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

Switching from iPhone to Xiaomi smartphone is a crucial step, especially when it comes to porting WhatsApp with correspondence history, media files and settings, unlike moving between devices of the same ecosystem (for example, the iPhone). → iPhone or Xiaomi → Xiaomi, the migration between iOS and Android requires considering nuances: from the features of backup to compatibility of application versions. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods of transfer – from the official tool Move to iOS (which, alas, does not always work correctly) to alternative methods using third-party utilities.

It is important to understand that Xiaomi is based on the MIUI It can behave differently than pure Android, like file system restrictions or Google Drive features sometimes make it harder to do so. 17.4 and MIUI 14/15 (Android-based 13/14), So the instructions are adapted to the current situation. 2020 Some of the steps may be different, and we will mention that.

1.Preparation for the transfer: what to do on the iPhone

Before you start migrating, make sure your iPhone is ready for the procedure.Missing these steps could result in data loss or incorrect chat transfer.

• 📱 Update WhatsApp to the latest version in the App Store.Older versions (such as below 2.23.10) do not support some portability features.
• 🔋 Charge your iPhone to at least 50%. The backup process can take up to 30 minutes, and an interruption due to battery discharge will cause a failure.
• 📡 Connect to Wi-Fi. Backup to iCloud via mobile internet is prohibited, and data can exceed 1 GB.
• 🔐 Check out the space in iCloud. The free rate only gives 5 GB, and WhatsApp archive with media files easily takes 2-3 GB. If necessary, expand the storage.

Pay special attention to the backup settings in WhatsApp itself:

1. Open the app and go to Settings → chat → Backup copy.
2. Click Create a copy and wait until the process is complete. Time depends on the amount of data.
3. Make sure that the last copy appears at the bottom of the screen: [date and time].

⚠️ Note: If you are using iCloud Drive in storage optimization mode (iCloud settings) → Storage management), WhatsApp may not create a full copy. Disable this option before booking.

2. Official method: Move to iOS (with restrictions)

Apple offers Move to iOS to transfer data from Android to iPhone, but the reverse process (from iPhone to Android) is not officially supported. However, in 2023, WhatsApp added an experimental feature migration through Google Drive, which works for Xiaomi.

2.1. Transfer over Google Drive (recommended method)

This is the most reliable way, but it requires you to log in to your Google account on both devices.

1. On your iPhone, open WhatsApp and back up to iCloud (as described above).
2. On Xiaomi, install WhatsApp from Google Play and log in with the same phone number as on your iPhone.
3. When the app offers to restore data, select Restore from Google Drive.
4. Enter the same Google account that was used to back up your iPhone.

If you don’t have a copy in Google Drive, follow these steps:

Remove old WhatsApp backups in Google Drive (if any)|Create a new copy on iPhone via iCloud|Export a copy from iCloud to Google Drive using a utility (e.g. iMazing)|Make sure that Xiaomi has enough space to download the archive.-->

⚠️ Attention: Xiaomi on the base MIUI Can block WhatsApp access to Google Drive due to battery optimization.Before recovery, disable restrictions for the application in Settings → Annexes → WhatsApp → Battery → No restrictions.

Alternative: Move to iOS (New Xiaomi only)

Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13/14 series, Redmi Note 12 Pro+) Supports back-portability via Move to iOS, but with reservations:

• 🔄 It only works on clean devices (no settings after first switching on).
• 📦 Transfers only text messages without media files.
• ⚡ Requires iOS 15+ and MIUI 13+.

Instructions:

1. On Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select Data Transfer from iPhone.
2. On iPhone, download Move to iOS from the App Store and follow the connection code.
3. Confirm the transfer on both devices and wait until it is completed.

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Google Drive is the only official way to transfer WhatsApp from iPhone to Xiaomi, while saving media files. Other methods are either limited or require third-party software.

3. Computer Transfer: Reliable but Longer

If official methods don’t work (for example, due to sync errors with Google Drive), you can use an intermediate computer. MIUI.

3.1. Use of iMazing (for the purpose of Mac/Windows)

iMazing - paid utility (from $39.99), but it allows you to export WhatsApp backup from your iPhone to an Android-compatible format:

1. Connect your iPhone to your computer and start iMazing.
2. Select the device → Apps → WhatsApp → Export Messages.
3. Specify the export format: HTML or CSV + Media (to save media files).
4. Connect Xiaomi to your computer and transfer the exported files to the folder WhatsApp/Databases internal.
5. Install WhatsApp on Xiaomi, log in and wait for the offer to restore data from the local copy.

Critical nuance: WhatsApp backup files on Android should have a name of the species msgstore.db.crypt14. If iMazing exported a file with a different extension, rename it manually.

Free alternative: Backuptrans

Backuptrans WhatsApp Transfer (free version with restrictions) allows you to transfer chats between iOS and Android without loss.

• 🖥️ It's running Windows. 10/11 macOS 10.15+.
• 🔗 Supports transfer of all types of data: chats, media, voice messages, stickers.
• ⚠️ Free version limits the last 20 posts in each chat.

Instructions:

1. Install Backuptrans and connect your iPhone.
2. Select Backup WhatsApp to Computer and wait until it is completed.
3. Turn off your iPhone, plug in Xiaomi, and select Restore WhatsApp to Android.

4. Manual transfer: for experienced users

If you don't want to use third-party software, you can manually migrate WhatsApp chats through the file system, a technique that requires technical skills but gives you complete control over the process.

Export of chats in.txt format

WhatsApp on iOS allows you to export individual chats as a text file. This is not a full backup, but it is suitable if you need to save only important correspondence:

1. Open the desired chat in WhatsApp on iPhone.
2. Touch the contact name → Export chat.
3. Choose No Media or C Media (the second option will create a.zip archive).
4. Send the file to yourself by email or save it to Files, and then transfer it to Xiaomi.

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Cannot tolerate account settings (avatar, status, locks).
• 📂 Media files are attached separately, without reference to messages.
• 🔄 It’s impossible to import exported chats back to WhatsApp on Android – read-only.

4.2. Transfer through local backup (for advanced)

This involves manually extracting the backup from iCloud and converting it to Android.

• Computer with macOS or Windows + iTunes (for Windows).
• Utility iExplorer or iMazing (paid, but with a trial period).
• WhatsApp Database Decrypt (for decrypting the database)

Instructions:

1. Download WhatsApp backup from iCloud to your computer using iExplorer.
2. Find the ChatStorage.sqlite file in the backup folder.
3. Use WhatsApp Database Decrypt to convert to format.db.crypt14.
4. Transfer the file to Xiaomi to the folder /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases.
5. Reinstall WhatsApp on Xiaomi and restore data from the local copy.

⚠️ Note: WhatsApp backup files in iCloud are encrypted with device-specific encryption.If you changed your phone number or Apple's ID Once you have created a copy, it will be impossible to decrypt it.

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Before hand penos, take screenshots of important chats or export them to the PDF via the printing function (click "Share" → "Seal" → The "sweeping fingers" gesture is used to save the PDF).

Problems and Solutions: What to Do If Transfer Fails

Even if you follow the instructions accurately, you can get errors, and let's look at the most common problems and the ways to solve them.

If none of these methods worked, try an alternative approach:

1. Create a new backup on your iPhone with Wi-Fi turned off (so that the copy is saved locally).
2. Use iTunes to extract a copy file from your iPhone to your computer.
3. With WhatsApp Key/DB Extractor (PC tool) convert the file to Android format.

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If the portability fails, check the version of WhatsApp on both devices, they should match. If necessary, roll back to the older version via the same device. APK (For example, from apkmirror.com).

6. WhatsApp Optimization After Moving to Xiaomi

After a successful data transfer, it is recommended to configure WhatsApp for optimal performance on Xiaomi. MIUI:

• 🔄 Turn off autocleaning cache for WhatsApp in Settings → Annexes → WhatsApp → Warehouse.
• 📴 Add WhatsApp to Battery Optimization Exceptions: Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → WhatsApp → No restrictions.
• 🔔 Set up notifications: in MIUI By default, notifications from background applications can be blocked. Allow them to Settings → Notifications → WhatsApp.
• 📁 Transfer WhatsApp media files to your memory card (if any): WhatsApp settings → Warehouse → Change the way.

Also pay attention to safety:

• Enable two-step authentication in WhatsApp settings.
• Turn off backups to Google Drive if you use local copies (to avoid duplication).
• Check permissions for WhatsApp in Settings → Confidentiality → Application authorizations.

7. Alternative messengers: if WhatsApp is not carried over

If data transfers have proven too difficult or unsuccessful, consider using alternative messengers that offer more flexible migration tools:

• 💬 Telegram: Export chats from WhatsApp in.txt format and import via bot @SaveMessagesBot.
• 🔗 Signal: Official feature for transferring history between devices (including iOS) → Android).
• 📧 Email archive: send important correspondence to your own mail directly from WhatsApp (export chat option).

Slack or Microsoft Teams are suitable for corporate use, they support the export of data from WhatsApp through integrations (for example, Zapier).

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If you are often moving between ecosystems (iOS/Android), Consider cross-platform synchronization messengers like Telegram or Skype, which are not tied to a particular OS and make migration easier.

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring WhatsApp from iPhone to Xiaomi