Changing the ecosystem from Apple iOS to the shell of MIUI or HyperOS from Xiaomi is often perceived by users as a complex and risky process. Many fear losing valuable photos, contacts, correspondence history and customization of familiar applications when moving to a new device. However, modern data migration technologies allow you to perform this procedure as quickly, safely and, most importantly, with little human intervention.
In this article, we will discuss all the current ways of transferring information, from the official Mi Mover tool to manual methods for specific data. You will learn how to prepare both smartphones, what nuances exist when transmitting multimedia and how to configure a new device so that it becomes your faithful assistant from the first minutes of use.
It doesn’t matter which iPhone model you have, from legacy devices to the latest iPhone 15, or which Xiaomi you choose, whether it’s the Redmi series, POCO or the flagship Mi. The algorithms remain similar, although the interfaces may vary slightly depending on the version of the operating system.
Preparation of devices before the migration
Before you start directly copying files, make sure both smartphones are ready to go. Charge your iPhone and your new Xiaomi to a minimum of 60-70%, as the process of transferring a large amount of data can significantly consume battery power. Also make sure that both devices are connected to a stable Wi-Fi network, preferably with high data rates to avoid connection breaks.
On iPhone, check that iCloud is not the only store for your contacts and photos. If you have the option “Storage Optimization” enabled, the original photos can only be in the cloud, making it difficult to transfer them directly over the cable or local network.
⚠️ Note: Do not interrupt the data transfer process or switch between apps on smartphones during migration, this can lead to corruption of files or incomplete transfer of contacts, which will require a repetition of the procedure.
On the Android side of Xiaomi, you will need to perform an initial setup, and when you first turn on, the device will offer you to choose a language, connect to Wi-Fi and log into your Mi Account. It is the presence of a Mi Account that is critical for the operation of many Xiaomi system gates, including portability tools.
☑️ Preparing for data migration
Using the Mi Mover app for full portability
The main and most effective tool for migration is the Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, and for iOS devices it must be downloaded from the App Store. This app allows you to transfer contacts, messages, photos, videos, music and even some system settings without using a computer.
The process starts with running the app on both devices. On the new Xiaomi, you choose the role of “I’m the sender” (although it would be more logical to do the opposite, but the interface can vary, usually the new phone acts as the receiver and the old one as the sender). On the iPhone, you need to select “I’m sending” or scan. QR-The code that will appear on the Android screen, the devices will connect via a local Wi-Fi network created by one of the phones.
Once the connection is established, the system will suggest selecting data types to transfer. You can tick contacts, messages, images, videos, audio and applications. It is worth noting that iOS apps themselves cannot be installed on Android, since they have different file formats (.ipa vs..apk). However, Mi Mover will try to find their free counterparts in the Google Play Store or offer a list of similar programs.
- 📱 Contacts and messages: Transferred almost 100% of the time without loss of formatting and attachments MMS.
- 🖼️ Multimedia: Photos and videos store their metadata (date of shooting, geolocation) if the file system format allows for the use of the data.
- 📝 Notes: Standard iOS notes are often converted into text or HTML-Files that are Readable on Android.
- 📶 Wi-Fi settings: Passwords from known networks can be moved, eliminating the need to re-enter them.
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If the transfer process is stuck at a certain percentage, try disabling the Private Wi-Fi Address feature in your iPhone network settings, which often solves protocol compatibility issues.
Transfer time depends on the amount of data. For 32 GB of photos and videos, the process can take 15 to 40 minutes. At this time, the screens of the devices may go out, but the application will continue to work in the background. Upon completion, you will receive a report on how many files were successfully transferred and which caused the errors.
Synchronization through Google Account and Cloud Services
If direct porting is not possible for some reason or you prefer cloud technology, the most reliable way is to sync through a Google account. Since Android is based on Google services, this method provides deep integration of data into the new system.
In the settings of the Google iPhone app, you need to enable sync for Contacts, Calendar and Gmail, and then all your records will instantly be in the Google cloud. When you log in to the same account on Xiaomi, the data will automatically be pulled into the corresponding applications: Contacts, Calendar and email client.
| Type of data | Synchronization method | Speed. | nuance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Google Contacts | Instantly. | Ideally, duplicates are automatically cleaned. |
| Calendar | Google Calendar | Instantly. | Reminders and recurring events are preserved |
| Photo/Video | Google Photo | Depends on the Internet. | Requires Google One space or compression |
| Files. | Google Drive | Medium | Convenient for PDF documents, DOCX |
For photos and videos, the best way to use the Google Photos app is to install it on your iPhone and enable autoload, and you’ll get access to your entire media library from the new Xiaomi immediately after you install the app and log in to your account.