Buying a new smartphone from Xiaomi is always a pleasant event, but it is often overshadowed by the need to transfer a huge amount of information. Owners of this brand devices are in a favorable position, as the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem offers native, deeply integrated tools for migration.
There are several proven ways to do this, each with its own advantages depending on the amount of data being transferred and the speed of the Internet connection. The main method that experts recommend is using the built-in Mi Mover application. It allows you to create direct Wi-Fi connection between devices, ensuring high transfer speeds without the consumption of mobile traffic. However, for some users it is critical to keep the folder structure or settings, which requires a manual approach.
In this article, we will take a detailed look at all available synchronization options, from cloud services to local copying through the Internet. USB-You will learn how to avoid common mistakes, such as losing WhatsApp data or resetting banking apps, and getting both devices ready before the process starts ensures that the new smartphone will be a complete replica of the old one while preserving your digital experience.
Preparation of devices before the migration
Before you run any portable tool, you need to do basic training on both smartphones, not just a formality, but a prerequisite for the stable operation of synchronization algorithms. Make sure that both devices are charged at least 50-60% of the battery, as the process of active data transmission over Wi-Fi Direct is significantly energy consuming.
Both phones need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network if you plan to use cloud methods, or just be in close proximity to each other to work over a direct connection. It is also worth checking that the new device has enough free space in memory. If the amount of internal memory of the new smartphone is less than the amount of data on the old one, the process will have to stop and choose what to carry.
⚠️ Note: Before any manipulation of data is initiated, it is strongly recommended to back up critical information to an external medium or to the cloud in case of an unforeseen system failure.
Also, be sure to exit the power saving modes on both devices, as they can limit the background activity of the system services responsible for transferring files. If antivirus applications or third-party firewalls are installed on the old phone, it is better to temporarily turn them off so that they do not block network interaction between devices.
Using the Mi Mover app for full cloning
The most efficient and quick way to transfer all data from one Xiaomi to another is to use the Mi Mover application, which is pre-installed and optimized for working with the MIUI and HyperOS shells, which ensures maximum compatibility of file formats and settings.
To start the process, open the app on both devices. On the new phone, select "I am the recipient" (or "New phone") and on the old one, "I am the sender" (or "Old phone"). QR-code or connect to the access point you created. Once you have established the connection, you will see a list of data categories available for transfer.
You can select specific types of data or you can mark everything at once.
- 📱 Contacts, call history and SMS-message
- 📸 Photos, video and audio recordings from the gallery
- 📦 Applications and their data (for most programs)
- ⚙️ System settings, alarm clocks and notes
The speed of transmission depends on the amount of data and the version of the Wi-Fi standard supported by both devices. On modern models with Wi-Fi 6 support, the process is almost invisible to the user, it is important not to interrupt the connection or switch to other tasks during copying.
What if the Mi Mover can’t see the device?
Make sure both phones have GPS enabled and Mi Mover app permissions set to Always mode. Also try to turn off mobile internet on one of the devices, leaving only the Wi-Fi module active to create direct communication.> Sync through your Mi Cloud and Google account. Alternatively, a more traditional way is to use cloud services. Xiaomi ecosystem is closely integrated with its own Mi Cloud cloud, which allows you to store backups of settings, contacts and even desktop layouts. To activate this feature, go to account settings and select Sync. However, for most users, the more familiar and universal service, with the first one that Google has enough to enter the newer and the same device. The system will automatically prompt you to restore a backup created earlier.Mi Cloud Google Drive Data Type Locally (USB) Contacts Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Photos and Videos Yes (limited) Yes (limited) Yes (no limit) Wi-Fi Passwords Yes Yes No Application Data Partially Yes (via Mi Mover) The main advantage of cloud methods is independence from physical proximity devices. You can set up a new phone even if the old one has already been sold or lost, provided the backup was created in advance.The disadvantage is the dependence on internet speed and the limited amount of free storage. Manual file transfer through the backup. USB For users who are used to controlling every byte of information, or when transferring very large amounts of data (for example, hundreds of gigabytes of video), the manual method becomes the optimal solution. It requires a computer and USB-Preferably original cable that supports high data rates. Connect your old phone to your computer and select the notification menu mode. USB «File transfer» (MTP). Copy the necessary folders, such as DCIM, Download, Music and Documents, to a separate directory on your PC hard drive, then plug in the new phone and transfer the files to the appropriate directories. This method is especially useful for transferring files of specific formats or heavy archives that can cause timeouts when wirelessly transmitted, and it also allows you to clear the memory of an old device from junk files that you do not want to see on a new device. It is worth noting that this way will not be possible to transfer the installed applications and their settings. You will only get raw files, and programs will have to be installed again through the Google Play store or GetApps. The nuances of data transfer of messengers and banks are worth noting messengers such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber, as well as banking applications. For security reasons, these programs often do not save their data in shared backups of the system or do it in encrypted form, not available for direct reading. For WhatsApp and Viber, there is a built-in backup function for creating a Google Drive or locally in the phone memory. Before switching to a new device, go to the settings of the messenger chats on the old phone and restore a copy of the application on the old one. ⚠️ Note: Two-factor authentication in messengers may require code input from SMS. Make sure that SIM-The card is already installed in the new phone or you have access to the confirmation codes in another way. Bank applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff, etc.) will require re-authorization. For security reasons, biometric data (fingerprint, face) is not transferred between devices. You'll have to re-assign your device to your bank account, which sometimes requires a call center or confirmation via a push notification on another trusted device. Often there is a situation where the process freezes at a certain percentage or some applications do not open after the transfer. In such cases, it helps to clear the cache of the system service "Mi Mover" or reboot both devices. If after the transfer, notifications from the applications do not work, check the settings for autorun and energy savings. The system could by default limit the background activity of the transferred programs. Go to Settings → Settings → Settings → Settings → Speakability and make sure that the necessary services are not blocked. In rare cases, especially when switching between very different versions of Android (for example, from Android 10 to Android 14), there may be conflict settings. In such a situation, the only reliable solution is a complete reset of the new phone to factory settings, but it is possible to reset the main data, if you can only reset the phone, if you can only reset the data from the old ones, if you can make it more difficult to reset the old ones, but if you can only reset the old ones. If the sensor is working, you can connect it. USB-mouse-wise OTG-Adapter to control: If the screen doesn't show the full image, but the phone turns on, it will help to connect to the computer and use software to control the smartphone from the PC, or retrieve data through cloud services, if they were configured before. 100 GB of data? Using Mi Mover and modern Wi-Fi standards (ac/ax) speed 20-40 MB/s, thus, 100 GB of data will be copied from approximately 45 minute 1.5 Through the cloud, this process can take hours or even days, depending on the speed of your Internet channel. Are photos from WhatsApp disappearing during transfer? Photos from WhatsApp are saved in the general gallery of the phone, unless the save to the gallery is disabled in the settings of the messenger. When fully cloned through Mi Mover, they'll be transferred along with the rest of the photos. If you only transfer contacts and apps, the media files may not be copied, so it's better to back up the chats inside WhatsApp itself. SIM-- The map before you start? SIM-You don't need a card, but instead, you need some services to work properly and get them. SMS-confirmation code SIM-The card must be installed in the new phone by the time the setup and application launch are completed.