Changing your smartphone from iOS to Android, particularly Xiaomi devices, often raises concerns about losing important data. The most critical point for most users is to preserve the history of correspondence in instant messengers. If you are wondering how to move WhatsApp from the iPhone to Android Xiaomi, we hasten to reassure you that this process has become much easier thanks to official tools.
Apple owners have faced serious difficulties in the past because iCloud backups are incompatible with Google Drive. However, Xiaomi has implemented Move to Xiaomi, a utility that allows data to migrate, including correspondence, almost automatically, and it is important to understand that the procedure requires certain conditions to be met, ignoring which can lead to failures.
In this article, we will discuss all the stages of migration in detail, from device preparation to the final data integrity check. The key to a successful transfer is the use of a Lightning-USB cable and the absence of WhatsApp installation on a new Android device before the procedure.
Preparing devices before data migration
The first step is to properly prepare both smartphones.Make sure your iPhone is upgraded to the current iOS version and Xiaomi has a fresh version of the MIUI or HyperOS shell installed.Insufficient free storage on the new device is the most common cause of errors, so check that Xiaomi has more free space than the WhatsApp backup on the iPhone weighs.
Both devices must be powered, the cloning process can take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours depending on the size of the archive, and it is also critical to have an original or certified Lightning to USB-C (or USB-A with an adapter) cable, as cheap analogues often do not support data transfer, providing only charging.
Be sure to enable Wi-Fi on both devices, although the main data stream will go over the cable, the network connection is necessary for verification of accounts. Before you start, make sure that the iPhone in the iCloud settings is enabled sync, and the Google account on Xiaomi has already been added to the system.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to install or open WhatsApp on a new Xiaomi phone before the transfer process is complete.If you have already installed the messenger and registered, delete it completely before the procedure begins, otherwise the story will not be transferred.
Check the battery. Even when connected to charging, the system can limit background processes if the charge is critically low. It is optimal to have at least 50% charge on both gadgets before starting.
Installation and configuration of the Move to Xiaomi app
Xiaomi has developed a special application for the data transfer, which is already built into the system on new models, but on the iPhone it must be downloaded from the App Store. Search on request "Move to Xiaomi" will give the desired tool with the manufacturer's logo.
Once installed on your iPhone, launch the app and provide all the permissions you request. iOS strictly controls access to contacts, photos and files, so without permission confirmation, portability is impossible. On the Xiaomi side, the app can be called "Mi Mover" or integrated into the original setup wizard.
The process of connecting devices occurs as follows:
- 📱 On iPhone, select the role "Sender" in the Mi Mover app.
- 📲 On Xiaomi, select the Receiver role in the corresponding menu.
- 🔗 Connect devices to each other using a Lightning-USB cable.
- 📡 Wait for the show. QR-code or automatic pair detection.
If there is no automatic cable connection, try using the Wi-Fi connection mode that the app offers, but the cable is always more reliable for large amounts of data. Once the connection is established, the system will prompt you to choose the types of data to transfer.
The step-by-step process of moving WhatsApp
Once the connection is established, the iPhone screen will show a list of data categories. Find the WhatsApp section and make sure the switch is activated. If you want to move only the messenger, you can turn off the other items to speed up the process.
Run the scan. The app will analyze the amount of data, then it will be transmitted directly, at which point the screens of the devices can go out — that's OK, the system saves energy, but the process is not interrupted. Do not disconnect the cable and do not turn off the application.
Here’s what the sequence looks like in detail:
- On the data selection screen, make sure that the checkmark is in front of WhatsApp.
- Press the "Start Transfer" button.
- On the iPhone may appear system notification about creating a backup copy – confirm it.
- Wait for the progress bar to end on both devices.
Importantly, during the process, the iPhone may temporarily reboot WhatsApp, which is a regular situation. If you see a message saying “data cannot be transferred,” check if the iPhone is two-factor authentication requiring confirmation, or the space on Xiaomi is not out.
☑️ Checklist before launch
Completion of installation on new device
Once the transfer indicator reaches 100%, the data will be copied to the hidden partition of Xiaomi memory. Now you can move to the final setting. Find in Google Play or in the Tools folder on the desktop WhatsApp application and install it.
When you first start up, type in the same phone number that was used on your iPhone, the system will detect a local backup created by the migration utility, and the screen will show the sentence "Restore from backup." Press "Allow" and wait for the process to finish.
The folder structure may be different from iOS after the transfer, but all chats and media facts will be in place. Note that the statuses (Stories) and some privacy settings may reset, they will have to be reconfigured manually.
| Parameter | Before the transfer (iPhone) | After the transfer (Xiaomi) | Commentary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backup repository | iCloud | Google Drive / Locally | You need to set up a backup in Google Drive |
| Media format | HEIC (photo) | JPG (conversion) | Photos are automatically converted |
| WhatsApp calls | Work. | Requires settings | Call history persists |
| Statuses (Stories) | Current | Dropped. | I need to reload. |
After recovery, check several dialogs, especially those with important documents or voice messages.