How to Transfer Data from Android to Xiaomi: From Old to New

Buying a new Xiaomi smartphone is always accompanied by a pleasant excitement, but before the first inclusion there is an important question: how to transfer all information from an old device? the process of migrating data from Android to Android, especially to the ecosystem of MIUI or HyperOS, has become as automated and understandable even for inexperienced users. Modern tools allow you to copy contacts, photos, applications and settings in just a few touches, preserving the usual digital environment.

There are several proven ways to accomplish this task, each with its own advantages depending on the amount of information and the speed of the internet connection. The most effective method is the use of the Mi Mover application, which is preinstalled on all new smartphones of the brand. However, for those who prefer classic solutions or do not have the ability to install additional software, Google cloud services or direct connection are perfect. USB-cable.

In this article, we will take a look at all the options available so that you can choose the most suitable for your situation. We will look at the nuances of working with Wi-Fi Direct, features of synchronization through the cloud and manual copying methods that can be useful in unusual cases.

Preparing devices for data migration

Before starting the process, you need to make sure that both smartphones are ready to work and have sufficient battery power. The optimal level of charge is considered to be above 50%, since the active transfer of large amounts of data can significantly consume energy. If the battery runs out at a critical moment, the process can be interrupted, which will require a repetition of the procedure.

You should also check for free space on your new Xiaomi device. The amount of memory available should exceed the size of the data you plan to transfer. In some cases, especially when switching from devices with a large amount of internal memory to budget models, you may need to selectively clean your old smartphone of unnecessary videos or heavy files.

⚠️ Warning: Make sure both devices have Wi-Fi enabled, even if you don't plan on using a home network.Mi Mover technology creates its own access point for direct file transfer.

Be sure to check the operating system version on your old phone. While modern Xiaomi tools are compatible with most Android versions starting with 4.4, it is advisable to have up-to-date security updates for some system settings to work properly, especially if you are switching from a very old device to the latest flagship.

Using the Mi Mover app for fast transfer

The most preferred way for Xiaomi users is to use a specialized application Mi Mover. This tool was developed by the company's engineers specifically for seamless migration of data between devices running the MIUI shell. The application is able to transfer not only media files and contacts, but also system settings, the location of icons on the desktop and even passwords from stored Wi-Fi networks.

The process starts quite simply: on a new Xiaomi phone, the app is usually preinstalled in the Tools folder. On an older device, it must be downloaded from the Google Play Store or scanned. QR-The code that will appear on the screen of the new smartphone, and after launching both applications, they will suggest that you choose the role of the device: “Sender” (old phone) or “Receiver” (new Xiaomi).

To connect devices, Wi-Fi Direct technology is used, which provides high data transfer speeds without using Internet traffic. The old phone will find the new device in the list of available networks, and after entering the confirmation code or scanning. QR-The speed can vary from 10 to 40 MB/s depending on the hardware capabilities of both smartphones.

• 📱 On the old phone, select “I send” and on the new Xiaomi, “I am the recipient».
• 🔗 Connect your old device to the Wi-Fi network created by the new phone (password displayed on the screen).
• 📂 Check boxes for all categories of data that need to be copied (contacts, messages, gallery, applications).
• 🚀 Click the “Send” button and wait for the process to be completed without turning off the device screens.

It’s important to note that some Google system apps may not be ported completely due to Android security limitations, but your data inside them (mail, documents, photos) will be saved when you sign in. Bank and instant messenger apps often require separate authorization after transfer for the security of your financial data.

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If the process is stalled at 99%, try turning off mobile internet on both devices, leaving only Wi-Fi.

Synchronization through Google account

The classic method, which works on any Android device, regardless of brand, is that all important user data (contacts, calendar, notes, list of installed applications) is stored in Google cloud storage. When you first turn on a new Xiaomi smartphone, you just need to enter the username and password from your Google account, so that the system automatically prompts you to restore a backup.

This is ideal for those who want to set up the phone from scratch but keep their digital identity.Backup includes call history, SMS-However, it is worth considering that the files themselves (photos, videos, music) through standard synchronization of Google are not transmitted in full unless the photo and video feature in Google Photos is enabled.

To activate the function on the old device, you need to go to the settings, find the Google section and select Backup. Here you can see the date of the last saved copy and start forced synchronization. Then on the new Xiaomi, when you initially set up (or after resetting the settings), the system will find the available copy and prompt to restore the data from it.

The main advantage of this method is that it is independent of direct communication between phones, you can back up today and restore it to a new device in a week, but for full migration, including files in download folders and documents, this method will not work without using Google Drive, which is limited to 15 GB.

Manual copying of files via USB and PC

If automatic methods don’t work for some reason or you need to transfer a very large amount of data (e.g. 100)+ GB video, the most reliable option is to use a computer. USB-It's a cable for both phones and free time, but it gives you full control over each file. You can sort through the junk at the copying stage without clogging the memory of the new device.

Connect your old Android to your computer and select the USB File Transfer (MTP) mode in the notification. A removable disk will appear on your computer screen. Copy the required folders (usually DCIM, Pictures, Download, Documents, Music) into a separate folder on your PC hard drive. Once you've finished copying, turn off your old phone.

Then connect the new Xiaomi to your computer. Android can ask permission to access the data — confirm it. Now just drag and drop the folders you saved from your computer into your internal memory or into your computer. SD-The folder structure is saved when you copy it, allowing applications (such as a gallery or music player) to immediately find media files.

⚠️ Note: When copying system folders (for example, Android/data) Manual permission errors may occur, especially on newer versions of Android. Copy only user media and documents.

This method also makes it easy to transfer files to the external SD-If your new Xiaomi supports memory expansion, just insert the card into your computer through a card reader, write the data and install it on your phone, this will save space in the device's internal memory, which is often limited in basic models.

Transferring WhatsApp and Viber messages

Special attention should be paid to transferring correspondence in instant messengers, as standard methods of copying files often do not save the history of messages. WhatsApp has a built-in backup function that is closely related to Google Drive. On the old phone, go to Settings → Chats → Backup Chats and click “Backup”.

Once you install WhatsApp on your new Xiaomi and enter the same phone number, the app will find a backup on Google Drive and prompt you to restore your correspondence history. It is important to use the same Google account as on your old device. For Viber, the procedure is similar to: More → Settings → Account → Backup Viber.

If you use Mi Mover, the app will try to transfer messenger data automatically, but (probability of success) depends on the Android version and specific security settings.In some cases, you may need to manually export chats or use the Chat Transfer feature built into the messenger itself when you change your device.

• 📞 Make sure that SIM-card with phone number installed in a new smartphone to receive SMS-code.
• ☁️ Check that there is enough free space on Google Drive to place a WhatsApp backup.
• 🔋 Do not close the messenger app during the history recovery process.

Some users prefer to use the “Self-Chat” feature or send important files, but for full dialog migration, using a cloud backup is the only reliable way to save all media and texts.

Solutions and optimization after the transfer

Once the data migration is complete, the new phone may be slower for a while, which is normal behavior, as the system takes time to index files, optimize applications and back-end data synchronization, and it is not recommended to load the device with heavy games or demanding tasks in the first hours of use.

Often, contacts are moved but are not displayed correctly or duplicated, so you should go to the Contacts app, open the settings menu and select “Combine duplicates.” Sometimes the phone only shows you the contact with the SIM-Maps that hide the ones on Google.

If you find that some apps don't open or crash, try clearing their cache or reinstalling them from the Google Play Store. When you migrate from very old versions of Android to newer ones, there may be library conflicts that are solved only by a clean install of the application. Data security is a priority, so the system can block the launch of applications that are not received from official sources.

⚠️ Warning: After transferring data, be sure to install or update antivirus software and check your phone for malware that may have moved along with files from your old device.

Be sure to also set up biometric security (fingerprint, facial recognition) and add payment cards to Mi Pay or Google Pay, as bank card data is never automatically transferred between devices for security purposes.

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The full post-transfer optimization cycle takes up to 24 hours. Don't panic if the battery runs out faster on the first day - this system adjusts the background processes to your use style.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions