How to transfer information from your phone to Xiaomi: the full guide

Changing a mobile device is always stressful, not so much with getting used to a new gadget, but with the risk of losing important data. Owners of the Xiaomi and Redmi ecosystem often wonder how to quickly and painlessly transfer information from phone to phone, preserving the structure of folders, passwords from Wi-Fi and correspondence history. Modern technology allows you to make this process automatic, but knowing the nuances of various methods of transfer ensures that no file is lost in the digital space.

There are several proven migration methods, each with its own advantages depending on the source device and the amount of data you have: you can use a specialized Mi Mover app, Google cloud services or a direct cable connection, and the choice of an optimised method depends on whether you are switching from Android or iOS, and whether you have a stable Internet connection.

In this guide, we will discuss each step in detail so that you can confidently choose the right option. Regardless of the model of your old smartphone, whether it is a budgetary or a flagship competitor, the procedure for transferring data to Xiaomi is worked out to the smallest detail.

Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration

The most efficient and native way to transfer data is to use the built-in Mi Mover tool. This application is pre-installed on all Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones running MIUI or HyperOS shell. Its main advantage is to create direct Wi-Fi connection between devices, which allows you to transfer large amounts of data without the use of mobile traffic and at high speed.

You start the process from your new phone. You need to open the Settings app → Advanced Settings → Mi Mover or find it in the Tools folder. Once you start, select the "I'm the recipient" role. On the old device, if it's also Xiaomi, the app will already be on the system; if the other Android needs to be downloaded from the Play Market, and for the iPhone from the App Store, the old phone selects the "I'm the sender" role.

The devices will find each other through scanning. QR-Once you connect, Mi Mover will offer you to select data categories to transfer, and the system allows you to flexibly configure filtering so that you do not copy system debris or temporary files.

• 📱 Contacts and Messages: Complete copy of the phone book, including attached photos, and history SMS/MMS correspondence.
• 🖼️ Multimedia: Photos, videos, audio recordings and documents from internal memory.
• ⚙️ System settings: Wi-Fi passwords, alarm clocks, notes, calendar and even the location of icons on the desktop.
• 📲 Annexes: List of installed programmes (APK-files), although logging in to accounts inside some banking applications will have to be re-enabled for security reasons.

It is important to note that when transferring applications from iOS to Android, the programs themselves will not be ported, since the system architectures differ, but Mi Mover will tell you analogues in GetApps or Play Market.

Sync through Google Account and Cloud Services

If you can’t physically access both devices at the same time or prefer the cloud, the ideal solution is the Google ecosystem, a method that is especially relevant when switching from pure Android (like Pixel or Motorola) to Xiaomi.

To successfully implement this scenario, you need to make sure that your old phone is fully synced. Go to Settings → Google → Sync and click Sync. This ensures that your contacts, calendar events and Google Keep notes are uploaded to the server.

⚠️ Note: Photos and videos are not always part of the standard Android system sync. Make sure to save them by using the Google Photos or Google Drive app, enabling Autoboot and Sync before changing your device.

When setting up a new Xiaomi, simply type in the same email address. The system automatically prompts you to restore the list of applications, passwords (save in Google Password Manager) and settings. This method is good for its versatility, but requires a stable and fast Internet connection, since the amount of data downloaded can be calculated in gigabytes.

The alternative is the Mi Cloud. If you’ve used Xiaomi before, logging into Mi Account will instantly return all data, including specific shell settings. However, for users switching from other brands, this method will require pre-installing the Mi Cloud app on the old device, which is not always convenient.

Transferring data from iPhone to Xiaomi

The transition from iOS to Android has long been considered a difficult process, but Xiaomi’s tools have made it much easier.The Mi Mover app, which has an iPhone version, is also a key element here, allowing you to shift the bulk of user information without having to dive deep into technical details.

Once the app is installed on the iPhone and the sender mode is selected, the device will create a Wi-Fi hotspot. the new Xiaomi connects to this network. (it is worth noting) Due to iOS security limitations, some types of data, such as Wi-Fi passwords or system settings, will not be able to transfer, but media files and contacts are available in full.

For users who are actively using WhatsApp, the situation requires special attention. In recent versions of MIUI, when you initially set up the phone, you may be prompted to move data from iOS, including WhatsApp history. If this point is missed, you will need to reset the settings of the new phone and repeat the initial setup procedure.

Subscriptions are also worth remembering: Services paid for through the App Store are not automatically portable, but you will have to re-subscribe to Google Play or service sites to continue to enjoy premium features on your new device.

Using a computer as an intermediate storage

The classic copy-paste method through a computer remains one of the most reliable, especially when you need to transfer files from a damaged screen or if wireless methods are not working smoothly. USB-cable, you access the file system as an external drive.

Create a folder on the desktop with a name «Backup_Old_Phone» And copy all the important directories: DCIM (Photos and videos), Download, Documents and Music. Then connect the new Xiaomi and move the files to the corresponding folders of internal memory. 100% File integrity, as it eliminates compression errors when transmitted over the air.

However, this method has a significant disadvantage: it does not tolerate system settings, passwords and installed applications. You will have to manually install software and configure the phone from scratch. In addition, modern smartphones often use the MTP protocol, which can be unstable on older versions of Windows without installed drivers.

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Use a cable that came with an old phone, or a high-quality analog with data support. Cheap charging-only cables will not allow the computer to see the file system of the device.

Direct Bluetooth and NFC connection

While these technologies seem outdated for transferring gigabytes of data, they can still be useful for quickly transferring a small number of files, such as a few photos or business cards of contacts. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, the Mi Share feature (similar to AirDrop) uses a combination of Bluetooth for handshake and Wi-Fi Direct for transfer, making the process fast.

To transmit contacts through NFC If both devices have Android Beam (or its equivalent in newer versions of Android), the system will prompt you to send data. This is ideal if you need to immediately move a phone number or link to a site, and there is no time to create Wi-Fi pairs.

However, this method is not suitable for a complete system migration. Transfer speeds over pure Bluetooth are extremely low, and the process of copying the entire gallery can take several hours, which is irrationally wastes battery power on both devices.

• 🔋 Energy efficiency: Bluetooth consumes less power than creating a Wi-Fi hotspot, but runs significantly slower.
• 📶 Range: The devices must be in close proximity (up to 10 cm for the NFC, up to 10m for Bluetooth).
• 🔄 Compatibility: Works between any standard-enabled smartphone, regardless of brand.

Solving problems and errors during transfer

Even with automated tools, there can be disruptions, and users often experience a situation where the process hangs at a certain percentage or some files are corrupted, and one of the common causes is the aggressive MIUI energy saving system, which can kill the background transmission process if the screen goes out.

To avoid this, before starting large-scale copying, it is recommended to temporarily turn off the power saving mode and increase the time before going to sleep, and make sure that geolocation is enabled on both devices, since in modern versions of Android this is a mandatory requirement for Wi-Fi Direct, which is used by most applications for transmission.

⚠️ Note: Do not interrupt the transfer process or switch between applications on the old phone. User activity on the sender device may cause the connection to break and the need to start the process again.

If you encounter an error called “Not enough space” when the memory seems to be there, check the.thumbnails folder or messenger cache. Sometimes the system does not correctly calculate the free space, in which case it helps to clear the cache through Settings → Memory → Cleaning before migrating.

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Connection stability is more important than speed, and it's better to choose a method that is slightly slower but guarantees data integrity than to risk losing important information due to a communication breakdown.