Buying a new smartphone is always a pleasant thrill, but the process of migrating information from the old device can turn into a real stress. Owners of the Xiaomi ecosystem are in a better position, as the manufacturer has developed powerful tools for seamless synchronization. The right approach to the question will allow you to start using the gadget literally 15-20 minutes after unpacking, retaining all the important memories and settings.
There are several proven ways to perform the transfer: through the built-in Mi Mover application, the Mi Cloud cloud service or a classic Google account. The choice of the specific method depends on the amount of information transmitted, the speed of the Internet connection and the technical characteristics of both devices. In this article, we will discuss each of the options in detail so that you can choose the most suitable for your situation.
Before starting the procedure, make sure that both devices are charged at least 60-70%, as the process can take a considerable time and consume a lot of power. It is also worth checking the free space on the receiving device to avoid recording errors. The Wi-Fi hotspot on an old phone is the fastest way to transfer large files without using a router.
Preparing devices for data migration
The success of the operation depends on 90% of the pre-prepared gadgets, and before launching any transfer tools, you need to bring both smartphones to a state of readiness, this applies not only to battery charging, but also to software settings that can block the transfer of files.
First of all, check the versions of the MIUI or HyperOS operating system. It is advisable that both devices have current updates, although modern tools are usually compatible with different versions of Android. Make sure that the screens are unlocked and do not go into sleep mode during the process, setting the screen timeout to the maximum value.
An important step is to clean up the junk on your old phone so you don't drag gigabytes of cache and temporary files, and manually check the download folders by removing the old ones. APK-Files and documents you no longer need.
Be sure to connect both devices to a stable Wi-Fi network if you plan to use cloud methods. Local Wi-Fi Direct transmission may not require Internet, but checking the time and date on both devices is essential for the sync protocols to work properly.
Using the Mi Mover app for local porting
The most efficient and quickest way is to use the Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on most Xiaomi and Redmi devices, and for other Android smartphones, it can be downloaded from the Google Play store, the main advantage of the method is the creation of a direct access point, which provides high transfer speeds without limiting traffic.
Run the app on both devices. On the new phone, select "I'm the recipient" (or "New Phone") and on the old phone, select "I'm the sender" (or "Old Phone"). QR-A code that appears on the screen of the receiving device, and this action automatically creates a secure connection between the devices.
⚠️ Warning: Do not leave the Mi Mi Miver app or lock screens during transmission, otherwise the connection may break and the process will have to start again.
Once you connect, you'll see a list of data categories: contacts, messages, calls, images, videos, audio, documents, and installed applications. You can select specific file types or mark everything at once. The program's algorithm allows you to pause the process if an incoming call comes, but it's better to turn on the "Do Not Disturb" mode.
What if the Mi Mover can’t see the device?
Make sure both phones have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled. Also check that neither device is in power saving mode, which can limit background network activity. Try restarting the app on both smartphones. Copy time depends on the amount of data. When transferring 50–100GB of photos and videos, the process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. Once completed, the new device will automatically install apps and place icons according to the structure of the old desktop. Synchronization via the Mi Cloud service, the Mi Cloud is an alternative to local copying. This method is ideal if the old phone is not physically available, but you are already synchronized. Free storage is 5GB, which is enough for contacts, notes and some settings, but photo and video often require a tariff extension. To activate the method, log into the old phone's settings, select the Mi Account section, and go to the Cloud menu. You have to activate sliders against the data you want to save: contacts, messages, voice recorder, notes, browser and gallery. Press the "Sync" button and wait for the process to end. Sign in to the same Mi Account on the new device. The system will automatically suggest that you recover data from the cloud, so you can choose which categories to download, and the good thing about this is that it's distributed across servers and accessible from any device, including a computer, via a web interface. 📱 Contacts and phone numbers are saved instantly and restored in the background. 📷 Photos and videos require a stable Internet and can be uploaded for a long time with a large volume. ⚙️ System settings, including Wi-Fi passwords and icon location, can also be moved. 🔒 Data is protected by account password and two-factor authentication, and it is worth noting that applications and their data (game cache, in-app logins) are not always fully ported through Mi Cloud, often requiring re-authorization in services and banks. It’s a security measure that protects your financial data from unauthorized access.Moving through Google Account and third-party services Google’s ecosystem offers a versatile way of migrating that works not only between Xiaomi, but also when switching from any Android to Android. When you first set up a new phone, the system will prompt you to restore data from a backup copy of Google Drive. This is a good standardization, but it has limitations on speed and type of data stored. On the old device, go to Settings → Google → Backup. Make sure that the Download to Google Drive switch is active, and click Start Copying. The backup will include contacts, call history, SMS, app listing and settings, and some software data. However, there is a caveat: photos in full quality through the standard Google backup may not be transferred if you do not have Google Photos sync. For multimedia, it is better to use a separate application Photos, which will include contacts, call history, SMS, SMS, the data from the new device, which can take a few days to download from the Internet. In addition, not all system settings MIUI They can be correctly interpreted by the standard Android tool, unlike native Xiaomi software. For users who prefer complete control of the process, or if there are problems with wireless methods, the classic method through the PC is suitable, USB-cables and a little more time, but it guarantees file transfer without compression and loss. Connect your old phone to your computer and select file transfer mode MTP plug-in USB. Copy the required folders (DCIM, Pictures, Download, Documents, Music) to your computer's hard drive. Then disable the old gadget and plug in the new one by transferring the files to the appropriate directories. Data Type Folder on Android Importance of Copy Note Photos and Videos /DCIM/Camera High Main Data Bootloads /Download Average check for important ones PDF Documents /Documents High working files and scans Music /Music Average Local Tracks Messengers /Android/media Special attention should be paid to the Android folder where the application data is stored. Direct copying of this folder does not always guarantee the operation of programs on the new device, since paths and access rights may differ. It is better to use built-in backup features inside the apps themselves, such as WhatsApp or Telegram. 💡When copying large amounts of data through USB 3.0 Use the original cable that came with the phone to ensure maximum transmission speed and avoid connection breaks. Once you have finished copying files, remember to safely remove the device. This method is especially useful for transferring heavy video files in their original quality, which are compressed when sent via messengers or some cloud services. Transfer data messengers: WhatsApp and Telegram Special attention deserve messengers, as they store correspondence in their own databases. Standard transfer of contacts will not affect the history of your conversations. WhatsApp on Android there is a built-in function to create a local backup or copy on Google Drive. On an old phone, open WhatsApp, go to Settings → Chats → Reserves on the phone. With Telegram, everything is simple: this messenger stores the entire history of correspondence on its servers. You just need to install the application, enter the phone number and confirmation code. All chats, channels and files (except secret chats) will appear automatically. ⚠️ Note: Secret chats on Telegram and some secure dialogues in other messengers are not automatically transferred for security reasons. They need to be recreated. For other messengers, such as Viber or Signal, the procedure is similar to WhatsApp: You need to back up your app before you switch to a new phone. Signal, for example, requires you to create code from the numbers on your old device and enter it on a new one to transfer encryption keys. Frequent problems and ways to solve them Despite the debugging of processes, users may face difficulties. Often the problem is that Android versions are incompatible or memory is not available. If the process is stuck at a certain percentage, try restarting both devices and repeating the operation with a smaller amount of data for the first attempt. Another common mistake is “Not enough space.” Before you start, always check that the receiving device has more free space than the weight of the data on the old one. 💡If wireless methods fail constantly, use a wired connection via PC or OTG-cable (USB-A at one end and USB-C on another) for direct file transfer as the most reliable option, in rare cases, Wi-Fi passwords or alarm settings may not be transferred. This is due to Android security restrictions that prevent apps from accessing certain system settings without root rights. These settings will have to be configured manually, which takes no more than a couple of minutes. Questions and Answers (FAQ) Will passwords from apps and banking programs be transferred? Passwords saved in Google Password Manager or Mi Cloud can be pulled up automatically. However, banking applications and secure services require re-entry and confirmation via SMS or push notification for security purposes. Data inside applications (for example, progress in games without cloud saving) can be lost. Can the transfer process be interrupted and the Miver application is re-supported later? Disable notifications and calls during migration, what to do if the new phone runs out of space, free up space by removing unnecessary pre-installed apps (if possible), or