Changing your smartphone is always accompanied by a desire to maintain a familiar rhythm of life without losing a single contact or important frame. Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi devices have a huge advantage over users of other brands thanks to built-in optimization tools. Data transfer is not just copying files, but a full migration of the userβs digital identity into a new environment.
There are several proven methods that avoid manual application installation and manual number entry. The system layer of the MIUI or HyperOS shell provides powerful tools to automate this process. Depending on the condition of the old device and the type of operating system on it, you can choose the most suitable option.
In this article, we will take a look at every method, from the desktop app to the cloud, how to avoid common sync errors and why some files may not be copied the first time, and a deep understanding of the processes will help you prepare for the stress-free transition.
Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration
The most efficient and quickest way is to use the built-in Mi Mover app, which is designed specifically for the Xiaomi ecosystem and allows data to be transmitted over a local Wi-Fi channel without consuming Internet traffic, and the transmission speed is limited only by the Wi-Fi modules on both devices.
The process starts with running the app on both smartphones, and the new Redmi device needs to select the option to receive data, and the old one needs to send it, and the system will create a temporary network or offer to scan it. QR-It's important that the screens of both phones are active throughout the process.
β οΈ Warning: Donβt turn off the screen of your old smartphone during transfer, as some Android models can break the Wi-Fi connection to save power if the device goes into sleep mode.
Once you have a connection, Mi Mover will suggest you choose the types of data to copy, and you can move not only the media, but also system settings, including the location of desktop icons and passwords from Wi-Fi networks, which creates a virtually complete copy of the user experience on the new device.
Itβs worth noting that some system apps may not migrate if theyβre not compatible with the Android version on the new phone, in which case Mi Mover will simply skip them by reporting it in the final report, which is normal behavior to ensure the stability of the new system.
Synchronization through Google Account and Cloud Services
The classic method that remains valid for all Android devices is that if youβve used a smartphone with this OS before, your contacts, calendar events and notes are already in the cloud. When you first activate the new Xiaomi Redmi, you just need to enter the same email address.
To work properly, you need to make sure that your old device is synced. Check the settings in the Accounts β Google section and make sure that all the items you need are ticked. Sometimes users forget to enable sync photos through Google Photos, which leaves the gallery empty.
- π± Contacts and phone numbers are saved instantly after synchronization is enabled.
- π Calendar and reminders pull up in the background for a few minutes.
- π· Photos and videos require separate checks in the Google Photos app.
- π Notes and Tasks May Require You to Install Additional Apps From Google.
However, this method has limitations on the amount of free storage available. 15 GB of space is shared between mail, disk and photos. If you have a lot of media, full synchronization can take days or require you to buy extra space.
What to do if the synchronization is suspended?
Transferring data from iPhone (iOS) to Xiaomi Redmi
iPhone owners donβt have to worry about switching to Android. Xiaomi has a special mode in the Mi Mover app, adapted to work with iOS. To start the process, you will need to install the Mi Mover app from the App Store on your iPhone.
The algorithm is similar to the transfer between Android devices, but there are nuances: iPhones will need to give permission to access contacts, media files and calendar. iOS more strictly controls the access of applications to data, so pop-ups with requests will appear repeatedly.
It's important to understand that apps purchased from the App Store won't migrate to a new phone, because ecosystems have different executable formats. You'll have to re-download the apps from the Google Play Market. However, contacts, messages and photos will be saved in full.
β οΈ Note: When you migrate from iOS, iMessage messages and call history may not be converted correctly due to the closed Apple protocols. SMS and multimedia.
Using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct for small volumes
If you only need to transfer a few documents or photos, there is no point in running complex synchronization processes. Built-in wireless modules allow you to quickly share files. Bluetooth technology is universal and works even on very old phones.
To transfer large files, you can use Wi-Fi Direct or Xiaomi's built-in file manager, which can create local access points, which provides transfer speeds that are many times faster than Bluetooth. From the file manager menu, select the file, click "Send" and select "Mi Drop" or similar.
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Use Wi-Fi Direct to transfer video to 4K, as Bluetooth may not be able to handle file size or interrupt transmission mid-process due to a timeout.
The main disadvantage of the method is that it doesn't have automation, you can't move system settings or passwords, it's just a tool for manually transferring individual objects, whether it's documents, APK installation files, or photo albums.
Backup to the computer and recovery
A robust, if more time-consuming method, using a PC as an intermediate buffer, connecting an old phone to a computer via a computer. USB-cable, you can copy folders DCIM, Download and Documents to the hard drive, and then that data is transferred to the new Redmi.
This is ideal for creating a complete physical copy of data before selling an old device, ensuring that files are not going anywhere and compressed when transmitted via instant messengers, and it is a great way to free up space in cloud storage.
| Method | Speed. | Difficulty | What's transferable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Tall. | Low. | All (including settings) |
| Google Account | Medium | Low. | Contacts, photos, calendar |
| Bluetooth | Low. | Medium | Manual files |
| PC (USB) | Tall. | Tall. | Files and media |
When using your computer, make sure that the old phone has MTP file transfer mode, not just charging. Otherwise, the computer will not see the device's internal memory. On newer versions of Android, when you connect the cable, a notification will always appear where you need to confirm access to data.
βοΈ Checklist before transfer
Solving problems and errors in transmission
Even when using automated systems, there may be failures, and users often experience a situation where the process hangs at a certain percentage or some applications are not installed, which may be due to incompatible versions of Android or corrupt files on an old device.
If Mi Mover interrupts the connection, try to turn off mobile internet on both devices, leaving only Wi-Fi. Sometimes the system tries to switch to the cellular network to check for updates, which breaks the local data tunnel, and it also helps to reboot both smartphones before trying again.
β οΈ Warning: If there is an error βNot enough spaceβ during the transfer, do not try to continue the process. Clear the memory of the new phone by deleting temporary files or app cache, otherwise you risk getting a corrupted file system.
In some cases, encrypting data on an old phone can prevent the new device from reading files without entering a password.Make sure you remember the unlock code of the old smartphone's screen, as it may be required to decrypt backups.
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The most reliable result is a combination of methods: use Mi Mover for the system and applications, and duplicate critical documents on the computer or in the cloud.