Buying a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting moment, but it is often overshadowed by the fear of losing accumulated over the years information. Users are rightly worried about how to transfer from one Xiaomi to another contacts, photos, correspondence in messengers and system settings. Fortunately, the ecosystem of MIUI and HyperOS offers powerful built-in tools that make this process as automated and safe as possible even for inexperienced users.
There are several proven migration methods, each with its own advantages depending on the status of the old device and the amount of files transferred. You can use a specialized Mi Mover application, synchronization via Mi Cloud or a classic connection over the Internet. USB-The choice of the specific method depends on whether the old phone is working, whether there is access to Wi-Fi and how quickly you need to complete the procedure.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the options available, focusing on the nuances of data transfer between different versions of the operating system, how to avoid common errors, what to do if the process stalls, and how to properly prepare both devices for the procedure.
Preparation of devices before the migration
Before you start copying files directly, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps on both smartphones. Ignoring this step can lead to interruption of the process or damage to files. First of all, make sure that the battery charge on both devices is at least 50-60%, and ideally connect them to power sources, as active transmission of large amounts of data over Wi-Fi Direct significantly consumes energy.
On the old device, it is recommended to free up space by removing obviously unnecessary garbage, app cache and duplicate photos, this will reduce the transmission time and reduce the risk of errors when writing on the new phone. Also check the availability of free space on the receiving device: the amount of available memory should exceed the size of the transmitted data with a margin of 10-15%.
☑️ Checklist for transfer preparations
An important step is to update the system application Mi Mover on both gadgets to the current version through the GetApps store or Google Play. Older versions of the program may not work properly with new file formats or security protocols embedded in fresh shells. MIUI 14 or HyperOS. If the old phone has a very ancient version of Android installed, you may have to download the installation APK-file manually through the built-in browser.
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Back up important documents to an external medium before any manipulations are initiated, which is insurance against an unforeseen system failure during migration.
Using the Mi Mover application for wireless transfer
The most effective and popular way to transfer almost all data from one Xiaomi to another is using the Mi Mover application, which works on the principle of creating a local Wi-Fi network between two devices, which ensures high transfer speeds without using Internet traffic.
The process starts with running the program on both devices. On the new smartphone, you need to select the role of "I am the recipient" (or "New phone"), after which the device will create an access point. On the old gadget, you select the role of "I am the sender" (or "Old phone"), and in the list of Wi-Fi networks that appears, you need to find the network created by the new phone and connect to it. The password is usually displayed on the screen of the receiving device.
Once the connection is established, the interface will suggest selecting data categories to copy.
- 📱 System data: contacts, messages (SMS/MMS), call log, notes, alarm clocks and system settings.
- 📷 Multimedia: Photos, Videos, Audio Records and Documents from Internal Memory.
- 📲 Annexes: themselves APK-Program files and, in some cases, their data (depending on the Android version and access rights).
- 🏠 Desktop settings: the location of icons, widgets and theme design.
⚠️ Note: When you port apps, your data (logins, game progress, correspondence) may not be saved if the app does not support cloud sync or if the Android versions on your devices are very different. For WhatsApp and Telegram, use their built-in backup features.
After selecting categories, click the "Send" button. The transfer speed depends on the number of files and the quality of the Wi-Fi antennas in smartphones. During the process, the screens may go out, but it is not recommended to interrupt the connection or switch to other tasks to avoid desynchronization of data packets.
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Mi Mover is a native solution that provides the best compatibility between Xiaomi devices, allowing folder structure and system settings to be cloned one-to-one.
Comparison of data transfer methods
The choice of migration method often depends on the specific situation: data volume, Internet speed and technical health of the old phone. Below is a comparative table of the main ways to determine the best option for your case.
| Method | Transmission speed | The need for a PC | Transfer of system settings | Internet dependency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | High (Wi-Fi Direct) | No. | Complete. | Not required |
| Mi Cloud | Medium (depending on the tariff) | No. | Partial | Mandatory. |
| Google Account | Low/Mediocre | No. | Minimum | Mandatory. |
| USB-cable + PC | High (depends on USB) | Yes. | No (files only) | Not required |
As you can see from the table, Mi Mover is a leader in functionality, because it allows you to transfer more than just files, but the configuration of the system. The method using a computer is good for creating archival copies of heavy video files, but it will not help to keep the icons on the desktop. Cloud methods are convenient because they do not require both phones at hand at the same time.
If you are moving from a very old Android 5 or 6 device, Mi Mover may not work smoothly, and in such cases it is better to break the process into stages: sync contacts and calendar through a Google account, and manually transfer photos and documents through a cable or file manager.
Sync with Mi Cloud and Google Account
The alternative to direct transfer is to use cloud storage. This is a great option if the old phone has already been sold, lost or broken, but it has been synchronized. To work with the Xiaomi ecosystem, you will need a Mi Account account. Go to the settings of the old phone, select "Mi Account", then "Sync" and make sure that the switches opposite contacts, messages, notes and galleries are active.
On the new device, you just need to log in to the same Mi Account, and it automatically prompts you to recover data from the cloud, and the same thing works with Google: contacts, emails and data from Google Photos will be restored immediately after you enter your username and password when you first set up your smartphone, which is the basic level that ensures that the most important information is safe.
What to do if the cloud is out of place?
It’s important to understand the difference: Mi Cloud stores backups of phone settings, call lists and SMS that Google often ignores, so it’s better to use a bundle of both services to fully clone the experience: Google for apps and photos, Mi Cloud for system settings and call history.
Transferring data through a computer and USB-cable
A classic method that never fails when to flip gigabytes of video and photos: connect an old phone to your computer, select file transfer mode (MTP) in notifications, copy the DCIM folders (camera photos and videos), Pictures, Download and Music to your PC hard drive.
Then plug in the new Xiaomi. Unlike older models, modern smartphones may require unlocking the screen or confirming permission to access data for your computer. Once connected, simply drag and drop the saved folders into the internal memory of the new device, keeping the directory structure in place so that the media files are displayed correctly in the gallery.
This method also allows you to manually transfer messenger files if the automatic transfer did not work. For example, folders with WhatsApp or Viber attachments often lie at the root of internal memory or in the Android/media folder. By copying them, you save your download history, although the correspondence itself may not be restored without an internal backup of the application.
⚠️ Warning: When copying through cable, never remove the device dramatically.Use secure extraction in your computer's operating system to avoid file system damage and data loss.
Nuances of data transfer of messengers and applications
Messengers deserve special attention, as they store correspondence in secure databases. WhatsApp and Telegram require a personal approach. In Telegram, all messages are stored on the server, so just enter the phone number on a new device and all chats will appear automatically.
WhatsApp is a bit more complicated. Before you transfer it to your old phone, you go to Settings → Chats → Backup and click “Create a Backup.” It’s important that it’s saved to Google Drive. When you install the app on your new phone, the system will find that copy and suggest you restore your correspondence history. Without this step, you’ll get a “clean” messenger.
Banking applications and government services (government services, banks) do not carry authorization data for security purposes, but will have to be reconfigured to enter logins, passwords and confirm logins via SMS or push notification on another device, a normal security practice that cannot be circumvented by software transfer methods.
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End-to-end encrypted messengers (Signal, secret chats) are not portable through Mi Mover, but you need to make a local backup inside the application itself before changing your phone.