How to transfer data from your old phone to a new Xiaomi on the first turn on: all the ways

Switching to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but transferring data from an old device can become a real headache if you don’t know the nuances. It is especially important to organize this process correctly when you first turn on, when the system offers the most convenient tools for migration. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways from automatic transfer via Mi Mover to manual copying through the cloud or cable, and also tell you how to avoid typical errors that cause lost contacts or photos.

The main advantage of data porting in the initial setup phase is system-level integration, and unlike manually copying files later, this method saves not only media files, but also application settings, SMS, But there are limitations to every way, like Mi Mover doesn't support porting directly from iPhones, and cloud services can trim large files. We tested all of these methods on Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13 Pro models.+ and POCO X6 Pro – the results are summarized in the comparison table below.

1. Preparing the old phone before transfer

Before you start migrating, make sure that the old device is ready to transfer data, which will eliminate errors such as interrupted connection or loss of files.

• 📱 Battery charge: both phones should have at least 50% charge. When transferring over the cable, the energy consumption is higher - it is better to connect both devices to charging.
• 📶 Wi-Fi network: if you use wireless porting, connect both phones to the same 2.4 GHz network (5 GHz networks can cause failures in the Mi Mover).
• 🔒 Unlock: Remove all graphic keys, PIN-codes and fingerprints on an old phone – they can block access to files while copying.
• 🗑️ Cleaning up garbage: remove unnecessary files (cache, duplicate photos) to speed up the process.

Pay special attention to authenticated apps, such as WhatsApp, Telegram or banking programs may require re-entry after the transfer. SMS/email Also disable Battery Optimization for Mi Mover in the old phone settings, otherwise the connection may break.

2. Automatic transfer via Mi Mover on first switching on

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary data migration tool that starts automatically when a new phone is first turned on. It supports porting from most devices to Android 5.0+, But it doesn't work with iPhones (they need a workaround through Move to iOS or the cloud), and the main advantage is to keep the folder structure and file metadata (dates of creation, geotagged photos) intact).

To take advantage of the Mi Mover:

1. Turn on the new Xiaomi and follow the instructions before the Data Transfer stage.
2. Select "Move from Android" → "No cable (or "with cable" if you want to speed up the process).
3. On an old phone, download Mi Mover from Google Play (if it isn’t) and launch the app.
4. Scan it. QR-code from the screen of a new phone or connect through the search for devices in the local network.
5. Select data for transfer: contacts, messages, photos, videos, audio, applications (not all supported!).
6. Confirm the start of the copy and wait until it is completed (may take 10 minutes to several hours).

The transfer speed depends on the amount of data and the method of connection:

Battery charge >50% on both phones|The same Wi-Fi network (2.4 GHz)|Disabled. VPN firewalls|There is enough space for the new Xiaomi (minimum) +20% of the volume of data transferred)|The old phone doesn't overheat (remove the case)-->

Critical feature: Mi Mover does not carry data from some applications (for example, passwords from Chrome or save games), even if they are marked with a tick.

3.Moving from iPhone to Xiaomi: workarounds

iPhone owners will have to use alternative methods, as Mi Mover does not support direct migration from iOS.

• 📱 Move to iOS (reverse port): Apple's official app is designed to migrate to the iPhone, but it can be adapted.Install it on Xiaomi, create a temporary backup on iCloud, and then transfer the data via Google Drive or Mi Cloud.
• ☁️ iCloud + Google Account: Export contacts, calendars and notes from iCloud to Google Account (iCloud settings) → Storage management → Download photos and videos via iCloud.com to your computer and then upload them to Google Photos.
• 💻 Computer as an intermediary: connect iPhone to PC/Mac, Copy files via iTunes or Finder and then transfer them to Xiaomi. USB.

To transfer WhatsApp from iPhone to Xiaomi, you will need:

1. Create backup chats in iCloud (whatsapp settings) → chat → Backup).
2. Install WhatsApp on Xiaomi and log in with the same number.
3. When requesting a recovery, select Restore from iCloud (you will need to enter Apple). ID).

If after transferring to Xiaomi, emojis from iMessage messages are missing, set the Apple Color Emoji font through Settings → Additionally. → Regional settings → Font (you need to download.ttf file from the Internet).

4.Move over Google Account and Cloud Services

The most universal way is sync through Google Account, which works on any device, including iPhone, and allows you to transfer:

• 📇 Contacts, calendars, tasks (Google Contacts, Google Calendar)
• 📧 Mail (Gmail)
• 📸 Photos and videos (Google Photos with original quality)
• 🎵 Music and Documents (Google Drive)
• 📍 Data from some applications (e.g. Chrome, YouTube)

Instructions:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Accounts → Google and enable sync for all the right categories.
2. Wait for the sync to complete (check in Google Drive or Google Photos that the files are downloaded).
3. When you first turn on Xiaomi, select “Restore from Google Account” and log in.
4. Select a backup (if there are several) and wait for the recovery.

Google Photos automatically compresses media files with free storage, to transfer photos in their original quality:

1. In Google Photos, select “Original Quality” (you will need to pay more than 15 GB for space).
2. Or download the archive from the photo to your computer via takeout.google.com and then transfer it to Xiaomi. USB.

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If some contacts are lost after you restore your Google Account, check duplicates in the Contacts app. Xiaomi sometimes creates separate entries for numbers from the Google Account. SIM-Maps and Google. Manually combine them through Settings. → Contacts → Combine duplicates.

5. Manual transfer by cable or computer

If automatic methods are not suitable (for example, when transferring from a very old phone or non-standard firmware), use manual copying.

• 🔌 Cable USB-OTG (If you connect your phone directly, or USB-C/USB-A computer.
• 💻 Computer with drivers installed ADB (file-access).
• 📁 File Manager (built into Xiaomi or Total Commander).

Step-by-step instructions for transfer via PC:

1. Connect your old phone to your computer in "File Transfer" mode" (MTP).
2. Copy the folders. DCIM (Photo/video), Downloads, WhatsApp (if necessary) to the hard drive.
3. Disable your old phone, plug in a new Xiaomi and paste files into the same folders.
4. For transfer SMS and call logs use applications like SMS Backup & Restore (Save Backup on PC, Then Restore on Xiaomi).

When transposed USB-OTG (computer-free):

1. Connect both phones with cable OTG (The old phone should be in mode "USB-accumulator").
2. On the new Xiaomi, open Explorer and copy files from the memory of the old device.
3. To access system folders (for example, /data/data/ With app settings, root rights will be required, which is not recommended on new phones.

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Manual transfer is the most reliable way, but it takes time and attention, and the main advantage is that you control which files are copied, and you can eliminate unnecessary data (such as the cache of applications).

6. Transfer of applications and their data

Even if you've moved on APK-Application files, their data (game saves, settings, cache) may not go. Here's how to fix it:

• 🎮 Games: Most games (such as Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile) linked to a Google Play account, Facebook or your own gaming profile. Once you install the game on your new phone, log in, progress will be automatically picked up.
• 📱 Social media: VK, Telegram, Instagram store data in the cloud. Just log in with the same login.
• 🏦 Banking apps: they can't be ported backup! Uninstall them on your old phone, then re-install them on Xiaomi and log in. Some banks (like Sberbank Online) require confirmation by SMS At the first entrance from the new device.
• 🔑 Passwords and Autocomplete: Export passwords from Google Smart Lock or 1Password In the file, then import them on the new phone.

To transfer data to applications that do not support cloud sync (such as some launchers or widgets), use:

• Swift Backup (requires root or ADB)
• Titanium Backup (Android only)
• Built-in backup function in the application settings (if any).

Important for WhatsApp: If you are transferring chats via Google Drive, make sure that:

• The new phone uses the same phone number and Google Account.
• WhatsApp on the new device is no older than the old one.
• You didn’t install WhatsApp until the backup was restored (or it will go missing).

7.Typical mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when following instructions, users face problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

⚠️ Note: If you are transferring data from a phone running Android 10 or older to Xiaomi running Android 14, some system applications (such as Camera or Gallery) may not work properly. → Annexes → [Name of name] → Warehouse → Clear the data.

Another common mistake is losing two-factor authorization (2FA). If you have used Google Authenticator or SMS-codes on your old phone, transfer backup codes before resetting the device. for Google Authenticator:

1. Export accounts through Settings → Transfer accounts (required) QR-code).
2. Or install Authy – it syncs codes between devices.

8. Verification of data after transfer

When you're done migrating, don't rush to drop your old phone.

• 📞 Contacts: Open the Contacts app and make sure all numbers are in place (including hidden or stored on the site). SIM).
• 📷 Photos and videos: Check folders DCIM, Pictures, Movies in the Gallery. Pay special attention to geotag files — they should be displayed on the map in Google Photos.
• 💬 Messages: in SMS Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) must be all chats and media files.
• 🎵 Music and documents: Open a few files to make sure they are intact.
• 🎮 Games and apps: run 2-3 save games, check for authorization in banking applications.

If something is missing:

• For contacts: import them again from Google Contacts or VCF-file.
• For a photo: check the.thumbnails folder (hidden) - sometimes thumbnails are created, but the originals are not copied.
• For SMS: Restore the backup through SMS Backup & Restore.

⚠️ Note: If you have been moving data through Mi Mover and notice that some files are corrupted (e.g., video is not played), do not start the process again - this may duplicate data.

Once you've done a successful check, you can reset your old phone to the factory settings.

• Delete all accounts (Google, Mi Account, social networks).
• Untie the device from Google Find My Device and Mi Cloud.
• Extract. SIM-card and memory card (if any).

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A complete reset of an old phone is a must if you plan to sell or transfer it to another person, and this will protect your data from recovery through specialized programs.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data portability to Xiaomi