The shift from Apple’s ecosystem to Android, particularly Xiaomi’s Redmi Note, is often accompanied by fears of losing important information. Users are right to worry about the safety of contacts, correspondence history and media library. However, modern technology allows data migration as quickly and without loss using official developer tools.
The process of changing devices has become much easier thanks to the advent of specialized applications such as Mi Mover, which is pre-installed in the shell of MIUI or HyperOS, can read data directly from iOS devices, creating a secure communication channel, you do not need complex software or service centers, if you approach it systematically.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at all the nuances of the transition, including hidden settings and possible pitfalls. Cross-platform portability requires attention to detail, especially when it comes to messengers and passwords. Follow the instructions to make your new smartphone work as an extension of the old one.
Preparing iPhone and Xiaomi for migration
Before you start the copying process, you need to prepare both devices. Make sure that the iPhone is at least 60% charged and the Xiaomi Redmi battery is 80% charged. The process of transferring large amounts of data, especially video and photos, can take from 30 minutes to several hours, and a sudden power outage will interrupt the operation.
On the new Xiaomi smartphone, when you first turn on, select a language and connect to the Wi-Fi network. Don’t rush to log into your Mi Account if the system does not require it at this stage, but make sure you have access to the Internet. On the iPhone, you need to check the iOS version - it is desirable that it is not lower than iOS 9, although it is better to use current versions of the system for stable operation of the Mi Mover.
⚠️ Warning: If your iPhone is powered, turn it off before you start transferring.This may limit the Wi-Fi module and slow down the process or cause a connection error.
It is also critical to free up space on the receiving device. Check the free space in the Settings menu → About phone → Memory. If the amount of data on the iPhone exceeds the free space on Redmi, clear the gallery or remove unnecessary apps in advance.
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Use the original cable or make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network (a 5GHz band is preferred) for maximum data transfer speeds without using a router.
Using the Mi Mover application for direct transmission
The main tool for migration is the Mi Mover app. On Xiaomi smartphones, it is often built into the system and is located in the Tools folder or in the About Phone settings section. If the app is not available, it can be downloaded from Google Play or GetApps. On the iPhone, you need to download a similar app from the App Store.
Run the app on both devices. On Xiaomi, select Recipient and on iPhone, Sender. Xiaomi's smartphone will create a temporary Wi-Fi network. You'll need to find that network in your iPhone's Wi-Fi settings and connect to it using the password displayed on the new phone's screen.
- 📱 On iPhone, select data to copy: contacts, messages, photos, videos and system settings.
- 🔄 Click the “Send” button and wait for confirmation on the Xiaomi screen.
- 📂 Once completed, check the integrity of the files in the gallery and phone book.
The interface allows you to flexibly configure filters, so you can choose to transfer only certain albums or contact categories, which is useful if you want to leave archival data on your old device that you don't need daily, and the process is displayed in real time with the remaining time and transmission rate.
☑️ Mi Mover Checklist
Sync through Google and iCloud account
An alternative and often more reliable way is to use cloud services, ideal for those planning to use Google services on a new device, first on the iPhone, go to Settings → Passwords and Accounts (or iCloud) and make sure contacts and calendars are synchronized.
Then install the Google or Google Drive app on your iPhone. Go to the app settings and select Backup. Here you can choose what to save: contacts, calendar events and photos (via Google Photos). Once you have finished uploading data to the Apple server, go to the Xiaomi Redmi setup.
| Type of data | Method of transmission | Speed. | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Google Account | Instantly. | Tall. |
| Photo/Video | Google Photos / Mi Mover | Depends on the network. | Tall. |
| Messages (SMS) | Mi Mover | Quickly. | Medium |
| Notes | Manual export / Email | Slowly. | Low. |
When you log in to your Google account on Xiaomi’s new smartphone, the system will automatically prompt you to restore data from the backup, which will take longer than a direct Wi-Fi transfer, but ensures that your data is tied to your account and not lost on the next phone change.
What to do if your contacts are not synchronized?
Transfer of multimedia: photos, videos and music
The media library is usually the most heavy-duty section when moving. High-resolution photos and videos can take up tens of gigabytes. The Mi Mover app does this well, but for large volumes (over 50 GB), stable connection and time may be required. Using this method, files store their metadata (EXIF), including the date and location of the shooting.
If you use iCloud, you can enable photo sync on your iPhone and then install the iCloud app for Windows on your PC or log into the iCloud web version to download the archive. However, the easiest way to use Google Photos is to install the app on your iPhone, enable autoload in original quality (if there is space in the Google cloud), or in space saving mode.
Music and ringtones are more difficult to port due to DRM (copyright protection) restrictions. Files purchased from the iTunes Store may not play on Android without authorization. Local MP3 files downloaded from other sources are transferred as normal files via Mi Mover or via a PC connection in drive mode.
⚠️ Attention: Video formats HEIC (photo HEVC (Videos used by default on new iPhones may not be supported by some older Android video players. Xiaomi usually converts them automatically or has built-in codecs, but it's best to check the playback.
It’s also convenient for music to use third-party cloud storage or streaming services like Yandex Music or Spotify, where your playlists will be saved automatically once you log in. Local files are best moved through Mi Mover to the Audio category.
Message migration and call history
Porting SMS and call history is one of the most difficult tasks when switching from iOS. Apple iMessage protocols and standard SMS are different from Android. Mi Mover claims to support message portability, but in practice, it often only transfers regular SMS, not iMessage correspondence (blue bubbles).
For full-fledged migration of iMessage correspondence, there are almost no third-party solutions, due to the closed protocol. SIM-maps (Settings) → Communications → iMessage, you can get it. SMS Call history is successfully transferred through Mi Mover, saving numbers and duration of conversations.
- 📞 Call history is kept fully with dates and duration.
- 💬 SMS transferable, but MMS may be lost or damaged.
- 🚫 iMessage correspondence cannot be transferred to the Android platform.
It is recommended to send important correspondence to yourself by email before changing your device or take screenshots of critical information. WhatsApp has an official tool called “Chat Transfer” inside the WhatsApp app itself when you first set up on Android, which allows you to transfer your correspondence history from your iPhone.
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iMessage doesn’t work on Android, so be sure to turn it off on your iPhone to avoid losing it. SMS-Bank and service codes after reshuffling SIM-map.
Working with apps and passwords
Apps from the App Store don’t work on Android because they use different file formats (.ipa vs. apk). You’ll have to re-download all the necessary programs from Google Play or GetApps. Fortunately, most popular services (social networks, banks, maps) have versions for both platforms.
Passwords saved in the iCloud keychain can be transferred if you use Chrome browser on iPhone and signed in to your Google account. Enable password synchronization in Chrome settings on iOS. Once you install Chrome on Xiaomi and log in to the same account, all your saved logins will be available through autocomplete.
Banking applications will require re-authorization and possibly re-assignment of the device. This is a security measure. Make sure you have access to your phone number to receive confirmation codes. Some banks may require support to unlock access from a new device if the security system deems the entry suspicious.