How to transfer data from your old phone to Xiaomi

Buying a new smartphone is always a holiday, but it is often overshadowed by the need to transfer a huge amount of information. Xiaomi owners are in a favorable position, as the shell MIUI and HyperOS offer powerful built-in tools for migration. The process of transitioning from Android or iOS to Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO devices has become as automated as possible, but requires attention to detail, so as not to lose important files.

There are several proven synchronization methods, each with its own features: you can use the Mi Mover app, Google cloud services or manual copying through your computer, and the choice of method depends on the operating system of your old device and the amount of data transferred.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the stages of preparation and the transfer process itself, you will learn how to avoid common errors, why passwords from applications may not be saved, and how to properly configure a new gadget from the first turn on.

Preparing devices for data migration

Before any manipulations, it is critical to prepare both devices: Charge the batteries of both smartphones to at least 60-70%, as the Wi-Fi Direct data transfer process, which is used by most utilities, actively consumes energy. If the phone runs out in the middle of the process, you may lose some files or damage the contact database.

Make sure that the old device has free space or, conversely, check that the new Xiaomi has enough memory to receive all files. It is also recommended to update the operating system on both devices to the latest available version to eliminate transmission protocol compatibility bugs.

⚠️ Warning: Before you start the transfer, be sure to back up your important data on your old phone in any way you can, which is insurance in case the main method of migration fails.

Be sure to check the stability of wireless communication modules. Most migration tools require Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled to work. Older Android devices with versions below 8.0 may have difficulty detecting new security protocols, so it is better to use the computer as an intermediary in such cases.

Using the Mi Mover app for Android

The fastest and most efficient way for Android users is to use the native Mi Mover app, which is already pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones and available for download on Google Play for other brands. The app creates a direct local network between devices, which ensures high speed transfer without using Internet traffic.

To start, run the program on both phones. On the new Xiaomi, select the role "I am the recipient" (Receiver), and on the old one, "I am the sender". QR-code that must be scanned by an old device to establish a secure connection.

Once paired, you'll see a list of data categories that you can transfer, you can select only contacts and messages, or you can copy everything, including installed apps, call history, and system settings. The program's algorithm automatically adapts the data to the new version of the MIUI shell.

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If the process is stuck in the Connection phase, try temporarily disabling mobile internet (4G/5G) on both devices, leaving only Wi-Fi.

It is important to note that some system applications and bank program data may not be transferred for security reasons. In such cases, Mi Mover will simply create a shortcut or offer to download again. It is also worth considering that the cache of large games and messengers can take up a significant amount of space, so it is better to transfer only the basic data, and heavy files to download later.

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Mi Mover uses a local Wi-Fi connection, so the transfer speed is not dependent on your home internet speed, but requires a stable signal between phones.

Transferring data from iPhone (iOS) to Xiaomi

iPhone owners also don’t have to worry about losing data when they move to the Android ecosystem. Mi Mover has an iOS version that lets you transfer contacts, photos, videos and calendar events. However, due to the closedness of Apple’s system, transferring is not possible in full, as between Android devices.

The process starts in a similar way: install Mi Mover from the App Store on your iPhone and run it on Xiaomi. QR-Select data types, and photos and videos will be copied in their original quality, and contacts will be stored in the phone memory or synced with your Google account.

The limitations should be understood: iMessage messages, call history and iOS apps cannot be ported to Android. You will have to re-download and log in to the apps from Google Play. Messengers like WhatsApp require a separate backup procedure through Google Drive, as direct migration of chats between iOS and Android within the same application often requires paid third-party solutions or a phone reset.

Synchronization through Google Account

The classic and most reliable method that works seamlessly on any device: When you first turn on a new Xiaomi, the system will prompt you to log in to your Google account. If you previously backed up on an old phone, then after authorization, contacts, notes, calendar events and a list of installed applications will automatically download.

To make sure all data is saved, go to Google’s settings on your old device. Find the Backup section and click “Start Copy” or “Create a Copy.” This action will save the current state of your data in the cloud.

On a new device, this process can take time, especially if you have a lot of photos in Google Photos, which will be loaded as needed or in the background when connecting to Wi-Fi. This method is good because your data is tied to your account, rather than a specific hardware, which makes it easier to replace phones in the future.

However, it is worth remembering that passwords from some applications and data inside them are not transferred through Google unless the developer has used cloud synchronization, and call settings and system specific settings often have to be manually configured.

Manual copying via computer and Bluetooth

If wireless methods are unstable or you need to transfer a very large amount of data (e.g. 100)+ GB video, the best solution is a computer. Connect your old phone to your PC through a computer. USB-cable in the mode "File transfer» (MTP). Copy the folders. DCIM, Download, Music and Documents on your hard drive.

Then connect the new Xiaomi and move the files to the appropriate directories.This method guarantees maximum speed and reliability, eliminating the risks of interruption of the connection by air. Contacts can be exported to the.vcf file through the Contacts app and subsequent import on the new device.

Bluetooth should only be considered as an emergency option for transferring multiple contacts or documents if the Internet is not available. The speed of transfer over Bluetooth is extremely low, and sending gigabytes of photos in this way makes no sense - the process can take hours.

⚠️ Note: When copying through a computer, do not interrupt the cable connection until the file is written, which may damage the file system or cause loss of some data on the memory card.

For advanced users, a USB debugging method using ADB is also available, but it requires technical knowledge and driver installation. In most cases, standard copying through Windows Explorer or macOS is quite enough.

Frequent problems and their solution

During the migration process, users often find that contacts are displayed, but without names, or SMS is missing. Most often this is due to the fact that on the old phone contacts were saved not in a Google account or on the Internet. SIM-card, and in the memory of the phone or the manufacturer’s account (for example, Samsung Account or Mi Account on the old Xiaomi).

To fix the contact problem, export them to a.vcf file before transferring or copy them to Google Contacts manually. Messages and call logs on other brands' devices may require third-party utilities, such as SMS Backup & Restore, that create a universal backup.

Another common problem is that some of the photos are missing after transfer, which happens if the photos were stored in the cloud storage of the old phone manufacturer and were not downloaded to the device's memory. Before migrating, make sure that all the media files are physically in the phone folders.

⚠️ Note: Two-factor authentication (2FA). If you use a code application (Google Authenticator), be sure to back up or move accounts manually, otherwise you may lose access to your services.

Users also complain that some apps don't open, and newer versions of Android and MIUI have increased security requirements, so older versions of apps (especially banking ones) can be blocked by the system, and they need to be updated via Google Play or GetApps.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions