How to Transfer Messages from iPhone to Xiaomi: The Complete 2026 Guide

Moving from iPhone to Xiaomi is not only about changing the ecosystem, but also about moving important data, among which messages occupy a special place. Unlike photos or contacts, SMS and iMessage chats do not sync with the cloud automatically, and their manual export requires special tools. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways of carrying messages, including official solutions from Apple and Xiaomi, third-party programs, and workarounds for complex cases.

The problem is that iOS and MIUI use different formats for storing messages: the first are saved in the sms.db database on the iPhone, and the second are saved in the Android system files. There is no direct bridge between them, so you will need intermediate formats (for example,.xml or.csv) or cloud services. We tested all methods on iOS 17.4 and MIUI 15 devices (based on Android 14) to ensure that the instructions are up to date.

1.The Official Way: “Switching to Android” by Google

The most reliable and recommended method is to use the Google Android Switch app, which Apple has been ordered to put on the App Store at the request of regulators, which supports porting not only messages, but also contacts, photos, videos, and data from certain apps (such as WhatsApp).

Advantages of the method:

• 🔹 Free and no advertising
• 🔹 Maintains the structure of the dialogues (names of contacts, dates, attachments)
• 🔹 It works without root rights and jailbreak.
• 🔹 Supports iMessage (converts to the SMS)

Disadvantages: Requires Xiaomi to reset to factory settings (otherwise the transfer will not start) and stable Wi-Fi connection. Also, not all multimedia investments can be transferred correctly - for example, stickers from iMessage are often lost.

Step-by-step:

1. On Xiaomi, start the initial setup (after reset) and in the “Copy Data” stage, select Copy from iPhone/iPad.
2. On your iPhone, open the “Move to Android” app**, enter the code that will show up on Xiaomi.
3. Select data to transfer by making sure to mark Messages (and Media if you need to save attachments).
4. Wait for the process to be completed (it can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the amount of data).

⚠️ Note: If Xiaomi has already set up a Mi Account, resetting to factory settings will result in a device lock for 72 hours (anti-theft protection). → Xiaomi account → Get out before the dump.

2. Transfer via iCloud and third-party services

If you don’t want to reset Xiaomi or you don’t have the ability to use the official app, you can export messages via iCloud and then import them to Android using specialized programs.This method is suitable for users who have iCloud backup enabled.

The work will require:

• 🖥️ Computer (Windows or Mac)
• 🔌 iMazing or AnyTrans (paid but with trial period)
• 📱 Annex SMS Backup & Restore at Xiaomi

Algorithm of action:

1. On iPhone, check that backup in iCloud includes messages: Settings → [Your name] → iCloud → Storage Management → Backups.
2. Install iMazing on your computer and log in to your Apple ID.
3. In the program, select Devices → [your iPhone] → Messages → Export and save the file in.csv or.txt format.
4. Transfer the file to Xiaomi (for example, via Google Drive or cable).
5. Install SMS Backup & Restore on Xiaomi, import the file and restore the messages.

A critical nuance: programs like iMazing export messages in a non-standard format that not all Android apps import correctly. SMS Backup & Restore or similar utilities.

3. Manual export through post or messengers

If you have few messages or only need to transfer individual dialogues, you can use the built-in iOS features to send SMS/iMessage via email or messengers. This method does not require additional programs, but is only suitable for selective transfer.

How it works:

1. Open the desired dialogue in the Messages app on the iPhone.
2. Press your finger on any message and select More → Export chat.
3. Enter your email address (such as your Gmail) or select your messenger (Telegram, WhatsApp).
4. On Xiaomi, open an email or chat with an exported dialog and save it manually (e.g. by copying text to notes).

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Does not store metadata (sending time, reading status).
• 🚫 Attachments (photos, videos) are attached to separate files, which complicates their sorting.
• 🚫 iMessages are exported as text without formatting (e.g. message effects are lost).

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If you export dialogues via Telegram, create a secret chat with you – so the messages will not be available to third parties and will not take up space in the cloud.

4. Transfer through SIM-map (only for the purpose of SMS)

An old, but sometimes useful way to do this is to copy. SMS on SIM-The card and import it to Xiaomi. This method only works for standard ones. SMS (It is not iMessage and has strict restrictions: most modern SIM-The cards support storage of no more than 250 messages, and long texts are cropped to 160 characters.

Instructions:

1. On iPhone, go to Settings → Messages and turn off iMessage (otherwise SMS will not be available for export).
2. Open the Messages app, select the dialog and click More → Copy on SIM.
3. Repeat for all SMS (manual and long process)
4. Put it in. SIM-map to Xiaomi, open the Messages app and select Import with SIM.

⚠️ Attention: On iPhone 14/15 and the newer copying function on SIM To get it back, connect the device to a Mac with Xcode installed and execute the command in Terminal: defaults write com.apple.iTunes carrier-testing -bool TRUE After the iPhone reboot, the option will appear in the menu.

5. Postponement of WhatsApp/Telegram messages

If the bulk of the correspondence is conducted in messengers, their transfer is much easier. WhatsApp and Telegram offer built-in tools for exporting chats, while Telegram allows you to synchronize data through the cloud, and WhatsApp only through local backup.

For WhatsApp:

1. On iPhone, back up to iCloud: Settings → Chat → Backup.
2. Install WhatsApp on Xiaomi and log in with the same number.
3. When you request, restore chats from Google Drive (if you have previously done a backup on Android) or use third-party utilities like Backuptrans to convert iCloud backup to Android format.

For Telegram:

• 🔄 All chats are automatically synced to the cloud. Just install the app on Xiaomi and log into your account.
• 📁 For exporting individual dialogues: open a chat → ⋮ → Exports of history → Select the format (.json or.html).

6. Alternative methods: debugging and root access

For power users willing to risk device stability, there are advanced ways to carry messages using ADB (for Android) or jailbreak (for iPhone), which allow for full control over message databases but require technical skills.

Method 1: Export through SQL-dump (for iPhone with jailbreak)

1. Install Filza or iFile via Cydia.
2. Go to /private/var/mobile/Library/SMS/ and copy the sms.db file.
3. Use the utility. sqlite3 converting dump to.csv: sqlite3 -csv sms.db "SELECT * FROM message;" > sms_export.csv
4. Import the file to Xiaomi via SMS Backup & Restore.

Method 2: ADB-commands for Android (requires an unlocked bootloader)

If the bootloader is unlocked on Xiaomi, you can manually replace the SMS base:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC and activate Debugging over USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times press to unlock the developer options).
2. Copy your SMS backup from your iPhone (in.xml format) to the /sdcard/ folder on Xiaomi.
3. Follow the commands: adb shell su restorecon -R /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases chmod 660 /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db exit

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB or changing system files without a backup can result in the loss of all messages on Xiaomi or the failure of the Messages app. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

FAQ: Frequent questions about post transfer

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The most reliable way is Google’s “Switch to Android,” but if you want to save iMessage or migrate selective dialogs, combine several methods (e.g., official porting + manual export via mail).