How to transfer WhatsApp from iPhone to Xiaomi Redmi: all the ways 2026

Switching from iPhone to Xiaomi Redmi smartphone is a crucial step, especially if you are actively using WhatsApp. The main problem is that the messenger does not support direct synchronization between iOS and Android, and the standard backup via iCloud is not available on Xiaomi devices. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods of transfer — from the official method using Move to iOS (yes, it works in the opposite direction!) to alternative solutions with third services.

Important: the migration process depends on the version of WhatsApp (at the time of writing, 2.24.16.78 is relevant for Android and 24.12.78 for iOS), the Redmi model (on Redmi Note 12/13 and later there may be nuances with screen resolution) and the version of MIUI. We tested the instructions on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ with MIUI 14 and iPhone 13 with iOS 17.4.

1. Official method: transfer via "Move to Android" (Google)

Since 2022, Google and Apple have jointly developed a tool called Move to Android (formerly Move to iOS), which allows you to transfer data, including WhatsApp, from your iPhone to Android, the most reliable method, but only works when you first set up a Xiaomi smartphone — if the device is already configured, you will have to reset to factory settings.

How it works:

• 📱 On iPhone install the Move to Android app from the App Store.
• 🔄 At the configuration stage, Redmi selects the option “Copy data from iPhone».
• 🔗 Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network (or use Hotspot on your iPhone).
• 📤 On iPhone, select data to transfer, including WhatsApp (chats, media, settings).

⚠️ Note: If you already have WhatsApp installed on Xiaomi Redmi, you need to delete it before transferring it, otherwise the data will not be transferred, and the messenger will offer to restore a backup copy from Google Drive (which you do not have yet).

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If the transfer is interrupted, do not panic: repeat the process, but on the iPhone in the WhatsApp settings, pre-clean the cache (Settings → Storage → Clear the cache).

2. Transfer via iCloud backup (using third-party tools)

If Xiaomi Redmi is already set up, the official method is not suitable, in which case you can use a WhatsApp backup from iCloud, but you will need third-party software to extract it.

• 💻 Backuptrans WhatsApp Transfer (paid, but with a trial period).
• 🖥️ iMazing (supports iCloud backup extraction on PC).
• 📱 WazzapMigrator (mobile application running on Android).

Step-by-step instructions for Backuptrans:

1. Download and install the program on Windows/Mac.
2. You are logged in to iCloud through the program (two-factor authentication is required).
3. Select the latest WhatsApp backup and export it to the.zip file.
4. Connect Xiaomi Redmi to your PC and transfer data through USB-debugging.

⚠️ Note: When using WazzapMigrator on Xiaomi, you may need to disable MIUI Optimization in the Developer Settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to tap → For developers → Turn off optimization MIUI). Otherwise, the application may not see the backup copy.

Manual export of chats (without media files)

If you only need text messages (no photos, videos, or voice), WhatsApp allows you to export chats via email, the easiest method, but has limitations:

• ✉️ Text only is exported (media attached as links but not saved).
• 📧 Maximum size of the letter – 10 MB (for large chats you will have to split into parts).
• 🔄 You need to re-add your contacts to WhatsApp on Xiaomi.

How to export:

1. Open the desired chat in WhatsApp on iPhone.
2. Slip on the contact/group name → “Export chat”.
3. Select “No Media” (or “Enable Media” if you are ready for size restrictions).
4. Send the file to your mail or Telegram.
5. On Xiaomi Redmi, open the file and copy the text to a new chat.

4.Move over Google Drive (if the iPhone is not already in gebruik)

If you have WhatsApp backup on Google Drive (like an old Android device), you can restore it to Xiaomi Redmi. But here's the caveat: WhatsApp on iOS can't create backups in Google Drive.

• 🔄 You’ve used Android before and backed up your files.
• 📱 You have access to an old Android device with a current backup.
• 📁 You manually copied the backup from your iPhone to Google Drive via PC.

Instructions for recovery:

1. Install WhatsApp on Xiaomi Redmi.
2. When you first start, enter the same phone number as on your iPhone.
3. When the messenger offers to restore data, select Google Drive.
4. Log in to the same Google account where the backup is stored.

⚠️ WARNING: If the iPhone and Xiaomi Redmi use different phone numbers, this method won't work. WhatsApp ties backups to the number, not to the account Google/Apple ID.

Battery charge > 50%|Power-saving modes disabled|Developer mode is enabled (for USB-debugging)|Removed old versions of WhatsApp|Freely. ≥ 2 GB of memory-->

5. Alternative methods: local transfer via PC

For users who don’t want to use cloud services, there’s a way to migrate over Windows/Mac using iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina and later) and ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed iTunes/Finder and ADB.
• 📡 Lightning cable→USB and USB→USB-C (for Redmi).
• 📂 iExplorer or iMazing to extract iTunes backup.
• 🤖 On. USB-Debugging on Xiaomi (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to tap → For developers → USB-debugging).

Step-by-step:

1. Backup your iPhone via iTunes/Finder (be sure to include WhatsApp in the backup).
2. With iExplorer, extract the WhatsApp backup file (usually located in /AppDomain-com.whatsapp.WhatsApp/Documents/ChatStorage.sqlite).
3. Connect Xiaomi Redmi to your PC and copy the file to /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases.
4. Rename the file to msgstore.db.crypt14 (relevant for newer versions of WhatsApp).
5. Install WhatsApp on Redmi, confirm the number and wait for recovery.

⚠️ Attention: MIUI Access to the folder may be blocked /sdcard/WhatsApp through ADB. In this case, use a file manager with root rights (for example, the root file manager, FX File Explorer or disable protection MIUI team:

adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1

6. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even when following instructions, users face problems. Consider the most common ones:

🔹 If you have lost your fixed messages after the transfer, check the version of WhatsApp on Xiaomi. In older versions (below 2.23.17.76), this feature did not work correctly.

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The most reliable way is Move to Android, but it only works when you first set up Xiaomi Redmi. For already configured devices, Backuptrans or manual transfer via ADB is optimal.

7.More data transfer: contacts, media, settings

WhatsApp isn’t the only thing to move on.To fully upgrade to Xiaomi Redmi, note:

• 📇 Contacts: Export through iCloud → vCard and import to Google Contacts or directly to Xiaomi.
• 📸 Photos and videos: Use Google Photos (automatic sync) or USB-hand-copy.
• 🔊 Voice Messages: They are stored in a folder WhatsApp/Media/WhatsApp Voice Notes. Move them separately.
• ⚙️ Notification settings: On MIUI Path: Settings → Annexes → WhatsApp → Notifications.

🔹 To transfer stickers and themes, use third-party apps like Sticker Maker or WStickers, which allow you to export sticker packs to a file and import them to a new device.

⚠️ Attention: MIUI Autouploading of media files to WhatsApp may be blocked by default. To fix this, go to: Settings → Annexes → WhatsApp → Autostart and turn on the option.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions