Changing your smartphone is always an exciting moment, but the migration of personal data is often a concern. Xiaomi's technology has made it as easy as possible to do this, making it accessible even to inexperienced users. IT-A new device can be activated in minutes.
The main tool for this task is the built-in Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on all current models, which allows you to copy contacts, call history, messages, media and even system settings, the entire process takes from 5 to 15 minutes depending on the amount of information.
In this guide, we will take a look at the nuances of switching to a MIUI or HyperOS platform, and we will look at the methods for different operating systems and answer the most common questions that arise when you first start a device.
Preparation of devices for information transfer
Before the active migration phase begins, a number of preparatory steps must be taken to ensure the stability of the connection and integrity of the files transferred, and ignoring the basic rules can lead to interruption of the process.
Make sure both smartphones are at least 50 percent charged, and using large amounts of data via Wi-Fi Direct, which Mi Mover uses, can be a significant energy drain, and if the battery runs out at a critical moment, you'll have to start over.
It is also recommended to free up space on the new device if it is not new. Although the system itself will warn you about the memory shortage, it is better to check the available amount in advance in the Settings → About Phone → Memory. Delete temporary files or unnecessary applications if the amount of free memory is critically small.
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Before you start the transfer, connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network if you plan to use cloud-based methods, or simply make sure that Wi-Fi modules are enabled to run Mi Mover without internet.
Check for the Mi Mover app on your old phone. On Xiaomi devices, it's built into the settings section, and on other Android phones, you need to download it from Google Play. For iPhone owners, the app is available on the App Store.
Using the Mi Mover app for Android
This is the fastest and most reliable way to migrate, and it creates a direct connection between devices, bypassing Internet channels, which ensures high speeds, and the algorithm works the same for all versions of Android above 4.4.
Run the app on Xiaomi's new smartphone. Select "I'm the recipient" (or "Recipient") on the home screen. QR-The code and the name of the device you want to connect to.
On an old phone, launch Mi Mover and hit "I'm the sender." Scan. QR-The code displayed on the screen of the new gadget, and after successfully pairing, you'll see a list of categories of data that are available for copying.
- 📱 System data: contacts, call history, SMS, alarm clocks and notes.
- 📷 Multimedia: photos, videos, music and voice recorder files.
- 📲 Annexes: installed APK-files (data within applications may not be transferred for security reasons).
- ⚙️ Settings: wallpaper, icon location, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings.
☑️ Check before launching the Mi Mover
Select the required items and click the "Send" button. The progress bar will show the status of the operation. Do not switch to other applications and do not lock the phone screens until the process is complete.
⚠️ Attention: If you turn the app down during the transmission or the screen goes out, the connection may break. Set at least a latency in the screen settings. 10-15 minute.
Switching from iPhone (iOS) to Xiaomi
Apple owners don’t have to worry about losing data when they switch to Android. Xiaomi has developed a special algorithm for migrating from iOS. However, due to the limitations of the iOS operating system, the functionality will be slightly different from Android-to-Android.
Download the Mi Mover app from the App Store to your iPhone. Run it and give you all the permissions you want, especially access to your contacts and media files. Without those permissions, the app just won't see your data.
On Xiaomi, select Receiver mode, and on iPhone, Sender mode. Scan the code. Note that you can only transfer basic data: contacts, photos, videos and calendar events.
Why are apps not portable from the iPhone?
To transfer iMessage messages and call history with standard means will not work because of Apple's encryption, this data will have to be archived or use third-party paid utilities for PC, if they are critical.
Once you have completed copying, the new device may have duplicate contacts if you have previously synced with a Google Account, in which case use the “Combine Duplicates” feature in the Contacts app.
Synchronization with Mi Account and Google
Cloud sync is a lazy but effective method, which doesn't require two phones to be side by side all the time, but it's stored on servers and automatically re-emerged when you log in.
On an old device, make sure that sync is enabled. For Android, this is Settings → Accounts → Google. For Xiaomi devices, Mi Account: Settings → Mi Account → Sync. Check that the ticks are opposite the desired partitions.
On the new phone, log in to the same Google and/or Mi Account. The system will automatically prompt you to restore data from the backup, and you can choose which apps and settings to restore.
| Type of data | Google Account | Mi Account. | Local copy. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Yes (automatically) | Yes. | Yes (file.vcf) |
| Photo/Video | Google Photos (15GB free) | 5GB free of charge | Depends on memory. |
| Wi-Fi passwords | Yes (via Google) | Yes. | No. |
| Annexes | List of Play Markets | List from GetApps | APK files |
Using Google Photos is a great way to migrate your library, just install the app on a new phone, log in to your account, and all your photos will appear in the gallery, which saves time and does not require cables.
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The combined method (Mi Mover for heavy files + Google for contacts) gives the best result and insures against data loss.
Transfer data from a button phone or via SIM
If your old phone is just a simple "bell ringer" without a touch screen or an operating system, the methods with apps won't work. SIM-map.
Copy the contacts on SIM-It's a map through the menu of an old phone. → Settings → Copy on SIM. Then insert the map into the new Xiaomi.
On the new device, go to the Contacts app, select import settings and specify the source «SIM-The system will prompt you to select contacts to save to internal memory or to Google account.
- 📇 Restriction on name: SIM-Cards often crop long names and do not support Cyrillic in older formats.
- 🔢 One number: Only one phone number is usually saved per record.
- 🚫 No multimedia: Contact photos and additional fields (email, address) are not portable.
For photos and music from pushphones, you will need to use a computer, connect your old phone as a removable drive (if it supports drive mode), or use a card reader for a microSD card.
⚠️ Note: When importing with SIM-Always copy data to your phone’s internal memory or cloud instead of leaving it on the computer. SIM. This will speed up the work of the phone book and allow you to add photos to subscribers.
Solving and eliminating errors
Even with automatic tools, there can be failures, most often associated with software conflicts or connection interruptions, and knowing the typical errors will help to quickly correct the situation.
If the process is stuck at a certain percentage (e.g., 99%), try canceling the operation and running it again, selecting only those categories that have not been copied, often the problem lies in one bit file.
If the new phone doesn't see the old one, check the permissions. On Android 10-14, you need to manually allow access to the location and files to run the Mi Mover. Without that, the app won't be able to create an access point.
Sometimes users encounter a “Not enough space” error, even though there is memory, which may be due to fragmentation or system limitations, in which case it is recommended to transfer data in parts: first photo, then applications.
If contacts are displayed as “No Name” or with strange characters after transfer, check the encoding. Importing via a.vcf file often solves this problem better than direct synchronization.