How to copy SMS to new Xiaomi phone: the full guide 2026

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting moment, but along with the joy of updating the gadget comes a headache: how to save important messages from an old device? SMS with passwords from services, payment confirmations or just expensive memories can not be lost. Fortunately, owners of Redmi, POCO or flagship Xiaomi models have at least 5 working ways to transfer messages - from built-in functions to third-party applications.

In this article, we will discuss each method in detail: from the simplest (use). SIM-maps) to advanced (manual copying through ADB). You'll learn how to do this for your model, how to avoid data loss, and what to do if messages don't want to be copied, and you'll also learn a unique life hack to transfer SMS between different brands without losing formatting.

1. Method: Backup via MIUI (built-in function)

The most reliable and official method is to use the built-in MIUI backup tool, which works on all modern Xiaomi devices (starting with MIUI 10) and saves not only SMS, but also contacts, call log, system settings, the main advantage is that you do not need to install third-party applications.

To copy the messages:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → The phone. → Backup and reset → Local backup on an old phone.
• 💾 Click “Create a Backup” and select only the Message option (you can add other data too).
• 📁 The backup file will be saved in the folder MIUI/backup/AllBackup internal memory or SD-map.
• 🔄 Connect your new phone to your computer or transfer the file through Mi Drop/Bluetooth, Then restore it through the same settings section.

⚠️ Attention: If you have MIUI Global and MIUI China on different phones, the backup may not recover.In this case, use the method with Google Drive (see next section).

Battery Charge > 50% on both phones

Free space on the new device (minimum 500 MB)

Restrictions on the "Backup" application in the battery settings are disabled

The same Mi Account on both phones (if you use the cloud)

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2. Method: Synchronization through Google Drive

If you prefer cloud-based solutions, Google offers a built-in SMS backup tool (available on all Android 6.0+ phones), a method handy in that data is automatically synced to the new phone when it is first turned on.

How to set up:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Google → Backup.
2. Enable the option “Backup to Google Drive” and make sure that the Message item is selected in the list.
3. Click on “Create Backup Now” and wait until it’s completed (it can take up to 10 minutes).
4. On the new Xiaomi, when you first start, select a recovery from Google backup and log in under the same account.

⚠️ Note: Google only stores backups of SMS for 30 days from the last update, and if you don't move the data within that timeframe, they will be deleted without recovery.

Built-in MIUI Backup

Google Drive

Third-party annexes

SIM-map

I don't make backups.-->

Advantages of the method:

• 🔄 Automatic synchronization (configured once).
• 🌐 Access messages from any device via Google Messages for Web.
• 🛡️ Data is encrypted during transmission.

Disadvantages:

• ⏳ Slower than local copying (depending on internet speed).
• 📶 Requires a stable connection to Wi-Fi.
• 🚫 It's not. MMS (text-only).

💡

If Google Drive does not offer SMS backup, upgrade the Google Play Services app to the latest version in the Play Market.

3. Method: Transfer of SMS via SIM-card

The most “old-fashioned”, but sometimes the only possible way is to copy messages to the Internet. SIM-It's a good one if you have a map:

• 📵 You do not have access to Wi-Fi or mobile internet.
• 🔋 The battery is drained, and you need to quickly copy the most important SMS.
• 📱 One of the phones is not on Android (for example, iPhone or feature phone).

Instructions:

1. Put it in. SIM-card.
2. Open the Messages app, select the desired dialog → ⋮ (Menus) → Copy on SIM.
3. Repeat for all important messages (be aware that only 20-50 SMS is placed on the SIM depending on the card model).
4. Insert SIM into the new Xiaomi and import messages through the same menu.

⚠️ Attention: SIM-The cards only support text SMS (maximum 160 characters). MMS, Emojis, group chats and attachment messages are not copied.

4. Method: Applications for SMS transfer (SMS Backup & Restore and analogues)

If the built-in methods don't work (e.g., older versions of MIUI), third-party applications come to the rescue, the most popular being SMS Backup & Restore (over 10 million installations).

• 📥 Save SMS in.xml or.csv format (can be opened on PC).
• ☁️ Download backups to Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive.
• 🔄 Transfer messages between phones of different brands (for example, from Samsung to Xiaomi).
• 📊 View statistics by message (number, most active contacts).

Step-by-step:

1. Install Backup & Restore SMS on both phones.
2. On the old device, click “Create a Backup” → select Messages (and MMS if needed).
3. Save the file to internal memory or to the cloud.
4. Transfer the file to the new Xiaomi (e.g., via Mi Drop or Bluetooth).
5. In the app on the new phone, select “Restore” and specify the path to the file.

⚠️ Warning: When recovering, the app can replace existing SMS messages on the new phone. If there are already important messages, first make a backup copy of them!

5. Method: Manual copying via ADB (for advanced users)

If you're not afraid of the command line, you can copy SMS directly from the Android system database using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works on any phone, including devices with root rights or custom firmware.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on both phones (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to unlock the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Copy commands:

Connect your old phone and do:


adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db




Connect a new phone and download the database:



adb push mmssms.db /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/




Reboot the phone:



adb reboot

⚠️ Warning: This method requires root rights on the new phone, otherwise the database won't overwrite:

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

(Create a file sms_backup.ab, You need to reset it with adb restore.)

💡

ADB-copying is the only way to transfer SMS from a phone that has a broken screen, but USB-debugging was included in advance.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even with detailed instructions, it can be difficult to carry SMS messages.

Problem 1: Messages have been moved, but no contact names (numbers only) have been identified.

• 🔹 Reason: Contacts are not synced with Google Account or Mi Account.
• 🔹 Solution: Export contacts separately through Settings → Contacts → Imports/Exports.

Problem 2: Recovery from MIUI backup is 99% frozen.

• 🔹 Reason: Variation of versions MIUI or a corrupted backup file.
• 🔹 Solution: Try to restore a copy on another phone with the same version MIUI, then repeat the transfer.

Problem 3: The SMS Backup & Restore app doesn't see the message.

• 🔹 Reason: The phone is installed third-party SMS-Application (e.g. Google Messages).
• 🔹 Solution: Temporarily make the standard Messages app from Xiaomi the default app.

Problem 4: MMS is not tolerated in any way.

• 🔹 Reason: MMS stored separately from SMS and often not included in backups.
• 🔹 Solution: Use SMS Backup & Restore with a tick Include MMS Or manually copy the folder. /sdcard/Pictures/MMS.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions