How to Transfer Data from Xiaomi to Realme 8: Efficient Migration

Changing a smartphone is always an exciting process, often overshadowed by the need to transfer a huge amount of personal information. The transition from the MIUI ecosystem to the shell of the Realme UI, based on ColorOS, seems difficult only at first glance, since both systems have deep roots in Android and use similar principles. Xiaomi owners who decide to upgrade to the Realme 8 device often fear losing contacts, photos or correspondence history, but modern migration tools allow you to do this almost unnoticed by the user.

The main challenge is not so much physical copying of files as the correct configuration of software bridges between devices. The data protocol between MIUI and Realme UI requires the use of specialized intermediary applications, since direct Bluetooth pairing for full migration is not supported. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available methods, from cloud services to local copying via Wi-Fi Direct, so you can choose the most suitable for your situation.

It's important to understand that successful data transfer depends on pre-preparedness for both devices: you need to ensure a stable connection, sufficient battery power and, in some cases, temporary shutdown of aggressive energy-saving modes that can interrupt the transmission process. Let's look at what tools the market offers us and how to use them as efficiently as possible.

Preparation of devices before the migration

Before running any transfer programs, a number of preparatory steps must be taken that are often ignored by users, leading to errors.The first step should be to check the free space on the new Realme 8. Although the memory on modern smartphones is large, temporary system files and preinstalled applications can take up a significant amount, so make sure that space for your data is reserved.

The second critical step is to update the software on both smartphones to the latest available versions. Xiaomi and Realme developers are constantly making changes to the data protocols, and using outdated versions of the firmware can cause incompatibility of cloners.

⚠️ Warning: Before migrating, be sure to connect both smartphones to a power source or make sure that the battery is at least 60%. interruption of the transfer process due to battery discharge can cause damage to the file system or loss of some contacts.

Make sure you remember the passwords from your Google account and, if you have, from your Mi Account. In some cases, a code from an SMS or a backup email may be required to verify your identity when you sign in on a new device. Update your contact list in the cloud in advance to have a contingency recovery point.

Using Clone Phone App for Quick Migration

The most effective and recommended by Realme is the official Clone Phone app, which is pre-installed on all new devices of the brand and optimized for working with the Realme UI shell. The main advantage of this method is the ability to transfer not only media and contacts, but also home screen layout, system settings and even passwords from Wi-Fi networks.

The process begins with installing the app on an old Xiaomi smartphone. If there is no version in the Play Market store, you can scan it. QR-The code that will appear on the screen of the new phone when the setup wizard first starts, and after installation on both devices, you must provide the requested permissions: access to contacts, storage, location and phone. Without these permissions, Clone Phone won’t be able to see the data to be copied.

When creating a connection through QR-The device code creates a local Wi-Fi Direct network, and the transmission speed in this mode is much higher than through standard Bluetooth, and can reach the speed of the network. 30-40 MB/s in ideal conditions. It is important not to switch between applications and not to turn off the screen during the process, since the Android system can limit the background activity of the application, considering it to be energy-consuming.

In the program interface you will see_categories_ Data: contacts, messages, call logs, photos, videos, music, documents and apps. You can selectively exclude unnecessary categories, for example, if you do not want to carry heavy video files or messenger cache. After selecting, click the Start Migration button and wait for the process to be completed, the progress of which is displayed as a percentage.

Alternative method: Mi Mover and its compatibility

Many Xiaomi users are used to using the Mi Mover app for backup. The logical question is: can you use it to transfer data to Realme 8? Technically, the Mi Mover application creates archives in a format that is understandable to the MIUI system, and direct restoration of such a backup on the Realme UI is impossible without third-party crutches that can disrupt the stability of the system.

However, Mi Mover can be used as an intermediate to create a local copy to a memory card or to the cloud if other methods are not available. But it is worth noting that this method is not native to Realme and may not carry alarm clock settings, voice recorders or specific interface settings. For cross-platform migration, it is better to rely on universal tools or native solutions of the host party.

If you do decide to experiment with manually porting archives created through Mi Mover, you will need a file manager with system folder permissions, which is not recommended for ordinary users. A safer way is to use Mi Mover only to upload media files in a neutral format, and sync contacts and calendar through Google.

There are also third-party counterparts, like Send Anywhere or SHAREit, that can act as a bridge, and they work on the principle of creating a time channel, and although this is a working method, it requires additional software to be installed on both devices and often contains advertising, which makes it less preferable than the system Clone Phone.

Synchronization through Google Account and Cloud Services

The most reliable and immortal way to save your data is to sync with the cloud. Regardless of which smartphone you have, Xiaomi or Realme, logging into the same Google account will automatically restore contacts, calendar events, notes (via Google Keep) and passwords (via Google Password Manager).

For photos and videos, the best way to use Google Photos is to make sure that the old Xiaomi has Autoupload and Sync enabled. Once all the photos are in the cloud, just install the Google Photos app on Realme 8 and log in to your account. All images will be instantly accessible without taking up space on the internal drive, if you have space saving mode enabled.

The Mi Cloud is worth a special attention. If you’ve been using Xiaomi services, your data may be there. To transfer it to Realme, you’ll need to go to the i.mi.com web version from your computer, download the data and download it to a new phone, or install the Mi Cloud app on Realme (if available in your area) for upload.

Transferring WhatsApp, Viber and Telegram messages

Messengers store correspondence separately from the main system, and their transfer requires a personalized approach. WhatsApp offers a built-in migration feature that now works between different Android manufacturers. When you first launch WhatsApp on Realme 8, the app may suggest you move chat history from your old device. QR-code that will appear on the screen of the new smartphone using the camera of the old.

For Viber, the situation is similar, but it is critical to have a backup in Google Drive. On the old Xiaomi, go to Settings → Account → Backup and create a fresh copy. On the new Realme 8, when you log in, Viber will offer to restore a story from the backup you found. Make sure you use the same phone number and Google account.

⚠️ Note: When you transfer WhatsApp between devices with different versions of Android or shells, backup encryption may cause errors. Make sure both devices have the latest version of the messenger from the Play Market installed before starting the procedure.

Telegram is the most convenient way to do this, because all of the history of the correspondence is stored on the company's servers. You just need to enter your phone number and confirmation code, and all the chats, channels and groups will appear instantly. Secret Chats are not portable, because they are tied to a particular device and its encryption keys.

Solution and troubleshooting

Even if all instructions are followed, there can be technical failures. Often users are faced with a situation where the process freezes by 99% or the transmission rate drops to zero. Most of the time this is due to the aggressive energy-saving Realme UI or MIUI mode, which kills the background data transfer process to save charge.

If the connection is permanently broken, try the following algorithm: turn off mobile internet on both devices, leaving only Wi-Fi. Make sure that both phones are geolocated (GPS) enabled, as Android uses it to detect devices on the local network.

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If the Clone Phone gives you an error of “Not enough space” even though there is memory, try clearing the Downloads folder on the new phone.The system may require a buffer zone of 1-2 GB for temporary file processing during the migration.

If you have trouble porting apps, don’t try to migrate Xiaomi system apps to Realme. Only port custom software. System components can cause conflicts and instability on a new smartphone. It’s better to set up new apps from scratch or use their cloud versions.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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The perfect migration is a combination of Clone Phone for system and applications, and Google Sync for contacts and media. Don't rely on one method, use them in conjunction for 100% data security.