Changing the ecosystem from iOS to Android is always stressful, with the risk of losing important data, photos and contacts. But modern technology makes it as painless and fast as possible. If you just bought a new Xiaomi smartphone and want to move from your iPhone, you won’t have to manually interrupt hundreds of numbers or search for missing photos.
In this article, we will look at all the available migration methods, from official tools of the manufacturer to manual transfer through cloud storage. Proper preparation of devices before starting the procedure will save you hours of time and save you from accidental errors that can lead to loss of information.
The transition process requires attention to detail, especially if you have a lot of media, and we’ll look at how to keep your folder structure, your message history, and even your passwords, so that the new gadget is a complete replacement for the old one, not just a new notebook.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before you run any transfer programs, you need to do basic training for both devices: make sure your iPhone is at least 60 percent charged, or better connect it to a power source, as the process can take a long time with a lot of data.
Xiaomi also requires a number of steps to be taken on the device: Check for free memory: the amount of free memory on the new phone should exceed the amount of data you plan to transfer from the old device.
- 📱 Make sure both smartphones are connected to the same Wi-Fi network with a stable signal.
- 🔋 Connect both devices to chargers to avoid discharging at a critical moment.
- 🆔 Remember the password from Apple ID, as it may be necessary to disable data protection.
- 💾 Free up space on Xiaomi by removing unnecessary preinstalled apps or files.
An important step is to check the versions of operating systems. On iPhone, it is recommended to upgrade to the latest available version of iOS through the Settings menu → Main → Software Update. This ensures file format compatibility and the correct operation of the transfer protocols.
⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the data transfer process even if the screens are turned off. Forced reboot can damage the file system on the receiving device.
Using the Mi Mover app for full portability
The most effective and official way to migrate is to use the Mi Mover branded tool, which is designed specifically for users to migrate from other platforms to MIUI or HyperOS, and allows you to transfer contacts, messages, photos, music, videos and even some system settings.
To get started, install the Mi Mover app on both devices. On Xiaomi smartphones, it is often pre-installed in the Tools folder. If it is not available, download it from GetApps or Google Play. On iPhone, the app is available on the App Store.
☑️ Check before launching the Mi Mover
When you start the app, select the role of the device. On Xiaomi, click "I'm the recipient" and on iPhone, "I'm the sender." QR-code or connect via (access point) generated by the new phone.
Once you have established the connection, you will be given a list of data categories to copy, you can select all at once or only select the right items, for example, leaving music if it is already in the cloud. The process of cloning data takes place over the local network, so the speed will be high and will not consume mobile traffic.
| Type of data | Transmission speed | Demands the Internet. | It keeps the structure. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Instantly. | No. | Yes. |
| Photos | Tall. | No. | Yeah (albums) |
| Video | Medium/High | No. | Yes. |
| Messages (SMS) | Quickly. | No. | Partially. |
It is worth noting that Mi Mover is not able to port the apps themselves from the App Store, since operating systems use different file formats (.ipa vs.apk), but the application can find analogues in the GetApps store or Google Play store and suggest installing them.
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If the transmission is 99% down, try turning off Bluetooth on your iPhone, leaving only Wi-Fi active for data transfer.
Synchronize your contacts and calendar through Google
An alternative and often more reliable way to transfer personal information is to use a Google account, because Android is deeply integrated with search engine services, this method provides perfect synchronization of contacts and calendar events.
On your iPhone, go to Settings → Contacts → Accounts. Add a new account by selecting the Google logo, and enter your Gmail email details. Once logged in, the system will ask what data to synchronize.
Make sure the switches opposite Contacts, Calendars and Notes are activated. Click Save and wait a few minutes for the device to complete the background upload to Google servers.
- 📂 Open your browser on your computer and go to contacts.google.com to make sure the numbers appear.
- 🔄 On Xiaomi, log in to the same Google account when you first set up or in the Settings menu. → Accounts.
- 📲 All contacts will automatically appear in the phone book of the new smartphone.
This method is especially useful if you plan to switch your phone to any other Android smartphone in the future. Your data will always be safe in the cloud, regardless of the brand of the device.
⚠️ Note: When synchronized through Google, duplicate contacts may be combined. Check the phone book after importing and use the "Current and Manage" feature in the web version of Google Contacts if necessary.
Transferring photos and videos through cloud services
Media files often take up the largest amount of memory, and the most convenient way to transfer them is to use cloud storage, such as Google Photos or Yandex.Disk, which allows you to not depend on the cable and the quality of the Wi-Fi connection between two specific phones.
Install Google Photos on your iPhone from the App Store. Sign in to your Google account. In the app settings, find the Autoboot and Sync section and turn it on. Select High (no compression) or Save Space if you have limited cloud space.
Once all the photos are uploaded to the server (the status can be seen in the app), take a new Xiaomi. When you log in to the same account, all your albums and shots will automatically appear in the gallery. This is the easiest way to save metadata and shooting dates.
What to do with HEIC photos?
If you use iCloud, you can download all the photos to your computer via the iCloud.com web interface and then upload them to Xiaomi via the iCloud.com web interface. USB-Google Cloud Cable or Bay: Direct iCloud Sync with Android is impossible without third-party apps.
Transition to new analogues of applications and services
Changing the platform means abandoning some of Apple's exclusive apps, and you'll have to find their counterparts in the Android ecosystem. Fortunately, most popular services have versions for both platforms.
To replace standard Apple applications, use the following analogues:
- 🎵 Instead of Apple Music, YouTube Music or Spotify (subscription is carried over the site).
- 📝 Instead of Notes – Google Keep or Notion.
- 🗺️ Instead of Apple Maps – Google Maps or Yandex.Maps.
- 💬 Instead of iMessage – Google Messages or Telegram.
Pay special attention to instant messengers. To transfer the history of correspondence in WhatsApp now there is an official feature. When you first set up Xiaomi or through the application Transfer to Android (Move to Android) from Google, you can transfer chats. Importantly, the history of calls to WhatsApp and Viber is not transferred in any way.
Apple Pay doesn’t work on Android. You’ll need to add your bank cards to Google Pay (or Google Wallet). Go to the Wallet app on Xiaomi, click Add Card, and follow the bank’s instructions for verification via SMS or the bank’s app.
Frequent problems and their solution
Users may encounter technical difficulties in migrating, and understanding the nature of these errors can help them to be quickly resolved without going to a service center.
One common problem is that devices cannot be connected to Mi Mover, which often involves settings for energy saving or blocking background processes, and make sure that all points are included in the app permissions on both phones, including access to geolocation and local area network.
If photo transfer is interrupted, check for updates for the carrier app, and try to disable VPN and antivirus software that can block local network connection between devices.
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The most common mistake is trying to transfer data while the iPhone is on “Energy Savings” mode. Be sure to turn it off for stable Wi-Fi module operation.
In case contacts loaded with the wrong encodings (mall grouse instead of letters), try changing the file encoding when exporting via iCloud.com (select vCard with UTF-8) and import again.
Completion of customization and optimization of Xiaomi
After successfully transferring all the data, it is recommended to perform the final setup of the new smartphone. Check if all the apps are updated through the GetApps store or Google Play.
Set up biometrics: add fingerprints and facial data to unlock. This will ensure the security of your data that you just moved. Follow the Settings → Passwords and security to set these parameters.
It’s also worth setting up backups already on a new device to avoid the difficulties of migrating in the future. Xiaomi offers a built-in Mi Cloud that provides 5GB of space for system backups, contacts and settings for free.