Buying a new Xiaomi smartphone is always a thrill, but the process of migrating data from an old device often turns into a real headache. Users face the loss of important contacts, photos and, most unpleasantly, a confluence of settings of their favorite apps. Fortunately, the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem offers powerful tools to clone the contents of an old phone to a new one-to-one.
There are several proven ways to do this, each with its own advantages depending on the version of the operating system and the state of the original device. We will look at the most effective methods, including using the built-in Mi Mover, the Mi Cloud cloud service and local backups. A competent approach will allow you to start using the new gadget immediately without spending hours manually configuring.
The main goal is to ensure data integrity and minimize downtime. Xiaomi’s modern algorithms allow you to even transfer the placement of icons on the desktop and passwords from Wi-Fi networks. Below we will discuss each step in detail so that you can choose the best option for your situation.
Preparing devices for the migration process
Before launching any portable tools, you need to do basic training on both smartphones, make sure that both devices are charged at least 60-70% of the battery, as the process of active data transfer can be energy intensive, and check the availability of free space on the new phone: it should exceed the amount of data you plan to transfer from the old device.
It is recommended to update the system software on both devices to the latest available version, which will reduce the likelihood of compatibility conflicts between the old and new database formats. If the old phone has a very old version of Android, and the new one has the latest HyperOS, there may be nuances with the transfer of some system settings.
Be sure to check the stability of Wi-Fi modules if you plan to use the wireless method. For cable connection, make sure you have a serviceable one. USB-cable, preferably original or certified, capable of transmitting large amounts of information at high speeds.
⚠️ Note: Do not interrupt the data transfer process or turn off smartphone screens during the active copying phase. Interrupting may damage files or corrupt the contact database.
An important step is to clean up the junk on the old device, remove duplicate photos and unused apps to speed up the process and avoid clogging the memory of the new gadget, and help you better estimate the actual time it takes to complete the operation.
☑️ Checklist before start
Use of the built-in Mi Mover application
The most efficient and recommended way for the manufacturer is to use the Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices and optimized for one-to-one connectivity, allowing you to transfer contacts, messages, call history, media, documents and, critically, installed applications along with their data.
To start the process, open the application on both devices. On the new smartphone, select Receiver and on the old one, Sender. The application will automatically create a Wi-Fi hotspot or prompt you to scan. QR-code to establish a secure connection between gadgets. The transmission speed when using Wi-Fi Direct can reach 20-40 MB/s, which is much faster than standard Bluetooth.
Once connected, the device interfaces sync up, and you'll see a list of data categories available for transfer, and you can either select all at once or manually mark only the sections you want, like leaving system debris or a cache of heavy games that you want to download again.
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If the Mi Mover app is not found in the standard set, it can be downloaded for free from the official GetApps store or Google Play Store on both devices.
Special attention should be paid to the "Applications" section. When choosing this option, Mi Mover will try to copy not only the installation files (APKs), but also the data inside them, which means that once the process is complete, you will not have to re-enter social networks or configure working messengers.
| Type of data | Transmission speed | Stores data within applications | Demands the Internet. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts/SMS | Instantly. | Yes. | No. |
| Photo/Video | Tall. | No. | No. |
| Annexes (APK) | Medium | Partially. | No. |
| System settings | Quickly. | Yes. | No. |
It is important to understand that some banking applications and secure services (e.g. Google Pay or corporate customers) may require re-authorization for security purposes, even if the data has been successfully transferred.
Sync with Mi Cloud and Google Account
An alternative, and sometimes more reliable, way is cloud sync, and if you've been using Mi Cloud services on an old device, it takes minutes to recover your new Mi Account to save contacts, notes, voice recordings, and calendar schedules.
To activate the function, go to the Mi Account profile settings and make sure that the sliders sync the desired partitions are activated. On the new phone, just log in to the same account, and the data will “flock” in the background. Similarly, the Google bundle works: contacts and email are restored automatically when you first log in to Android.
The advantage of the cloud method is that it is independent of the physical condition of the old phone.If your previous device crashed, lost or doesn't turn on, the cloud remains the only way to save important information if the sync was turned on in time.
⚠️ Warning: Free space in Mi Cloud is limited to 5GB. If you have a lot of photos in full resolution, they may not fit in the cloud without buying an additional tariff.
For photos and videos, the best way to use Google Photos or Yandex.Disk with autoload enabled will ensure the safety of your memories even in the event of complete loss of both smartphones. On the new device, you just need to install the corresponding application and log into your account, so that the entire library becomes available.
However, it is worth remembering that the cloud method does not carry the applications themselves and their settings. You will have to manually download them from the Play Market store or GetApps. But your data inside applications that support cloud backup (for example, progress in games through Google Play Games) will be restored automatically.
What to do if you forget your Mi Account password?
Local backup and port over PC
For users who prefer full control of data, there is a local backup method. Built-in "Backup and Restore" function in the "Advanced Settings" section allows you to create a full cast of the system on internal memory or SD-This file can then be transferred to a computer and transferred to a new phone.
The path to function usually looks like this: → The phone. → Backup and restore. You can choose to create a new backup and mark all the data you need. Once the process is complete, the old phone will have a file with the.bak extension or a folder with data that you need to copy to the root of the new device along the way. MIUI/backup/AllBackup.
Using a computer as an intermediary ensures that data isn’t lost due to a wireless connection break, and it’s a great way to create an archived copy before selling an old device.You can store these backups for years and deploy them on any compatible Xiaomi device if necessary.
Restore from a local copy often requires a new phone to be reset to factory settings or may not work properly when switching between widely different versions of Android (e.g., Android 10 to Android 14).
To transfer multimedia files (photos, videos, music, documents) the easiest way to use a direct connection to the PC through the Internet. USB-cable in the mode "File transfer" (MTP). Just copy the folders. DCIM, Pictures, Download and Music from the old device and paste them in the appropriate places on the new device.
Nuances of Application Portability and Authorizations
Application portability is the most difficult aspect of migration. Despite the power of Mi Mover, some applications may not start or require re-entry, due to the security policies of modern OSes, which bind application data to a specific device identifier or encryption keys.
Messengers such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber require special attention. WhatsApp is critical to make a local or cloud backup of chats inside the app before transferring. When installed on a new phone, the program will offer to restore the history of correspondence if it detects a backup file.
- 📱 Banking apps: Most likely will require re-associating the device and entering passwords, as they use emulation and root rights protection.
- 🔐 Google Authenticator: Make sure to use the in-app account export feature before you switch, or two-factor authorization will be lost.
- 🎮 Make sure that progress is saved in the cloud (Google Play Games, Facebook or developer account), otherwise you will have to go through the levels again.
Also worth checking is the special features and auto-run apps settings. On a new phone with a more recent version of MIUI, aggressive battery optimization can kill portable apps, so they will need to be manually added to the exceptions.
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Critical applications (banks, crypto wallets) are better set up manually, rather than relying on automatic data transfer to avoid blocking by security services.