Buying a new smartphone is always accompanied by mixed feelings: on the one hand, the joy of owning a modern gadget with a powerful processor and a high-quality screen, on the other hand, a slight panic before the need to transfer all the accumulated information. Owning the Xiaomi ecosystem greatly simplifies this process thanks to built-in tools that developers have been improving for the convenience of users. Modern shells MIUI and HyperOS offer several migration scenarios to avoid losing important contacts, correspondence in messengers and personal photos.
Before you start directly copying files, you need to conduct a competent preparation of devices, this is a basic stage, ignoring which often leads to interruption of transmission or errors in the operation of applications. Make sure that both smartphones are charged at least 50-60%, as active operation of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules in data mode can significantly consume battery power.
There are several basic synchronization methods, each with its own advantages depending on the original operating system of the old phone and the amount of information you can use the specialized Mi Mover app, Google cloud services or Xiaomi Cloud, as well as manual copying via your computer. The choice of the particular method depends on whether you switch from Android to Android, change your iPhone to Xiaomi or just want to back up the most important documents.
A critical step is to pre-verify the versions of the operating systems on both devices, as too much difference in the Android versions (for example, between Android 8 and Android 14) may require the use of intermediate copying methods or manual software updates.
Preparing the old and new device for migration
The success of the data transfer operation depends on 90% of the quality of preparation. The first step is to remove temporary debris and unnecessary files on an old smartphone to reduce the time of the procedure. Go to the storage settings and clear the app cache, delete old downloads and duplicate photos that you no longer need.
For most migration tools, both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network or have an activated Bluetooth module for the initial handshake, and it is recommended to turn off any energy-saving modes that may aggressively limit the background activity of network modules during transmission.
Be sure to sign in to your Google account on both devices.This is a key requirement to recover your contact list, calendar events and previously installed apps from the Play Market Store.Without Google authorization, the process of setting up a new Xiaomi phone will be incomplete and require additional action later.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to interrupt data transfer or switch between applications while migration tools are running, this may cause damage to the messenger database files or partial loss of the media library.
Also check if you have all the necessary security updates on your old device. Sometimes manufacturers will release patches that fix bugs in the data protocols, which is especially important when switching between different versions of Android. Updating system components takes a little time, but ensures the stability of the process.
Using the Mi Mover application for data transfer
The most effective and native tool for owners of Xiaomi equipment is the Mi Mover app. It is preinstalled on all modern smartphones of the brand and is available for installation from the Play Market on devices of other manufacturers. This tool allows you to transfer contacts, messages, call history, applications, system settings, as well as multimedia files.
The process starts with running the app on both devices. On the new Xiaomi phone, select Receiver and on the old one, Sender, the app will create a local Wi-Fi hotspot that the second device will need to connect to, and the transfer speed is usually faster than on standard Bluetooth, and does not consume mobile traffic.
Once connected, the system will suggest selecting data categories to transfer. You can choose all at once or manually mark only the desired items, for example, leaving heavy video files for transfer later through the computer. The Mi Mover interface is intuitive and displays progress in real time.
📊 What type of transfer you use most often?
Mi Mover
Google Account
Manual copying on PC
Cloud Services (Dropbox/Yandex)
Other
Importantly, when migrating applications, they don’t always store their internal data (logins, game progress) unless the developer has provided for cloud sync, which requires re-authorization, but desktop settings, icons and wallpapers are usually ported correctly, re-creating the user’s familiar environment.
What if the Mi Mover can’t see the device?
Make sure both phones are GPS and Bluetooth enabled. Try temporarily disabling antivirus or firewall. If the problem persists, reboot both devices and try to create a hotspot manually through Wi-Fi settings by connecting a second phone to it. Google Account Sync and Cloud Services Sync A classic method that works seamlessly when switching to any Android smartphone, including Xiaomi. The main advantage of this is independence from a particular carrier application and the ability to recover data even after a long time. First, make sure that the old phone has Google account settings activated synchronization, and the original Google contacts backup, and the photo is automatically downloaded to the original Google photo. When you log in to the same account on the new Xiaomi, your entire gallery will instantly update to take up space in the cloud, not in the internal memory of the phone, which is especially important for models with a small amount of storage. To restore the list of applications, open the Play Market on the new device, go to the profile and select the section “Manage applications and devices.” There will be a list of all previously downloaded programs with the possibility of mass installation. This allows you to quickly return the necessary set of software without manually searching for each application. Special attention deserves Xiaomi Cloud. If you used this service on an old Mi or Redmi device, then when you log in the new phone, this will automatically create an additional level of data protection for the new Google screen. ⚠️ Note: When using cloud services, make sure you have enough free space in Google One or Xiaomi Cloud storage. A crowded cloud will stop new data from syncing and the latest photos may not be saved. Shifting from the Apple ecosystem to Android previously seemed like a tricky process, but Xiaomi's modern tools have reduced it to a few simple steps.The Mi Mover app has an iOS version that can be downloaded from the App Store. It allows you to transfer contacts, calendar events, photos and videos without loss of quality, the process begins with installing the app on your iPhone and connecting both phones to the same Wi-Fi network. QR-code displayed on the screen Xiaomi, the iPhone will start transferring selected data. It is important to understand that apps purchased in the App Store cannot be ported directly, as they are not compatible with the Android operating system. You will need to find their counterparts in the Play Market. Particular attention should be paid to messengers. WhatsApp has an official chat portability function, but it requires the use of cable or specialized utilities when you first start the phone. If the phone is already configured, you will have to make a local backup on the iPhone and restore it through special tools offered during the initial configuration of the MIUI. After transferring contacts, they can be displayed with unnecessary characters or duplicated, in this case, “Contacts and remove the device from the order.” If wireless methods seem too slow or cause security concerns, there is always a time-tested way to copy via PC. Connect your old phone to your computer in file transfer mode (MTP) and copy DCIM, Download, Documents and Music folders to your hard drive. Then connect the new Xiaomi and transfer the data to the appropriate directories. This method is ideal for moving large volumes of video archives or high-resolution files that are long to transfer through the air. In addition, it allows you to structure files, removing unnecessary before you get to the new device. To transfer a small number of contacts or documents to the hard drive. Turn on Bluetooth on both devices, pair and send files through the standard Share menu. When you manually copy, it is important to respect the folder structure, especially for media files. DCIM/Camera, So if you want the gallery to automatically recognize them, you put the music files in the Music folder, and the ringtones in the Ringtones, then the system will suggest that you use them as call melodies, and you can restore the messaging data and the apps, and the most delicate part of the process is transferring the correspondence. WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber and other messengers store their message history differently. Telegram and Viber (with cloud sync enabled) will restore all chats automatically after entering a phone number and receiving SMS-WhatsApp is a bit more complicated. On Android, the best way to use the built-in backup feature on Google Drive is to use it before you switch. On a new phone, WhatsApp will offer you to restore your history from the cloud. Make sure you use the same phone number and the same Google account. Banking applications and programs with enhanced security measures will require re-authorization and possibly confirmation through the Internet. SMS Make sure you make sure you're in advance. SIM-The card with the working number is installed in the new phone before setting up these applications. 💡For maximum comfort after transferring data, immediately set up biometric authorization (fingerprint or face) in banking applications, so as not to enter passwords again every time. For the convenience of choosing the optimal method of data migration, a comparative table of basic methods is given below. It will help you quickly navigate depending on your priorities: speed, data volume or type of information transmitted. The method that transmits Best suited for Mi Mover High Everything (contacts, photos, settings, applications) Full cloning of Android phone on Android Google Account Medium Contacts, calendar, applications, photos (via Photos) Recovery of the main account and software Computer (USB) Very High Files, photos, videos, documents Transfer heavy media files and Bluetooth archives Low Separate files, contacts Transfer multiple documents "on the summer" Account, it is recommended to complete the new application index, after the new system is recommended to reset the new media. In the first hours of use, the phone may be slightly slower than usual due to background optimization processes. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Will Wi-Fi and app passwords be saved when you transfer? Passwords from Wi-Fi networks are often transferred through Google Account or Mi Mover if the old phone was synchronized. Passwords saved in Google Chrome or Google password manager will be restored automatically after logging in. However, passwords inside individual applications (banks, social networks) for security purposes are usually not transferred and require re-entry. What to do if the old phone was switched on, if the passwords are not always used after the mobile phones, if the different messages are used? If not, you can only restore them from a pre-built local backup if you have one on your old device. On new Android smartphones, by default, SMS may not sync with the cloud without the explicit permission of the user. Can you interrupt the transfer process and continue later? Most tools like Mi Mover do not support pause and resume. If the process is interrupted, it will most likely have to be restarted. However, already transferred files are usually not duplicated if you choose the same categories, but time will be spent on rechecking and transferring. So the stability of the connection is critical. Do you need to reset the new phone before porting the device? Moreover, resetting a new phone before transferring data from the old one can lead to a conflict of versions of the software. It is best to migrate immediately after the first switching on of the new device, during the initial setup.