Buying a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting event, but it is often overshadowed by the prospect of a long-term setup and transfer of information. Device owners who move from other brands to the MIUI or HyperOS platform face the need to save important contacts, correspondence and photos. Fortunately, modern technology allows you to perform this procedure as quickly and without loss, using the built-in tools of the ecosystem.
The migration process depends on the version of the operating system on the old device and the model of the new Xiaomi gadget. The most effective way is to use a specialized application Mi Mover, which is preinstalled on all current models of the brand. However, there are alternative methods, such as synchronization through a Google account or manual file transfer, which can be useful in specific situations.
Before any manipulations, you need to make sure that both devices are at least 60% charged and connected to a stable Wi-Fi network. Interrupting the process during the copying phase of large amounts of data can lead to file damage or system failure. In this article, we will discuss all the options available in detail so that you can choose the best one for your case.
⚠️ Note: Before starting data transfer, it is strongly recommended to back up important information to an external medium or to the cloud in case of unforeseen software failures.
Preparing devices for data migration
The success of the data transfer operation depends on the quality of the pre-preparedness of both smartphones. The first step is to clean the memory of the old device from unnecessary debris, app cache and duplicate photos, which will significantly speed up the copying process. It is also worth checking for updates to the operating system on both devices, as new security patches often contain improvements to data transfer protocols.
It is important to ensure a stable connection between devices. If you plan to use the wireless method, make sure that both phones are connected to the same Wi-Fi network with good data rates. In some cases, the router can restrict local traffic between devices, so the most reliable way is to create an access point directly on a new Xiaomi smartphone.
Be sure to prepare the accounts to be used on the new device in advance, and login to your primary Google account must be done on both devices if you plan to use cloud sync. Passwords from important services, such as banking applications or instant messengers, it is better to restore in advance, so as not to be blocked by security systems when entering from a new one. IP-address.
Check for space on Xiaomi's new smartphone, and the amount of memory you have available should exceed the amount of data you plan to transfer, and if there's not enough space, you can temporarily move some of the files to your memory card or computer, and then return them back to your memory card or computer after the migration is complete.
Using the Mi Mover app for fast transfer
Mi Mover is a regular Xiaomi tool designed specifically for seamless migration of users from other platforms, allowing you to transfer contacts, messages, call history, photos, videos, music and even installed applications along with their data. The main advantage of the method is the ability to work without Internet access, since the application creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices.
To get started, run the app on both devices. On the new Xiaomi smartphone, select Receiver, and on the old Android device, Sender. If the old phone doesn't have an embedded app, you can download it from Google Play or scan it. QR-code that will appear on the screen of the new device. QR-code PIN-The code will open the menu of selecting data categories.
☑️ Checklist before Mi Mover launch
When selecting files, the system will automatically analyze the contents of the old phone and suggest migrating compatible data. Please note that some system settings and passwords from Wi-Fi networks may not be migrated due to Android security limitations. Once confirmed, the copying process will begin, the progress of which is displayed in real time.
⚠️ Warning: Do not switch to other apps or lock the screen while Mi Mover is running, as this may break the connection and interrupt file transfers.
The speed of transfer depends on the amount of data and the quality of the wireless module. Large video files can be copied longer, but in general the method shows high efficiency. Once the process is completed, the new phone will offer to install the missing applications from Google Play, if they were ported as installation packages.
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Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s native tool that provides the highest speed and compatibility when switching to MIUI/HyperOS without using the Internet.
Synchronization through Google account
A classic method that works on any Android device, regardless of brand, is to store basic user data (contacts, calendar, notes, system settings) in the Google cloud. When you first turn on a new Xiaomi smartphone, you just need to enter your account information, and the system will automatically prompt you to restore a backup.
On an older device, you need to go to the settings and select the “Google” or “Accounts” section. Make sure that sync is enabled for all the necessary items: Contacts, Calendar, Chrome, Drive, etc. To create a full copy of the system, including the list of installed applications and their location on the desktop, go to the “Backup” section and click “Start Copy”.
It doesn't save photos and videos in full unless you have an extra volume on Google One, because the standard 15GB limit may not be enough, and it doesn't transfer files from internal memory, such as downloaded documents, music or files from messengers, unless they are in special folders that need to be synced.
| Type of data | Google's method | Mi Mover Method | Manual method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts and Calendar | Automatically. | Yes. | File.vcf |
| Photos and videos | Google Photos (limit 15GB) | Yes (full quality) | Copying folders |
| Annexes | List and data (partially) | APK files | Only APK. |
| Wi-Fi passwords | Yes (via account) | Yes. | No. |
| Transmission speed | Depends on the Internet. | High (locally) | Medium |
Once you log in to your account on the new Xiaomi, the recovery process can take anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours, depending on the speed of the Internet connection and the amount of data, and the system will download the necessary applications from the Play Market and arrange them in the same order as on the old phone.
Manual transfer of multimedia and documents
Sometimes automatic systems fail or the user wants to control every byte that is transferred. In such cases, a manual method of copying files through a computer or OTG cable is indispensable. This method is ideal for transferring heavy video archives, music collections and documents that are not synchronized by cloud services.
Use a quality USB cable to connect to your computer. On your phone in Connection Mode, select File Transfer (MTP). On your computer, open the device's internal memory and copy the necessary folders such as DCIM (camera photos and videos), Download (downloads), Documents and Music. Then connect the new Xiaomi and move the files to the appropriate directories.
What to do if your computer can’t see your phone?
Using a USB-C to USB-C cable to connect two phones directly (without a computer), the process can be more complicated, as it requires support for the OTG protocol on both devices and a file manager that can work with external drives. The built-in MIUI conductor allows you to open connected devices, but the stability of the work varies from model to model.
It's important to remember the structure of folders in Android. Pictures are better placed in DCIM/Camera so that the gallery can see them immediately, and music in the Music folder. Chaotic file placement will lead to the fact that media players and galleries can not index them, and you have to search through the file manager.
⚠️ Warning: When manually copying through your computer, always use the Safe Device Removal feature before disabling the cable to avoid file system damage or data loss.
Transfer of messages and call history
One of the most challenging tasks is to carry the history of SMS and call logs, as standard Android tools often do not allow you to export this data in a convenient format.The Mi Mover application does this best by storing not only the text of messages, but also nested MMS, as well as time stamps.
If you use Google’s method, you need to install Google SMS Restore or similar, which integrates into your backup system, to save SMS, but on newer versions of Android, this feature is often built-in, and when you first set up a new phone, the system will ask if you want to recover messages from the cloud.
For instant messenger users, the situation is different: WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber correspondence history is stored separately from system SMS. WhatsApp is critical to back up Google Drive on an old phone before switching. When you install the app on a new Xiaomi and log in to the same phone number, the program itself will offer to restore chat history from the cloud.
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To transfer your call history without losing records, use the Google Contacts app on your old phone and make sure the sync is complete before logging in to your new smartphone.
In some cases, especially when switching from very old versions of Android, the system is not the same. SMS This may not be correctly displayed in the new message interface Xiaomi, in which case it is recommended to use third-party utilities for export. SMS into XML-format that can then be imported on the new device.
Solving problems and errors during transfer
Despite the fact that processes are fine, users can encounter errors, and one of the most common problems is interrupting Wi-Fi Direct when using the Mi Mover. This often happens if one of the devices is power-saving, which aggressively turns off the wireless modules. Solution: turn off the energy savings during the transfer.
Another common issue is the lack of space on the new device, which means that the system can start copying but stop halfway, in which case you have to start over by deleting some of the unnecessary files or applications on the target device, and always leave a margin of space at least 10-15% of the amount of data you copy.
If after the transfer contacts are displayed twice (from the phone and from the SIM-Go to the Contacts settings, select Display Settings, and select your Google account or phone to remove duplicates, and there may be a situation where apps don’t open, in which case they need to be reauthorized or updated via the Play Market.
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Most transfer errors are due to an unstable connection or memory deficit, so controlling these two parameters solves 90% of the problems.