The transition from Apple to Android, especially to Xiaomi devices, often raises legitimate concerns about losing important data. However, modern technology allows you to perform this procedure as quickly and painlessly as possible. You do not need to be a technician to transfer your photos, contacts and correspondence history to a new smartphone.
In this article, we will discuss official and third-party migration methods in detail, focusing on the Mi Mover utility, which is designed specifically to minimize stress when changing devices, and we will look at the nuances of media transfer and account settings for comfortable work.
The preparation process is not as time-consuming as it may seem, but the main thing is to charge both gadgets in advance and make sure that there is a stable Internet connection, let's start by choosing the most suitable way for your situation.
Preparing iPhone and Xiaomi for data migration
Before any transfer procedure begins, both devices must be trained in basic training, a critical step that can cause them to crash or lose some information, and make sure your iPhone has the current version of iOS available for your model.
Xiaomi’s new smartphone (which runs MIUI or HyperOS) also has to check for system updates. Often security patches and improvements to communication modules come with newer firmware versions. Charge both devices to at least 60-70% so that the process doesn’t get interrupted by battery drain.
⚠️ Note: Before you start migrating, make sure to back up your iPhone data via iCloud or iTunes.This is your insurance against unforeseen errors in the cloning process.
You'll also need a stable Wi-Fi connection, and while some methods use direct device connectivity, having the Internet is essential to sync accounts and check app compatibility, and make sure you remember the password from your Apple ID and your Google account.
☑️ Preparation of devices
Using the Mi Mover app for fast transfer
The most efficient and preferred way to transition is to use the built-in Mi Mover tool, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, and allows data to be transmitted directly over a Wi-Fi channel without mobile traffic consumption and at high speed.
To get started, find the app on your new phone in the Tools folder or search. On your iPhone screen, you'll need to download a similar app from the App Store. After launching on both devices, select the role of each phone: on Xiaomi, click "I'm the recipient" and on iPhone, "I'm the sender."
Follow the instructions on the screen:
- 📱 Scan it. QR-code that will appear on the screen of Xiaomi, the camera iPhone.
- 🔗 Wait for the connection to be established between devices (confirmation may be required on both screens).
- 📂 Select data types to transfer: contacts, messages, photos, videos, audio and some settings.
- 🚀 Click the "Send" button and wait for the process to be completed.
The speed of transfer depends on the volume of data and the quality of the wireless module. On average, it takes about 15-20 minutes to transfer 32 GB of data. Once completed, the new device will create the corresponding folders, and the contacts will be integrated into the Android phone book.
What to do if the Mi Mover is frozen?
Sync through Google and iCloud account
If you can't move directly for some reason, you can use cloud services, which is a longer-lasting but more reliable method, especially if you're already actively using the Google ecosystem, and the idea is to upload data from iCloud and upload it to Google services.
To start with, go to your iPhone and make sure that you have your contacts and calendar sync enabled. Then install the Google Drive or Google One app from the App Store. Inside, select Backup and activate the calendar contacts and events sync.
Once the data is uploaded to the Google cloud, pick up your new Xiaomi. When you first set up or in the account menu, add the same Google account. The system automatically prompts you to sync the data, and your contacts will appear in the phone book.
| Type of data | The method through Mi Mover | The method is Google/iCloud | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Automatically. | Automatically. | Low. |
| Photos and videos | To the Xiaomi Gallery | Google Photos | Medium |
| Messages (SMS) | Annex Communications | Not supported | Tall. |
| Calendar | In MIUI calendar | Google Calendar | Low. |
It’s important to understand that you can’t move your iMessage or WhatsApp message history through the cloud (without a special procedure inside the WhatsApp app), which is ideal for those who want to clear their iPhone before selling, but save their data in the cloud.
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For maximum security when using cloud-based methods, enable two-factor authentication on your Google account, which will protect your data even in the event of a password compromise.
Transfer of multimedia: photos, videos and music
Media files usually take up the lion’s share of smartphone memory. When you switch to Xiaomi, you want to keep the entire collection of photos in their original quality. If you use the Mi Mover, the photos and videos will be transferred to the standard gallery, preserving the structure of the albums and the shooting dates.
However, if you prefer cross-platform access, the best solution is Google Photos. Install the app on your iPhone, log in to your account and enable “Suppress”. Select the quality “Original” (takes up space in Google One) or “Saving space” (unlimited compressed storage).
Once you’ve finished downloading your iPhone, just open the Google Photos app on your new Android smartphone. Your entire library will be instantly available.It’s also a great way to free up space on your old device before selling it or transferring it to another user.>
For music, the situation is a little more complicated because of DRM-File protection purchased from the iTunes Store. Unprotected files can be simply transferred through Mi Mover or copied to a computer and then uploaded to the computer. MI Music or third-party player on Xiaomi.
Migration of messengers: WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram
The most painful issue when switching from iOS to Android is the history of correspondence. Fortunately, Meta (the owner of WhatsApp) has implemented an official function of transferring chats between different operating systems. To do this, you will need a Lightning-to-USB-C cable (or adapter) and the Move to iOS app (although in this case we go the opposite, the logic is similar, but there are nuances for Android).
In current versions of MIUI, when you first launch WhatsApp on a new phone, the system will suggest you move the story from iOS.
- 📲 Connect iPhone to Xiaomi via cable.
- 📱 Scan. QR-iPhone camera code to start transfer.
- ⏳ Wait for the process to end (don’t interrupt the connection!).
- ✅ Sign in to WhatsApp on Android using the same phone number.
For Viber and Telegram, the situation is different. Telegram is completely cloud-based: just enter a phone number and all chats (except secret ones) will be downloaded automatically. Viber requires you to create a local backup to your iPhone and transfer a backup file to Android, which often causes difficulties, so it is easier to start a clean history or use paid third-party utilities on a PC.
⚠️ Note: WhatsApp portability only works if WhatsApp is not configured on Android. If you have already created an account, you will have to delete the application and data to run the migration wizard again.
Frequent problems and ways to solve them
Despite the fact that the processes are fine, users may encounter difficulties, and one of the common problems is that you can't find each other's devices in Mi Mover, in which case, make sure that the iPhone allows access to the local network for the Mi Mover app, which is requested when you first run, and you need to confirm it.
Another common case is errors in the transfer of large video files. The file system of iOS and Android differs, and some formats may not be supported by a standard Xiaomi player. In this case, the video file will be transferred, but it may require the installation of a third-party player, for example, VLC for Android or MX Player.
If the process is stuck in the “Data Analysis” phase, try:
- Disable mobile internet on both devices.
- Make sure that the phone screens do not go out (turn off the autolock).
- Reboot both smartphones and try again.
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The main cause of errors during transfer is unstable Wi-Fi connection or energy-saving modes that “kill” the background data transfer process.
Adaptation after the transition: what you need to know
After successfully migrating data, you will encounter some features of the MIUI or HyperOS interface. Unlike iOS, it has a more flexible notification system and window management, and we recommend that you immediately adjust the control gestures and sensor response speed in the "Additional" menu.
Pay attention to notifications. Android apps can be more aggressive in collecting data, but their control system is stricter. Go to the battery settings and set the "No Limits" mode for important messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Banks), which ensures that you receive messages instantly, even if the application is closed.
It's also worth mastering the file system. Unlike closed iOS, you have full file access in Xiaomi. Explorer allows you to sort files by type, clear cache and manage downloads. This gives you more freedom, but requires more care when deleting system files.