How to Move Everything from One Phone to Another Xiaomi

Buying a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting moment, clouded by just one thought: how do you move all the data you've accumulated over the years? Fortunately, the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem offers powerful built-in tools that make it as simple and fast as possible. You don't need to be a technician to clone the contents of an old device into a new one in minutes.

In this guide, we will take a look at all the available ways to migrate data, from using the proprietary Mi Mover app to cloud synchronization via Google and Mi Cloud. We will look at the nuances of porting from Android and iOS, and also discuss which files require special attention when changing your gadget.

Preparing devices for the migration process

Before launching any port tool, both devices must be trained in basic training, a critical step that can cause a connection to be interrupted or data to be lost, and ensure that both smartphones have a battery level of at least 50%, and ideally connect them to a power source for the duration of the procedure.

Check for free space on the receiving device. The amount of memory available should exceed the amount of data you plan to transfer. If you move to a model with a smaller built-in drive, delete the extra video files or apps from your old phone in advance.

It's also worth making sure that both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, and these are the technologies that are used to create a direct communication channel between gadgets without the need for a router. Don't connect to public Wi-Fi networks, use only local connection between devices.

⚠️ Warning: Do not unlock your phone screens while actively transmitting large amounts of data. Some Xiaomi models can go into power saving mode and break the connection during prolonged downtime.

The final step of preparation will be to update the system software. Go to Settings → About the phone and check for updates. The current version of the firmware guarantees the compatibility of transmission protocols and fixes known bugs of the migratory application.

Using the Mi Mover app for fast transfer

The most efficient and quickest way to migrate data is to use the native Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on all modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones. If the old device does not have it (for example, on a third-party Android), it can be downloaded for free from Google Play or GetApps.

The process starts with running the app on both devices. On the new phone, select Recipient and on the old phone, Sender, the app automatically scans the available devices nearby. If the scan has not occurred, you can use the app. QR-code that will appear on the screen of the receiving gadget.

Once connected, you'll see a list of data categories to transfer, and the system allows you to flexibly customize the sample: you can only transfer contacts and messages, or copy the entire array of media and application installation files. Note that the portable applications will be copied along with their data, but in some cases (especially for banking applications) you will need to re-authorize.

Transfer speeds are directly dependent on the volume of data and the quality of antenna modules. On average, transferring 50 GB of data takes about 15-20 minutes. Interrupting the process can damage archives, so try not to stray far from the devices.

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If the process is stuck in the Preparing data stage for more than 5 minutes, restart both phones and try again, pre-clearing the cache of the Mi Mover application in the settings.

Sync with Google Account and Cloud

An alternative and most reliable method for storing personal information is cloud-based synchronization, ideal if you haven’t already received a new phone physically or want to back up before the firmware experiment, with the Google One bundle and the MIUI system synchronizer being the main tool.

To activate, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync. Make sure the switches opposite Contacts, Calendar, Notes and Chrome Data are activated, and the system automatically uploads this data to Google servers, where it will instantly flow to the new device after login.

One of the things that we should be looking at is synchronization of photos, Google Photos or Mi Cloud, which allows you to store media files in the cloud, and it's not just a transfer method, it's also a way to free up space, but it's worth remembering that free space is limited, and you may need to subscribe to large amounts of data in full quality.

Using the cloud ensures that even if a physical device is lost or broken, your information remains safe, creating an additional layer of security that cannot be ignored in today’s digital world.

Transferring data from iPhone (iOS) to Xiaomi

iPhone owners who choose to switch to Android don’t have to worry about losing their database. The Mi Mover app has a special iOS version available in the App Store, a process that is somewhat different from transferring between Android devices due to the limitations of Apple’s operating system.

After installing the app on your iPhone and connecting to the new Xiaomi Wi-Fi network, you will be prompted to scan. QR-The main limitation is that free apps purchased from the App Store cannot be transferred directly to Google Play.

What can be transferred guaranteed:

• 📸 Photos and videos from the gallery.
• 📞 Calendar contact and data.
• 🎵 Music files (not protected) DRM).
• 📝 Notes (often transferred as text).

An important nuance concerns iMessage messages and call history – they are not portable to Android due to the closed Apple protocols, and you can not transfer application data stored inside iCloud, unless the developer has provided cross-platform synchronization.

⚠️ Before you start migrating from iOS, be sure to turn off the “Find iPhone” function and Apple’s two-factor authorization ID during the process to avoid blocking the data transmission.

Working with WhatsApp, Viber and messengers

Messengers require a special approach, because they store correspondence in encrypted form. Just copying a folder with data is often not enough - you need a procedure provided by the application itself. WhatsApp on Android has a built-in function to create a local backup or copy on Google Drive.

On your old device, open WhatsApp, go to Settings → Chats → Backup Chats and click Create. Once you install the app on your new phone and type in the same number, the system will prompt you to restore your message history from the copy you found. It is critical to use the same Google account.

The logic is similar for Viber and Telegram, but there are differences. Telegram stores the entire history on its servers, so just log in and all chats will appear instantly. Viber requires you to create a backup on Google Drive (on Android) to restore the history of calls and messages.

If you’re changing platforms (from iOS to Android or vice versa), use the official migration tools that appear when you first launch a messenger on a new device. For example, WhatsApp allows you to transfer chat history from your iPhone to Android when you initially set up your phone via a cable or a special application converter.

Solving problems and errors during transfer

Even if you follow all the instructions, you can have technical failures, and one of the common problems is that there's not enough space, even when there's some kind of free memory, because the system needs time to unpack the archives, and you can free up an extra 2-3 GB before you start the procedure.

Another common situation is a 99 percent disconnect, which usually indicates that one device has gone into sleep or the screen has gone out, and force the screen to turn off in the display settings on both smartphones.

If the Mi Mover app crashes or doesn't see the device:

• 🔌 Reboot both smartphones.
• 📶 Make sure that the “Flight” mode is not turned on».
• 🔄 Remove and reinstall the Mi Mover app.
• 🔋 Turn off power saving for the Mi Mover app in battery settings.

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The key to successful transfer is connectivity stability: Do not use public Wi-Fi networks and keep devices no more than 1-2 meters apart.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions