How to transfer WhatsApp with a story to another Xiaomi phone: 3 proven ways

The switch to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting moment, especially when it comes to keeping years of WhatsApp correspondence, with many users losing years of messages, photos and documents to the wrong transfer. This article will help you avoid typical errors and ensure you transfer the entire history of chats to the new Redmi, POCO Mi series – no matter what device you migrate from: iPhone, Samsung or other Xiaomi.

We will look at all relevant ways 2026 From official backup via Google Drive to local file transfer msgstore.db.crypt14. We will pay special attention to the nuances for different versions. MIUI (12/13/14) If you are afraid of losing data, don’t miss the section with the unique double backup method for Xiaomi, which will protect your chats even if the main reserve fails.

1.Preparation for transfer: what to do before the beginning

Before you start the transfer, make sure that both phones meet the key requirements, which will save you 90% of the possible problems:

📱 Old phone: WhatsApp must be updated to the latest version (check in Google Play or App Store). Android has a minimum version of 2.23.12.72, iOS 2.23.11.81.
📲 New Xiaomi: Install WhatsApp before the transfer, but don't run it! otherwise the system will create an empty database and recovery will become impossible.
🔋 Battery charge: Both devices must have at least 50% charge.Small chat transfer (10)+ GB can take up to 2 hours.
🌐 Internet: Cloud backup will require stable Wi-Fi (mobile internet is not recommended due to traffic restrictions).

Critically, if you migrate data from your iPhone to Xiaomi, use Apple’s official Move to iOS tool only for initial contacts migration. WhatsApp doesn’t do this – it doesn’t carry chat history!

⚠️ Note: If your old phone has WhatsApp chat encryption enabled (Settings Encryption), you will need a password to recover. Without it, data will be lost! Password will not come to the mail - you need to remember or save it in Xiaomi Cloud.

📊 What device do you transfer WhatsApp to Xiaomi?

From another Android (Samsung, Huawei, etc.)

iPhone

From the other Xiaomi

Tablet.

Another type.

2. Method 1: Transfer over Google Drive (official method)

It's the most reliable way to switch between Android devices, and it works even if you're changing Samsung to Xiaomi, but there's some nuances with the versions. MIUI.

Step 1: Create a backup on your old phone

Open WhatsApp. → ⋮ (three-point) → Settings → chat → Backup.
Click Create a copy (if the last copy is older than 7 days).
Select the Google account that the new Xiaomi is linked to.
Wait for the process to be completed (time depends on the size of the chats).

Step 2: Recovery on the new Xiaomi

📱 Install WhatsApp on your new phone, but don’t open it!
🔗 Sign in with the same phone number as the old device.
🔄 When the system offers to restore chats from Google Drive – confirm the action.
⏳ Wait until completion (may take up to 1 hour for large backups).

Problem.	Reason.	Decision
Can't find a backup in Google Drive	Different Google accounts on phones	Log in to the same account as on your old device
The "Impossible to Recover" Error	The Old Version of WhatsApp on the New Phone	Update the app via APKMirror if there is no current version on Google Play
Download interrupted by 99%	Unstable Internet connection	Connect to 5GHz Wi-Fi or use mobile hotspot from another device
No "Restore" button.	WhatsApp has already been launched on a new phone	Remove the app, clean the cache and re-install

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi with MIUI 14+ You may have a conflict with Google. If you're in recovery, go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Google Play Services and Clear the Cache.

Check the WhatsApp version on both phones|Make sure there is enough space on Xiaomi (backup) + 20% stock)|Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network|Turn it off. VPN/proxy on a new device|Charging both phones >50%-->

Method 2: Local transfer through a backup file (for power users)

This method is suitable if:

🔄 You transfer data between two Xiaomi devices;
☁️ You don’t have a stable internet for Google Drive;
🔒 You want to have a physical copy of chats on your computer.

Step 1. Find the backup file on your old phone

The WhatsApp backup file is stored along the way:

/sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases/msgstore.db.crypt14

If you have chat encryption enabled, look for a file msgstore.db.crypt15. Copy it to your computer or directly to the new Xiaomi MI File Manager.

Step 2: Transfer to the new Xiaomi

Connect the new Xiaomi to your computer and move the file to the same folder /WhatsApp/Databases/.
Rename the file to msgstore.db.crypt14 (if he was with a different number).
Install WhatsApp on your new phone, but don’t open it!
Launch the app, confirm the number and wait for the suggestion to restore chats from the local backup.

If WhatsApp doesn’t see the backup file:

📂 Check that the file is located in the /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases/, not in the internal memory;
🔄 Reboot the phone;
🔧 Remove and install WhatsApp again.

What to do if the backup file is corrupted?

If you have a file damaged error when you restore it, try it: 1. Download the WhatsApp utility Key/DB Extractor (requires root rights); 2. Remove data from a corrupted file via SQLite Browser; 3. Restoring chats partially through exporting individual dialogues (export chat option to WhatsApp) is a complex method and does not guarantee any kind of communication. 100% recovery, but can save critical messages.

4. Method 3: Transfer from iPhone to Xiaomi (via iCloud or third-party tools)

There is no official way to transfer WhatsApp’s history from iPhone to Android, but there are workarounds.

Option A: Through iCloud + WhatsApp Business (Free of charge)

On iPhone, back up to iCloud: WhatsApp Settings → chat → Backup.
Install WhatsApp Business on your iPhone and log in with the same number.
Create a local backup via iTunes or iMazing (a program for working with iOS).
Remove the ChatStorage.sqlite file from the backup and convert it to the format.crypt14 Using the iPhone utility WhatsApp to Android Transfer.
Transfer the resulting file to Xiaomi and restore it through a local backup (see Method 2).

Option B: Through paid services (most reliable)

Services like Backuptrans or Dr.Fone offer automated transfers for the user. $20-40. They're working on a pattern:

Install the software on the computer;
Connect iPhone and Xiaomi by USB;
Follow the instructions of the transfer master.

The advantage is that you save not only text, but also media files, stickers and voice messages, and the disadvantage is paid access.

⚠️ Note: When transferring from iPhone to Android, you are lost: 🎵 Voice Notes (converted into text files); 📍 Geolocation data in messages; 🔄 Statuses and stories (disappearing completely).

💡

If you're porting WhatsApp from your iPhone to Xiaomi, first check to see if there's enough space on the new device. iCloud's chat history can take up on the new device. 30-40% More space after converting to Android.

5. Unique method for Xiaomi: double backup (loss guarantee)

This is only suitable for Xiaomi devices and protects your data even when the main backup fails, the point being that you create two independent backups: one on Google Drive, the other on a physical medium (computer or external drive).

Step 1: Create a cloud backup (as in Method 1).

Step 2. Make a local copy of:

Connect your old phone to your computer through USB (file transfer).
Copy the entire folder. /WhatsApp/ hard-drive.
Archive the folder in ZIP (in case of file damage).

Step 3: Recovery on the new Xiaomi

Try to recover from Google Drive first.
If you have any errors, use a local backup (see Method 2).
If both methods fail, extract the data from the archive. ZIP and manually restore.

This method takes longer, but gives a 100% guarantee that you will not lose data, especially for Xiaomi owners with custom firmware (for example, Xiaomi.EU), where there may be problems with Google services.

💡

Double backup is the only way to guarantee WhatsApp history when you upgrade to the new Xiaomi if you’re afraid of crashes or recovery errors.

6 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even when following instructions, users often encounter problems.-5 mistakes and their solutions:

"Impossible to restore backup" Error Reason: Different versions of WhatsApp on old and new phone Solution: Update the app on both devices to the latest version via APKMirror if there is no current update on Google Play.
Backup in Google Drive not updated Reason: Not enough space in the cloud or sync is disabled Solution: Clear Google Drive of unnecessary files or buy extra space (100 GB cost) ~100 rubles/month).
WhatsApp doesn't see local backup Reason: File is in the wrong folder or has the wrong name.Solution: Check the path: /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases/msgstore.db.crypt14. Rename the file if necessary.
99% Download interrupted Cause: Weak Internet connection or firewall lock Solution: Connect to 5GHz Wi-Fi or turn off antivirus during recovery.
Media files lost after transfer Reason: Files were not copied along with the database Solution: Manually move the folder /WhatsApp/Media/ old phone.

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

📧 Export important chats one at a time via the Chat Export option (available in the dialog menu);
🔄 Use third-party utilities like WhatsApp Viewer to extract data from damaged backups;
📞 Contact WhatsApp Support (via Settings) → Reference → Contact us by providing details of the error.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can WhatsApp be migrated from Xiaomi to iPhone?

Officially, no. Apple doesn't support restoring Android backups to iOS, and the only option is to use paid services like Backuptrans or iMazing, but they don't guarantee 100% portability of media files and stickers.

How long does it take to transfer 50 GB of chats?

When you restore through Google Drive, from 1 before 3 It takes hours (depending on the speed of the Internet). 20-40 You need space on both devices, but you need space on both devices to speed up the process, connect both phones to your computer and use them. MI File Manager for Direct File Transfer.

Why did some of the messages disappear after the transfer?

This can happen for three reasons: Backup was created before the last messages (check the file date). msgstore.db.crypt14); Recovery was interrupted during the boot phase (try repeating the process); Messages were deleted or archived on an old phone (they don't fall into the backup).To avoid losses, always do a double backup (cloud) + local).

How to transfer WhatsApp to Xiaomi if your old phone is broken

If the old phone doesn't turn on, but the hard drive is intact: Remove the microSD card (if the backup was on it) and connect it to the new Xiaomi; If the data is not on the card, contact the service center to extract files from internal memory; Use programs like DiskDigger to recover deleted backup files. If the phone is completely dead and there are no backups, you can not restore chats.

Do I need to remove WhatsApp from my old phone after the transfer?

No, you don't have to. You can leave the app on your old device, but keep it in mind: 📱 Both phones will have the same chat history (until the transfer date); 🔄 New messages will arrive on both devices until you deactivate your account on your old device; 🔒 For security, it is recommended to delete the application or at least log out of the account (Settings) → If you're selling an old phone, be sure to delete WhatsApp and untie the number!