Changing a smartphone is always an exciting process, coupled not only with the joy of a new gadget, but also with the fear of losing important data. Especially often users face difficulties when switching between devices from different manufacturers, for example, when you need to transfer information from Sony Xperia to a modern device from Xiaomi. Fortunately, the Android ecosystem allows you to do this as quickly and safely as possible using built-in tools or third-party utilities.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available data migration methods, from Google’s cloud services to the specialized Mi Mover app, how to save folder structure, call history, and even desktop icon placement, and the right approach to this process will save you hours of manual setup.
Before you start, make sure both devices are at least 60-70% charged. The process of transferring large amounts of data, such as 4K videos or photo libraries, can be energy-intensive. Also check for a stable Wi-Fi connection if you plan to use cloud-based sync methods.
Preparing Sony Xperia for data transfer
The first step is to carefully prepare your old Sony smartphone, and many users forget that Sony devices often have an extra shell and specific services that can interfere with the correct copying of data, free up space and structure files.
Go to the storage settings and analyze which applications you really need. Often, old devices accumulate cache and unnecessary files that will only slow down the transfer process, delete the excess to speed up the system when you create a backup.
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Before you start porting, be sure to check the Android version on both devices.If Sony has a very old version installed (below Android 6.0), some modern porting methods may not work properly.
A crucial step is to check your Google account, and make sure your Sony Xperia is logged in to the same Google account you plan to use on the new Xiaomi, which is the key to reconnecting your contacts, calendar and installed app list.
- 📱 Check the amount of free memory on both devices.
- 🔋 Charge your smartphone batteries to at least 70%.
- 📶 Make sure you have a stable Wi-Fi connection.
- 🔒 Remember passwords from important accounts and apps.
Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration
The most effective and recommended way to transfer data is to use the proprietary application Mi Mover. This utility is designed specifically for the transition to Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones and allows you to transfer data directly over Wi-Fi, bypassing the Internet channel.
To get started, you'll need to install the Mi Mover app on both devices. On the new Xiaomi, it's often built into the system and it's in the Tools folder. On Sony, you'll need to download it. APK-file or find the application in the Google Play Store, if the manufacturer has placed it there.
☑️ Algorithms for Mi Mover
When you start the app, select the Old Phone role on your old phone, and the New Phone on the new Xiaomi. QR-This will create a direct Wi-Fi hotspot between the devices.
The Mi Mover interface allows you to select specific types of data to transfer, and you can tick contacts, messages, call history, images, music, videos, and even installed applications, and it will go much faster than Bluetooth.
⚠️ Note: When you transfer applications through Mi Mover, only installation files can be copied. Authorization within some banking applications or messengers (such as WhatsApp) may require re-entry for security reasons.
Sync with Google Account and Cloud
The classic method that works seamlessly on any Android device is sync through Google services, ideal for those who want to keep contacts, notes and calendar intact, regardless of the phone model.
On a Sony device, go to the settings, look for Accounts or Users and Accounts. Select your Google account and make sure the switches opposite Contacts, Calendar and Google Notes are activated. Press the sync button to let the data go to the cloud.
When you first turn on the new Xiaomi, the system will offer to restore data from Google backup. If you have already set up your phone, you can add an account manually through Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google. Once you enter the password, the data will begin to load automatically.
What to do with photos in Google Photos?
However, you should consider the limitations of Google's free storage, which is 15GB. If you have a lot of high-resolution video, there may not be enough space, in which case you should use local porting via Mi Mover or your computer.
Comparison of data transfer methods
The choice of method depends on your priorities: speed, data volume or convenience. Below is a table that will help you determine the best way to migrate from Sony to Xiaomi.
| Method | Speed. | We need the Internet. | What's transferable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Tall. | No. | All (including annexes) |
| Google Account | Medium | Yes. | Contacts, calendar, settings |
| Google Photo | Depends on the network. | Yes. | Photos and videos only |
| Bluetooth | Very low. | No. | Separate files |
As you can see from the comparison, Mi Mover is the most versatile solution, as it does not depend on the speed of your ISP and allows you to throw almost all the contents of memory.
Using Bluetooth in 2026 to carry gigabytes of data is impractical because of the extremely low transfer speed, a method reserved only for the emergency transfer of a pair of contacts or documents.
Hand-over of multimedia and files
Sometimes automatic systems fail or miss certain folders, especially files created by third-party applications on Sony, and manual copying through a computer or an integrated file manager can help.
Connect both smartphones to your computer through USB-On the phone screen, select file transfer mode (MTP). Now you can just copy the folders. DCIM (Camera, Pictures, Download and Music from Sony disc and paste them into the respective directories on Xiaomi.
For more advanced users, use the Explorer app on Xiaomi itself, which can work over the network. In the application, select Remote Management or FTP access, so that Sony can go to Xiaomi memory and transfer files directly, without wires.
Some specific image or video formats with Sony may require additional codecs to play on Xiaomi, although current versions of MIUI and HyperOS support most popular formats.
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Manual transfer through USB-cable and PC are the most reliable way to move large amounts of data (over 50 GB), as it does not depend on the stability of a wireless connection.
Set up a new Xiaomi after the migration
Once the data is successfully transferred, the fine-tuning phase begins: the interface of MIUI or HyperOS on Xiaomi is different from pure Android, which is often used on Sony, so it will take some time to adapt.
First, check your messages and calls. If you've been migrating your SMS history, make sure they're displayed correctly. Messengers like WhatsApp and Telegram will require separate phone number authorization, even if the app itself has been copied.
It is recommended to immediately set up biometric protection. go through the procedure of scanning the face and fingerprints in the Settings menu → Passwords and security. This will ensure the protection of your data just transferred.
⚠️ Note: After transferring data, do not delete anything from your old Sony phone during the period of time. 2-3 Make sure all contacts, photos and passwords work correctly on the new device before cleaning the old gadget.
Xiaomi’s new security system can by default limit some of the actions of apps you’ve moved, go through the installed software list and give you the necessary access to the camera, microphone and geolocation.