Buying a new Xiaomi smartphone is always a pleasant experience, but it is often overshadowed by the prospect of a long and tedious setup, and Xiaomi’s ecosystem is more fortunate than other brands because it has developed a powerful built-in tool for data migration, making it easier to move from one model to another thanks to the integration of Google services and its own MIUI (or HyperOS) shell, avoiding the manual installation of dozens of programs.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available ways to transfer information, paying special attention to the Mi Mover application, which is the most reliable and quick solution, you will learn how to save folder structure, Wi-Fi passwords, call history and, most importantly, how to properly migrate applications with their data so as not to lose progress in games or messaging settings. We will also touch on security issues and nuances of working with encrypted data of banking applications.
Don’t underestimate the importance of getting the right preparation before you start the procedure. Mistakes at the initial stage can lead to some data being lost or transferred incorrectly, which will require a repeat of the entire process. So follow the instructions carefully so that your new Xiaomi becomes an exact digital copy of the old device, but with increased performance and a fresh design.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before you start the process of cloning information, you need to make sure that both the old and the new are ready to work. First of all, check the battery level: it is recommended that both smartphones have at least 50-60% of power, and it is best to connect them to the power source during transmission. Unstable voltage or discharge of one of the devices at a critical moment can interrupt the connection and damage files.
The second important step is to verify the operating system version. While the Mi Mover is highly compatible, working between devices with radically different versions of Android or MIUI can cause crashes. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and make sure the software is updated to the current version available for your model.
⚠️ Note: If you use third-party launchers or heavily modified firmware on an older device, standard portables may not correctly copy the location of the icons on the desktop.
Also, free up space on a new smartphone if you've already used it. Delete unnecessary test files or apps that may have been preinstalled. This will ensure that all data from the old gadget is seamlessly recorded. Make sure that both devices are Wi-Fi enabled, even if you don't plan to use the Internet, as data technology often relies on creating a local access point.
☑️ Ready for transfer
Using the Mi Mover app for full cloning
The main tool for migration in the ecosystem of Xiaomi is the Mi Mover app. It is pre-installed on all modern devices of the brand, but if the old phone does not have it (for example, this device is another manufacturer), the program can be downloaded for free from Google Play Market or GetApps. This tool allows you to transfer data without using the Internet, creating a direct connection between gadgets.
The startup process is simple: open the app on both smartphones. On the new device, select the role of “I am the recipient” (or “New phone”), and on the old one, choose the role of “I am the sender” (or “Old phone”). The system will ask permissions to access contacts, files and location – these must be provided, otherwise the program will not be able to read the data for transmission.
After choosing a role on the screen of the new phone will appear QR-So if you scan it with the camera of the old device, the devices will connect, and you'll see a data category interface, and you can choose what you want to move: images, music, messages, contacts, and of course, apps. It is recommended to choose a selective installation to eliminate system debris.
- 📱 Apps: select only custom programs, system is better not to touch, so that there are no conflicts of versions on the new device.
- 📸 Multimedia: Photos and videos take up the most space, so make sure the new phone has free memory.
- 📞 System data: This includes a call log, SMS, settings of alarm clock and Wi-Fi access point.
Transfer speeds depend on the amount of data and the distance between the devices. During the process, the screens may go out, but it is not recommended to interrupt the connection. Once completed, the new device will automatically install applications, which may take additional time in the background.
What to do if Mi Mover makes a mistake?
Sync with Mi Cloud and Google account
An alternative and often more reliable way is cloud sync. Xiaomi ecosystem is closely integrated with Google services, which allows you to save key data in the cloud. On the old device, you need to go to the settings of your Google account (Settings → Accounts and sync) and make sure that you activate sync contacts, calendar and application data.
The Mi Account also plays an important role, especially for users who are actively using themes, notes and voice recorders. Sign in to your Mi Account on a new device under the same data, and the system will suggest recovering data from the cloud. This is especially useful if the old phone is already not at hand or it is defective.
It’s important to understand the difference between porting the app itself and its data. Google Play keeps a list of installed programs, but doesn’t always save progress in games or logins in social networks unless the developer has used cloud saves. So make sure that important apps (such as Viber, Telegram, games) are tied to your account before you switch.
| Type of data | Mi Mover | Google Sync | Mi Cloud |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts and SMS | Complete transfer | Autosynchronization | Backup |
| Photos and videos | Original quality | Compression (Google Photo) | Depends on the tariff. |
| Annexes (APK) | Yes (installation files) | List for download | No. |
| Application data | Partially (depends on the software) | Only with support. | Backup of the system |
Nuances of transfer of messengers and banking applications
Special attention is required messengers and financial applications, as they have increased security requirements. Applications of banks (Sberbank, Tinkoff, etc.) and government services (Public Services) do not transfer their data through Mi Mover for security reasons.
WhatsApp, Viber and Telegram store their correspondence history locally or in their clouds. WhatsApp is critical to back up Google Drive before transferring data. → chat → Backup chats. Once you install the app on your new phone and enter the same number, the system will prompt you to recover your story from the cloud.
⚠️ Note: When you migrate through Mi Mover, the banking app icons may appear on the new phone, but when you start them, they will require a full reset and login.This is normal behavior, do not try to transfer the cache of these programs manually.
Telegram works differently: it stores all the history on the server. Just enter the phone number and confirmation code, and all the chats will appear instantly. However, secret chats (Secret Chats) are not portable, because they are tied to a particular device and its encryption keys.
Solving problems in data transfer
Even with reliable tools, there can be failures, and one of the common problems is that the process freezes at a certain percentage, usually due to a corrupted file in the transmission queue, so try to eliminate large video files or archives from the sample by transferring them separately through a computer or cable.
If the new phone doesn’t see the old one, check the permissions for the Mi Mover app. On modern versions of Android (11, 12, 13, 14), you must manually allow access to Files & Media, Contacts, and, importantly, allow display over other windows. Without it, the application may not start the scanning module. QR-code.
Also, users often find that after transferring the application is, but they do not open or fly out. This can mean incompatibility of the Android version. If the old phone was running Android 9 and the new one was running Android 13, some old applications may not start, in which case only finding an updated version in the app store will help.
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Before you start a large-scale data transfer, back up important photos to your computer or external hard drive. Double insurance is never superfluous, especially when working with unique family archives.
Completion of setup and optimization of the new smartphone
Once all the data has been moved, don't rush to delete your old phone. Use your new device for a couple of days in test drive mode. Check if all contacts are in place, if notifications are working, if the photos are displayed correctly. Only when you make sure that you are fully functional, you can start cleaning the old gadget.
The new phone requires initial optimization. Android often performs background file indexing and application optimization in the first hours after migration, which can lead to increased battery consumption and heat. This is normal, after 1-2 days, the work stabilizes.
You should also check your privacy settings, you might have copied old application permissions when you migrate, and you should go through the installed software list and make sure that they don't have the same access to the microphone, camera, or geolocation that you needed on your old device, but you don't need it now.
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The full migration cycle takes 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the amount of data, but using Mi Mover reduces the manual setup of a new device by 90%.