How to copy SMS from one Xiaomi to another: all working ways

Why standard SMS copying between Xiaomi often fails

Transferring messages from the old Xiaomi to the new one seems like a trivial task — until you encounter errors like “failed to sync data” or missed dialogues. The problem is that MIUI handles SMS differently than stock Android: the system uses its own algorithms for backing up and encrypting the message base. For example, when trying to transfer SMS through Mi Account, users often lose messages older than 3 months — this is not a bug, but a feature of Xiaomi cloud storage that by default stores only the latest data.

Another pitfall is different versions of MIUI. If the old smartphone has MIUI 12 and the new one has MIUI 15, direct migration through Mi Mover can end with an error due to changes in the structure of the SMS database. The same applies to hyperOS, where the logic of working with messages is radically reworked. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to transfer SMS between Xiaomi, including bypassing the limitations of MIUI and recovering lost messages.

Method 1: Mi Mover is the official tool of Xiaomi

Mi Mover is built into MIUI firmware and is designed to migrate data between brand devices, and it copies not only SMS, but also contacts, photos, apps.

• 📱 It only works between smartphones on MIUI 9+ HyperOS: Older versions require an update.
• 🔗 Both phones must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network (or create an access point on an old device).
• ⚡ The process is interrupted if the new phone does not have enough memory space (needs at least 10% of free space).
• 🔒 Does not transfer messages from closed folders (for example, hidden dialogs in Mi Security).

How to use:

1. On both phones, open Settings → About Phone → Mi Mover (or search by settings).
2. On the old phone, select “I am the sender” and on the new one, “I am the receiver.”
3. Scan it. QR-code from the screen of a new phone with an old device.
4. In the data list for transfer, tick “Messages” and click “Start”.

⚠️ Warning: If the new phone already has a Mi Account different from the old one, log out before you migrate. SMS They may be duplicated or not transferred at all.

Shut down. VPN both phones|Charge both devices at least 50 times%|Release 2+ GB of memory on a new phone|Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (not mobile Internet)-->

Method 2: Backup with Mi Account

The Mi Cloud service allows you to synchronize SMS between devices that are tied to the same account, which is convenient if the phones are in different places or you do not have access to Wi-Fi.

How to turn on synchronization:

1. On your old phone: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Sync → Messages (turn on the slider).
2. Wait for the download to be completed (the word “Synchronized” will appear in the status bar).
3. On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account and enable message synchronization.

Limitations of the method:

• 🗃️ Only messages from the last 3 months are saved (cloud storage limit).
• 🔄 If you already have a new phone SMS, They can mix with the loaded ones.
• 📵 It does not work without the Internet (mobile network or Wi-Fi is required).

Mi Mover|Mi Cloud|Manual export/import |Third-party apps |Never carried-->

Method 3: Manual export/import through XML-file

If official methods don’t work (for example, because of different versions of MIUI), you can export SMS to a.xml file and import it to a new phone, which requires more action, but guarantees the transfer of all messages, including the old ones.

Instructions for the old phone:

1. Install the SMS Backup & Restore app (free, no ads).
2. Open the app and click "Backup".
3. Select “Local Backup” → tick “SMS” → click “Backup”.
4. The file will be saved in the /SMSBackupRestore folder on internal memory.

Instructions for the new phone:

1. Transfer the backup file (e.g., sms-20260515.xml) to the new phone via USB, Bluetooth or the cloud.
2. Install the same SMS Backup & Restore app.
3. Click "Restore" → select the file → confirm the import.

⚠️ Note: When importing SMS If you have a new phone, you can replace your existing messages with those you've imported. SMS new-device.

Method 4: Move over Google Drive (for MIUI with Google services)

If your Xiaomi has Google services installed (even on Chinese firmware), you can use the built-in Android backup feature, which is suitable for transferring SMS to devices with MIUI Global or HyperOS.

How to set up:

1. On your old phone: Settings → Google → Backup → turn on “Data Backup” and select a Google account.
2. In the Application Data section, make sure that copying for the Messages app (com.android.mms) is enabled.
3. Click on “Create a copy now” and wait until it is completed.
4. On the new phone, log in to the same Google account and restore data when you first set up or through Settings → Google → Backup → Restore.

Advantages and disadvantages:

• ☁️ Backups are stored in Google Drive and do not take up space on your phone.
• 🔄 They're just being restored. SMS, sent/received through the standard Messages app (not working with Mi Messages).
• ⏳ The process can take several hours if there are many messages.

💡

If you don't have an SMS after you've restored from Google Drive, check which messaging app is installed by default. In MIUI, Messages (from Google) and Mi Messages sometimes conflict. Go to Settings → Applications → Default → SMS app and select the standard Android app.

Method 5: Use of ADB (for power users)

If none of the above methods worked, you can extract SMS directly from the system database using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting the phone to a computer and basic command line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

1. Install. ADB-computer-driver.
2. On your phone, turn on USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times click on MIUI Version → go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging by USB).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb backup -f sms_backup.ab -noapk com.android.providers.telephony A confirmation request will appear on the phone - enter the lock password (if any) and click "Create a backup copy».
4. File. sms_backup.ab It'll be saved on your computer. Move it to your new phone.
5. On your new phone, repeat the steps. 2–3, Then run the recovery command: adb restore sms_backup.ab

⚠️ Attention: When in use ADB Do not interrupt the process – this can cause damage to the database. SMS If the adb restore command is giving you an error, try renaming the file backup.ab or using alternative utilities like android-backup-extractor.

Solving problems when transferring SMS

Even when following the instructions, users encounter common errors, and here's how to fix them:

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 📵 Regional restrictions: on Chinese firmware MIUI (without Google services, some features may be disabled. Try changing the region in your Xiaomi account to "Global».
• 🔧 Damage to the base SMS: If messages are not displayed even on your old phone, use the app SMS Fix & Recovery.
• 📱 Firmware incompatibility: if on one HyperOS phone and on another — MIUI 14 Try to upgrade both devices to the latest version.

💡

If you port SMS from Xiaomi to POCO (or vice versa), only use manual export to XML or ADB. Embedded Mi Mover and Mi Cloud tools may not work properly with Xiaomi sub-brands due to firmware differences.

FAQ: Frequent questions about moving SMS to Xiaomi