Changing the ecosystem from Android to iOS is always an exciting process, often accompanied by fear of losing important data. Xiaomi smartphone owners who decide to switch to the iPhone are faced with the question: how to safely transfer all contacts, photos and correspondence? Fortunately, modern technology allows you to do this as painless as possible using official tools from Apple.
The migration process requires careful preparation of both devices, as operating systems are used to make the migration process. MIUI And iOS has different file structures, and doing the wrong thing can leave some of the data on the old phone or get damaged. USB-The cable will not work due to the closure of the file system Apple.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the transition steps, including using a special migration app, transferring messengers and settings after activation, and learn about the nuances that are often missed when you first change the platform, and you can keep your entire digital life intact.
Preparation of devices before the migration
Before you start any transfer processes, you need to do basic training for both smartphones, a critical step that is often ignored, leading to errors in the middle of the process, make sure that both devices are charged at least 50% of the battery, and ideally connect them to a power source.
On Xiaomi, you should check the availability of space and the relevance of the Android version. You also need to turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, since the data will be transmitted wirelessly. On the new iPhone, you must reset to factory settings if it was already in use to start the initial setup procedure again.
⚠️ Note: Do not interrupt the data transfer process or switch between apps on smartphones during migration.This can damage the contact database or stop downloading.
The key is to update the Move to iOS app on your old phone. If you have an older version of the program installed, it may not work properly with the new iOS security protocols.
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Before you start the transfer, turn off any aggressive power saving modes on Xiaomi that can block the operation of Wi-Fi in the background.
Use of the Move app to iOS
The main tool for the transition is Apple’s official app, Move to iOS, which is available for free on the Google Play Store and is specifically designed to securely transfer content between platforms.
The process starts with the new iPhone in the setup phase, and when you reach the Apps and Data screen, you select the option “Move data from Android.” The screen will show a six-digit or ten-digit code that you will need to enter on the Xiaomi phone, and after entering the code, the devices will establish a connection.
- 📲 Download the “Move to iOS” app from Google Play to your Xiaomi.
- 🔌 Connect both smartphones to the charger for power stability.
- 📶 Make sure that Xiaomi has Wi-Fi enabled, even if it’s not connected to the network.
- 🔢 Enter the code displayed on the iPhone screen in the appropriate field on Android.
Once you have established the connection, the system will suggest you choose which content you want to transfer, and you can choose contacts, message history, photos and videos from the gallery, as well as free apps that are available in the App Store, which can take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of data.
☑️ Pre-launch checklist
Transfer WhatsApp and other messengers
The transfer of WhatsApp history is the most important information for most users, which was previously a very complicated process, but now Apple and WhatsApp provide an official tool for migrating chat history from Android to iOS without data loss.
It is important to understand that this requires the WhatsApp app version 2.22.7.74 or later on an Android device, and the iPhone must have iOS 15.5 or later installed, the process is integrated directly into the Move to iOS app, so no separate software is required.
⚠️ Note: WhatsApp call history is not transferred between platforms due to operating system architecture limitations, only text messages and media inside chats will be saved.
When selecting data to transfer in the migration application, make sure that the checkmark is in front of WhatsApp.The system will back up the chats in a special format that will be recognized when you install the application on the new device. After you have completed setting up your iPhone and installing WhatsApp from the App Store, you will be asked to scan. QR-code the camera of the old phone to complete synchronization.
What to do if the chat rooms do not appear?
Working with multimedia and cloud services
Photos and videos take up the lion's share of smartphone memory. If you've used Google Photos on Xiaomi, the easiest way is to simply install the app on your iPhone and log in to your account. All your pictures are synced automatically, taking up minimal space on the device thanks to cloud storage.
For users who prefer local storage or Xiaomi Cloud, the situation is more complicated. Direct transfer of albums from the Xiaomi cloud to iCloud is not possible with standard means. You will first have to upload photos to your computer, and then sync them with your iPhone via iTunes (on Windows) or Finder (on macOS).
Music and other files also require attention. DRM-Secure music from services like Yandex.Music or Spotify are not transferred as files, but your playlists will be saved when you log in to acc!unt on a new device. mp3-Files can be transferred through the same cloud storage or cable utilities.
| Type of data | Transfer method | Quality maintained | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Move to iOS / Google Account | Yes. | Synchronization is instantaneous |
| Photo/Video | Move to iOS / Google Photo | Yeah (original) | It takes a lot of time. |
| Calendar | Google Account | Yes. | You need to add an account to your settings |
| Files. | Cloud/PC | Yes. | Depends on the format. |
Synchronization of accounts and mail
After you first set up, you need to manually add your accounts. iOS works great with Google services. Go to Settings → Mail → Accounts → Add an account and select the Google logo. By entering your username and password, you automatically access your email, contacts, calendar and notes.
For users of corporate email or other services (Mail.ru, Yandex, iCloud), the procedure is similar. iOS will offer you to choose which data to sync: only mail or also contacts and calendars, it is recommended to include all items for full operation.
Two-factor authentication is a special focus if you change your phone number or lose access to the phone. SIM-Xiaomi map,.codes from authentication apps may become unavailable.Export codes from Google Authenticator in advance or make sure you have backup recovery codes for important services.
System setting and search for analogues of applications
Moving from MIUI to iOS is also a change in interface logic, not a back button, but a swipe-based one, and it can be uncomfortable at first, but it builds muscle memory after a couple of days.
Many popular apps have versions for both platforms, but their functionality may differ. For example, widgets in iOS are implemented differently than in Android 12/13. You will have to reconfigure the desktop and widget groups. Some Xiaomi system features, such as recording calls or a second space, are missing or implemented differently in iOS.
- 📱 Replace the standard call with a Google app if you’re used to the Android interface.
- 🎵 Install Yandex.Music or Spotify to access your media library.
- 🗺️ Google Maps navigation works better in iOS than on Android.
- 🛡️ Install an antivirus or security if you are used to deep cleaning the system.
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iOS does not allow you to install applications from third-party sources (APK-files) as free as Android. All programs must be downloaded through the App Store, which guarantees security but limits customization options.
Frequent problems and their solution
The migration process can be technically challenging, and most often users are faced with a message saying “Data failed to move” or a certain percentage of the process hanging, usually due to unstable Wi-Fi connection or energy saving.
If it's interrupted, don't panic. The data on the old phone is intact. You need to reset the network settings on your iPhone, reboot both devices, and try to start the process again. Make sure that the iPhone doesn't have system updates that can block migration.
⚠️ Attention: If you are using VPN On Xiaomi, be sure to turn it off before the transfer starts. VPN can redirect traffic and block direct connection between devices on the local network.
If you have problems with specific apps that aren’t installed automatically, find them manually in the App Store.Sometimes the automatic installer can’t download the app if it’s not available in your new Apple ID region or requires you to change your account region.