Buying a new smartphone is always a pleasant experience, with the expectation of fresh experiences and enhanced features. However, the owner often faces the pressing question of how to quickly and painlessly transfer all the accumulated information from the old device. Fortunately, the Xiaomi ecosystem offers powerful built-in tools that make this process easy even for inexperienced users.
Unlike many other manufacturers, the Chinese brand does not force you to download third-party dubious applications for data migration. Everything you need is already built into the shell of MIUI or HyperOS. The right approach to cloning the system will allow you to start using the gadget immediately, without spending hours manually installing applications and finding lost numbers.
In this article, we will take a look at all the migration options available, from proprietary utility to cloud services, and learn about the nuances of password transfer, Wi-Fi settings, and even desktop icon settings, and the ability to prepare both devices is key to the success of the entire operation.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before you start any manipulations, you need to make sure that both smartphones are ready for active operation. First of all, check the battery level on both devices. The optimal indicator is a charge of at least 60-70%, since the process of transferring large amounts of data can be energy intensive. If one of the phones dies at a critical moment, the transfer of files can be interrupted, which will require a repetition of the procedure.
It's also worth freeing up space on the receiving device. Even if you bought a phone with a lot of storage, system files and pre-installed apps already take up some of the space. Make sure the new Xiaomi has more space than the weight of the data on the old phone, which is especially true when you're moving high-resolution photo archives and video.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to interrupt the transmission process by turning off the screen or running heavy applications. Although the system usually blocks other activities during the migration, background processes can slow down the Wi-Fi module.
An important step is to update the software. Check for updates to the system and in particular to the Mi Mover app on both devices. Developers are constantly improving compression and transmission algorithms, so the current version of the software guarantees better compatibility and speed.
If you have traffic restrictions or energy savings on your old phone, you have to shut them down temporarily. Power saving mode can artificially lower the Wi-Fi signal power, causing speeds to drop or disconnect. You need maximum wireless module performance to work reliably.
☑️ Checklist before migration
Using the Mi Mover app for Android
The most efficient and quickest way to transfer is to use the Mi Mover utility, which is designed specifically to work in conjunction between Android devices, and allows you to transfer not only media files, but also folder structure, system settings, and even some application data.
To get started, find the Mi Mover app in the Tools folder or search by settings. If your old device (even if it's not Xiaomi) doesn't have it, scan it. QR-code that will appear on the screen of the new phone to download the installation file, installation is quick and does not require registration of additional accounts.
Once you start the app, select the "I'm a recipient" role on the new phone, and the old one, "I'm a sender," and the devices will create a direct Wi-Fi connection to each other, and you don't have to connect to your home network or use the mobile Internet, but you create a high-bandwidth local network.
In the data selection phase, you will see categories: Contacts, Messages, Call Log, Applications, Photos, Music, etc. You can select specific applications or mark everything at once. Please note that some banking applications and secure messengers may not migrate their data for security reasons, requiring authorization again.
The speed of transfer depends on the volume of data and the version of Wi-Fi modules. On modern models with Wi-Fi 6 support, the process is almost imperceptible. Once the copy is completed, the system will prompt you to install the ported applications immediately if they were not built into the firmware of the new device.
Transferring data from iPhone to Xiaomi
Apple owners also don’t have to worry about compatibility.Mi Mover fully supports cross-platform data transfer from iOS. The mechanics of the process are similar to work between Android smartphones, but there are features in the list of copyable elements.
On the iPhone, you will need to download the app “Mi Mover” from the App Store. Once you install and provide all the requested permissions (access to photos, contacts, calendar), the devices will connect to each other. QR-It is important to note that porting the apps themselves (.ipa files) is not possible due to the closedness of the iOS ecosystem, but the list of apps will be saved so you can quickly find them in stores.
What exactly can you migrate: contacts, photos, videos, calendar events and notes. iMessage messages and call history are not migrated to Android devices. Photos can be copied in original quality, but make sure that the iPhone has disabled the option “Storage Optimization” in iCloud, otherwise the originals may not load during transfer.
⚠️ Note: When transferring from your iPhone, Wi-Fi passwords and email settings will not be copied to Xiaomi due to security restrictions on Apple’s operating system.
Once the process is complete, all contacts and media files will appear on your new Xiaomi. To install the apps, you will need to manually download them from Google Play or GetApps, however, Mi Mover can provide a list of what was installed on the iPhone so you don’t forget anything.
Sync with Google Account and Cloud
A classic and reliable method that works on any Android smartphone, and when you first turn on a new Xiaomi phone, it will prompt you to log in to your Google account. This is the key point: using the same email as the old device, you will automatically access contacts, email and calendar.
To set up sync on your old phone, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google. Make sure the checkmarks are in front of Contacts, Calendar, Notes and Drive. Press the sync button to send data to the cloud. On the new device, it is easy to turn on the Internet after you log in.
Google Photos is a special feature, and if your photos are uploaded to the Google cloud, they will automatically appear in the gallery of the new phone, which is a great way to protect yourself: even if the physical file transfer is interrupted, your photos will remain safe in the cloud.
You can also reset the list of installed apps through the Google Play Store. Go to profile, select App and Device Management → Manage → Not installed on this device. From here, you can start installing all the necessary software en masse.
What to do if your contacts are not synchronized?
Manual transfer of files via computer
Sometimes wireless methods are unstable or you need to move hundreds of gigabytes of data, and in those cases, the old cable and the computer are the most reliable solution, and this method gives you complete control over the file system and allows you to structure the data when you transfer it.
Connect your old phone to your PC via USB-Cable. Select the mode of operation. USB «File transfer» (MTP). On the computer, open the disk that appears and copy the folders. DCIM (Photos and videos, Download, Music and more to your hard drive. Then plug in the new Xiaomi and copy the data to the appropriate directories.
The advantage of this method is that it's fast and compressible, and you can sort files into folders right away, removing the garbage that's been accumulating in your old smartphone's memory for years, and you can also easily transfer large files like movies or archives of work documents through your computer.
Windows users will be comfortable with the Explorer program, and macOS will require installing the Android File Transfer application or using cloud-based intermediary services. Remember to check the integrity of files on the new device after copying.
💡
Use the original. USB-cable or high-quality analogue with support for high data rates; cheap charging cables may not support file transfer mode or run extremely slow.
Comparison of data transfer methods
To make it easier for you to choose the right method, we have prepared a summary table that will help you assess the pros and cons of each method depending on your situation and the type of old device.
| Method | Speed. | What's transferable | It's best suited for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Tall. | Everything (contacts, photos, apps, settings) | Transition from Android to Android |
| Google Account | Medium | Contacts, calendar, applications (list) | Basic configuration and contacts |
| Computer (USB) | Very high. | Files, photos, videos, documents | Large-scale media transfer |
| Cloud services | Depends on the network. | Photos, documents | Backup |
As you can see from the table, Mi Mover is the most versatile solution for Android owners, combining high speed and depth of penetration, but it is always better to use additional copying on your PC or cloud to protect critical data (documents, work projects).
Remember that after transferring the data, it is recommended to restart the new smartphone, which will allow the system to correctly index new files, update the thumbnails of photos in the gallery and complete the background setting of the transferred applications.
💡
Combined approach is the best strategy: use Mi Mover for apps and settings, and Google Photos or PC for backup media files.