Changing your old smartphone to a new model from Xiaomi is always an exciting process, often overshadowed by the fear of losing important contacts, photos or correspondence. The modern Android ecosystem and the Chinese manufacturer’s proprietary tools allow you to solve the problem of data migration as quickly and safely as possible. You do not need to manually transfer each file or look for complex synchronization methods, since engineers have provided several reliable scenarios for all situations.
The main challenge when switching to a Mi or Redmi device is to choose the right method that suits your current phone model: some require a stable Wi-Fi connection, others work through a local cable, and others are completely cloud-based, and understanding the differences between these methods will help you save time and avoid the typical errors associated with interruption of transmissions or format incompatibility.
In this article, we will discuss the most effective ways to transfer information, paying special attention to the Mi Mover, which is the industry standard for devices of this brand. We will look at the nuances of working with a Google account, the features of manual transmission over a PC and the specifics of media transfer. A deep understanding of the process will allow you to start using a new gadget immediately after it is turned on, without spending hours on setting up.
Preparing both devices for data migration
Before any transfer procedure is started, it is critical to ensure that both devices work smoothly: Charge your old phone and new Xiaomi to at least 60%, as copying large amounts of data can significantly consume battery power. If one of the devices turns off in the middle of an operation, it can cause file damage or the need to start the procedure again, which is especially unpleasant with a large amount of information.
Make sure both smartphones have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, even if you plan to use a cable.These wireless interfaces are often used to initially detect devices and establish a secure handshake before transferring. It is also recommended to make room on the new device, checking that free memory is enough to house all your archives, applications and media files.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to interrupt the data transfer process by turning off the screen or running other heavy applications.This can lead to a freeze in the Mi Mover interface and the need to restart both smartphones.
Special attention should be paid to cleaning the old device from junk files that you do not need on the new phone.Temperature cache files, old downloads and unused apps will only increase the waiting time.It is better to review the content in advance, removing unnecessary ones, to transfer only really important information to your new Redmi or POCO.
Using the Mi Mover app for full cloning
The most efficient and preferred way is to use a specialized tool called Mi Mover, which is designed specifically for the Xiaomi ecosystem, and allows you to transfer contacts, messages, call history, apps, music, photos and even system settings, and works on the principle of creating a local wireless network, which provides high speed transfer without using Internet traffic.
To get started, install the app on your old device if it's not there (on the new Xiaomi, it's preinstalled in the Tools folder). Run the app on both phones. On the new device, select "I'm the recipient" and on the old device, "I'm the sender." After scanning. QR-code or manual connection through a password will start the process of synchronization.
The interface allows you to flexibly configure which data to copy, so you can select only contacts and photos, ignoring system debris, or make a full copy of all the contents of internal memory. Once you select data categories, click Send, and the process will go automatically, showing progress in percentages and an approximate time to completion.
What if the Mi Mover can’t see the device?
If automatic detection doesn't work, try manually turning on the hotspot on one of the phones and connecting to it via the Wi-Fi settings of the other device. Also make sure that both devices allow memory and geolocation rights, as without this, the application will not be able to function correctly. It's important to note that when you port apps, some of them may require re-authorization. This is a normal security practice for Android, especially for banking customers and instant messengers. System settings, such as the location of icons and wallpapers, will also be copied, which will create a sense of familiar environment on the new device. Synchronization through Google Acca and the cloud service is already a classic way of using the search engine. When you first turn on a new Xiaomi, the system will prompt you to log in to your Google account. Once you log in, the phone will prompt you to restore data from the last backup made on the old device. This channel will send contacts, calendar events, notes, passwords from Chrome and a list of installed applications. However, you should understand that the application files, photos and music themselves will not always be copied in full unless the appropriate sync is enabled in Google Photo or Google Drive. This method is more focused on restoring the data structure than on cloning content. To activate full sync on the old phone, go to the settings, to syncate the data, and make sure that your contacts are switched to Google. On a new device, it will take some time to log in, depending on the speed of the Internet, Google Photos deserves special attention. If you have Autoboot and Sync enabled, all your images and videos are already in the cloud. You just need to install the application on a new Mi or Redmi, log in to your account, and the entire media library will be available instantly, without taking up space in internal memory when using the "Saving space" function. For users who prefer full control of the process or have a very large amount of data (more than 100 GB), the best option is to use a personal computer. USB-cable and allows you to transfer files of any format, including heavy video files to the 4K, Document archives and installation packages. Connect your old phone to your PC, select the USB File Transfer (MTP) mode in notifications. Copy the required folders, such as DCIM (photo and video), Download (download) and Documents, to your computer's hard drive. Then disconnect your old phone, plug in a new Xiaomi and transfer the data to the appropriate directories. The advantage of this method is that you can pre-sort and clean files on your computer. You can rename folders, delete duplicates, and structure the file system of the new device before the data enters memory. This is especially true when you move from the phone to the file-challing area. Method Speed Needs Internet What carries Mi Mover High No All (including apps) Google Account Medium Yes Contacts, settings, USB Cable + PC applications Very High No Only Bluetooth files and media Low No Individual files When using cable, it is important to use a quality connection. Cheap cables may not provide sufficient bandwidth, which will lead to a drop in copy speed. For modern Xiaomi smartphones with support for fast charging and data transfer, it is recommended to use original cables or certified analogues with USB 3.0 marking. Standard file copying methods often don't work here because of data encryption. WhatsApp needs to back up chats on an old phone through the app's settings, saving it to Google Drive. When you install WhatsApp on the new Xiaomi and enter the same phone number, the system will prompt you to restore your correspondence history from the cloud. 💡To move WhatsApp database without losing history, make sure to use the same Google account and phone number on both devices. Telegram messenger works differently: it stores the entire history of correspondence on its servers. You just need to install the application and log in. All Secret Chats, however, are not portable and remain only on the old device for security reasons. ⚠️ Note: When you transfer banking applications and authenticator codes (Google Authenticator), be prepared to re-link. This data is never automatically copied to protect your finances. SMS-Messages are most easily transferred through the Mi Mover already mentioned or through synchronization. SIM-For the cards. SMS There is also the possibility of exporting to the file. XML It's done through third-party apps if the standard methods fail, but 99% of the time, Android's built-in tools are perfect. Solving typical portability issues and errors Despite the automation of processes, sometimes there's a failure. One of the common problems is to stop transmissions at a certain percentage, often due to the phone going to sleep or the instability of the Wi-Fi connection, it is recommended to turn off energy savings and prevent the screen from going out during the migration. If you encounter an error called “Not enough space” even though the data volume seems to be less than free space, check the hidden system partitions. Sometimes the file system of a new phone requires additional space for temporary buffers when unpacking applications. In this case, you should transfer data in parts: first media, then applications. In cases where the new Xiaomi does not see the old phone over Wi-Fi Direct, try resetting the network settings on both devices or temporarily disable mobile Internet. IP-Local area addresses may also prevent connection. 💡If none of the wireless methods are stable, the use of USB-Cable and PC remain the most reliable "old-fashioned" way to save important data without loss. Open a gallery, make sure all the photos are in place, check the phone book and try to run key applications. Only after a full check can you start cleaning and selling an old device. Can you transfer data if the screen of an old phone is broken? If the sensor is not working, but the image is, you can connect it. USB-mouse-wise OTG-Adapter to control. If the screen is completely black, but the phone is turning on, only a PC connection will help if debugging was previously allowed. USB, Or using cloud services that were synchronized earlier, and how long does it take to move 64 GB of data over Mi Mover? On average, it takes 15 to 40 minutes, depending on the number of small files and the speed of the Wi-Fi modules in both phones. The speed may be higher when using the cable, but the appropriate protocols are required. Will the data disappear from the old phone after transferring to Xiaomi? No, the transfer process is a copy, not a move. Your data will remain unchanged on the old device. You will need to delete it manually after you have convinced that the new smartphone is working successfully. Should I take it out? SIM-- A card before the procedure? SIM-The card is not necessary, but it is recommended to turn off mobile Internet to avoid traffic consumption or interrupt the Wi-Fi Direct connection. SIM-The card will be needed later to confirm the number in messengers.