How to switch from one Xiaomi phone to another: the complete guide

Changing a smartphone, especially within one ecosystem, is always an exciting process that often raises concerns about the possible loss of important data. The owner of a Xiaomi or Redmi device who decides to upgrade a gadget usually wants to get a new device in full working order, with all the usual applications, photos, contacts and settings of the system. Fortunately, the developers of MIUI and HyperOS have provided powerful built-in tools that allow you to clone the contents of an old device to a new one in just a few minutes, minimizing manual labor.

Unlike manually reinstalling each application and logging in for a long time, automated porting allows you to keep even the location of desktop icons and passwords from Wi-Fi networks. However, to make the process smooth and error-free, you need to properly prepare both smartphones, charge their batteries and choose the right migration method. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the stages of the transition, from initial preparation to fine-tuning the new device, so that your new phone becomes a complete replacement for the old one.

Preparing devices before data migration

The first step to a successful transition is to carefully prepare both smartphones. Battery charge is critical: both devices must be charged at least 60-70%, since the process of transferring a large amount of data can be energy-intensive and long. If one of the phones turns off during cloning, it can damage files or malfunction of the system, so connecting to a power source will be the most sensible solution.

You also need to make sure that both devices have the latest version of the operating system installed. Although portability tools are usually compatible with different versions of MIUI, having the latest security updates and system patches reduces the risk of conflicts when migrating specific settings. Check for updates in the Settings → About Phone menu and install them if necessary.

⚠️ Note: Before any data port operations are started, it is strongly recommended to back up important files to an external medium or to the cloud, even if you are using automated tools.

Be sure to check the space available on your new smartphone. The amount of memory available on your receiving device should exceed the amount of data you plan to transfer. If the new phone has less internal memory than the old one, you will have to decide in advance which files, photos or applications can be deleted or moved to the cloud.

Using the Mi Mover app for full cloning

The main and most effective tool for migration is the built-in Mi Mover app, which allows you to transfer contacts, messages, call history, photos, videos, music, documents and even installed applications along with their data. Working with the utility does not require an Internet connection, since it creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices, ensuring high speed transfer.

You can run the app through the settings menu or find it in the Tools folder. On the old phone, you need to select the role of the "Sender" (Old phone), and on the new one, you need to select the role of the "Receiver" (New phone). QR-If you have a code or a manual password connection, the devices will form a local network, and the user will only have to select data categories to transfer and confirm the operation.

One of the great advantages of Mi Mover is the ability to transfer data from WhatsApp, which will back up chats on your old phone, transfer them, and restore them to your new device, keeping your correspondence history, but it’s worth remembering that the process of installing WhatsApp and first login will still require you to confirm your phone number via SMS.

Transfer speeds are directly dependent on the amount of data and the quality of Wi-Fi modules in smartphones. When transferring tens of gigabytes of photos and videos, the process can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, do not interrupt the connection and keep the device screens on or monitor the process to respond to system requests in time.

Sync with Mi Cloud and Google Account

The alternative to direct connectivity is to use cloud services, which is especially true if the old phone is already sold, broken or unavailable. Xiaomi tightly integrated with Mi Cloud, which allows you to synchronize contacts, notes, voice recorder, gallery and system settings. To activate this feature on the old device, you need to log into your Mi Account and enable synchronization of the desired partitions.

Once you turn on your new phone and log in to the same Mi Account, all data will automatically be pulled from the cloud, a convenient way to keep the continuity of use, especially if you regularly make backups. Similarly, sync through Google works: contacts, calendar, email and app data are stored in a Google profile and restored when you first log in to Android.

Using the cloud requires a stable Internet connection, preferably via Wi-Fi, so as not to waste mobile traffic. It can take a considerable amount of time to download a lot of data, but you can access your data from any device just by logging in to your account, which makes cloud sync a great addition to local portability.

Transfer of applications and banking services

Although Mi Mover is great at copying. APK-Application files, banking services and highly secure applications require special attention, and financial applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff, Alpha, and others) do not transfer their internal data and caches for security reasons. You will have to re-enter logins and passwords, as well as undergo an authorization procedure, which often requires confirmation through the user. SMS push-notification.

Special attention should be paid to the application Mi Fit or Zepp Life if you use fitness bracelets or smart scales Xiaomi. After transferring data to a new phone, old devices can remain "tied" to the old smartphone in Bluetooth memory.

For instant messengers like Telegram, data is stored on the server, so simply enter a phone number and all chats will load automatically.However, secret chats (Secret Chats) are device-specific and cannot be ported - they will disappear when you log out on your old phone. WhatsApp, as mentioned earlier, requires you to create a local backup before switching.

⚠️ Note: When transferring data from banking applications to a new device, it may be necessary to re-identify your identity or confirm via a new device.-call the bank's security system detects a change in the device (Device) ID). Have a passport and access to your phone number.

Some Xiaomi system apps may not work properly immediately after the transfer, in which case it is recommended to remove the ported application and download it again from the GetApps store or Google Play, which ensures that you get a fresh version optimized for the current version of the firmware of the new smartphone.

Set up biometrics and security on a new device

Once the data is successfully transferred, biometric security techniques must be reconfigured: fingerprints, face ID, and unlock patterns are not transferred between devices for security reasons. These data are stored in a secure hardware module (TEE) of each particular phone and cannot be copied.

You will need to re-add fingerprints to the Settings menu → Passwords and Security → Unlock by fingerprint. It is recommended to add multiple fingerprints (such as thumbs of both hands) for ease of use in different situations. It is also worth setting up a Smart Lock, which allows you to keep your phone unlocked in trusted places or when connected to certain devices.

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Tip: When setting up a fingerprint on a new phone, add the same finger twice as different profiles. This will improve recognition accuracy, especially if the finger is wet or dirty, as the system will compare to two benchmarks.

Make sure to check your encryption settings and find your device. Make sure that Find Device is activated in Mi Account and Google Account, which will allow you to remotely lock your phone or erase your data in case of theft, and check if the emergency SOS call, which is set to quickly press the power button, is working.

Problem Solving and Optimization After the Transition

Once the migration is complete, the new phone may be slower for a while, which is normal behavior, as background processes are about indexing files, optimizing application databases, and downloading content. Give the device a few hours (or leave overnight on charging with Wi-Fi enabled) to complete all background operations.

If you notice that the battery of a new phone is draining faster than expected, check the usage statistics in the Settings → Battery menu. Sometimes ported applications may not work correctly on a new version of Android or MIUI, causing increased energy consumption, in which case it is worth updating the problematic application or clearing its cache.

⚠️ Note: If after transferring contacts, callers names appear as numbers or duplicate, go to the Contacts app, select settings and perform the “Combine Duplicates” or “Import/Export” function to clear the list and sync it again with the cloud.

Also worth checking is NFC and contactless payment, and you’ll have to add new cards to Google Pay (or its equivalents) because the card data is not portable for security reasons, take a picture of the cards or prepare them in advance for quick data entry.

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The main conclusion: The transition to the new Xiaomi takes from 30 minutes to 2 hours, but ensures the complete safety of the user’s digital life.