Buying a new smartphone is always a joyous event, but often overshadowed by the prospect of a long and tedious migration of user information. Xiaomi device owners are in a prime position thanks to the developed MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem, which provides powerful native tools for this task.
There are several proven ways to migrate: using the built-in Mi Mover app, recovering from the Mi Cloud cloud storage, standard sync via a Google account or manually copying to a computer. The choice of a particular method depends on the amount of information, Internet connection speed and type of old device. In this article, we will discuss each of the options in detail so that you can save your contacts, photos, apps and settings intact.
Before any transfer operation is initiated, it is critical to ensure that the batteries of both devices are stable; loss of power at the time of writing system files can cause damage to the database and loss of information; it is also recommended to free up enough space on the new device so that the process goes without errors and interruptions.
Preparing devices for data migration
Successful transfer of information depends on the correct preparation of gadgets. Before launching any utilities, you need to conduct a basic revision of the contents of the old phone, delete unnecessary files, clean the shopping cart in the gallery and check if important documents are stored in hidden folders that can be missed by automatic scripts.
Both devices need to be connected to a stable Wi-Fi network if you plan to use cloud methods or wireless transmission. The wired method will require a quality cable capable of transmitting large amounts of data, not just charging the battery. Make sure both screens are exposed to maximum brightness or the display timeout is turned off so that the screen does not go out while running.
⚠️ Note: If you are switching from an iPhone, make sure that the device has two-factor authorization disabled for a temporary simplification of the process or prepare access codes, as iOS has stricter security protocols.
Be sure to check the operating system version. While Mi Mover is compatible with most Android versions, very old firmware (below Android 6.0) can have conflicts when transferring system settings, in which case it is better to limit yourself to porting media and contacts, and install the applications again.
☑️ Checklist before transfer
Use of the built-in Mi Mover application
The most efficient and fastest way developed specifically for the Xiaomi ecosystem is the Mi Mover utility, which is pre-installed on all modern smartphones of the brand and allows you to transfer data directly over Wi-Fi Direct without consuming mobile operator traffic or loading the router.
To get started, open the app on both devices. On the new phone, select Recipient and on the old one, Sender. QR-A code or access point that you need to scan to establish a secure connection. Once paired, you'll see a list of data categories available for portability.
The interface allows you to flexibly customize the sample, you can only transfer contacts and messages, or copy the entire amount of data, including installed applications with their data, call history and system settings. Particular attention should be paid to the item "Other data", where Wi-Fi passwords and alarms are often hidden.
- 📱 Contacts and Messages: Instant transfer of the entire telephone book and correspondence history from the standard SMS/MMS.
- 🖼️ Multimedia: Copying photos, videos and audio recordings while preserving folder structure and metadata (EXIF).
- ⚙️ System settings: Transfer the location of icons, passwords from Wi-Fi, alarm clocks and notes.
- 📲 Annexes: Installation APK-Files and, in some cases, state recovery within applications.
⚠️ Note: When transferring apps from iPhone to Android via Mi Mover, free apps may not install automatically due to differences in the App Store and Google Play stores, they will have to be downloaded again.
Synchronization through Google account
A classic method that remains relevant for users who are deeply integrated into Google services, ideal if you switch from another Android smartphone, and when the new Xiaomi is first activated, the system will prompt you to log into your existing Google account, after which the background data load will begin.
Within the Google ecosystem, contacts, calendar events, notes (if Google Keep was used), photos (via Google Photos) and a list of installed apps are synchronized. However, unlike Mi Mover, this method often does not retain the logic of the location of icons on the desktop and the specific settings of the applications themselves.
To check what exactly is being moved, go to the old device in the Settings → Google → Backup menu. Here you will see the date of the last copy and a list of services that will be restored. Make sure the switches are active, and click Start Copy if the data has not been updated for a long time.
| Type of data | Google's method | Mi Mover Method | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Automatically. | Instantly. | Google will sync after setting up |
| Photo/Video | Through Google Photos | Direct transmission | Depends on the Google Cloud Limit |
| Annexes | Only a list. | With data (often) | I need the internet to download. |
| Wi-Fi passwords | Yes (on Android 10+) | Yes. | Requires unlocking of the screen |
An important nuance is that passwords saved in Google Password Manager will automatically be pulled into the Chrome browser and system autocomplete on the new device, eliminating the need to manually enter logins and passwords from hundreds of sites.
What to do if the synchronization is suspended?
Backup in Mi Cloud Backup
The Mi Cloud is an alternative to Google’s solutions and is deeply integrated into the MIUI shell, with the main advantage of being able to save not only standard data, but also specific system settings, desktop layout and even voice recordings in the original format.
To create a backup, go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud. Here you can choose categories for sync. Free user is provided with 5 GB of space, which is enough for contacts, messages and notes, but for photos and videos you will have to buy additional subscriptions or use a compressed format.
Once you log in to your Mi Account on your new device, the system will prompt you to recover data from the last cloud copy, which is especially useful if the old phone has already been sold or lost, but sync has been enabled before, and the recovery occurs gradually in the background as you use the phone.
- 📅 Calendar and Notes: Instant sync between all Xiaomi devices.
- 📷 Gallery: Storage optimization with uploading originals to the cloud.
- 📞 Telephone and SMS: Preserving Call and Text Message History.
- 📂 Files: Backup of documents from internal storage.
⚠️ Note: The region of your Mi Cloud account must match the region of your device. If you have changed region in your phone settings, access to previously created backups may be restricted.
Transferring data from iPhone (iOS) to Xiaomi
Migration from iOS to Android has traditionally been considered difficult, but Xiaomi’s tools have minimized these difficulties.The main tool here is also Mi Mover, which has a special version for iOS available in the App Store.The process requires installing the app on an iPhone and connecting both phones to the same Wi-Fi network.
The iPhone app will ask permissions to access contacts, photos and calendar. QR-It is important to understand that due to the closedness of the iOS system, transfer installed applications (themselves) APK) It is impossible – you will have to search and download them again in Google Play.
The history of WhatsApp correspondence when switching between different operating systems (iOS) should be paid special attention. ↔ Android is now officially supported, but requires the use of a special cable (Lightning to) USB-C) or the “Data Transfer” feature when you first set up a new phone that uses Android 12+ Migration.
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Use the original Lightning cable for a reliable connection when transferring data from your iPhone, as third-party cables often only work on charging and do not transmit data.
Once you have completed the basic transfer via Mi Mover, check the Downloads or MIUI folder on your new phone — it often includes archives with contacts (.vcf) and calendar events (.ics), which you need to import manually through the standard Contacts and Calendar apps.
Solving problems and errors during transfer
Even with automated tools, there may be disruptions, and one of the common problems is interrupting Wi-Fi Direct while Mi Mover is running. This often happens if one of the devices is power-saving or "sleeping" for Wi-Fi. It is recommended to temporarily turn off energy savings for the carrier application.
Another common mistake is space shortage: the system may not correctly estimate the size of data, especially if there are hidden files or app cache in folders. Always leave 10-15% more storage on the new device than the data on the old one takes up.
If the process is stuck at a certain percentage (e.g. 99%) for a long time, do not rush to restart the phone. Often there is a final file integrity check or indexing of media files in the gallery.
- 🔄 Reboot: Try restarting both devices and starting the process over again.
- 📶 Network: Make sure that you are not using VPN-Services that can block local connection.
- 🔋 Power: Turn off Super-Energy Saving mode before starting.
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The most reliable way to avoid errors is to use a direct Mi Mover connection without the router, creating a direct access point between phones.