Changing your smartphone is always an exciting moment, with the expectation of new opportunities, but also with the anxiety of protecting personal information. When you get a new device from Xiaomi, the first question that arises is how quickly and without loss to throw over the accumulated over the years gigabytes of photos, contacts and settings? Fortunately, the ecosystem of MIUI and HyperOS offers advanced tools that make this process as automated as possible, saving the user from routine copying files one by one.
Unlike the old methods, when you had to manually backup your computer or synchronize each contact through a computer. SIM-So, the map, the current technology, you can clone the device almost one by one, and whether you're switching from another Android smartphone or from an iPhone, the data migration algorithms adapt to the source. The main thing is to understand what tools are available and how to activate them correctly, so as not to face synchronization errors or loss of important dialogs in messengers.
In this article, we will discuss all the available ways of transferring information in detail, paying special attention to the Mi Mover application, which is the “gold standard” for owners of Xiaomi equipment. We will look at the nuances of working with cloud storage, the features of data transfer via cable and analyze the typical errors that can occur in the process. You will learn not just to copy files, but fully recreate your digital environment on a new device.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before running any transfer programs, you need to make sure that both the old and new Xiaomi smartphones are in full working order. The critical condition is battery power: the charge level on both devices should be at least 50-60%, and ideally be connected to power sources. The cloning process can take from 15 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of data, and a sudden disconnection of one of the gadgets can cause file damage or failure of the entire procedure.
It’s also worth checking for free space on the receiving device. If you’re going from a phone that’s packed, make sure the new Xiaomi’s internal drive is able to hold all your files. In some cases, it’s wiser to clear up the trash beforehand or transfer heavy video files to an external hard drive or to the cloud, leaving only the essentials for direct migration.
Both smartphones must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network if you plan to use a wireless method of transmission. Connection stability directly affects copy speed. If the router is far away or the signal is unstable, you better use the access point mode, which creates the application itself to transfer, bypassing the home network.
⚠️ Warning: Do not try to interrupt the data transfer process, even if it seems to be stalled. Forced reboot or exit from the application during migration can lead to the fact that some applications will not install correctly and folder structures will be broken.
Make sure that both devices have Bluetooth and GPS enabled, as some system services use these modules to find devices and establish an initial handshake between gadgets.This is especially true for older versions of Android, where you can jump from.
Using the Mi Mover app for full cloning
The most efficient and preferred way is to use the built-in Mi Mover tool, which is pre-installed on all modern Xiaomi smartphones and allows you to transfer contacts, messages, call history, applications, music, videos, images and even system settings. The uniqueness of this method is that it does not require the Internet to transfer files themselves – devices connect directly.
To get started, open the app on your new phone and select the Receiving Device role. On your old smartphone, you need to install Mi Mover from Google Play or find it in the Tools folder if you already have it. MIUI. Once you start up on your old device, select the status of "Sender" and then the screen of the new phone will appear. QR-code that you need to scan the camera of an old gadget or connect to a created Wi-Fi network manually.
Once the connection is established, the system will suggest selecting data categories to transfer, so you can select all at once or only mark specific items, such as only Gallery and Contacts, and transfer speeds over Mi Mover can reach 40 MB/s, which is much faster than standard Bluetooth synchronization.
It is important to note that when you migrate apps, they are not just copied, but downloaded from the Play Market or GetApps store, but all the data inside them (game progress, logins) is stored if the application supports backup. However, some banking applications and secure messengers may require re-authorization for security purposes.
Transferring data through Google Account and Cloud Services
If a direct connection is not possible for some reason, the Google ecosystem comes to the rescue, ideal for those who are moving from pure Android or want to have a backup copy in the cloud. When you first set up a new Xiaomi, the system will prompt you to log in to your Google account. Once you enter your login and password, you will automatically sync contacts, calendar events, notes and a list of installed applications.
For photos and videos, Google Photos is the best service to use. Make sure your old phone has high-quality or original sync enabled. Once you log in to the same account on the new Xiaomi, your entire library will appear in the gallery automatically. This frees up the device's internal memory, as the photos are stored in the cloud but are available at any time.
But it has its limitations: It can't handle alarm settings, desktop icons, Wi-Fi passwords (unless they're separately synced) and some specific applications, and the speed of recovery depends on your Internet connection.
- 📲 Contacts and Calendar: Synced instantly and without loss, being the most reliable way to save a phone book.
- 📸 Photo and Video: Demand time to download, depending on the tariff of cloud storage and the quality of the Internet.
- 📱 Appendices: List only restored; files themselves APK They are re-downloaded, which can take up a lot of traffic.
What to do if Google syncs stop?
If you see that the recovery process from Google backup is stalled at some point, try interrupting it and running it again, but without connecting to Wi-Fi (using mobile Internet) to eliminate problems with the router. Also check if your Google Drive cloud storage is full, as if there is a shortage of space, sync may not end correctly.> The transition from iOS to Android used to seem like a difficult quest, but now the Mi Mover app can work with iPhones. To start the process on the iPhone, you need to download the Mi Mover app from the App Store. Once you start and provide all the permissions you request (access to contacts, photos, microphone), the device will be ready to transfer data. QR-code from the screen Xiaomi. You can flip contacts, calendar events, photos and videos. However, it is worth understanding that paid apps purchased from the App Store will not go to Android, as these are different operating systems with different stores. You will have to look for their counterparts on Google Play. Particular attention should be paid to messengers. WhatsApp correspondence history can be transferred, but this often requires backing up iCloud on iPhone and restoring it on the Android version of WhatsApp, which does not always work smoothly. In some cases, it is easier to use the built-in Chat Portability feature inside WhatsApp itself when you first install it on a new phone. Type of data Transfer via Mi Mover (iOS -> Android Comment Contacts Yes (full) All numbers and names are saved Photo/Video Yes Metadata (shot date) may be lost in rare cases Applications No Need to download again from Play Market Messages SMS No Technically impossible due to closed iOS Wi-Fi settings Partially required to re-enter password After completing the transfer to iPhone, it is recommended to exit iCloud and untie the device to avoid problems with blocking activation in the future if you plan to sell or give away the old one. Hand-copying through a computer and USB-For users who prefer full control over each file, or if necessary, transfer huge amounts of data (hundreds of gigabytes), the classic method through the PC remains relevant. Connect your old phone to your computer, select file transfer mode (MTP) In the notification curtain and copy the folders DCIM, Download, Documents and Pictures to your hard drive. Then plug in the new Xiaomi and transfer the data to the appropriate directories, which is good because it doesn't depend on Wi-Fi speed and allows you to structure files as you like. However, it is absolutely not suitable for porting applications, system settings, alarms and passwords. Use original cables or high-quality analogues with support USB 3.0, if the computer ports allow it, it will speed up the copying of heavy video files several times. Remember to safely retrieve the device after the operation is complete to avoid damaging the file system. 💻 Universality: Suitable for transferring data from any device that has USB-output, including button phones (via card reader). 🗂 Structuring: The ability to sort files by folder immediately and remove unnecessary debris before downloading to a new phone. ⚡ Speed: Depends on the write speed of the phone drive and port USB, But usually more stable than wireless methods. ⚠️ Note: When manually copying, hidden folders (starting from a dot, such as.thumbnails) are best avoided, containing temporary files and cache that will be recreated on the new device, and old files can cause display conflicts. Messengers occupy a special place in the life of the user, and the loss of the history of correspondence is often perceived more painful than the loss of photos. Simply enter your phone number on your new device and all cloud chats will be automatically downloaded. Secret chats are not portable because they are device-specific. WhatsApp is more complicated. When using Mi Mover, your correspondence history is often automatically transferred if you choose the appropriate option. If you do not, back up Google Drive on your old phone (Settings → Chats → Backup). When you install WhatsApp on the new Xiaomi, the app will find a copy in the cloud and prompt you to restore it. It is important to use the same phone number and Google account on your old device. If you change the Google account region or phone number, recovery may become impossible without using third-party paid tools and even when you use them. If Mi Mover gives you a connection error, try turning off mobile internet on both devices, leaving only Wi-Fi. Sometimes a conflict of network priorities prevents you from creating a direct access point between phones. Another common problem is broken apps after porting. If the program opens and closes immediately, try clearing its cache (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → [Select an application] → Clear the data) or reinstall it manually. This often happens with applications that have been modified or installed from third-party sources. If the process is stuck in the "Waiting for Device" stage, make sure that both screens are on the same confirmation code or QR-In some cases, rebooting both smartphones and repeating the procedure from the beginning helps? Yes, you must. Before you transfer your old device to a new owner or scrap it, you must log out of your Mi and Google account, and perform a full reset (Settings → Phone → Reset). If you don't log out, the new owner won't be able to activate the phone because of theft protection (Mi Cloud Lock). Can you interrupt the data transfer and continue later? In most cases, the Mi Mover application does not support the "pause" function with the possibility of continuation. If the process is interrupted in the middle, it is recommended to start again to avoid duplicate files or damage application databases. However, already there are no new files (photo, but only re-refigrated files, the phone) This means that the contacts were not saved in a Google or Mi Account, but in the phone’s memory or on the phone. SIM-You have to go back to your old phone, open contacts, select Export and save them to.vcf, then transfer this file to a new phone and open it for import. Do passwords from Wi-Fi networks carry? When using full backup via Mi Mover, Wi-Fi passwords are often carried along with system settings. However, if you are switching from an iPhone or using only Google sync, you will have to re-enter passwords the first time you connect to familiar networks.