Buying a new smartphone is always accompanied by a pleasant excitement, which is often overshadowed by the need to transfer the accumulated over the years of use of the data array. owners of Xiaomi devices are in a better position, as the company has developed a powerful built-in utility for migration of information.
There are several proven ways to get everything from phone to phone, and the choice of the specific method depends on your operating system and personal preferences, you can use cloud services, local Wi-Fi transmission or specialized software for PC. Each option has its own features, which we will discuss in detail in this material.
Before any copying procedure is initiated, it is critical to check the status of both devices: the battery must be charged at least 50%, and connecting to a stable Wi-Fi network will ensure the transfer of heavy files without disconnection. The fastest and full transfer of contacts, messages, call history and applications is possible only through the built-in Mi Mover application, which is preinstalled on all modern smartphones of the brand.
Preparing the old and new device for migration
The success of the operation depends on the correct preparation of both gadgets. On the old device, you need to make room by deleting temporary files and cache to speed up the process of scanning data. On the new Xiaomi, you should perform the initial setup, connect to Wi-Fi and make sure that there is enough free space on the disk to receive all files.
Pay special attention to accounts. If you are switching from Android, make sure your Google account is active and sync is enabled. iPhone users will need to know the Apple ID password, as some system restrictions may require manual authorization during the process of transferring media files.
It is recommended to make a list of the most important applications you use every day in advance, and even though modern tools allow you to copy program icons, banking applications and messengers with two-factor authentication often require re-entry for security reasons.
☑️ Checklist before transfer
Using the Mi Mover app for Android
The most effective way to transfer data to Xiaomi is to use the Mi Mover app, which works on the basis of creating a local wireless network, which provides high speed transfer without using Internet traffic.
To start, run the program on both devices. On the new phone, select Receiver and on the old phone, Sender. QR-code or connect to the Wi-Fi point you created manually, and once connected, you can select data categories to transfer.
⚠️ Note: During the transfer process, do not switch between apps or lock the screen of the old phone, as this can break the connection and interrupt the copying of large files.
The interface allows you to flexibly configure filtering, you can choose to transfer only selected contacts or copy the entire gallery. The Mi Mover algorithm will automatically determine the compatibility of applications and try to install their counterparts from the GetApps store or Google Play on a new device.
Transferring data from iPhone to Xiaomi
iOS owners also have Mi Mover, a tool that can be downloaded for free from the App Store. The migration process from Apple's gadget has its nuances due to the closedness of the Apple file system. The main limitation concerns applications: you can only transfer shortcuts, and the programs themselves will have to be downloaded again from the App Store.
To move contacts, calendars and photos, you need to allow the synchronization of this data on your iPhone in iCloud settings. In the Xiaomi app, select the import option from iOS. You will be prompted to enter Apple ID data to authorize and access cloud storage.
Multimedia files such as videos and photos are transmitted directly over the Wi-Fi connection. Speeds can vary depending on the iOS version and iPhone model. Once you have finished copying, check the gallery, as some HEIC formats may require conversion for correct display in standard Android viewers.
Nuances of messaging from iPhone
Sync with Google Account and Cloud
The classic method that doesn’t require additional software is sync through Google’s profile, and when you first turn on the new Xiaomi, the system will prompt you to log in to your account, and if you agree, the phone will automatically tighten your contacts, notes, calendar events, and Chrome history.
For photos and videos, the best way to use Google Photos is to make sure that the old phone has Autoboot and Sync enabled, and then it’s easy to open the app on the new device, and the entire library will be available in the cloud, taking up a minimum of space on the internal drive.
This method is ideal for those who want a clean system without the junk files of old apps, but it won’t tolerate alarm settings, desktop icons and Wi-Fi passwords if they weren’t saved in the Google cloud.
Manual copying of files via PC and Explorer
If the data is in the hundreds of gigabytes, the most reliable way is to use a computer: 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 transfer the data to the appropriate directories, a technique that is particularly relevant for transferring large files, such as 4K videos or archives of work documents that can be transmitted over the air for long periods of time.
Use built-in MIUI Explorer or third-party file managers to sort data. When you manually copy, it's important to follow the folder structure so that music players and galleries index new files correctly.
| Method | Speed. | What's transferable | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Tall. | Everything (contacts, photos, apps, settings) | Low. |
| Google Sync | Medium | Contacts, calendar, photo (cloud) | Very low. |
| Through the PC. | Depends on USB. | Files, media, documents | Medium |
| Bluetooth | Low. | Individual files, contacts | Low. |
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Combining methods gives the best result: use Mi Mover for the system and applications, and throw heavy video files through the computer to save time.
Solving Common Problems in Transfer
Sometimes the process can be interrupted or misfired. If the Mi Mover is hanging out during the analysis phase, try restarting both devices and disabling the VPN or proxy on your old phone. Often the cause of failures is energy-saving settings that kill the background transfer process.
If you have problems logging in to a new device, make sure the date and time are set correctly. A time zone error can block account login and data sync. Also check for free space: if the memory is full, the system will not be able to accept even a small packet of data.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to interrupt the recording process by forced reboot, which may damage the file system and cause some information to be lost on the new device.
If you don’t transfer messages from messengers (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram), use built-in backup functions inside the apps themselves. For example, WhatsApp needs to back up Google Drive on an old phone and restore it when you first start on a new one.
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Tip: After transferring data, go to the battery settings and turn off auto-start for rarely used apps to make the new phone run faster and more cost-effective.