Buying a new Xiaomi smartphone is always a thrill, but the joy of buying it can cloud the need to customize the device from scratch. Users need to restore contacts, install apps, return photos and recreate the usual desktop structure. Fortunately, the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem provides powerful tools to automate this process, avoiding manual file copying.
There are several proven ways to migrate information, each with its own advantages depending on the amount of data and the condition of the old device: you can use the Mi Mover app, which is the most effective solution for the transition within the brand, or use the cloud services of Google and Xiaomi Cloud.
In this article, we will take a closer look at each step of the procedure, focusing on the nuances that are often overlooked. We will discuss both devices, the authorization process and the final data integrity check. To successfully complete the migration, it is critical that both smartphones have a battery charge of at least 50%, as the process can take a considerable time and require a lot of energy.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before you start copying directly, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps, which ensures that the process is not interrupted halfway and the files are not damaged. First of all, check the availability of space on the new device: the amount of available memory should exceed the size of the data you plan to transfer from the old phone.
Both smartphones must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network, or one of the devices must distribute a Wi-Fi hotspot. Connectivity stability is key, especially when transferring heavy video files or photo archives. If you use mobile Internet, make sure you have unlimited rates, as traffic can be consumed very quickly.
It’s also worth taking care of software updates. Often, manufacturers release security patches and improvements for system applications that can affect the work of portability tools. Go to Settings → About the phone and check for updates for MIUI or HyperOS.
☑️ Checklist for transfer preparations
Remember that an old phone may have applications from unknown sources that require special attention, and some banking or corporate security applications may block access to data when third-party utilities try to copy it.
Using the Mi Mover app for local porting
The most efficient way, developed specifically for the brand’s devices, is to use the built-in Mi Mover app, which allows you to transfer contacts, messages, call logs, photos, music, videos, documents and even installed applications along with their data, while transferring speeds are much faster than through Bluetooth or cloud services, since direct local connection is created.
To get started, find the app on both devices. On newer versions of the firmware, it can be in the Tools folder or can be accessed directly through a search in the settings. Run the program on your old smartphone and select the role of “Sender” (Old phone), and on the new one, “Receiver” (New phone).
- 📱 The new device will appear QR-The code that needs to be scanned with the camera of the old phone.
- 🔗 After scanning, the devices will connect, and a list of data categories to select will appear on the sender screen.
- 📂 You can customize what to copy in detail: for example, exclude large videos or system files.
⚠️ Warning: During the transfer process, do not switch to other apps or block the device screen. Interrupting the connection may cause some applications to be installed incorrectly and have to be downloaded again through the Google Play Store.
Once you have selected the data, click the Send button. The progress bar will show you the status of the execution. It's important to understand that the speed can vary: small contacts are copied instantly, whereas gigabytes of photos take time. Wait for the message of successful completion on both screens.
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If the process is 99 percent frozen, don't panic. Often, at that point, the system is doing the final indexing of files. Wait 5-10 minutes before the forced reboot.
Sync with your Mi and Google account
An alternative to local porting is cloud synchronization, which is ideal if you don’t have both phones on hand at the same time or an old device has already been sold/disposed of, but data has been stored in the cloud before. Xiaomi’s ecosystem allows you to store contacts, notes, voice recordings, desktop settings and browser history.
To activate the function, log in to your Mi Account on both devices. On your old phone, go to your account settings and make sure all necessary sync switches are active. Click on Sync to make sure the latest version of the data has gone to the server.
On the new smartphone, sign in to the same account. The system automatically prompts you to restore data from the cloud. A similar procedure works for a Google account: contacts, calendar and passwords stored in Google Password Manager will be automatically pulled up after authorization.
| Type of data | Mi Cloud | Google Account | Local (Mi Mover) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. |
| Photos and videos | Yes (with limit) | Yes (with limit) | Yes (no limit) |
| Annexes | No (list only) | No (list only) | Yeah (with data) |
| Wi-Fi passwords | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. |
It's worth noting that free cloud space is limited. If you store thousands of photos, you may need to expand the tariff or selectively download, and local portability in this context looks more attractive for heavy media files.
Transfer of messages and call history
Special attention should be paid to the transfer of SMS and MMS messages, as well as call logs. This data is often critical for confirming identity in various services or simply to save communication history. Google’s standard synchronization tools sometimes ignore SMS, so it is best to turn to Mi Mover or specialized backup tools again.
When using Mi Mover, make sure that the selectable data list is ticked against the Messages item. The application packs the SMS database into an archive and transfers it. On the new device, the system automatically recognizes this archive and inserts messages into the standard Messages application.
What to do if the SMS is not transferred?
Call history is also copied along with contacts if they are stored in the phone’s memory instead of on the phone. SIM-However, if contacts are stored on a SIM, it is better to pre-import them to a Google account or device memory for more reliable storage and synchronization of additional fields, such as subscriber photos and emails.
It is important to remember messages from messengers. Conventional data transfer does not always save the history of correspondence on WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber. For these applications, there are built-in backup functions that must be activated separately before changing the device.
Migration of data messengers and applications
The modern user cannot imagine life without instant messengers, and losing the history of correspondence can be an unpleasant surprise: apps like WhatsApp and Viber store correspondence locally or in the service cloud, but do not sync it automatically when you simply install an application on a new device without prior preparation.
For WhatsApp, you need to go to the chat settings on your old phone, select “Backup” and create it manually in Google Drive. Make sure you use the same Google account that will be the main one on the new smartphone. When you install WhatsApp on a new device, the app will prompt you to restore the history from the found copy.
- 📸 For Viber, the procedure is similar: back up in the app settings by selecting save on Google Drive.
- 💬 Telegram and Signal store history on servers, so just log in to your account by phone number.
- 🔐 Two-factor authentication: Make sure you remember the password from cloud backups if it was installed.
⚠️ Note: When transferring banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff, etc.) through Mi Mover, they may not start due to security breaches, they must be removed from a new phone and downloaded from the official store again, after undergoing the authorization procedure again.
Some apps may require re-entry even after a successful data transfer, which is normal security practice, and pre-register logins and passwords from the main services so that the initial setup process does not take the entire evening.
Solution and troubleshooting
Although processes are fine, there are sometimes errors. One of the common problems is the message “Not enough space” even when there is free memory. This may be due to fragmentation of the file system or the peculiarities of the file table, in which case it is recommended to clear the cache of the Mi Mover application and try to start the process again, selecting a smaller amount of data for the first batch.
Another common situation is that devices can’t see each other. Make sure both phones are on GPS (geolocation), as in modern versions of Android it is a mandatory requirement for LANs to work. Also check that the power saving mode is turned off, as it can block background activity of network interfaces.
If the transfer has passed, but the application icons are randomly located, this may be due to different screen sizes or launcher versions, in which case it is easier to reconfigure the desktop using the opportunity, or use a design theme that automatically organizes the icons.
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The most reliable result is a combination of methods: Mi Mover for apps and photos, and Google cloud sync for contacts and calendar.
In rare cases, you may need to manually transfer a DCIM or Download folder through a computer connection.Use a USB-C cable to connect your phone to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode and copy the missing directories manually.