Changing the ecosystem is always stressful for the smartphone owner, as years of life accumulate in digital folders and contact lists. The transition from Apple iOS to Xiaomi MIUI requires a clear understanding of the migration process so that no important file is lost in the process. Modern tools allow you to do this as transparently as possible, but there are nuances that can lead to the loss of information.
The biggest challenge is not so much the files themselves, but the different operating system architectures. Apple's closed ecosystem doesn't give you full access to the file system, so you can copy directly through the file system. USB-You can't have a cable without intermediaries. You have to use specialized tools that bridge the two worlds.
In this article, weโll look at all the proven portability methods, from Xiaomiโs regular tools to cloud services, how to keep your folder structure, call history, and even your desktop icons, and getting both devices ready before you start will save you hours of time and nerves.
Preparing iPhone and Xiaomi for data migration
Before you start any manipulation, make sure that both devices are ready for active information transfer. Charge your iPhone and Xiaomi to at least 60%, as the process can take a long time and require significant energy resources.
An important step is to update the software on both gadgets to the latest available versions. In iOS settings, go to the Main โ Software Update and make sure the system is up to date. Do the same on Xiaomi by going to Settings โ About Phone โ MIUI version.
โ ๏ธ Note: If Appleโs two-factor authentication is enabled on the iPhone ID, Make sure you remember your password and have access to a trusted number, as you may need to confirm your login during the migration process.
Donโt forget to turn off iMessage before retrieving it. SIM-iPhone cards if you plan to use this number on a new device. SMS Apple users may continue to come to an old phone instead of a new Android, a common problem that many users forget.
Using the Mi Mover application for wireless transfer
The most effective and official way to migrate is to use the built-in Mi Mover app, which is designed specifically for Xiaomi owners and allows you to transfer contacts, messages, photos, music and even installed apps (if they are in the GetApps store or Google Play).
Run Mi Mover on both devices. On Xiaomi, select Recipient and on iPhone, Sender. QR-A code that appears on the screen of a new smartphone, or a special security key, is connected over a local Wi-Fi network created by one of the phones, so the Internet is not consumed.
- ๐ฒ iPhone may require permission to access the local network and photos โ be sure to click โAllowยป.
- ๐ถ Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on both devices for an initial handshake of the transfer protocol.
- ๐ Select data categories to copy: you can transfer everything at once or only sample files.
Transfers can vary from 10 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of data. The speed of copying depends on the power of Wi-Fi modules in devices. Interrupting the process during the copying phase of large files can cause them to be damaged, so try not to switch to other tasks.
โ๏ธ Preparation for the Mi Mover
Once the procedure is complete, Mi Mover will automatically distribute files to the corresponding folders in the MIUI system, contacts will be in the phone book, and media files will be in the gallery and music player.
Sync with Google Account and iCloud
An alternative and often more reliable way is to use cloud services, because Android is deeply integrated with Google services, this method allows you to instantly restore contacts, calendar and notes immediately after you sign in.
Install Google or Gmail from the App Store on your iPhone and log in to your account. In the app settings, enable sync for Contacts, Calendar and Notes. Wait until the process is complete, after which all the data is uploaded to Google servers.
| Type of data | Synchronization method | Where to look for Xiaomi |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Google Contacts | Contacts app / Google settings |
| Calendar | Google Calendar | Calendar Annex |
| Photos and videos | Google Photo | Google Photos/Gallery app |
| Notes | Google Keep / Gmail | Appendix Keep / Mail |
To transfer photos and videos, the best way to use the Google Photos app is to install it on your iPhone, enable autoload and wait until the process is over. On the new Xiaomi, just log in to the same account, and the entire library will be available in the cloud or downloaded to the deviceโs memory on request.
What do we do with passwords?
Manual transfer of multimedia and documents
If automated methods canโt handle large volumes of video files or specific documents, you can use manual copying via a computer, which requires a PC with iTunes installed (for Windows) or Finder (for macOS) and a file manager on Xiaomi.
Connect your iPhone to your computer and copy photos and videos through a standard Explorer or Media Interface. Files are usually in the DCIM folder. After that, connect your Xiaomi smartphone in File Transfer Mode (MTP) and copy the data to internal memory or microSD card.
- ๐พ For documents, create a separate folder on your computer so you donโt get confused in the Android file structure.
- ๐ต Music files in format.m4p (protected DRM) It will not play on Android without removing protection.
- ๐ Format HEIC (Photos from iPhone may not open on older versions MIUI non-convertible JPEG.
When manually copying, it is important to keep the folder structure in order for the media player and gallery to index files correctly, and it is recommended to create folders with clear names in Latin to avoid encoding problems.
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Use JPG instead of HEIC when copying through your computer if you plan to edit photos on third-party services or send them to government agencies where there may be problems with displaying the new Apple format.
Nuances of transfer of applications and messengers
The hardest part of migration is switching to popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. If Telegram stores the entire history of correspondence on its servers and just log in to an account, WhatsApp requires a separate export procedure.
To transfer WhatsApp history, use the official โChat Transferโ function inside the app itself on your iPhone. QR-code from the screen of the new Xiaomi when you initially set up or through the chat menu.Make sure the iPhone has the latest version of WhatsApp installed.
โ ๏ธ Note: WhatsApp and Viber call history is not transferred between different operating systems due to database differences, only text messages and media files will be saved.
For banking applications and government services, they will have to be re-installed and fully authorized, and some banks may require a re-assignment or office visit to confirm a number if security notices a change in platform.
Solving and completing the setup
After the successful data transfer, it is recommended to perform a full reboot of the new Xiaomi smartphone, which will allow the system to re-index all files, update contact databases and correctly display thumbnails of photos in the gallery.
Check the integrity of the data: open a few random photos, call someone in your contacts, check your calendar, and if you notice files, repeat the procedure for a particular category of data without copying everything again.
- ๐ After the migration, let the phone lie on charge 1-2 Hour: the system will perform background optimization of applications.
- ๐ก Check the mobile internet and MMS, You may need to manually prescribe the settings. APN your operator.
- ๐งน Remove the Mi Mover app after successful completion so as not to take up space or waste battery.
Now your Xiaomi is fully ready to work with the familiar dataset. Adapting to the new MIUI shell will take a couple of days, but the rich customization capabilities quickly make up for the departure from iOS.
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The main secret of success is to take your time and check each step of sync before resetting your old iPhone to factory settings.