Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to transfer or save correspondence when changing devices or after a system reset. Message synchronization is a critical process for those who do not want to lose important confirmation codes, work dialogues or personal correspondence. There are several levels of data retention in the Android ecosystem, and understanding their work avoids loss of information.
Modern Android smartphones offer built-in backup mechanisms, but they are not always enabled by default. Redmi and POCO users need to activate the corresponding functions themselves to ensure continuous updates to data in the cloud. This is especially true, given that standard SMS is gradually being replaced by Internet messengers, but remains the main channel for two-factor authentication.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can save SMS on Xiaomi devices, how to set up automatic upload to Google Drive, how to work with Mi Cloud, and what third-party utilities you should use to create local copies. Properly configuring these settings ensures that your data remains safe.
Configure cloud synchronization via Mi Cloud
The first and most native way for Xiaomi devices is to use the companyβs own cloud storage.Mi Cloud service is integrated directly into the MIUI and HyperOS shell, which ensures stable operation without the need to install additional software.
Once authorized, you should go to the cloud management section, where you can choose data categories for backup. The free version of the Mi Cloud only has 5GB of space, which may not be enough for a full media backup, but it is enough for thousands of text messages. It is important to regularly check the sync status to make sure that the process is not stopped due to space shortage.
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Use Wi-Fi connection at the first full sync of Mi Cloud to avoid wasting mobile traffic, especially if you have a lot of old correspondence with MMS attachments.
The interface may vary depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same: If you plan to change your phones often or experiment with flashing, activating this feature is a must, and it allows you to quickly restore the context of communication immediately after you log in to your account on a new device.
- π± Open Settings and click on the top plaque with the account name.
- βοΈ Select Mi Cloud and find Synchronization.
- π¬ Activate the switch opposite the Messages).
- π Click the Sync button to force the process to start.
Using Google Drive to Backup SMS
An alternative and often more reliable method is the standard Android mechanism tied to Google Account. Unlike proprietary solutions, this method is universal and works equally well on any device running a βcleanβ Android or custom shells. Data is stored on Google Drive and does not occupy a place in the storage quota, if it is about system settings and SMS.
To activate this feature, you need to make sure that the smartphone has installed and updated Google Play Services. The system automatically creates hidden backups, however, the user can initiate the process manually before important actions with the device. This is especially useful when switching from Xiaomi to a smartphone of another brand or vice versa.
It is worth noting that recovery from a copy of Google Drive only occurs when you first set up your device or reset completely. In everyday use, you cannot selectively pull one particular message from the Google cloud without restoring the entire system, so it is better to consider this method as insurance against total data loss, rather than as a tool for managing individual SMS.
- π Go to Settings. β Google β Backup.
- β Make sure Google One Backup is activated.
- π² Check that the list of backed up data is marked Messages.
- πΎ Click Start Copying to Create a Relevant Recovery Point.
Transfer messages using the Mi Mover app
When it comes to physical smartphone replacement, the most effective tool is the Mi Mover utility, which is designed specifically for fast data migration between Xiaomi devices, but also supports transfers to other Android smartphones.
The transfer process does not require internet access, as it creates a direct wireless connection between the two gadgets, which ensures the confidentiality of the data, as they do not pass through third-party servers. The application automatically determines the types of data, including call history, contacts and, importantly for our topic, all SMS and MMS messages.
βοΈ Preparation for transfer via Mi Mover
It is important to understand that when you transfer to a phone of another brand (not Xiaomi), the compatibility of some formats may be limited. However, the text part of the messages is saved in 99% of cases. If you move from iPhone to Xiaomi, the functionality is also available, but requires the use of a special cable or a special cable. QR-link-initiation.
β οΈ Note: Do not interrupt the data transfer process or turn off smartphone screens until the operation is completed. Interrupting synchronization during the recording phase of the message database may cause file damage. SMS and the impossibility of reading them in the future.
Third-party applications for local backup
For advanced users who prefer full control of their data, there are specialized applications, the leader in this niche is already SMS Backup & Restore, which allows you to create full copies of correspondence in XML format, which can be stored on any medium, including a computer or an external hard drive.
The main advantage of these solutions is that you can selectively restore your correspondence, and you can only retrieve it with one particular contact or in a certain period of time without affecting it.οΏ½In addition, these applications often allow you to schedule automatic copies on schedule and send them to the specified folder.
When using third-party software, you need to be careful about the permissions you request. The program requires access to an SMS database and storage. It is recommended that you download such utilities only from a trusted source of the Google Play Store to avoid installing malware that can intercept codes from banks.
| Annex | Storage type | Automation | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Cloud | The cloud (5GB) | There is. | Low. |
| Google Drive | Cloud (15 GB) | There (but hidden) | Low. |
| SMS Backup & Restore | Locally / Your own cloud drive | Flexible setup | Medium |
| Mi Mover | Direct transmission | No (manually) | Low. |
Solution: Messages are not synchronized
Despite the fact that processes are fine, users may experience synchronization errors, most often the problem lies in an unstable Internet connection or lack of free space in the cloud storage. Android may also limit the background activity of applications to save battery power, which blocks timely data sending.
Xiaomi owners should consider the aggressive policy of energy saving the MIUI shell. If the backup application is βunloadedβ from memory, sync is interrupted. You need to manually configure autorun and remove restrictions on the relevant services (Mi Cloud, Google Play or third-party application).
How to allow the background work of the application?
It is also worth checking the date and time on the device. Unsynchronizing the system clock even for a few minutes can cause a security certificate error, which causes the server to refuse to accept data from your phone.
β οΈ Note: If you use two-factor authentication, make sure that SMS codes come to the main SIM card.When synced to a new phone, the codes may not arrive if the SIM card is not already installed or active at the time of login.
Recovering messages after reset or on a new phone
The process of data recovery depends on the method chosen earlier. When using Google Account, the recovery is automatically the first time you turn on a new smartphone. The system will suggest selecting a restore point from the list of available dates. It is important to choose the most recent copy so as not to lose recent correspondence.
If you've used Mi Cloud, after you log in to your account on the new Xiaomi, just turn on the messaging switchboard. Data will start to load in the background. In the Messages app, they can appear gradually as the database loads from the server.
For local copies created by third-party programs, the algorithm is reversed: first you need to install the same application on a new phone, then specify the path to the backup file (on the backup file). SD-card or memory) and start the Restore function, which will then require the device to restart to apply the changes.
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Successful recovery depends not only on the backup file, but also on the version of the Messages app. Make sure the new device has the latest version of the system component.
In some cases, especially when switching between different versions of Android (for example, from Android 10 to Android 14), the structure of the database may change. In such situations, old backups may not be readable.