Changing the ecosystem is always stressful, but moving from an iPhone to a Xiaomi smartphone can be one of the most enjoyable experiences in your technology experience. Many users fear losing important data, photos or familiar contact structure, but modern migration tools make this process as transparent as possible. Data transfer now takes minutes, not hours, if you know the right sequence of actions.
The challenge is not the copying process itself, but the preparation of both devices: you need a stable Wi-Fi connection, sufficient battery life and a little patience. The key is to use Mi Mover, a proprietary application that is designed specifically for migration between different operating systems. You don't have to rely on third-party programs of dubious origin when you have a proven solution from the manufacturer.
In this article, we will take a look at all the transition steps, from initial setup to the intricacies of messenger transfer, which file formats can cause difficulties and how to get around them, and turn a complex technical procedure into a simple and understandable algorithm that everyone can use.
Preparing devices for migration
Before you start the active phase of the transfer, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps. QR-Transfer of files or codes via Wi-Fi Direct.
On the new Xiaomi device (or Redmi/POCO) it is also worth checking the system updates, although migration often occurs during the initial setup stage (MIUI Setup). Charge both smartphones to a minimum of 60-70%, as active transfer of large amounts of data can significantly consume energy.
⚠️ Note: If you plan to transfer data using a cable (Lightning to) USB-C), Make sure the cable is Apple certified (MFi), otherwise the transmission may be interrupted halfway.
Also free up space on the receiving device.While Xiaomi typically offers generous storage volumes, pre-cleaning temporary files will speed up the indexing process.Check whether Bluetooth and geolocation are enabled on both gadgets, as they are used to detect devices in close proximity.
Use of the Mi Mover app
The main tool for migration is the Mi Mover app, which is built into the system on Xiaomi smartphones and is located in the Tools folder or in the settings. On the iPhone, it must be downloaded from the App Store, which is the official solution that ensures the best format compatibility.
Once you run the app on both devices, select roles: on the iPhone, click "I send" and on Xiaomi, "I receive." The system will suggest creating an access point or connecting to an existing network. For maximum speed, you'd better use the direct connection that Xiaomi will create.
☑️ Ready for transfer
When devices find each other (usually through scanning) QR-You can start the authorization process, the protocol is encrypted, so your data is safe. You can choose the types of data to transfer: contacts, messages, call history, photos and videos.
Note that some iOS system settings cannot be converted to MIUI settings due to architectural differences in operating systems. However, basic user data will be stored in full.
Transfer of contacts and multimedia
The most valuable piece of data for any user is the media library and the phone book. When transferring contacts, Mi Mover automatically recognizes fields and distributes numbers, email addresses and posts to the appropriate cells in the Contacts app on Xiaomi.
Photos and videos are transmitted in original quality. Metadata (date of shooting, geolocation) is also stored, allowing the Xiaomi gallery to properly sort photos by time and place, which is critical for those who keep the archive for years.
- 📸 Photos in format HEIC It can be automatically converted to a more compatible JPG save space.
- 🎵 Music files without any DRM-The protection will be carried over without problems, unlike the tracks of Apple Music.
- 📹 Video in resolution 4K It can be transmitted for longer due to the large file size.
If you have a huge archive in iCloud, make sure it’s synced with the device before you start the procedure. iPhone local storage must contain up-to-date copies of the files. Otherwise, the application may not find some of the data to transfer.
What to do with Live Photos?
Dealing with messages and call history
Porting SMS and call history is one of the most delicate tasks.The Mi Mover app can read the iOS messaging database and convert it to a format that Android understands.However, due to Apple's security limitations, the process may require additional confirmation.
The entire history of calls is transferred, including incoming, outgoing and missed, and this allows you to save communications, which is especially important for business users. MMS-Messages are also retained if they do not exceed certain size limits.
⚠️ Note: Messages from iMessage may not appear correctly unless they are sent as SMS/MMS. Recommended before the shift SIM-Disable iMessage in the iPhone settings.
In some cases, it may be necessary to manually upload correspondence through backup if the automatic method fails, but in 95% of cases, Xiaomi’s regular funds cope with this task without user intervention.
Migration of WhatsApp applications and data
The situation is more interesting with apps, because you can't just migrate apps from the App Store to Android, because they're different platforms, but Xiaomi will offer you a list of peers from Google Play Market or GetApps.
The most important question is WhatsApp. To transfer the history of WhatsApp correspondence between iOS and Android, there is now an official method: in the Mi Mover app or directly in the Xiaomi setup wizard, there will be a paragraph “Transfer WhatsApp data”.
The process requires connecting both phones to the same Wi-Fi network. Follow the on-screen instructions: scan. QR-The code that appeared on the Xiaomi screen, via the iPhone camera in the WhatsApp app.
- ✅ The history of personal and group chats is preserved.
- ✅ Passed attached photos, videos and documents.
- ✅ Profile information and privacy settings are stored.
Backups in iCloud can also be affected, so make sure the process is completed successfully before you dump an old phone.
Alternative methods and cloud services
If wired or direct wireless doesn't work, you can use cloud services. Sync through Google Photos is a great way to migrate the library. Install the app on your iPhone, enable autoload, then log in to the same account on Xiaomi.
For contacts and calendar, a Google account is perfect. Add your Google account to your iPhone settings (Settings → Mail → Accounts) and enable contact sync. On Xiaomi, just log in to that account the first time you start.
| Method | Speed. | Reliability | Best for you. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover (Wi-Fi) | Tall. | Very high. | Full cloning |
| Google Photo | Depends on the Internet. | Tall. | Photos and videos |
| Google Account | Instant. | Tall. | Contacts and calendars |
| Send Anywhere | Medium | Medium | Separate files |
Third-party applications like Send Anywhere or SHAREit can be useful for transferring individual heavy files that are stuck during the main migration, and they work on a P2P principle and do not require Internet access, only a local network.
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Use Do Not Disturb mode on both phones during transmission so that incoming calls do not interrupt the synchronization process.
Problem Solving and FAQ
Even with the best tools, there are some unexpected situations, and users often experience a 99 percent shutdown, so don't rush to reboot the devices, check if one of the smartphones is asleep, and try to reboot the app.
File format compatibility issues are solved by installing additional codecs or players from Google Play.The Android file system is more omnivorous than iOS, but some specific Apple formats may require conversion.
⚠️ Note: Two-factor authentication (2FA). If you used your phone number for confirmation codes, make sure that SIM-The card is already installed in the new Xiaomi, otherwise you will not be able to log into some accounts.
If nothing works, try the blank slate method: just move your contacts and photos through the cloud and install the apps again, which often takes less time than dealing with big data migration errors.
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The most reliable way is a combined one: Mi Mover for system and media, Google Account for contacts, manual login to important banking and social applications.