Buying a new smartphone is always a pleasant thrill, but also an inevitable headache in the form of transferring accumulated information. When a user moves from the MIUI shell to the Realme UI, they face the need to migrate hundreds of contacts, gigabytes of photos and dozens of applications. Fortunately, modern technology allows you to perform this procedure quickly and without loss using built-in tools or proven third-party solutions.
The process of changing the Android ecosystem to Android, even between different brands like Xiaomi and Realme, has become much easier in recent years. You don't have to manually copy every file or enter phone numbers again. The main task is to choose the right method that guarantees the integrity of the folder structure and saves logins in applications. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available methods, from cloud services to direct cable connection.
Before any manipulations, it is critical to check the charge of both devices: the recommended charge level should be at least 60-70% so that the process does not interrupt in the middle, and also make sure that both smartphones have a stable Internet connection if you plan to use cloud synchronization methods.
⚠️ Before you start the transfer, make sure that the new Realme smartphone has enough free space.The amount of free memory should exceed the size of the data you plan to copy from the old Xiaomi.
Preparation of devices and backup
The first step is the foundation of the entire operation. You can't transfer data properly if the source system is not optimized or contains errors. On a Xiaomi device, you should pre-clean up debris and unnecessary files to speed up the transfer process. Go to Settings → Memory and estimate the amount of space you occupy.
Special attention should be paid to your account, if your contacts and calendar are synced with your Google account, half the work is already done, but local files, such as gallery photos, voice recorders and documents, often remain in the phone's memory, requiring you to create a local backup or use special utilities.
Don't forget to check the operating system version. Often, manufacturers release patches that improve stability of communication modules and Bluetooth, which directly affects the speed of data transfer over the air. Update the software on both devices to the latest available version through the Settings menu → About Phone → System Update.
- 🔋 Charge both smartphones to at least 70% or connect them to a power source.
- 📶 Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network (preferably 5 GHz for speed).
- 🆔 Make sure that both phones are logged in to the same Google account.
- 🧹 Clear the app cache and delete temporary files on the old Xiaomi.
☑️ Preparation for migration
Use the built-in Clone Phone app on Realme
The most effective and native way to migrate is to use the Clone Phone app, which is pre-installed on Realme smartphones.This tool is designed specifically to transfer data between different brands of Android smartphones, ensuring high speed and compatibility of file formats.
The process starts with installing the app on the receiving device. On the new Realme, open the app from the Tools folder or search it. Select the option "This is a new phone." The system will prompt you to select the type of old device — in this case, "Other Android phones." It'll appear on screen. QR-code that needs to be scanned.
On the old Xiaomi you need to install the Clone Phone app. You can download it from Google Play or scan it. QR-The code that's displayed on the screen of the new phone. Once installed, launch the app, accept the terms of the agreement, and select "This is an old phone." Scan it. QR-code from the Realme screen, after which the devices will create a secure direct Wi-Fi connection.
The application interface allows you to flexibly customize the selection of data. You can only migrate contacts and messages or copy the entire multimedia library. It is important to know that the Clone Phone application does not tolerate alarm settings and some system preferences of MIUI, since the structure of the Realme UI is different. Once you select categories, click "Start cloning" and wait for the process to be completed without switching between applications.
⚠️ Warning: During the operation of the Clone Phone, the phone screens may go out, but you can not interrupt the process or go to the Wi-Fi settings menu - this will break the connection.
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If the process is 99 percent frozen, don't panic. Often, the system just finalizes the indexing of files. Wait 5-10 minutes before rebooting.
Migration through Google Account and Cloud Services
An alternative and often more reliable method is to use the Google ecosystem, ideal for those who want to keep the structure of contacts, calendar events and notes of Google Keep unchanged, and when the new Realme is first turned on, the system will offer to restore data from the backup of Google Drive.
To implement this method, Xiaomi must force sync. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google. Make sure all switches (Contacts, Calendar, Drive, Photos) are active. Click on the menu (three dots) and select Sync. This ensures that the latest changes go to the cloud.
Photos and videos are best transferred through Google Photos. Make sure your old phone has Autoboot and Sync enabled. On the new device, just log in to the same account, and all media files will appear in the gallery automatically, taking up less space thanks to the Save Space feature.
Apps can also be restored through the Play Market. When you sign in to a Google account on a new device, the app store will offer a list of previously installed programs, you can select all of them at once or mark only the necessary ones, but you should note that banking and security applications will require separate authorization.
| Type of data | Google's method | Clone Phone Method | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Automatically. | Yes. | Better through Google. |
| Photo/Video | Google Photo | Yeah (originals) | Depends on the speed of Wi-Fi. |
| Annexes | Play Market | Yeah (APK files) | Account login required |
| SMS messages | No (no root) | Yes. | Clone Phone is preferred. |
| Wi-Fi passwords | Yes (via Google) | Yes. | We need Android 10+. |
Application of Mi Mover and third-party utilities
If standard methods don’t work or you’re used to Xiaomi tools, try the Mi Mover app.Although it’s tailored to migrate to Xiaomi, in some cases it can create a backup that you can try to unpack on a new device, although compatibility with Realme UI isn’t guaranteed.
A more versatile solution is cross-platform utilities like Send Anywhere or SHAREit, which use Wi-Fi Direct technology to transfer files of any type, and are especially useful if you want to move heavy video files or archives of documents that are not synced through the cloud.
For advanced users, there is the possibility of using a PC as an intermediate, and by connecting Xiaomi to a computer in file transfer mode (MTP), you can copy the DCIM, Download, and Documents folders to your hard drive. Then, by connecting Realme, just move the data to the appropriate directories, which is the longest, but also the most controlled method.
With third-party file managers such as Total Commander or Solid Explorer, you can organize transmission over a local area network (SFTP/FTP) if both phones are connected to the same router, which allows you to transfer data without installing unnecessary client applications using only the built-in browser or file manager.
Why Mi Mover can't work with Realme?
Transfer of messages, calls and instant messengers
The most delicate part of the move is the history of messaging. WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber store data in different ways. Telegram is completely cloud-based, so just type in a phone number and all the chats will appear. WhatsApp and Viber are more complicated.
WhatsApp on Xiaomi needs to do a local backup or Google Drive. Go to Settings → Chats → Chat Backup and click Backup. On the new Realme, WhatsApp will offer to restore a story from Google Drive when you first install it. It is important to use the same phone number and the same Google account.
Call history and SMS-The best way to copy messages is through the Clone Phone app mentioned earlier, and it can extract databases of system logs and embed them in Realme. UI. When manually copying files via PC, it is almost impossible to restore call logs without root rights.
Don't forget to use two-factor authentication. Before resetting your old phone, make sure you have access to your phone number to get it. SMS-confirmation codes, as the new device will have to re-confirm the identity in all important services.
- 📱 WhatsApp: Backup Google Drive before changing SIM-map.
- 💬 Viber: In Viber settings, select "Backup" →"Start backups".
- 🔐 2FA: Make sure that SIM-Card is active to receive confirmation codes.
- 🗑️ After successful transfer, delete your WhatsApp account from your old device (Settings) → Delete your account if you do not plan to use it.
⚠️ Note: When you transfer WhatsApp to a new phone, the old phone will automatically log out of your WhatsApp account.You can’t use one account on two devices at the same time (without companion mode).
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The history of correspondence in Telegram and Discord does not require backup, as it is stored on servers, unlike WhatsApp and local SMS.
Completion of the setup and verification of data integrity
Once the copying process is complete, don’t rush to rent out or sell the old Xiaomi. Do a thorough audit of the new Realme. Walk through the gallery, check for all the albums and videos. Open contacts and make sure the numbers aren’t duplicated and photos are tied to them.
Pay special attention to notification settings. MIUI and Realme UI shells manage application power consumption differently. Some programs may not send notifications until you allow them to autorun or work in the background. Go to Settings → Applications → Autorun and activate the desired messengers.
Check NFC and contactless payment, you will need to re-add your bank cards to Google Pay or Wallet, as card data is not copied during transfer for security reasons, and you may need to re-configure your fingerprints and facial recognition.
Only when you make sure that the new smartphone is fully functional can you start cleaning the old one. Complete a complete data reset (Settings → Advanced Settings → Restore and Reset → Erase All Data) on Xiaomi so that your personal information does not fall into the wrong hands.