Buying a new Redmi smartphone or Xiaomi’s flagship is always an exciting moment, but it inevitably pushes users to carry their accumulated information. MIUI and HyperOS offer powerful built-in tools that make the migration process almost invisible to the owner. Unlike old manual copying methods, today synchronization takes minutes and requires minimal human involvement.
The challenge is not just the fact of transfer, but choosing the right method to keep folder structure, Wi-Fi passwords and application settings. Xiaomi has developed its own ecosystem where the transition between devices of the same brand is implemented as natively as possible. You do not need to look for third-party cables or complex PC programs, if you correctly use the built-in features of the system.
In this article, we will look at all the current ways of transfer, from cloud services to direct transmission over Wi-Fi Direct. We will focus on the nuances that are often overlooked, such as porting applications with authorization and saving the desktop layout. The fastest and most reliable way is to use the Mi Mover application, which is preinstalled on all devices of the brand.
Preparation of devices before the migration
Before you start any copying processes, you need to do basic training of both devices. Ignoring this step can lead to connection errors or interruption of transmission in the middle of the process. Make sure that both devices are charged at least 50-60% of the battery, as the active operation of the radio modules and the processor is significantly consuming energy.
Both smartphones must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network if you plan to use cloud methods or a local area network. However, Mi Mover does not require this, as it creates its own access point. Check that the receiving device (the new phone) has enough free space in memory to accommodate all the files from the old gadget.
- 🔋 Charge both smartphones to at least 60% to avoid sudden shutdown.
- 📶 Make sure the screens are unlocked and Bluetooth enabled to detect devices.
- 🗑️ Clear the cache of unused apps on your old phone to speed up the process.
- 🆔 Remember the password from your Mi Account and Google account for subsequent authorization.
It’s also worth checking the operating system version. While Mi Mover is compatible with most versions of MIUI, it’s advisable that both devices have relatively recent security updates, which ensures that the encryption protocols work correctly when transmitted.
Using the Mi Mover app for fast transfer
The most effective tool the company's engineers have built is the Mi Mover utility, which allows you to transfer contacts, messages, call logs, photos, music, videos, documents and even installed applications along with their data, and it works by creating a secure communication channel between two devices.
To get started, open the app on both phones. On the new device, select "I'm the recipient" and on the old one, "I'm the sender." QR-You can find the code or find the device in the list of available devices, and then you can pair it up and you can see a detailed menu for selecting the categories of data.
⚠️ Note: When porting applications, some banking programs may require reauthorization or reset biometric settings for security reasons.
An important advantage of this method is the ability to select specific applications. You can not tolerate the "junk" programs that have been dusting on an old phone for years. The process takes place in the background, and the screens of the devices can go out, but do not block them completely if the transfer takes a long time.
What if the Mi Mover can’t see the device?
Make sure both phones are enabled with GPS and Bluetooth. Sometimes it helps to reboot both devices. Also check if one device has a Flight mode or a corporate security profile that blocks the creation of a local network.> Synchronization through your Mi Cloud account and Google Cloud allows you to make a data backup available anywhere in the world. If you have a stable Internet, this method is convenient because the data is automatically restored immediately after entering a login on a new device. Google Drive and Mi Cloud work in parallel, synchronizing different types of data. Through the settings, you can save contacts, calendar, and Google Chrome listing the apps installed on the "Google" section. Click the Start Copy button to create a fresh snapshot of data before you switch. Mi Cloud is tailored to the Xiaomi ecosystem and allows you to save deeper settings: desktop layout, alarm clocks, voice recordings and even the theme of the design. This is especially useful if you want the new Redmi to look and behave exactly like your previous phone. Google Mi Cloud Local Account Contact Yes Yes Yes Yes Photos and Video Yes (Google Photos) Yes (5GB free) Yes (no compression) Screen layout No Yes Yes Wi-Fi Passwords Partial Yes Applications List No Yes (APK + Data) Don't rely on just one service. Combined, where contacts are in Google and system settings in Mi Cloud are as reliable as possible. If you lose access to one of your accounts, you don't lose all your information at once. Sometimes you only need to transfer heavy files, such as movies, archives or projects, without fully migrating the system. In this case, the built-in File Manager offers a Wi-Fi transmission feature that is faster than Bluetooth and does not require the Internet. Open the Explorer app on both phones. In the menu, select Send on one device and Get on another. Devices will find each other on the local network. Transfer speeds can reach 10-20 MB/s, which allows you to quickly transfer gigabytes of data, for example, open the Explorer app on both phones, which is always synchronized files that are synchronized for large files, which are always being loaded into a full format. 📁 The method is convenient for selective copying of large video files. 🚀 Speed is faster than Bluetooth and does not depend on the speed of the Internet. 🔒 The connection is protected by a password that is displayed on the screen of the receiving device. 📱 It doesn't require any additional applications, it works out of the box, and it's designed to work with the file system, documents, images and media. Special attention should be paid to messengers, as they store correspondence in their databases. Telegram synchronizes all messages through the cloud, so just enter a phone number on a new device. However, secret chats and cache files may require special attention. WhatsApp is more complicated. To save the history of correspondence, you need to back up the application itself before you switch. Go to WhatsApp settings, select Chats» → «Backup chats" and click "Create. Make sure the copy is saved in Google Drive. ⚠️ Note: When restoring WhatsApp on a new phone, be sure to use the same phone number and the same Google account, otherwise the backup will not be found. Once WhatsApp is installed on the new Redmi, the app will prompt you to restore the history from the found backup. The process can take some time depending on the size of the database and the speed of the Internet. Don't interrupt this process until it is complete. Solving problems and errors during the transfer Even with the use of regular funds, there may be failures. Often users are faced with a situation where the transfer freezes 99% or some applications do not open after the transfer. This can be due to incompatibility of Android versions or file damage when a communication breaks down. If Mi Mover gives an error, try clearing the cache of the app itself on both phones and restarting devices. It's also worth disabling VPNs and antiviruses that can block local connection between gadgets. In some cases, resetting network settings helps. For applications that don't work correctly after transfer, the best solution is to delete and re-install from Google Play or GetApps. The data inside them is often stored if the application supports cloud synchronization or if you have transferred its data through MiFi Mover. Wi-Fi passwords may not be transferred if they were saved in a secure partition on an old phone that is restricted by superuser rights, or if the Android version on the new phone is significantly newer and uses a different key encryption mechanism. So it's easier to re-enter the passwords, can you transfer the data if the old phone's screen is broken? Yes, if the sensor is partially working or working? USB-OTG. Connect your mouse to your phone through an adapter to control the interface and start backup. If the screen doesn't show the image at all, but the phone turns on, only cloud sync will help if it was turned on earlier. How long does it take to move? 100 GB of data? With Mi Mover and good Wi-Fi connection (5 GHz) speed can reach 30-40 MB/s. Thus, 100 GB of data will be transmitted approximately 45-60 minute. The process will take much longer to run through the cloud, and depends on the ISP's tariff. The final step should always be to check the integrity of the data. Go through the gallery, the contact list and important applications. Make sure everything works correctly before you completely reset your old device. A competent approach to migration will allow you to start using your new smartphone comfortably from the first minute.