The transition to a new smartphone always evokes mixed feelings: joy from having a fresh gadget and slight anxiety for the safety of accumulated information. Owners of the Xiaomi ecosystem are in a particularly advantageous position, as the company has developed powerful tools for migration. The process of transferring data from Android to Android, especially to Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, has become as automated and secure as possible.
Modern methods allow you to flip almost everything from contacts and SMS to heavy video files and application settings. You don't need to be a technician to perform this procedure, just choose the right method, which will be described below, and follow the simple steps.
The main advantage of using Mi Mover and Google cloud services is to keep the folder structure and data integrity. We will look at all the current synchronization methods so that you can choose the best option for your situation.
Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration
The most efficient and preferred way for Xiaomi users is to use the proprietary Mi Mover app, which is built into the MIUI and HyperOS shell to ensure maximum compatibility. To get started, make sure both devices are at least 50% charged and connected to the same Wi-Fi network, although the app can create its own access point.
On the old smartphone you need to install the application from Google Play or scan QR-And then you start up with a simple interface with two buttons, and you click "I'm the recipient" on the new phone and "I'm the sender" on the old phone, and you start the scanning process, and then you start by asking the system to sort the data into categories.
⚠️ Note: If another application opens during file transfer on the old device, the Wi-Fi connection may break and the process will have to start again.
The app allows you to select specific types of data: contacts, messages, call logs, images, videos, music, documents, and even system settings. Mi Mover transfer speeds can reach 40 MB/s, which is much faster than standard Bluetooth, making it ideal for carrying tens of gigabytes of information.
- 📱 Open the Mi Mover app on both devices.
- 🔗 Connect your old phone to a new (or created) Wi-Fi network).
- 📂 Select file categories to transfer and click "Send".
Importantly, some system apps may not migrate due to Android security limitations, but user data will remain intact.Once the process is complete, the new phone will prompt you to install missing apps from GetApps or Google Play.
Syncing through Google Account: The Classic Method
If you're switching from any Android smartphone, you probably already have a Google account. This is the most reliable way to save contacts, calendars and notes. When you first set up a new Xiaomi, the system will prompt you to log in to the account. Once you log in, the data will start to load in the background.
To make sure that the old device is synced, go to the settings, look for Accounts, and select Google. You can manually update your data by pressing the sync button. Contacts and calendar events usually take up the least space and sync instantly.
Photos and videos are best saved through Google Photos. Install the app on your old device, turn on autoload and wait until the process is over. On the new phone, just log in to the same account, and the entire library will be available in the cloud, which frees up space on the device and ensures that data is safe even if you lose your phone.
- ☁️ Make sure your old phone has your contacts and calendar synced.
- 📸 Check the backup status in Google Photos.
- 🔐 Sign in to the same Google account when you first set up Xiaomi.
Some users prefer to do a full backup of the system through Google One, which allows you to save a list of installed applications, Wi-Fi passwords and some settings, when you restore the phone itself downloads the necessary programs, although their current versions will have to download from the store again.
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Before migrating, delete unnecessary screenshots and blurry photos – this will speed up the process and save space in the cloud.
Transferring through Mi Cloud: Xiaomi ecosystem
Mi Account holders can use Mi Cloud cloud storage to transfer data, a method that is especially useful if you’ve used a Xiaomi phone before, and unlike Google, you can save not only contacts and photos, but also voice recordings, notes, and even the location of icons on your desktop.
To use this method, sign in to Mi Account on an old device (if it is Xiaomi) or install the Mi Cloud app on any Android. Select data for backup and click Sync. On the new device, just log in under the same login and the data will appear automatically.
⚠️ Warning: Only 5GB of space is available for free in Mi Cloud. Large amounts of data may require a temporary subscription or storage cleanup before backup.
The Mi Cloud feature is that you can remotely control your device, and if you lose your old phone but you have data in the cloud, you can delete it remotely or track your location, and when you transfer it to your new phone, you should automatically sync it so that new photos can be taken to the cloud.
Synchronization of notes and voice recorders is almost instantaneous, critical for those who use standard Xiaomi apps for work, and files will appear in the relevant apps immediately after they are connected to the Internet.
What to do if you forget your Mi Account password?
Manual copying of files via USB and PC
For users who prefer full control of the process or do not have a stable Internet, a computer copying method is ideal for transferring heavy files: movies, project archives, APK installers. You will need a USB cable and a computer with Windows or macOS.
Connect your old phone to your PC and select file transfer mode (MTP) in notifications. Copy the required folders (DCIM, Download, Documents) to your hard drive. Then plug in the new Xiaomi and move the files to the appropriate directories. Android folder structure is standard, so there should be no compatibility issues.
For more advanced file management, you can use the Android File Transfer utility (for Mac) or the standard Windows Explorer, which also allows you to check the integrity of files before removing them from your old device, and this is the only way to guarantee that you can transfer files that applications hide from standard cloud sync methods.
- 💻 Connect both phones to your computer in turn.
- 📁 Copy the folders. DCIM (Photos), Music and Download.
- 📤 Insert files into similar folders on the new device.
After copying, check the gallery and file manager of the new phone. Sometimes the system takes time to index new media files. If the photos don't show up immediately, try restarting the device or clearing the media cache.
☑️ Preparation for data portability
Comparison of data transfer methods
The choice of method depends on the amount of data, Internet speed and personal preferences. Below is a table that will help you determine the best way to solve your situation.
Wireless methods are convenient for their simplicity, but can be slow with a lot of data. Wireless methods require a PC, but provide maximum speed and reliability. Combining methods often yields the best result: contacts through Google, photos through the cloud, and movies via USB.
| Method | Speed. | We need the Internet. | What's transferable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Tall. | No (locally) | Everything (applications, settings, files) |
| Google Account | Medium | Yes. | Contacts, calendar, applications |
| Mi Cloud | Depends on the network. | Yes. | Contacts, photos, notes, recorder |
| USB + PC | Very high. | No. | Files of any size and type |
Note that banking and encrypted messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram) often require a separate backup procedure within the app itself. Don't rely on a shared backup system to save your email history.
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The combined approach (Mi Mover for System + Google Photos for Media) ensures the most complete and secure copying of data.
Transfer of data of messengers and banking applications
Messengers deserve special attention, as they store their correspondence history in secure databases. WhatsApp needs to back up to Google Drive through the settings of the application on the old phone. When you install WhatsApp on a new phone, the system will prompt you to restore the history from the cloud.
Telegram works differently: all the correspondence history is stored on servers, just enter the phone number and confirmation code, and all the chats will appear instantly, but secret chats are not portable, because they are tied to a particular device.
⚠️ Attention: Banking applications will require re-authorization and device binding,