

If SMS does not appear in the Messages app, try:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📶 Reconnect to Wi-Fi (sometimes mobile internet blocks background synchronization).
• 🔧 Clear the Messages app cache in the settings.
• ⏳ Wait up to 24 hours – sometimes the cloud syncs data with a delay.

Every 1-2 years when changing the phone

Every year (I love to update my gadgets)

Only when the old phone is broken.

I never did, I always start with a clean slate.-->

4. Problems with SMS portability and their solutions

Even when you set it up properly, users sometimes encounter errors, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

The problem with MMS (multimedia messages) is particularly noteworthy, and unfortunately, Mi Cloud does not support synchronization, and if you want to save photos or videos from MMS, use alternative methods:

• 📲 Mi Mover app (pre-installed on all Xiaomi apps).
• 💾 Manual export through applications like SMS Backup & Restore.
• 📧 Transfer of important MMS post to myself.

⚠️ Note: If you are using two-factor authentication (2FA) through SMS, Before transferring messages, make sure you have backup codes for accessing accounts. During the synchronization process, some services (such as banks) may block access if they detect a change in device.

5. Alternative ways to transfer SMS (if Mi Cloud does not work)

While Mi Cloud is the most reliable way, it may not be available in some cases (e.g., when you block an account or have regional restrictions).

Method 1: Application Mi Mover

This is the official solution from Xiaomi for wireless data transfer between devices.

1. Install Mi Mover on both phones (available from the Mi App Store).
2. On the old phone, select Send, on the new phone, Receive.
3. Scan it. QR-link-code.
4. Select Messages in the data list and confirm the transfer.

The advantage of this method is that it supports MMS and other data (contacts, photos), and the disadvantage is that it requires both phones to be physically present.

Method 2: Export SMS to a file

This is done using the SMS Backup & Restore app (available on Google Play).

1. Install the app on your old phone.
2. Select Backup and save backup in.xml format.
3. Transfer the file to a new phone (e.g., via Mi Share or the cloud).
4. Install the same app on your new phone and recover the data from the file.

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Mi Cloud is the easiest way to carry SMS, but it doesn’t support MMS. For multimedia messages, use Mi Mover or manual export.

6 How to avoid losing SMS when changing your phone

Message transfer is not only a technical process, but also a matter of data security, and here are some tips to avoid trouble:

• 🔐 Backup copies: Regularly (once in a week) 1-2 Check that the synchronization period SMS Auto boot can be disabled after system updates.
• 📱 Double check: Before resetting your old phone, make sure all the important ones are in the wrong place. SMS not only stored in the cloud, but also locally (for example, through screenshots).
• 🔄 If you buy a new Xiaomi in advance, try to carry a few test messages to make sure the method works.
• 🛡️ Account security: Enable two-factor authentication for Mi Account to avoid unauthorized access to your data.

If you change phones frequently, consider using Google Messages (an app from Google for the first time). SMS). It supports sync through your Google account, which may be more convenient if you use the services of this ecosystem.However, please note that in some regions (for example, in Russia), the functionality of Google Messages may be limited.

7. Frequent Questions About SMS Transfer to Xiaomi