Buying a new Xiaomi smartphone is always a joyous occasion, opening up access to a more powerful processor, better screen and advanced camera features. However, the euphoria of a new gadget is often overshadowed by the prospect of a long and tedious migration of all the accumulated files, settings and applications over the years.
Fortunately, the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem offers several powerful tools to automate this process. You don't have to manually copy thousands of photos or reinstall hundreds of applications. Current methods allow you to clone the contents of an old device to a new one almost in one click, preserving the folder structure and even the location of icons on the desktop.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all available ways to transfer information: from the proprietary utility Mi Mover to Google cloud services. We will look at the nuances of working with various operating systems, including Android and iOS, and help avoid common errors that can lead to data loss or system freeze.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before running any synchronization process, both smartphones need to be trained in basic ways, a critical step that is often ignored, leading to connection errors or file transfer interruptions halfway. Make sure that both devices have at least 50-60% battery charge, as the active operation of the Wi-Fi modules and the processor when copying large amounts of data is significantly energy consuming.
Both phones need to be connected to a stable network or ready to create a direct connection. If you use cloud methods, you will need reliable Internet. For local transfer via Mi Mover, it is important that the screens of both devices are unlocked, and the security settings do not block the creation of a local network.
⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the data transfer process or switch to other heavy applications during the migration.This can damage the contact database files or messages, the restoration of which will require a complete reset of the settings.
It is also recommended to free up space on the new device by deleting temporary files or unused applications if the internal memory is filled with system data. Check that geolocation and Bluetooth are enabled on both phones, as some methods use these modules for the initial "handshake" and device search.
☑️ Checklist of preparations
Mi Mover Method: A Standard Solution from Xiaomi
The most efficient and fastest way, developed specifically for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, is the built-in Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on most modern models and allows you to transfer data even from iOS devices, the main advantage of the method is the creation of a direct communication channel between phones, which ensures high speed transfer without using Internet traffic.
To get started, open the app on both devices. On the new phone, select "I'm the recipient" (or "New device") and on the old one, "I'm the sender." QR-And then you have a code that will appear on the screen of your new smartphone, and then you'll see the devices connect, and you'll see a list of categories to transfer.
What data is hidden in Mi Mover?
You can choose to migrate selectively by tagging only contacts, gallery and messages, or clone the system completely. Mi Mover's algorithm is optimized to minimize battery load, but transferring hundreds of gigabytes of video to 4K can take a considerable amount of time.
- 📱 Cross-platform: Support for transfers from Android and iOS devices.
- 🚀 Speed: Uses a direct Wi-Fi channel, speeds up to 50MB/s.
- 🔒 Security: Data does not pass through third-party servers.
- 📂 Depth: Transfers system settings and alarm clocks.
Using a Google account to sync
Google’s ecosystem remains the gold standard for Android users: If you’ve previously used a pure Android or other smartphone, your contacts, calendar, notes, and installed app list could already be saved to the cloud. When the new Xiaomi is activated, it will prompt you to restore data from the Google Drive backup.
This method is ideal for those who want to get a clean system while keeping personal data, you only need to log in to your Google account when you first set up your phone or in the Settings → Accounts and Sync menu, and then start background downloading contacts and installing apps that were on the old device.
However, there are limitations to this method: Google Photos only syncs media files in compressed quality (unless additional storage is purchased), and the full system backup (including Wi-Fi passwords and application data) is restored only in the first minutes after resetting or buying the phone.
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Use the “Download Original Quality” feature in Google Photos before changing your phone if you have unlimited internet so you don’t lose the details of your photos when compressed.
Comparison of data transfer methods
The right way to go depends on your priorities: speed, data volume, or the type of operating system of your old device. Below is a table to help you determine the best option for your situation.
| Method | Speed. | We need the Internet. | What's transferable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Very high. | No (locally) | Everything (photos, apps, settings) |
| Google Account | Medium | Yes. | Contacts, calendar, list of applications |
| Xiaomi Cloud | Depends on the network. | Yes. | Photos, contacts, notes, dictaphone |
| Bluetooth | Very low. | No. | Only contacts and small files |
As you can see from the table, Mi Mover is the leader in terms of speed and volume of information transmitted, especially when the Internet connection is unstable or absent. Cloud methods are good for background synchronization, but are not suitable for instantaneous movement with a terabyte of data.
Transferring data from iPhone to Xiaomi
The transition from iOS to Android used to be difficult, but modern Xiaomi tools have made it easier.The Mi Mover app on iPhone allows you to transfer contacts, photos, videos and calendar events. To do this, you need to download the app on the iPhone from the App Store, if it is available there, or use the built-in import feature on Xiaomi.
When you pair your iPhone and Xiaomi with Mi Mover, you'll see a request for permission to access your data on your iPhone screen. You'll need to confirm all permissions, otherwise the transfer will be incomplete. It's important to understand that the iPhone apps (.ipa) won't be installed on Android, because they're different file formats. You'll have to re-download the analogs from Google Play.
Music and ringtones from iPhone may also not be portable due to restrictions DRM-It's best to copy the media files to your computer and then transfer them to your new phone through the computer. USB-cable using file transfer mode MTP.
Solution and troubleshooting
During the migration process, users often face problems, such as a process freeze at 99% or the absence of some files after completion. One common reason is the power saving mode, which can “sleep” the data transfer process on one of the devices.
If the transmission is interrupted, don't panic. Modern versions of the software can resume downloading from the break site, but sometimes it is safer to start the process again, pre-rebooting both smartphones. Also make sure that the receiving device does not turn on flight mode, which can block the creation of a local Wi-Fi Direct network.
⚠️ Note: If contacts appear as “no name” or duplicate after transfer, check the display settings in the Contacts app. Often they are simply hidden by a filter or copied to different accounts (SIM, Phone, Google).
If you have problems with porting WhatsApp, use the built-in backup function inside the messenger itself before you start migrating. When you install WhatsApp on a new phone, the program will find a local backup or copy in Google Drive and offer to restore your correspondence history.
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The most common mistake is trying to move data over Bluetooth, which is too slow for today's volumes of information and often ends. Use only Wi-Fi methods.