How to transfer all data from Android to Xiaomi: the complete guide

Buying a new Xiaomi smartphone is always a joyous event, but often overshadowed by the prospect of a long and tedious transfer of information. Owners of Redmi and POCO devices should not worry, since the MiUI and HyperOS ecosystem offer some of the most advanced migration tools on the market.

Modern synchronization methods allow you to complete the process in minutes using a wireless Wi-Fi Direct connection that provides high speed transfer without consuming mobile traffic. It is important to choose the best method that will suit your pair of devices: whether you are switching from another Xiaomi or from a third-party device such as Samsung or Honor.

In this guide, we will take a look at all the available ways, from the regular Mi Mover app to cloud solutions, so you can start using the new gadget immediately after unpacking. We will focus on the nuances of messenger portability and system settings, which often cause questions from users.

Preparation of devices before the migration

Before starting the transfer process, make sure that both smartphones are ready to go. First of all, check the battery level on both devices: it should be at least 50-60% so that a sudden shutdown does not interrupt the critical data recording process. It is also recommended to free up enough memory on the new Xiaomi by deleting unnecessary files or making sure that the amount of free space exceeds the size of the information being transferred.

Make sure that both devices have Bluetooth module and geolocation enabled, as they are often used to initially detect devices with each other.If you plan to use cloud services, check the stability of your Wi-Fi connection, preferably at 5GHz for maximum speed.

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Before you start the transfer, clear the cache of junk apps on your old phone – this will speed up the process and prevent temporary files that are not needed on the new device from being copied.

On an older device, it is advisable to update all critical applications, especially instant messengers and bank clients, to the latest versions. On the new Xiaomi, it is also worth checking for updates in the Settings → About Phone menu, since newer versions of MIUI often contain improved drivers for the operation of communication modules.

Using the Mi Mover app for fast transfer

The most effective and recommended way is to use the Mi Mover branded tool, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones.This application creates a direct secure network between devices, which guarantees high speed and data security. To get started, find the app icon on the new phone or download it from Google Play to the old device if there is a clean version of Android installed there.

The launch process is simple and intuitive, even for beginners. On the new Xiaomi, select Recipient, and on the old phone, Sender. QR-code or manual connection via Wi-Fi Direct system will prompt you to select categories of data to copy.

The app allows you to flexibly customize the sample: you can only transfer contacts and SMS, or you can do a full cloning of the system, including installed applications. It is important to note that some system applications of the old phone may not be compatible with the new version of HyperOS, which the system will warn you before you start.

Sync through Google Account and Cloud Services

A classic method that remains relevant for those who value reliability and minimalism: Logging into your Google account on a new device automatically pulls up contacts, calendar events, notes and Chrome browser history, a basic migration level that does not require additional software installation.

For photos and videos, Google Photos is the best option. Turn on sync on your old device, wait for full media uploads to the cloud, and then just sign in to the same account2unt on the new Xiaomi. All your photos will be available in original quality if you have a subscription, or in "Saving space" mode.

But it has its limitations: it can’t tolerate widgets, Wi-Fi passwords (unless they’re synced through Google Password Manager), and application-specific settings, which are more of a way to save important data than to clone a device.

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The combined approach gives the best result: use Mi Mover for apps and settings, and Google Photos to ensure the preservation of the media archive.

Transferring data from other Android brands to Xiaomi

Switching from Samsung, Huawei or OnePlus devices to Xiaomi may be a little complicated due to the differences in shells. For example, Samsung users may find that some system settings will not be understood by the new OS. In this case, the Mi Mover application acts as a universal converter that adapts data to the MIUI format.

If you're moving from a phone that's heavily redesigned, it's recommended that you manually check alarm clocks and recurring calendar events after you've moved them, and sometimes formatting recurring events can get lost when you cross-platform.

For Huawei owners who do not have Google services, it is important to pre-install GMS (Google Mobile Services) or use alternative methods, as standard Huawei Cloud contact synchronization may not work on Xiaomi without manually unloading in.vcf format.

⚠️ Note: When transferring data from other brands, banking applications may require re-authorization or full reinstallation for security reasons.

Some manufacturers, such as Honor or Xiaomi (when switching between different MIUI versions), may have their own bridges to facilitate migration, but the versatility of the Mi Mover usually overrides the need to find specific solutions.

Migration of messengers: WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber

The messengers deserve special attention, as they store the most valuable correspondence. Telegram and Viber (when synchronized with the cloud) restore the message history automatically immediately after entering the phone number.

WhatsApp is a bit more complicated. When using Mi Mover, the app is copied along with the data, but to ensure safety, it’s better to back up inside WhatsApp itself on your old phone. Go to Settings → Chats → Backup and click Create.

When you first launch WhatsApp on the new Xiaomi, the app will find a local copy or backup in Google Drive and offer to restore the history. If you use the App Cloning feature (Second Space), make sure to restore the backup to the desired profile.

Transfer of files through USB-cable

If wireless methods seem too slow or unreliable, there is always the old-fashioned way of using a computer as an intermediate storage device: connect your old phone to your PC in file transfer mode (MTP) and copy the DCIM, Download, Documents and Music folders to your hard drive.

Then plug in the new Xiaomi and move the files to the appropriate directories, a method that is ideal for carrying huge volumes of video files that can weigh tens of gigabytes. USB-port-and-cable.

When using this method, you should be careful about the structure of folders. Some applications expect to find media files in strictly defined directories, for example, music for the system player is better put in the Music folder, and ringtones in Ringtones.

⚠️ Note: When copying through a computer, do not disturb the nesting structure of folders inside the Android system directories (for example, Android/data), Otherwise, the apps may stop seeing their files.

Frequent problems and their solution in the transfer

During the migration process, users may encounter errors such as “Not enough space” or “Disconnection”. Most often, the problem is that the receiving device has power saving mode that aggressively turns off the Wi-Fi module to save charge.

If the transmission is interrupted in the middle, don't start over again. Modern tools, including the Mi Mover, can re-engineer the process or only download damaged files. Check if one of the devices overheats, because when the system is heated, it can artificially limit the data rate.

Another common problem is file format incompatibility: Old video files in rare codecs may not play on the new Xiaomi without installing an additional player, such as VLC or MX Player.