Buying a new smartphone is always accompanied by a pleasant emotion, but also a certain stress associated with data transfer. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices are in a better position thanks to the deeply integrated ecosystem of MIUI and HyperOS. The migration process here is debugged for years and avoids manual installation of dozens of applications.
There are several proven ways to migrate Xiaomi settings, each with its own features: you can use cloud services, local backups or specialized utilities for direct data transfer over Wi-Fi. The choice of the specific method depends on the condition of your old device and the availability of Internet access.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the options available, with a focus on the nuances of working with Mi Account and Google Drive. Proper preparation before starting the procedure ensures that no important contact, photo or password from Wi-Fi is lost during the transition.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before running any synchronization tools, both smartphones need to be trained in basics, a critical step that is often ignored, leading to mid-process errors or connection interruptions, and make sure that both devices are charged at least 60-70%, as active transmission of large amounts of data can be a significant energy drain.
Both smartphones should have a stable Internet connection, preferably via a Wi-Fi network with a high rate of return. If you plan to use local transmission without Internet, make sure that both devices have Bluetooth and geolocation modules enabled, as they are used to detect gadgets.
- 🔋 Check the space: There should be more free space on the new phone than the old backup weighs.
- 🔒 Unlock screens: During pairing, both devices must be active and unlocked.
- 📶 Update the system: check for updates in the Settings menu → About the phone and install the latest available version of the software.
Special attention should be paid to accounts. If you change your phone within the Xiaomi ecosystem, knowing the password from Mi Account is a must. Without authorization, recovering some system settings and voice recorder data may not be possible.
⚠️ Warning: Do not start the transfer process if one of the devices is in "Energy Saving" mode, which can cause the Wi-Fi Direct connection to break down at the most inopportune time.
Using the Mi Mover app for fast transfer
The most efficient and quick way to transfer Xiaomi settings to a new phone is to use the Mi Mover app, which is built into the system and does not require any third-party software, and works on the principle of creating a secure communication channel between two devices.
To start the process, open the app on both smartphones. On the new device, select Receiver and on the old device, Sender. Scan. QR-code or manually entering the confirmation code will start the connection process.
☑️ Preparation for Mi Mover operation
The main advantage of this method is the ability to select specific categories of data, you can transfer not only contacts and messages, but also system settings, including the location of icons on the desktop, passwords from Wi-Fi networks and even call history.
The data transfer speeds over Mi Mover are significantly higher than those over Bluetooth or cloud services, as it uses a direct Wi-Fi connection. However, it is worth remembering that some system applications may not migrate correctly if the Android versions on devices are very different.
| Type of data | Transmission speed | Requirements | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact/SMS | Instantly. | Bluetooth/Wi-Fi | Tall. |
| Photo/Video | Tall. | Wi-Fi Direct | Tall. |
| Annexes | Medium | Internet (APK) | Medium |
| System settings | Instantly. | Mi Account | Tall. |
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If the transfer process is 99 percent frozen, don't panic, which often means that the system completes file indexing, and wait 5-10 minutes before you force the application to close.
Sync with Mi Cloud and Google account
Cloud technology allows you to move Xiaomi settings without the physical proximity of the old and new phone, ideal if your previous device crashed, lost or simply unavailable at the moment, with two services playing the main role: Mi Cloud and Google One.
When using Mi Cloud, data is stored on the company's servers. To activate sync, go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud. Here you can choose which data you want to save: gallery, contacts, notes, voice recorder and system settings. Once you log in to the same account on the new device, all data will automatically be pulled up when you have the Internet.
The Google account is responsible for another piece of data: Chrome browser history, saved passwords, contacts (if not tied to a SIM or phone) and a list of installed apps. When you first set up a new Xiaomi smartphone, the system will offer to restore data from the backup of Google Drive.
- ☁️ Mi Cloud: ideal for system settings, voice recorder and themes MIUI.
- 📧 Google Account: Required for Contacts, Calendar, and App Listing.
- 🔄 Autoboot: Enable photo sync in Google Photos for instant access to snapshots.
⚠️ Warning: Free space is limited (usually 5GB) if you plan to store backup photos and videos there, you may need to expand the tariff or clean up the cloud regularly.
Local backup and recovery
For users who don’t trust cloud storage or have traffic restrictions, there is a local backup method that allows you to create a full copy of settings and data directly in the device’s memory or on the device. SD-This is the most reliable way to move Xiaomi settings if the Internet is unstable.
To create a backup, go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore. Here you can choose to create a copy on your device. The system will suggest selecting categories: system settings, applications and their data, multimedia. Once you create the backup file, it will be saved to the hidden folder of the system.
Where is the backup file stored?
To recover data on a new device, you need to put the backup file in a similar directory, and then the Restore button will appear in the recovery menu. It is important to note that this method works best when switching between devices with the same or very similar version of the MIUI shell.
Using an external storage device through OTG-cable makes it easy to transfer heavy backup files, which is especially true if you want to move not only the settings, but also the messenger cache, which can take several gigabytes.
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Local backup is the only way to migrate application data (such as game progress or chats) that doesn’t support cloud sync.
Data transfer WhatsApp and messengers
The issue of transferring correspondence in messengers deserves special attention, since standard synchronization methods often affect only the list of contacts, but not the history of messages. WhatsApp and Telegram have their own mechanisms that must be activated in advance.
WhatsApp has a history of correspondence stored either in Google Drive (for Android) or locally. Before resetting or replacing your phone, make sure to back up inside the app: Settings → Chats → Backup Chats → Backup. Make sure the copy is created on Google Drive, not just locally.
When you install WhatsApp on a new phone and type in the same number, the system will automatically detect the backup in the cloud and prompt you to restore it. For Telegram, the process is even easier, since the entire history is stored on the messenger servers, and it is enough to simply log in.
- 💬 WhatsApp: Requires a mandatory backup on Google Drive before changing your device.
- ✈️ Telegram: syncs everything automatically, except secret chats.
- 💾 Viber: Uses its own cloud backup that needs to be manually activated.
Solving Common Problems in Transfer
Despite the fact that processes are fine, users can encounter errors. Often the problem lies in the incompatibility of Android versions or lack of access rights. If Mi Mover can not see the device, try to disable VPN and antivirus, which can block local network connection.
If after recovery settings are lost or applications are not working correctly, it is recommended to clean the cache of the relevant services. Sometimes it helps to re-authorize in Mi Account with a full update of data.
⚠️ Note: When transferring data from iPhone to Xiaomi through the application “Move to iOS” (or similar from Xiaomi) may not transfer paid applications and purchases in games, as the ecosystems of iOS and Android are separated.
If you encounter a “Not enough space” error when using the cloud, check to see if files are duplicated. Often old backups take up space that is needed for new data. Deleting archive backups in Mi Cloud or Google Drive can fix the problem.