How to Transfer SMS from Xiaomi to a New Phone: 2026

Switching to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting moment, but many users face the problem: how to keep important things alive. SMS-Bank codes, sign-up confirmations, communication with loved ones -- losing that data means risking security and convenience. Fortunately, Xiaomi owners have several reliable ways to carry messages, and we'll go through each of them in detail.

In this article, you will find not only standard methods through MIUI Cloud or Google Drive, but also alternative solutions for cases when cloud services are not available. We will also explain how to avoid typical errors when exporting SMS and what to do if messages are not correctly transferred. Regardless of the model — whether it is Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Xiaomi 14 flagship — instructions will be suitable for all devices based on MIUI 12-14.

1. Backup of SMS via MIUI Cloud

The easiest way to save messages is to use Xiaomi’s built-in cloud storage, which requires no third-party apps and works on all devices with a Mi Account, the main condition is that the old phone must be actively synced to the cloud.

To enable backup of SMS:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud.
• 🔄 Scroll down to the Synchronization section and turn on the switch next to Messages".
• ☁️ Click on "Backup" and select "Create a Backup." Make sure the data list is marked "SMS".
• ⏳ Wait for the process to be completed (time depends on the number of messages).

After that, on the new Xiaomi phone, just log into the same Mi Account and recover data from the cloud.Please note: the free Mi Cloud tariff provides only 5 GB of storage, so if you have a large message history, you may need to clean up or buy additional space.

⚠️ Note: If you are using two-factor authentication (2FA) For Mi Account, make sure you have backup access codes before changing your phone. If you lose your device, it can take up to 7 days to recover your account without them.

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Before backing up, check that your phone has mobile internet or Wi-Fi enabled. Copying a large volume of SMS over a mobile network can lead to additional traffic costs.

2. Export SMS to the file through the application "Messages"

If you don’t trust cloud services or want to have a local copy of messages, you can export them to a.xml or.txt file. This method is suitable for users who plan to transfer SMS to devices of other brands (for example, Samsung or iPhone).

Instructions for MIUI 14:

1. Open the standard "Messages" app.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to "More" → "Export of communications".
4. Select the date range (or leave "All messages") and file format (.xml is recommended for further import).
5. Click Export and specify the folder to save (such as Downloads or Documents).

The exported file can be sent to you by email, saved to Google Drive or copied to your computer. To import to a new phone, you will need a third-party application (for example, SMS Backup & Restore), since standard MIUI tools do not support direct import from the file.

3. Transfer of SMS through SIM-map: pros and cons

One of the oldest methods of saving messages is copying SIM-This method is suitable for short-term storage of small amounts of SMS (e.g. bank codes), but has serious limitations:

• 📌 Limited volume: SIM-The card stores no more than 250 messages (depending on the operator).
• ⏳ Slow Transmission: Copying takes 5-10 times longer than the cloud.
• 🔠 Formatting loss: Emoji, links, and media files are not saved.

If you still decide to use this method:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Select the desired SMS with a long tap or click "Select all".
3. Slip on three points and select "copy on" SIM-map".
4. After the transfer SIM in the new phone, repeat the action in reverse order: "Copy with the SIM-map".

⚠️ Attention: Don't pull out SIM-This can cause damage to the data on the card and loss of some messages. Also note that eSIM does not support SMS storage.

Party of the backup annex

If you don't like the built-in MIUI tools, you can use specialized utilities, and we tested some popular solutions and made a comparison table:

We recommend SMS Backup & Restore as the most versatile solution.

• 🔄 Automate backups on schedule.
• 📁 Save messages to the cloud or to the cloud SD-map.
• 🔍 Viewing archives without restoration.

To use the application:

1. Download it from Google Play and give you access to SMS.
2. Click "Create a backup" and select the save location.
3. On the new phone, install the same app and click "Restore".

Install the app on both phones|Check the free space on the device|Disable battery optimization for the app|Create a test backup copy-->

5. Transfer SMS via Google Drive (for Android users)

If you use Google services, you can sync messages through Google Drive, which is convenient because the data will be available on any device with your Google account, including Pixel, Samsung or even iPhone (via Google Messages).

How to set up backup:

1. Open Settings → Google → Backup.
2. Make sure the “Google Drive Backup” switch is active.
3. Tap "Settings backup" and turn on "SMS".
4. Click on "Create a copy now."

On the new phone, just log in to the same Google account and the messages will be restored automatically when you first start the Messages app.

• 🕒 Recovery can take up to 24 hours.
• 📵 MMS (Multimedia messages are not always copied correctly.
• 🔒 Android 9 is required to encrypt backups+.

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Google Drive only stores backups of SMS for 57 days from the last copy, and if you don’t create a new copy within that timeframe, the old data will be deleted.

6. Manual transfer via computer (for advanced users)

For those who prefer complete control over data, the method of manually copying the SMS database via ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is suitable, which requires command line skills, but guarantees 100% safety of messages, including metadata (time, delivery status, etc.).

Instructions:

1. Install ADB on your computer (download Platform Tools from Google).
2. On the phone, turn on Developer Mode (7 times tap Settings → About Phone → MIUI version) and activate Debugging by USB.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb backup -f sms_backup.ab -apk com.android.providers.telephony On the phone, confirm the creation of a backup copy (password can not be set).
4. File. sms_backup.ab To recover on a new phone, use the command: adb restore sms_backup.ab

This method is suitable for MIUI and other Android-based firmware, but has nuances:

• 🔧 Requires an unlocked bootloader on some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T).
• 📂 The.ab file cannot be viewed without special tools (for example, Android Backup Extractor).
• ⚠️ When you restore the data on the new phone will be overwritten!

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even when following the instructions, users have problems with SMS transfer, and we have collected the most common errors and ways to fix them:

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 📶 Internet connection stability (especially for cloud services).
• 🔋 Battery charge – at low levels, the phone can interrupt the copying.
• 📱 Version MIUI — on beta firmware possible backup bugs.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions