How to transfer data from Xiaomi to Xiaomi quickly and without errors

Buying a new smartphone is always a pleasant thrill, but the process of transferring information from an old device often turns into a real stress. Owners of the Xiaomi ecosystem are in a better position, since the manufacturer has provided powerful built-in tools for migration. You do not need to manually rewrite numbers or search for lost photos if you know the correct algorithm of actions.

Modern methods allow you to clone the contents of memory almost one to one, even keeping the icons on the desktop. The key is the right choice of the method: cloud sync, local backup or direct transmission over Wi-Fi. Errors during the preparation stage can lead to the loss of important files, so it is important to carefully study the nuances of each method.

In this article, we’ll look at all the migration options available, from the regular Mi Mover app to your Mi Account, and learn how to secure your data and avoid the typical problems that users face when changing gadgets. Proper preparation will take no more than 10 minutes, but save hours of manual setup.

Preparing devices for data migration

Before any manipulations, you need to make sure that both smartphones are in working condition and ready to transfer a lot of information. The battery charge on both devices should be at least 50-60%, since the process of active data transfer over Wi-Fi Direct consumes energy intensively. If one of the phones runs out at a critical moment, the file may be damaged or the process will be interrupted.

It is also worth checking whether there is free space on the new device. The amount of free memory on the receiving smartphone should exceed the amount of data you plan to transfer from the old device.

⚠️ Warning: Make sure both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled. Even if you’re not using a home network, these modules are essential to discover devices and establish a direct link between them.

Remember to update the system software on both devices to the latest available version. Older versions of the MIUI or HyperOS shell may contain errors in the system port utilities that have been fixed in the latest security patches. You can check for updates in the settings menu.

Using the Mi Mover application for direct transmission

The most efficient and quickest way is to use the pre-installed Mi Mover app, which creates a direct hotspot between phones, allowing data to be transmitted at high speed without using Internet traffic. The app is already built into the system, but if it has been removed, it is easy to find in the GetApps store.

Run the program on both smartphones. On the old device, select the role of "Sender" (Old phone), and on the new one, "Receiver" (New phone). QR-code or find the device in the list of available networks. Once you connect, you'll see the interface with the categories of data.

Here you can choose what to clone: contacts, messages, call history, photos, music, documents, even installed applications. It is important to note that some system settings and passwords from banking applications for security purposes will not be moved — they will have to be re-entered.

• 📱 Contacts and messages: Completely migrating, including investments in MMS and the history of correspondence in the standard application.
• 🖼️ Multimedia: Photos and videos are saved in their original quality, albums can be regrouped by date.
• 📲 Annexes: Installation APK-files, but data inside games or programs may require separate login to your account.

The process can take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of information: Do not break the connection or leave the application until the message of successful completion appears. The screens of the devices may periodically go out to save energy, but the transfer process itself will continue in the background.

Synchronization through the cloud service Mi Cloud

An alternative method is to use Mi Cloud cloud storage, which is ideal if you don’t have both phones on hand at the same time or if your old phone has already been sold/lost, but the data is still in the cloud, and you will need a Mi Account account that was active on the previous device to work.

First, make sure that the old phone is fully synced. Go to settings, select the "Mi Account" section, then "Mi Cloud" and check the sync status for contacts, gallery, notes and voice recorder. If the cloud icon with the up arrow is on, the data is uploaded.

On your new smartphone, log in to the same Mi Account, which offers you to recover data from the cloud, you can choose selective synchronization or full recovery, which is especially convenient for contacts and calendars, as they are pulled up instantly after login.

*Note: The data is understood to be no more than the total storage limit of 5GB for a free account. For large amounts of photos and videos, you will need to expand memory or use Google Photos in conjunction.

Local backup to PC or memory card

For users who prefer to keep data under full control, local backup is a good option. The built-in Backup and Recovery feature allows you to create a complete cast of the system or parts of it, and this is especially true for transferring settings and application data that are not synchronized through the cloud.

To create a backup, go to Settings. → The phone. → Backup and recovery. Select "Mobile Device" and set a password to encrypt the backup. Once the process is complete, the backup file will be stored in the phone's memory. It can be copied to the computer via the computer. USB-cable or microSD card if the model supports.

On the new smartphone, you need to place the backup file in the same directory (usually MIUI/backup/AllBackup) and start the recovery procedure by entering a previously set password.

⚠️ Note: When transferring a local backup to a device with a different version of Android or MIUI Some applications may not recover properly due to changes in system file structure.

Using an external drive or PC is the most reliable way to save large archives, you can keep a backup history for several years by doing data archiving periodically, which creates additional insurance in case of a malfunction of cloud services.

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When creating a local backup, make sure to write your password to a secure location, without which it will be impossible to recover data from an encrypted archive, even if you are the owner of an account.

Manual transfer of multimedia and documents

Not all files are easy to port with system utilities. For example, if you need to move a specific folder with work documents or heavy video in the original resolution, it is better to use a direct connection or file manager. The standard Explorer in Xiaomi has a remote control feature.

You can enable FTP or SMB access right in the Explorer app, which allows you to log into the device's file system from a computer or other phone over a local network and copy any folders, and the path to the feature is usually in the Access from PC menu.

For transferring large-sized photos and videos, a USB-C to USB-C cable is also great. By connecting two smartphones with a cable, you can use file transfer mode (MTP) and simply drag and drop DCIM and Pictures folders from one device to another through the built-in file manager.

• 📂 Documents: It is better to copy manually so as not to lose the folder structure that you created yourself.
• 🎵 Music: Files in formats FLAC and WAV They take up a lot of space, they are more convenient to pump directly over the cable.
• 📹 Video 4K: Heavy rollers can be transmitted for a long time through the air, the cable will accelerate the process at times.

This gives you complete control over what goes into the new phone, so you can “revise” files while they’re on the old device, and not clog the new gadget’s memory with digital trash.

Solving and eliminating errors

Even with the usual tools, there may be failures, and most often users experience an interruption of the Wi-Fi Direct connection during the Mi Mover operation, this may be due to energy saving or an unstable signal, in which case it is recommended to turn off the flight mode on both devices and restart the application.

Another common problem is the lack of space that the system misidentifies, sometimes it helps to clear temporary cache files before starting the procedure, and it is also worth making sure that both devices have the same time and date, since desynchronization can prevent authorization.

If the process is stuck at a certain percentage (e.g. 99%), don't rush to interrupt it immediately. Often at this point, database finalization or file indexing takes place. Wait 10-15 minutes. If progress is not moving, try restarting both phones and starting over again, selecting only the categories of data that were not copied.

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Connection stability is more important than speed, and if the transmission is slow but not interrupted, it's better than a fast but constantly breaking connection.

⚠️ Warning: Don't try to transfer data from a phone with a newer version of Android to a phone with a very old version. App database backward compatibility may be compromised, leading to bugs in the software.

In case of critical errors, when the phone stops responding, it may be necessary to reset the settings to factory, so having a backup on a PC or in the cloud before starting any experiments is a must-have security condition.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)