Switching to a new Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone is often accompanied by a desire to keep the entire accumulated history of correspondence on WhatsApp. However, the standard process of installing the application on a clean device does not guarantee automatic recovery of the archive of messages unless you perform preliminary actions on the old gadget. Users often face a situation when chats are empty after entering a number on a new phone and media files disappear.
The migration of data between two Android devices has its own peculiarities, especially given the aggressive optimization of the battery in the shell of MIUI or HyperOS. Unlike iOS, which uses iCloud, the Android ecosystem relies on Google Drive or local copies of files. It is important to understand that just flipping a folder over Bluetooth is not enough – you need proper integration with the backup server or accurate cloning of the directory structure.
In this guide, we will discuss in detail three proven methods of transfer: classic through the Google cloud, manual through the file manager and using the proprietary utility Mi Mover. Each method has its advantages depending on the amount of data and Internet connection speed. Properly following the steps will allow you to continue communication from the moment you left on the previous device.
Preparing the old and new device for migration
Before any data porting operation is initiated, make sure that both smartphones are ready to go. On the old device from which the copying will be made, you should check the version of the WhatsApp application. Often users ignore updates, which can lead to errors in backup creation or database format incompatibility. Go to the Google Play Store and make sure that the latest available version of the messenger is installed.
A prerequisite is to have an active Google account on both devices. This is the account that will be linked to the cloud. Check the free space on Google Drive: if the limit of 15 GB is exhausted by photos or documents, backup chats will not happen. Also make sure that both smartphones have stable Wi-Fi access, as transferring large volumes of media files can take considerable time and traffic.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure both devices have the same phone number as the account. It is impossible to restore a backup to a number other than the one on which it was created.
Be sure to check the battery power. The process of creating a full copy and subsequent recovery can require significant energy consumption. It is recommended to keep both devices connected to the charger or have a charge of at least 60-70%. During the migration, screens can often turn on and the processor operates in intensive mode, which quickly consumes energy.
☑️ Ready for transfer
Method 1: Classical transfer via Google Drive
The most reliable and official method is to use the built-in cloud backup feature, which is ideal if you have a good Internet connection and enough storage space. On an old smartphone, open WhatsApp, go to the settings menu (three dots in the corner), and select Chats → Chat Backup. Here you will see information about the latest copy and the button to create a new one.
In the "Google Drive Backup" section, select frequency or leave "Never" if you want to create a copy only now manually. It's important to choose the right Google account from the list. If you have multiple emails, make sure that the one you'll have access to on the new Xiaomi is selected. Click Backup and wait until the process is completed. Waiting times depend on the size of the history and the network speed.
After successful completion on the new Xiaomi phone, follow the following steps:
- 📲 Install WhatsApp from the Play Store, but don’t open it yet.
- 🔐 Log in to the same Google account that was used on the old device.
- 💬 Launch WhatsApp and enter your phone number.
- ☁️ After checking the number, the system will find the backup and prompt you to restore it".
The recovery process can take time. Don't close the app or turn off the screen until the progress bar reaches 100%, and then your text messages will appear in the list, and media files will be downloaded in the background as needed.
What should I do if a copy is not found?
Method 2: Local Transfer without Internet (via File Manager)
If data is large and Internet speeds are low, the best solution is to manually transfer a local copy. WhatsApp automatically creates local backups every night at 2:00, storing them in the phone’s memory for 7 days, which allows you to transfer chats directly, bypassing cloud speed and volume restrictions.
On the old device, open the file manager (e.g., Explorer or File Manager). MIUI File Manager.The path to the database may vary depending on the version of Android. On newer versions (Android 11 and above), files are on the Android path. → media → com.whatsapp → WhatsApp → Databases. On older versions, the WhatsApp folder can be located at the root of internal memory. You need a file named msgstore.db.crypt14 (the number may be different, it is the encryption version, or msgstore-DATE.db.crypt14.
Copy the entire Databases folder or a specific database file to a new phone.
- 💻 Connecting both phones to the PC via USB-cable.
- 📡 Wi-Fi File Sharing (Quick Share, Send Anywhere).
- 📂 Bluetooth (slowly but without internet).
- 🗂️ Moving a memory card (if both phones support microSD).
On the new Xiaomi, install WhatsApp, but don't run it. First create the required folder structure manually, if it hasn't already appeared. Copy the database file into the Android → media → com.whatsapp → WhatsApp → Databases. If you're using the older version of Android, the path will be WhatsApp → Databases at the root of the memory. Once you've placed the file, launch the application, go through the number verification and agree to restore from the local copy.
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Key point: The local copy file name should be strictly msgstore.db.cryptXX. If you copy the edited file (with a date), rename it by removing the date, otherwise WhatsApp will not recognize it as an up-to-date backup.
Using the Mi Mover app for cloning**
Xiaomi smartphone owners have a unique advantage: the built-in Mi Mover app, designed to quickly migrate data from an old Android or iPhone to a new Xiaomi. While it primarily copies contacts, photos and apps, it is also able to migrate WhatsApp data, including chat history, if the process is set up properly.
Run Mi Mover on both devices (on the old one you can download it from the app store). On the new phone, select "I am the recipient" on the old one, "I am the sender." Scan. QR-In the data list for transmission, be sure to select the "Apps" section and find it in the WhatsApp list.
| Method | Speed. | Dependence on Wi-Fi | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Drive | Medium | Tall. | Low. |
| Local file. | Tall. | No. | Medium |
| Mi Mover | Very high. | No (my Wi-Fi) | Low. |
Once the Mi Mover port is complete, the new phone may need additional setup. Unlike a full system recovery, app cloning sometimes requires manual backup activation inside WhatsApp itself if direct integration does not work automatically. However, for most MIUI users, this method is the most seamless, since it takes into account the specifics of the Xiaomi file system.
Problem Solving: Chats are not being restored
Even if you follow all the instructions, there can be technical failures. One of the common problems on Xiaomi is aggressive energy saving, which can interrupt the process of recovering background data. If you see messages but no media files, or the process is stalled in the "Recovery is underway..." stage, check the power settings.
Go to Settings → Applications → All Apps → WhatsApp → Battery. Set the battery mode to No Limits. This will prevent MIUI from “sleeping” the messenger process while downloading the story. It’s also worth checking the permissions: the application must have full access to the device’s memory.
⚠️ Note: If you change your Google account region or use a corporate account with security restrictions, restoring a backup may be blocked by administrator policies.
Another common mistake is that the app version is not matched, and if the old phone had WhatsApp beta and you installed a stable version on the new phone from the marketplace, the database format may not be compatible, so you either have to update the app on the new phone to beta or wait until the stable version catches up with the database build number.
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Expert advice: If recovery is 99% frozen, don't panic. Leave your phone connected to Wi-Fi and charging for 30-40 minutes. Often the system completes indexing of media files in the background, even if the application interface doesn't respond.
Features of WhatsApp on MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi shells have specific notification and background settings that affect the functionality of the messenger after the transfer. Users often complain that after moving to Xiaomi messages come with a delay or do not arrive at all.
To avoid message loss, immediately after transferring data, make the following settings: turn on autostart for WhatsApp. To do this, go to the Security app (green icon with lightning), select Permissions → Autostart and activate the switch opposite WhatsApp. This ensures that the application will start immediately after the phone is turned on.
It is also recommended to fix the application in the list of recent tasks: Open the list of running applications, find WhatsApp and pull it down (or click on the lock, depending on the version of MIUI), this will prevent it from unloading from RAM when cleaning the garbage.