Changing a smartphone is always associated with a certain stress associated not so much with the development of a new device, but with the risk of losing important files, photos and settings. Xiaomi ecosystem owners are in a better position as the manufacturer has built-in tools for seamless migration, and the process of transferring information has become much easier and faster compared to previous years of shell development. MIUI and the new HyperOS.
There are several proven ways to transfer data from one shaomi phone to another, each with its own characteristics, depending on the amount of information, the state of the old device and the personal preferences of the user. In this article, we will discuss all the options available in detail so that you can choose the most suitable one.
Regardless of the method chosen, it is crucial to prepare both smartphones for the procedure.It will only take a few minutes, but save hours of time later.Make sure that both devices are charged at least 60-70%, as active transmission of large amounts of data can significantly consume battery power.
If you plan to transfer all the internal memory, including heavy apps and video, to 4K, make sure the new phone is able to accommodate that load.In some cases, you may need to pre-clean up garbage or delete unnecessary files.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before any manipulations begin, you need to do basic hardware training, which is not just a formality, but a prerequisite for the stable operation of software tools transfer. First of all, check the version of the operating system on both devices, preferably on the old and new phone are the current versions of MIUI or HyperOS.
The software update often contains critical fixes for wireless communication modules, which directly affects the file transfer speed. Go to Settings → About phone and click on the system version to check for updates. If new packages are available, install them before you start migrating.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to interrupt the system update or data port by turning off the screen or closing applications.This may cause file system damage or loss of some contacts.
The second important step is to clear the storage of temporary files. Although this is not necessary, removing the cache of messengers and browsers will speed up the process. Use the built-in Security utility for quick cleaning. Also make sure that both devices are enabled Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules, as they are used to create a communication channel between gadgets.
If you use screen protection, make sure to remember the pin or pattern lock. During the migration process, the system may request multiple proof of identity to access protected memory areas. A forgotten password may block the entire process halfway through.
Use of the Mi Mover app
The most efficient and quickest way to migrate data is to use the proprietary Mi Mover utility, which is pre-installed on most of the brand’s modern smartphones and optimized to work with their file system, and allows you to transfer contacts, messages, call history, apps, music, videos and even system settings.
To start the process, open the app on both devices. On the new phone, select Recipient and on the old phone, Sender. The app automatically creates a Wi-Fi hotspot to connect to, which does not consume Internet traffic, since the connection is established locally between devices.
☑️ Ready to transfer via Mi Mover
Once connected, you'll see a list of data categories to migrate, you can select all the items you want, or you can manually mark the ones you want, like leaving heavy games and downloading them over Google Play. Transfer speeds vary from 10 minutes to several hours.
Importantly, the Mi Mover can even carry the layout of desktop icons and wallpaper, allowing the new phone to become an exact replica of the old one once turned on. However, some system applications may not be portable due to Android security limitations.
What if Mi Miver can’t see the device?
Sync with Mi Cloud and Google Account
The alternative to direct connectivity is cloud synchronization, which is ideal if an old phone is already sold, broken, or far away, with Google and its own cloud service, Mi Cloud, both of which allow you to save critical data online and recover it at any time.
To work with the Google ecosystem, you need to go to Settings → Accounts and Sync. Make sure that the ticks are opposite to Contacts, Calendar, Notes and Photos. Once you enter your Google account on your new device, all this information will automatically pull up in the background.
Mi Cloud offers deeper integration with the shell. It saves not only contacts and photos, but also voice recorders, alarm settings, a blacklist and even the location of widgets. To activate, go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud and enable synchronization of the desired partitions.
The cloud method has its limitations in terms of free storage, and typically 5GB is available, which may not be enough to fully back up the system, so you have to buy more space or choose only the most important data to download.
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Use cloud sync as a backup method, and even if you're moving data over cable or Wi-Fi, having a fresh copy in the cloud will save you if you have a hardware failure.
Manual transfer of files via computer
For users who prefer complete control of the process or have a very large amount of media, the classic method through the PC is suitable. USB-cable, preferably original, supporting high data rates.
Connect your old phone to your computer and select the USB File Transfer (MTP) mode. Copy the DCIM (photo and video), Music, Download and Documents folders to your hard drive. Then plug in the new phone and copy the data to the respective directories.
The good thing about this is that it's independent of Android versions and the stability of wireless modules, so you can structure files on your computer by deleting duplicates before you write to your new device, but you can't migrate your system settings and Wi-Fi passwords that way.
| Method | Speed. | What's transferable | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Tall. | Everything (System + Files) | Low. |
| Google/Mi Cloud | Depends on the Internet. | Contacts, Photos, Settings | Low. |
| Through PC (USB) | Medium/High | Files only (Photos, Videos) | Medium |
When you manually copy, look for hidden folders that start with a dot. Some applications may store settings. Copying the entire structure of Android/data folders on new versions of the OS can be limited by access rights, so focus on user media files.
Transfer of messages and call history
Special attention should be paid to the transfer of SMS and call history, as this data is often not synced through a standard Google account as conveniently as contacts. For Xiaomi owners, the best solution is to use a built-in backup tool.
On your old phone, go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore. Select to create a new backup and select Messages and Call logs. The backup file will be saved in internal memory.
The backup file can then be transferred to the new phone in any convenient way (via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct, or copied via PC) and the new device must be reversed by going to the same settings section, selecting the file, and clicking "Restore".
It’s worth remembering that backups of messages created on one version of MIUI may not read on a significantly newer or older version, but embedded tools usually work consistently within the same ecosystem.
Nuances of messenger transfer
The hardest part of migration is messaging, especially WhatsApp and Telegram, which store correspondence and media files in their secure databases that can't be copied by moving folders. Telegram has no problem: just type in a phone number and all chats will be downloaded from the server.
WhatsApp is different, because if you install it on a new phone, it will suggest you restore the backup, and it's critical that you type in the same Google Drive account on the new device that the old phone used to backup, and without that, the history of the correspondence will not come back.
Inside WhatsApp itself, there is also a local backup feature. Go to Settings → Chats → Chat Backup and click Backup. Once you install the app on your new phone and confirm the number, the system will prompt you to restore data from a local file or cloud.
⚠️ Note: When you transfer messengers to a new phone number or when you change the operating system (from iOS to Android), standard methods may not work. In such cases, use the function "Chat Transfer" inside the settings of the messenger itself.
Don't forget to check two-factor authentication, too. PIN-code installed to protect your account in the messenger, you can lose access to correspondence forever, even having a backup file.
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Successful transfer of instant messengers does not depend on the phone model, but on the right backup to the cloud service (Google Drive or iCloud), tied to your number.