Changing a smartphone is always stressful, not so much with getting used to a new gadget, but with the risk of losing important contacts, photos or correspondence history. Owners of Xiaomi devices are in a better position, as the company’s ecosystem offers powerful built-in tools for migration, which often work faster and more stable than third-party counterparts. The process of transferring information has become as automated as possible, allowing you to clone an old device in minutes without having to have a computer on hand.
In this article, we will discuss all available synchronization methods, from using the proprietary Mi Mover application to classic copying through cloud services. You will learn how to save the folder structure, passwords from Wi-Fi and even the location of icons on the desktop, so that the transition to a new Redmi or POCO was as invisible as possible to the user. The correct choice of method depends on the operating system of your old device and the amount of information transferred.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before you start the copying process, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps that will ensure the stability of the connection and the safety of files. First of all, make sure that both smartphones are charged at least 60-70%, as active transfer of large amounts of data via Wi-Fi Direct significantly consumes battery power. If the new device is just out of the box, wait for the initial setup of the language and network connection to be completed, but do not sign in to your Google account if you plan to use local methods of transfer.
While modern Xiaomi phones have a huge amount of memory, checking for free space is a basic step that is often ignored: Delete temporary files or unnecessary applications that may have been pre-installed to ensure that the operation is completed successfully without space shortage errors.
⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the data transfer process or switch between apps on both smartphones during migration, this can damage the contact database or corrupt application files.
It is also recommended to check the operating system version on both gadgets. Although Mi Mover is compatible with most versions of Android and even iOS, current firmware updates MIUI or HyperOS contain transmission protocol bug fixes. Go to Settings → About phone and check for updates. If the old phone has a very ancient version of Android (below 6.0), some modern applications may not be copied correctly.
☑️ Checklist before transfer
Using the Mi Mover app for Android
The most efficient and quickest way to migrate within the Android ecosystem is to use the built-in Mi Mover tool, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones in the Tools pack, but it can also be downloaded from the Google Play Market if the old device is running a pure Android or other shell, the main advantage of the method is the transfer of data over a direct Wi-Fi connection, which provides high speed and does not require mobile traffic.
To get started, run the app on both devices. On the new Xiaomi phone, select Recipient, and on the old one, Sender, the system will create a temporary access point to connect to. Once you connect, you'll see a detailed data selection menu, where you can select not only contacts and messages, but also system settings, including Wi-Fi passwords and alarm clocks.
When selecting applications, look for labeling. Some programs may be labeled as "not compatible" or require manual reinstallation from the store.This is normal for banking applications or high-security software that blocks direct copying of data for the sake of user protection. After selecting categories, click "Send" and wait for the process to be completed, which can take from 5 to 40 minutes depending on the volume.
⚠️ Warning: If the screen of the old phone is gone during transmission, the process may stop. Set the screen settings to shut down by "2 minutes" or "Infinite" for the migration time.
It is important to note that the Mi Mover can even transfer the history of calls and SMS-This is often a critical requirement for users who don’t want to lose important correspondence or context. However, multimedia files in messengers (photos in WhatsApp or Telegram) are better transferred through built-in backup functions of the messengers themselves, since direct copying of data folders may not restore chats inside the applications.
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Tip: If you have a lot of photos (over 50 GB), break the process into two parts: first transfer contacts and apps, and then select only the gallery separately, which will reduce the risk of a connection timeout error.
Transferring data from iPhone (iOS) to Xiaomi
For iPhone owners who choose to switch to Android, Xiaomi also has a handy tool. Mi Mover is available on the App Store and allows you to transfer basic data types without using a computer. The process starts similarly: Xiaomi chooses Recipient, iPhone chooses Sender. However, due to the limitations of the iOS operating system, the list of available data for copying will be narrower than when migrating from Android.
Mi Mover can be used to re-shoot contacts, photos, videos and calendar events from your iPhone. iMessages and call history are not portable, unfortunately, because Apple protocols are closed. You can't directly migrate installed apps, because the Android and iOS versions have different architectures. You'll have to re-download them from Google Play, but many popular services will offer to restore data when you log in.
| Type of data | Possibility of transfer | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Yes (full) | Imported to Google Contacts |
| Photos and videos | Yes. | The original quality is maintained |
| Annexes | No. | You need to download from the Play Market again. |
| Messages (SMS/iMessage) | No. | Stay on the Apple device |
| Music. | Partially. | Only files without DRM-defense |
For deeper integration, it is recommended to sync your iPhone contacts and calendar with your Google account before starting the process. This can be done in the iOS settings under Mail, Contacts, Calendars by selecting your Gmail and turning on the appropriate switches. Once you log in to the same account on Xiaomi, all information will appear automatically, which is the most reliable way to save (contacts).
What to do with iCloud photos?
Sync through Google Account and Cloud Services
The most versatile, though not the fastest, method is to use cloud services. When you first activate a new Xiaomi smartphone, the system will prompt you to log in to your Google account. If you agree and choose to restore from a backup, the phone will automatically download your contact list, notes from Google Keep, calendar events and, importantly, a list of previously installed apps.
Google Photos is a powerful tool for migrating your library, so install the app on your old phone, sync it up and wait for all the images to be uploaded to the cloud, and on the new device, just log in to the same account, and all your photo history will be instantly available, especially if you change your phone often or fear physical loss of data when your device breaks.
Xiaomi users can also use their own Mi Cloud. If the old phone was enabled sync with the Mi Account, then after entering the username and password on the new device, contacts, voice recordings and even some system settings will adjust automatically. However, it is worth remembering that free space in the Mi Cloud is limited to 5 GB, which may not be enough for a full backup of high-resolution photos.
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Using a Google account is a must-have minimum. Even if you use other methods, logging into a Google account will restore Play Market purchases and passwords saved in the password manager.
Manual copying of files through a computer
For users who prefer full control of the process or have terabytes of data, the classic method of copying through a PC remains the "gold standard." USB-cable and select file transfer mode (MTP). Copy the required folders (usually this one) DCIM Photos, Music, Download and Documents on your computer’s hard drive.
Then plug in a new Xiaomi phone and transfer files to the appropriate directories. Android folder structure is standardized so media recognition issues shouldn't be a problem, ideal for transferring heavy video files to 4K that are long-term airborne, or archives of documents that don't belong to any of the standard categories.
When working with a file system, pay attention to hidden folders and configuration files of some applications. For example, offline map data or music service cache may lie deep in the system directories. Copying the entire Android/data root folder can help save some settings, but does not guarantee the application will work on the new device due to differences in paths or versions of the software.
⚠️ Warning: When copying via PC, always use original or certificated cables. Cheap "charging only" cables won't transmit data, and poor contact can interrupt the copying in the middle, damaging the file.
Transfer of data messengers: WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber
Messengers require special attention, as they store correspondence in their own databases. Telegram is as simple as possible: just enter the phone number and confirmation code, and all chats (except secret ones) will be downloaded from the server. No additional transfer actions are required, since Telegram is a cloud-based service.
WhatsApp is more complicated. When you install the app on a new phone, it will suggest you restore your backup. If you used Google Drive on an old phone, just log in to the same Google account on a new one, and your correspondence history will recover. Importantly, the backup should be made just before you change your phone. In WhatsApp settings on your old device, go to Chats → Chat Backup → Backup.
Viber also uses a cloud backup that is linked to Google Drive or local storage. When you first log in to a new Xiaomi, the app will find an available copy and prompt you to restore it. If you use a local backup, the backup file (usually in the Viber or Android/data/com.viber.voip folder) must be manually transferred to the same directory on the new phone before installing the app.