Changing a smartphone is always a mild panic, especially when it comes to the dozens of accounts we use daily.Switching to a device from Xiaomi can seem difficult because of the features of the MIUI or HyperOS shell, but modern technology allows you to make this process as painless as possible. Full data migration takes from 15 minutes to an hour if you act consistently and do not miss important stages of preparation.
In this article, we’ll explore not only standard methods, but also subtleties that users often miss when faced with password loss or two-factor authentication. You’ll learn how to keep access to banking apps, social networks and work chats without having to remember complex character combinations. The main thing is to take your time and follow the algorithm carefully so that no important account gets lost in the digital space.
Before you start, make sure that both the old and the new have sufficient battery life, preferably over 50%, and you will also need a stable Wi-Fi connection, as transferring large amounts of data over the mobile Internet can take too long or interrupt at the most inopportune moment.
Device preparation and backup
The first step should always be to carefully prepare the original device. Even if you plan to use automatic migration tools, backing up critical data will never be superfluous. On Android devices, this is done through a Google account that syncs contacts, calendar, notes and installed app lists.
Go to your old phone settings and find the account section, and it's important to check that sync is enabled for all the services you need, and people often forget about Google Photos or Google Drive, which can store important documents or rare photos.
- 📱 Make sure your old phone is fully synced to your Google account.
- 🔋 Charge both smartphones to a minimum of 60-70% before the beginning of the procedure.
- 📶 Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network to speed up data transfers.
- 🔒 Remember passwords from the main mailboxes in case of manual authorization.
If you’re moving from an iPhone, you’ll need a Move to iOS app or cloud services, but in the context of the Xiaomi ecosystem, we’ll focus on Android-Android bundle or manual tuning. For owners of older Xiaomi with a MIUI shell, the process will be the most native and understandable.
☑️ Ready for transfer
Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration
The most effective tool for Xiaomi app owners is the built-in Mi Mover app, which allows you to transfer not only contacts and photos, but also the applications themselves along with their data, which eliminates the need to re-authenticate in each service, which is especially true for instant messengers and social networks.
Launch the app on your new device and select the Receiver role. On your old phone, also open Mi Mover (if not, download from Google Play or GetApps) and click Sender. Scan QR-The new phone’s camera will create a secure connection between devices.
⚠️ Note: When transferring data via Mi Mover, some banking applications may require reauthorization for security reasons, even if the programs themselves are ported.
Once the connection is established, the system will suggest selecting data categories to transfer. It is recommended that you select all items, including system settings, so that the new phone becomes a full copy of the old one. The process can take time depending on the volume of your files, but it is highly undesirable to interrupt it.
What to do if the Mi Mover is frozen?
Setting up a Google account on the new Xiaomi
The foundation of any Android system is a Google account, without which you can not fully use your smartphone, download applications from the Play Market and restore previously purchased content, the first time you turn on a new Xiaomi system will suggest entering data or creating a new profile.
Enter the same email address that was used on the previous device, and immediately after logging in, you'll start to load the background list of apps, passwords from Google Password Manager, and Wi-Fi network settings, and this is one of the most important steps that you can't ignore.
If you have two-factor protection enabled, make sure you have access to your phone number or backup codes.In some cases, Google's security system may block the sign-in from a new device, deeming it suspicious, so a confirmation via SMS or notification on an old phone will be mandatory.
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Use Google Password Manager to automatically fill in passwords in apps – this will save you hours of time when you set up a new device.
Manual Setup and Synchronization of Xiaomi Accounts
Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers its own cloud service, Mi Cloud, which is deeply integrated into the shell. Having a Mi Account allows you not only to track the device in the event of a loss, but also to synchronize the gallery, voice recorder, notes and even theme of the design.
To sign in, go to Settings → Mi Account. If you don’t already have an account, you can create it right in this menu using your phone number or email, which is required for the Device Search function and some system services to work.
| Type of data | Synchronization of Google | Synchronization of Mi Cloud | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Automatically. | Optionally. | |
| Photos | Google Photo | Mi Gallery | By choice. |
| Wi-Fi passwords | Yes. | No. | |
| Notes | Google Keep | MIUI notes | Depends on the app. |
| Themes and wallpaper | No. | Yes. | Mi Cloud |
It is important to understand the difference between these services: Local data, such as voice recorder records or specific system settings, are often stored only in the Mi Cloud, whereas universal data is better stored in Google.
Transfer of messengers and banking applications
Messengers like Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber deserve special attention. Unlike regular apps, they store their correspondence history locally or in their clouds, and simply migrating an apk file won’t help. It’s critical for WhatsApp to back up chats in Google Drive on an old phone before switching.
When you install WhatsApp on the new Xiaomi, the app will detect the backup in the cloud and prompt you to restore your message history. Make sure you use the same phone number and the same Google account.
⚠️ Note: Banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff, Alpha, etc.) require mandatory re-authorization. SIM-A card with a linked number is installed in a new phone to receive SMS codes.
For Telegram, it’s easier to type in a phone number and all chats (except secret ones) will be downloaded from the server, but if you’ve used local folders or custom settings, you’ll have to move them separately or through the data export function if it’s available in your version of the client.
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Messengers require an individual approach: WhatsApp depends on Google Drive, Telegram – on the server, and banking applications always require manual verification by SMS.
Solving Frequent Problems When Transferring Accounts
There may be technical difficulties in migrating, such as a new phone may not see the old phone on the Mi Mover list of available devices, in which case try temporarily shutting down mobile internet on both devices, leaving only Wi-Fi, or restarting the router.
Another common problem is the contact sync error: If no contacts appear after you log in to your Google account, check in the sync settings to check if the tick is in front of the Contacts box, sometimes requiring you to manually click the Sync button in your account profile.
- 🔄 Account login error: check the correct password and date/time on the device.
- 📉 Slow Transfer: Close background applications and get closer to the router.
- ❌ Application not installed: check for free space in the phone memory.
If neither method works, you may need to reset your network settings or, in extreme cases, completely reset the new device to the factory settings with a repeat of the procedure.