How to Transfer SMS from Xiaomi to a New Phone, PC, or Cloud: The Complete Guide to 2026

Transfer SMS-Messages from Xiaomi phones, including Redmi models, POCO and Mi) often becomes a headache when changing devices or backing up. Unlike contacts or photos, messages are not automatically synced to a Google or Mi Account account, and their loss can mean the loss of important correspondence, confirmation codes or working correspondence. SMS — standard-tool MIUI Up to third-party applications and manual methods for power users.

We tested each method on devices with MIUI 14/15 (including Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12 and POCO F5) and took into account nuances that the manufacturer does not advertise. For example, why backup via Settings → About Phone → Backup does not always save attachments to MMS, or how to circumvent the restriction on exporting SMS in.xml format on new versions of firmware. If you need to transfer messages to Android, iPhone, PC or cloud storage, here you will find work solutions with step-by-step screenshots and warnings of typical errors.

1. Standard SMS Transfer via MIUI Backup

The most obvious way is to use the built-in backup feature in MIUI. It is suitable for transferring messages between Xiaomi devices (or other Android smartphones with backup recovery support).

• 📱 It only works when you log in to one Mi Account on both devices.
• 🔄 Does not retain investment in MMS (photo, video, audio).
• ⏳ The process can take up to 30 minutes with a large volume of messages (10 000).+ SMS).

To create a backup copy:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Backup.
2. Click Create Backup and select Messages (check the tick).
3. Start the process and wait until it is completed (don’t turn it off!).
4. On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account and restore data from the backup in the same menu.

⚠️ Note: If the new phone already has messages, they will be deleted when you restore the backup. First export them manually (see section 3).

Connect both devices to Wi-Fi|Battery charge > 50%|Release me. 1-2 GB of memory on an old phone|Disable battery optimization for the "Backup" application"-->

2. Transfer SMS to a new Android smartphone via Google Drive

Contrast with MIUI backup, Google Drive allows you to transfer SMS to any Android 6.0+ device, including other brands (Samsung, Realme, OnePlus).The method works through the Backup and Restore feature in Google account settings, but has its pitfalls:

• ☁️ Save only text messages (without attachments) MMS).
• 🔒 Requires login to one Google account on both devices.
• ⚡ Recovery is possible only when you first set up a new phone.

Instructions:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Google → Backup.
2. Activate the Backup Switch on Google Drive and click Create Backup Now.
3. On your new phone, when you first turn on, select Copy Data from your old device → From cloud storage → specify the same Google account.

If the new phone is already set up, reset it to factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset) and repeat step 3. The alternative is to use apps like SMS Backup & Restore (see section 4).

Built-in to MIUI|Google Drive|Third-party apps|Hand export to XML|I don't do backups-->

3. Export SMS to XML file for manual transfer

For users who need to save messages to a PC or migrate them selectively, export to.xml format is suitable. This method is universal: the file can be imported to any Android smartphone (including non-Xiaomi) or analyzed on a computer. However, in MIUI 14/15, the standard export function is hidden - it must be activated via ADB or use workarounds.

Method 1: Through SMS Backup & Restore (without root):

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Run it and click Create Backup → select Local Backup.
3. The sms-YYYY-MM-DD.xml file will be saved in the SMSBackupRestore folder on the internal drive.
4. Transfer the file to a new phone and restore it through the same app.

Method 2: Through ADB (for power users):

adb backup -f sms_backup.ab -app com.android.providers.telephony

This team will create a file. sms_backup.ab, It can be converted to.xml using tools like Android Backup Extractor. ADB — spoiler.

⚠️ Attention: When in use ADB on MIUI 15 may need to be disconnected MIUI Optimization in the Developer Settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to activate the developer mode).

4. Transfer SMS to iPhone (via Mac or cloud)

The transition from Xiaomi to iPhone is complicated by the lack of direct synchronization of SMS between Android and iOS, but there are two workarounds:

Method 1: Move to iOS (Official Way from Apple)

• 📱 It only works when you first set up your iPhone.
• 🔗 Transfers messages, but does not guarantee the safety of investments MMS.
• ⚡ Requires both devices to connect to the same Wi-Fi network.

Instructions:

1. On the iPhone, when you first set up, select Data Transfer from Android.
2. On Xiaomi, install Move to iOS from Google Play.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen – enter the connection code from the iPhone to Xiaomi.
4. Select Messages to transfer and wait until it is completed.

Method 2: Exporting to XML + iMazing (for PC)

If the iPhone is already configured:

1. Export SMS from Xiaomi to.xml (see Section 3).
2. Install iMazing on Mac/PC.
3. Connect your iPhone and import.xml file through Manage Backups → Import Messages.

💡

If messages on your iPhone are displayed without contact names, sync your contacts via iCloud or Google before transferring.

5. porting SMS to PC (Windows/Mac/Linux)

Saving SMS to a computer is important for archiving or printing correspondence. There are three reliable ways:

For most users, the first option is optimal:

1. Install Backup & Restore SMS on Xiaomi.
2. Create a backup and select Send by email.
3. Please provide your address and the.xml file will be sent to the mail.
4. On PC, open the file in a text editor or Excel (pre-convert to.csv).

Important: Investment MMS stored in a separate folder /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/app_mms/, access to which is only possible with root rights or through ADB.

6.SMS Transfer between Xiaomi devices via Mi Mover

Mi Mover (pre-installed on all Xiaomi) specializes in fast data transfer between the brand’s devices over Wi-Fi Direct. Unlike backup, it saves MMS attachments and works without the cloud.

• 📶 Requires a stable Wi-Fi connection (when the process is interrupted).
• 🔋 The battery charge on both devices must be > 30%.
• 📱 The new phone should be MIUI No lower than the old version.

Step-by-step:

1. On both phones, open Mi Mover (search by settings).
2. On the old phone, choose I am the sender, on the new phone, I am the receiver.
3. Scan it. QR-code from the screen of the new phone old.
4. Select Messages in the data list to transfer and confirm.

⚠️ Note: If the new phone already has messages, they will be overwritten with data from the old device).

💡

Mi Mover is the fastest way to transfer between Xiaomi devices, but is not suitable for transferring to smartphones of other brands.

7. Recovery of Remote SMS on Xiaomi

If messages were accidentally erased, you can try to recover them, and success depends on whether they were overwritten by the new data.

Scenario 1: Messages deleted recently (up to 30 days)

MIUI has a hidden SMS shopping cart, but it is only accessible via ADB:

adb shell content query --uri content://sms/inbox --where "deleted=1"

To restore, use the command:

adb shell content update --uri content://sms/inbox --bind deleted:s:0 --where "deleted=1"

Scenario 2: Remote SMS over a month

You'll need root rights or specialized software like Dr.Fone.

1. Install Dr.Fone on your PC and connect Xiaomi via USB.
2. Select the Android Data Recovery mode.
3. Follow the instructions of the memory scanner.
4. Look at the messages found and restore the ones you need.

Scenario 3: No root, but backup

If you have previously created a backup via SMS Backup & Restore or Mi Cloud, recover your data from there (see sections 1 and 2).

FAQ: Frequent questions about porting SMS with Xiaomi