The transition to a new smartphone brand Xiaomi is always an exciting process, coupled with the expectation of familiarity with new features and improved performance. However, along with the joy of purchasing a gadget, often comes anxiety about the safety of personal data, especially correspondence in messengers. WhatsApp is the main channel of communication for millions of users, and losing the history of dialogue, photos or important documents can be a serious problem.
Fortunately, the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem offers several robust ways to migrate data that allow you to move all chats from one device to another without losing a single message. Unlike cross-platform transitions, transfer within the same Xiaomi brand is as smooth as possible and often does not require third-party software. We will look at all the current methods, from embedded utilities to cloud services, so you can choose the most suitable for your situation.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the technical details of each method, highlighting the things that are often overlooked when you set up quickly, how to avoid common errors, why the confirmation code sometimes doesn't come in, and how to properly prepare both devices for the procedure. Keeping a digital footprint is a critical task, but with the right approach, it's solved in a matter of minutes.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before you start directly transferring information, you need to conduct a number of preparatory activities on both smartphones. Ignoring this stage can lead to interruption of the process or damage to the database files. Make sure that the old and new Xiaomi phone battery is at least 50-60%, as active data transfer consumes a significant amount of power.
Both devices must be connected to a stable Wi-Fi network. Although some methods work over a local connection, having an internet connection is critical for checking your account and synchronizing metadata. It is also recommended to clear the messenger cache on your old device to prevent the transfer of temporary files that will only take up space.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to install WhatsApp on a new phone before the transfer procedure is completed if you plan to use the local copy method.Initial setting up of the app can create an empty database that will block recovery from backup.
Check for free space on your new smartphone. Media history can take up to tens of gigabytes. Free up space in MIUI memory in advance by removing unnecessary downloads or moving them to your computer, ensuring that the process doesn't stop halfway due to space shortages.
☑️ Checklist of preparations
Use of the built-in Mi Mover tool
The most efficient and quickest way to transfer data between Xiaomi devices is to use the Mi Mover utility, which is pre-installed in the MIUI and HyperOS shell, making it as optimized as possible for working with application system files. It allows you to transfer not only the messenger itself, but also its data, including correspondence history, settings and media files.
To start, open the Services app → Mi Mover on both devices. On the new phone, select Receiver and on the old phone, Sender. QR-If you connect your devices to the list of available data, look for the Apps section and make sure that WhatsApp is ticked against you.
Transfers can take anywhere from minutes to an hour depending on the amount of history that you've accumulated, and the advantage of this method is that it replicates the folder structure one by one, so you don't have to reconfigure notifications, contact avatars, or theme, and it's going to be exactly the same as the previous gadget.
It is important to understand that Mi Mover transfers the installation file and the folder with the application data. However, in some versions of Android, for security reasons, direct transfer of data of messengers may be limited, in which case the utility will move the application itself, but to activate the history will require an additional step of recovery through the settings inside WhatsApp itself.
Transfer over Google Drive Cloud Storage
The classic and most versatile method that works even when changing the phone model to another manufacturer’s device, but in the Xiaomi-Xiaomi bundle, it also shows great results. The essence of the method is to back up chats in the Google Drive cloud on an old device and then restore them to a new one.
On your old smartphone, go to WhatsApp Settings → Chats → Chat Backup. Make sure you select the right Google account and check the box on "Add Video" if you want to save video messages. Click "Backup" and wait for the process to be completed. Speed depends on your Internet connection.
| Parameter | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Google account | Disc where a copy is saved | Use the main mailbox |
| Frequency | How often to make a backup | Everyday or before changing the phone |
| Network | Type of connection to download | Wi-Fi only to save traffic |
| Encryption | Protection of backup | Remember the password if you turn it on. |
Once you install the app on your new Xiaomi and enter your phone number, the system will automatically detect that you have a backup in the cloud, and you will be prompted to restore your chat history. It is critical to use the same Google account as the old device, otherwise the search for a copy will not yield results.
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If you have two-factor authentication on Google, make sure you have access to your phone number or recovery codes, as proof of identity may be required when logging in from a new device.
Local backup without the internet
For users who are concerned about data privacy or do not have fast access to the Internet, a local backup method is ideal. WhatsApp automatically creates hidden copies of the database on the phone's internal drive daily. These files can be transferred manually through a computer or cable.
On an old device, create a fresh backup through the app menu. Then, with a file manager (like the Explorer in the MIUI shell), find the data folder. The path may differ depending on the version of Android: Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases or WhatsApp/Databases at the root of the memory. You need a file with the name of the msgstore.db.cryptXXX.
Copy this file to a new phone, save it to the exact same directory. If the folder is not already in place, install WhatsApp, launch it, reach the welcome screen and close it. The folder structure will be created automatically. Once you replace the file, launch the application and when you request a recovery, select Restore.
⚠️ Attention: Local backup files have digital signatures and account binding. You can't just copy a file to someone else's phone and open it, you need to go through the number verification procedure on the new device.
The good thing about this method is that you control the physical location of files, so you can make multiple copies over different dates (rename files accordingly) and choose which story to return, which is the only way to go back in time if there is a mistake in the new correspondence.
Solving Verification and Code Problems
Often, the transfer process is complicated by phone number verification issues. WhatsApp uses SMS or voice call to verify SIM card ownership. If the SIM card is transferred to a new phone, there are usually no problems, but if you use dual-sim or virtual numbers, it can be difficult.
When an SMS doesn't come, try requesting a voice call. Make sure the phone is in the correct time zone and there's a network signal. Sometimes it helps to turn on and off flight mode to reboot the communication module. Also check if the MIUI system blocks short numbers in the Security app.
What to do if the SIM card is lost?
If you have changed your phone number but want to keep your old WhatsApp account, use the inside number change feature on your old device before you move, which will link your correspondence history to the new number, and you will log in with the current data on the new phone.
Frequent errors and their elimination
Even if you follow all the instructions, there may be a crash. One common mistake is, "Can't restore backup." This often happens if the versions of the app on the old and new phone are very different. Before transferring, update WhatsApp to Google Play Market or GetApps to the latest available version.
Another problem is the incompatibility of Android versions. If you move from a very old Xiaomi to a new one with HyperOS, the file path structure may have changed. On Android 11 and above, the application folders are protected and direct access to them is limited. Use the built-in migration tools or Google Drive to let the system sort out the permissions itself.
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The key to success is the identity of the app versions and the use of the same Google account at all stages of the process.
If notification settings or avatars are missing after recovery, just wait a while. WhatsApp loads the contact book and media files in the background. Full synchronization of all elements can take up to 24 hours of active phone use.