How to Transfer WhatsApp from Android to Xiaomi: 5 Ways to Work

Why WhatsApp to Xiaomi requires a special approach

The move to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting moment, especially when it comes to keeping decades of WhatsApp correspondence. Unlike the iPhone, where data migration is strictly regulated, Android devices (and Xiaomi in particular) offer more freedom - but also more pitfalls. The main problem: the standard backup through Google Drive often does not recover on a new phone due to differences in MIUI versions, lack of rights or conflicts with accounts.

Xiaomi smartphones (such as Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Mi 13) have unique features: their own MIUI shell, restrictions on access to the /Android/data/ folder, and sometimes a pre-installed version of WhatsApp with modified permissions. This means that even the official instructions from Meta may not work. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven methods of portability, including bypassing MIUI locks and restoring chats without a backup.

It is important to understand that the success of the operation depends on three factors: 1) the version of WhatsApp on both devices, 2) free space on the new Xiaomi (at least 1.5× of the backup size), 3) the presence of the original USB-C cable (for local transfer).

Method 1: Official Google Drive Transfer (with nuances for Xiaomi)

The most common method is to use Google Drive, but on Xiaomi it often fails due to the features of MIUI.

1. On an old phone: 📱 Open WhatsApp. → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup. 🔄 Select a Google account linked to Xiaomi (important!). ☁️ Click "Create a copy" and wait until it's finished (may take up to 30 minutes). 📡 Check that the date of the last backup appears at the top of the screen.

On the new Xiaomi:

• 📱 Install WhatsApp from Google Play (not from Google Play) MIUI App Store!).
• 🔑 Enter the same phone number as on the old device.
• ☁️ On the recovery screen, select “Restore” and confirm access to Google Drive.
• ⏳ Wait until the process is completed (don’t interrupt the process even if the screen goes out!).

Common mistakes made on Xiaomi:

• 🚫 "Failed to restore backup – means new phone lacks space or WhatsApp version is outdated.
• 🔄 "Backup not found – check that you are using the same Google account and that backup is no older than 7 days.
• 📱 "WhatsApp is not responding: Restart Xiaomi and try again.

⚠️ Note: If the new Xiaomi has already installed a version of WhatsApp from the MIUI App Store, remove it and download the official one from Google Play. Localized versions often block backup recovery.

Method 2: Local transfer through the WhatsApp folder (for advanced)

If Google Drive refuses to work, you can manually transfer data through backup files, a method that requires access to hidden folders and is suitable for users willing to manipulate the file system.

Step 1: Preparing the old phone:

• 📁 Connect your old device to your PC and enable File Transfer Mode (MTP).
• 🔍 Go to the folder. /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases (If there is no folder, turn on the display of hidden files).
• 📄 Find the file. msgstore.db.crypt14 (or crypt12/15 Depending on the version, this is your backup.
• 💾 Copy it on PC with your Media folder (if you want to save photos and videos).

Step 2. Transfer to Xiaomi:

• 📱 Connect the new Xiaomi to your PC and create a folder /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases (if she's not).
• 📤 Transfer the copied file there. msgstore.db.crypt14.
• 🔑 Install WhatsApp on Xiaomi and wait for the offer to restore chats when registering.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi with MIUI 13 newer file /Android/data/ To access it, use the Mi File Explorer file manager with Show Hidden Files mode enabled or connect your phone to your PC.

Created a backup on an old phone|The msgstore.db file is copied to PC|Xiaomi has enough space (minimum 2 GB)|WhatsApp is not installed on the new phone-->

Method 3: Transfer via the "Send Data" (MI Mover) application

Xiaomi offers its own migration solution, the MI Mover utility, which can port not only contacts, but also some of the data of applications, including WhatsApp, but it does not work with all models and versions of MIUI.

How to use MI Mover:

1. 📱 Install. MI Mover on both phones from Google Play (on the old one you may need a version for the new version).-Xiaomi device).
2. 🔗 Connect both smartphones to the same Wi-Fi network.
3. 📤 On the old phone, select “I give”, on Xiaomi – “I receive".
4. 📋 Check the “WhatsApp” box in the data transfer list.
5. ⏳ Wait until the process is completed (the process can take up to 1 hour depending on the amount of data).

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Media files are not transferred (text chat only).
• 🔄 On some models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) MI Mover doesn’t see WhatsApp in its list of apps.
• 📱 If the old phone is custom firmware, the transfer may end in error.

Method 4: Transfer without backup (for emergencies)

If you don't have a backup, but you still have access to your old phone, you can try exporting chats manually, which only saves text messages (without media), but sometimes it's better than losing everything.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open WhatsApp on your old phone and go to the desired chat.
• ⋮ Press. ⋮ → More. → Chat exports.
• 📤 Choose whether to include media (but note that the file will become very large).
• 📧 Send the exported file to your email or cloud (e.g., Mi Cloud).
• 📥 On the new Xiaomi, open a file and save the chat in notes or text editor.

Alternative media: If you want to save photos and videos, copy /sdcard/WhatsApp/Media to your PC and then transfer it to your new phone. WhatsApp will automatically pick up your media files the next time you open the chat.

⚠️ Note: Exported chats are saved in.txt or.zip format and cannot be imported back into WhatsApp.This is a solution for archiving only, not for full porting.

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If your old phone doesn’t open WhatsApp (for example, because of a broken screen), connect it to your PC and manually copy your Databases and Media folders via ADB or file manager.

Method 5: Use of third-party programs (at your own risk)

There are apps like Backuptrans, Dr.Fone, or MobileTrans that promise to move WhatsApp between Android devices, but they do not work with the reservations of Xiaomi:

How to minimize the risks:

• 🔍 Before buying the program, check the reviews for your Xiaomi model (e.g. Redmi Note 11 or Xiaomi). 12T).
• 📱 Use the trial version to make sure compatibility is.
• 🔄 Backup through Google Drive before using third-party software.

On Xiaomi devices with MIUI 14 and later, third-party programs often require unlocking the bootloader or root rights, which voids the warranty.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even when following the instructions, Xiaomi users face typical problems.

• 🚫 "Not enough space on the device" Clear the cache in the settings MIUI (Settings → Memory. → Cleaning up) or transfer files to SD-card (if supported).
• 🔄 "Recovery is stuck at 0%"Reboot Xiaomi, check Wi-Fi connection and try again. If it doesn't work, delete WhatsApp and install again.
• 📱 "Backup file damaged Create a new backup on your old phone by pre-clearing WhatsApp cache (Settings) → Annexes → WhatsApp → Memory. → Clear the cache).
• 🔑 "Cannot log into Google account on Xiaomi with MIUI 13+ Solution: Add an account through Settings. → Accounts. → Google to install WhatsApp.

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If none of these methods worked, the last hope is to reach out to WhatsApp via the Settings form → Help → Contact us.Please include Xiaomi’s model, MIUI version and error description: sometimes they can manually restore the backup.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions