Changing your smartphone, even within a single brand, always causes a slight panic about losing important data, especially when you’re in correspondence that stores confirmation codes, delivery addresses, or just warm memories. Fortunately, the MIUI ecosystem offers several built-in tools that allow you to copy SMS messages without losing a single character.
In this article, we will take a look at how to transfer SMS from Xiaomi to Xiaomi using different approaches, from the standard “Mi Migrate” app to Google cloud services. You will learn what file formats are supported and how to avoid common errors during data migration. Recovery of the archive takes only a few minutes if you properly prepare both devices.
Before you start, make sure that both phones are at least 50-60% charged, the transfer process can be energy-intensive, especially if the amount of archive with messages is large, and it is also worth checking the availability of free space on the new device so that the system can properly unpack and index incoming data.
Using the Mi Migrate app for fast transfer
The fastest and most native way Xiaomi engineers have come up with is using the pre-installed Mi Migrate app, which is specifically designed to migrate data between Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones. It works on the principle of creating a direct Wi-Fi hotspot between devices, which ensures high transfer speeds without using mobile traffic.
To get started, open the app on both smartphones. On the new device, select "This is a new phone" and on the old one, "This is an old phone." The system will automatically run the scan. QR-The connection of the devices is instantaneous, after which you will be asked to select the types of data to transfer. Be sure to tick the box opposite to the item "Messages" or «SMS».
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If the Mi Migrate app is not found in the Tools folder, try downloading it via GetApps or the official MIUI website, as it is sometimes hidden on global firmware.
It is important to note that when you transfer large amounts of data (for example, if you have thousands of messages with MMS attachments), the process can take up to 15-20 minutes. Do not interrupt the connection and keep the device screens on. Once the procedure is completed, a notification of successful import will appear on the new phone, and all dialogs will appear in the standard Messages app.
☑️ Preparing for migration through Mi Migrate
Backup through Google Drive and Google account
If you don’t have the option to use a direct connection or want to keep a backup for the future, sync through your Google account is the ideal option, which is good because your SMS will be linked to your account and you can restore it even after a few years by simply logging into your profile on any Android smartphone.
On your old phone, go to settings, search for the Google section, and select Backup. Make sure the Messages switch is active. Click Start Copy or Backup. The system will upload your dialogues to cloud storage. On the new Xiaomi, when you first set up or after you reset, just log in to the same Google account and the system will prompt you to restore data from the cloud.
⚠️ Note: Recovery from Google Drive requires a stable Wi-Fi connection. If you try to download a large SMS archive over a mobile network, the process may be suspended by the system to save traffic.
The peculiarity of this method is that it recovers not only text, but also attachments if they were included in the sync. However, the speed of recovery depends on the speed of your Internet connection. Google One provides 15 GB of free space, which is usually more than enough for text messages and multimedia.
Local backup on Xiaomi
There's a powerful tool in the MIUI shell that many people forget about, local backup, which allows you to create a complete cast of the system or parts of it directly into your phone's memory, which is ideal if you don't want to shine your messages in the cloud or you don't have fast Internet.
To create an archive, go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore → Mobile Device. You will need to enter the screen unlock password to confirm the operation. In the data list, select Messages and click Backup. Once completed, the file will be saved by MIUI/backup/AllBackup.
To transfer to a new phone, you need to physically transfer this file. You can do this via Bluetooth, Send Anywhere, or just copy the backup folder to your computer and then to your new smartphone. On the new device, the path will be the same: Settings → About Phone → Reserve... → Mobile device → Restore. The system will find the file and offer to unpack the archive.
| Method | Speed. | Network dependency | Conservation of investments (MMS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Migrate | Very high. | Not required | Yes. |
| Google Drive | Medium | Wi-Fi required | Yes. |
| Local backup | Tall. | Not required | Yes. |
| SMS Backup & Restore | Low/Mediocre | Depends on the vault. | Yeah (with settings) |
Where is the local MIUI backup file stored?
Third-party applications: SMS Backup & Restore
When regular funds for some reason do not work or cross-platform compatibility is needed (for example, switching from another Android to Xiaomi), the legendary application comes to the rescue. SMS Backup & Restore: It allows you to save your correspondence to the universal. XML-format.
The process is this: install the app on both phones. On the old device, back up and choose the transfer method. The best way to use the Transfer option is to create a local Wi-Fi network between the phones. On the new device, select Recover and find the source.
The main advantage of this method is the ability to selectively restore, you can only recast certain dialogues, not the entire story at once, and the application can automatically create backups on a schedule, sending them to Google Drive or Dropbox, which serves as a great insurance against data loss in the future.
⚠️ Note: When using third-party applications to recover SMS, you may need to assign this application to the “app for the recovery of SMS” SMS After the process is complete, remember to return the standard Xiaomi app.
Synchronization with Mi Cloud
Mi Account holders can use Xiaomi’s proprietary cloud, which is convenient for those who are deeply integrated into the brand ecosystem. Unlike Google, Mi Cloud allows you to sync SMS in the background in almost real time.
Activate the function in the Settings menu → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Messages. Once enabled, all new incoming and outgoing messages will automatically upload to the cloud. On the new phone, just log into the same Mi Account, and the history of correspondence will be automatically drawn up.
But you have to keep limits in mind. Mi Cloud provides only 5GB of space for free. If you're actively communicating and sending a lot of heavy MMS, the place can run out quickly, in which case the system will stop syncing new data until you vacate space or subscribe.
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Mi Cloud is convenient for constant background synchronization, but for a one-time full transfer to a new phone, it is better to use Mi Migrate or local backup due to the limitations of free space in the cloud.
Possible problems and solutions
Despite the fact that the processes are fine, sometimes there may be failures, for example, after recovery messages may not appear immediately, in this case, try to restart the smartphone. Also a common problem is the mismatch of time and date, which can cause SMS to sort in the wrong chronological order.
If you encounter a “Not Enough Space” error on your local backup, clear the app cache or temporarily delete large files. If you have a Google account problem, check if two-factor authorization is enabled and if a notification on another device is required to confirm login.
In rare cases, especially on custom firmware, it may be necessary to manually reset the Messages and Phone application settings before importing to avoid database conflicts. → Annexes → All applications → Communications → Clean up.