How to transfer all data to the new Xiaomi phone: the complete guide

Buying a new smartphone is always a thrill, but it also challenges the owner to quickly and completely transfer information from the old device. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, this process is as automated and takes much less time than many competitors. Modern tools allow you to clone not only contacts and photos, but also the placement of icons on the desktop, Wi-Fi passwords and even alarm settings.

Before you start the active phase of migration, you need to make sure that both devices are at least 50-60% charged. The process of copying large amounts of data, especially if it is a high-resolution video recording, can be energy intensive. If you interrupt the transmission due to battery discharge, some files may or may not be corrupted at all, which requires a repetition of the procedure.

There are several proven synchronization methods, each of which is suitable for different use cases: you can use the built-in Mi Mover app, which works without the Internet, or trust cloud storage like Google Drive and Mi Cloud, the choice of the specific method depends on the amount of data you have, the speed of the Internet connection and the availability of a computer.

Preparing the old and new device for migration

The initial stage is critical to the success of the entire operation: On an old phone, regardless of its operating system (Android or iOS), you need to free up space and check the integrity of the files. Delete non-cancerous screenshots, duplicate photos and cache of heavy messengers so that you do not waste time carrying digital garbage.

The new Xiaomi should perform the initial setup before logging in. Make sure that both devices are enabled with Bluetooth and GPS, as some transmission protocols use geolocation to quickly detect gadgets up close. Also check that both devices have the latest available MIUI or HyperOS shell update, as older versions of the firmware may have bugs when transmitting large data packets.

Pay special attention to accounts. If you are switching from another Android smartphone, make sure that all your contacts are stored in your Google account, not in memory. SIM-Locally stored contacts are a common mistake that leads to their loss when changing devices.

⚠️ Warning: Do not start the portability process unless Do Not Disturb mode is enabled on both devices. Incoming calls or notifications may terminate the Wi-Fi Direct connection used to transfer files.

For iPhone owners, the transition to Android is now much smoother thanks to the application “Move to iOS” or specialized utilities from Xiaomi, but messengers like WhatsApp will require special attention and backup in iCloud in advance.

Using the Mi Mover app for fast transfer

The most efficient and quickest way to transfer data between Xiaomi smartphones is the Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on all modern models of the brand and is available for download on Google Play for devices from other manufacturers, the main advantage of this method is the use of direct Wi-Fi connection between devices, which allows you to achieve high rates of transmission without mobile traffic.

Run the app on both devices. On the new phone, select Receiver and on the old phone, Sender. The system automatically creates the access point to which you want to connect. The search process usually takes no more than 10-15 seconds.

Once you connect, you'll see a list of data categories: images, music, videos, documents, applications and system settings. Here you can choose what you want to clone. The app allows you to even transfer the layout of widgets and wallpaper, re-creating the familiar environment on a new screen.

The speed of transmission depends on the number of files. A thousand medium-resolution photos are copied in about 2-3 minutes. If you transfer hundreds of gigabytes of video to 4K, the process can take several hours, so it is better to leave the phones lying still next to each other.

⚠️ Warning: While running Mi Mover, don't switch to other apps or lock the screen of your old phone.This can lead to a fatal connection error and reset progress to zero.

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If the process is 99 percent frozen, don't panic. Often the system just checks the integrity of the last file. Wait 5-10 minutes before forced interruption.

Sync with Mi Cloud and Google account

Cloud technology allows not only to transfer data, but to make it appear on a new device automatically immediately after login. For users of the Xiaomi ecosystem, the deepest integration is available through Mi Cloud. This service is able to save not only contacts and notes, but also voice recordings, a gallery and even a list of blocked numbers.

To use this method, on the old device, log into your Mi Account settings, select Sync and make sure all the sliders are activated. Press Sync manually to ensure that the latest changes are uploaded to the server. On the new phone, just enter the same ID and password, after which the data will "flock" to the device's memory.

Google’s account also plays a key role, especially for users who may change their smartphone brand in the future, saving contacts, calendar events, passwords from Chrome and purchases from the Play Market. When you first set up the new Xiaomi, the system will offer to restore data from the latest Google backup.

It’s important to consider the amount of free space in the cloud. The baseline Mi Cloud only provides 5GB, which may not be enough to make a full copy of the gallery, in which case it makes sense to pay for a temporary subscription for a month or use a hybrid method: contacts in the cloud, and heavy files with cable.

Data Transfer with Google One and Cloud Backups

Google One has become the de facto standard for Android backups. Unlike simple contact synchronization, it creates a complete snapshot of the phone's status, including a list of installed apps, call history and a phone's status. SMS-This is especially true when switching from pure Android or other brands to Xiaomi.

To create a backup, open Google's settings on your old device, go to Backup and click Create a Copy. Make sure that the list includes data from apps that support this feature. Some banking apps and instant messengers require separate customization within their interfaces.

When you turn on a new Xiaomi and log in to the same Google account, the system will prompt you to recover data from the last copy. You will see a list of applications that will be downloaded automatically. This method is convenient in that it does not require both devices at hand - just have access to the Internet.

It’s worth noting that recovering from Google’s cloud can take a significant amount of time if you have a lot of apps installed.The phone will consistently download and install them in the background, which can temporarily reduce the performance of the device.

Wireless method and work with a computer

If wireless methods seem too slow or unstable, the classic wired method remains the most reliable. USB-Connect your old phone to your PC in "File Transfer" mode" (MTP).

Copy the main folders from the internal drive: DCIM (camera photos and videos), Pictures (screenshots and images from social networks), Download and Documents. Also, do not forget about the folders of messengers if they store important media files, for example, Android/media/com.whatsapp.

After you copy the data to your computer, connect the new Xiaomi and transfer the files to the appropriate directories. The structure of the folders on Android is standardized, so the photos are better put in the right place. DCIM/Camera, The gallery should be able to index them correctly.

This method also allows you to create a full backup on your hard drive, which is a good digital hygiene practice. Keep an external hard drive on hand if the data volume is more than 100 GB, so as not to clutter up your computer memory.

⚠️ Note: When copying through USB Do not remove the abruptly cable. Use the Safe Device Removal feature in the computer operating system to avoid damaging the file system.

The nuances of transferring WhatsApp, Viber and banking applications

Special attention should be paid to messengers and applications with a high level of security. WhatsApp and Viber do not carry the history of correspondence with standard methods of copying files due to encryption. WhatsApp needs to back up Google Drive or iCloud inside the application on the old phone.

When you first launch WhatsApp on the new Xiaomi, the app will detect the presence of a backup in the cloud and prompt you to restore your message history. Make sure you use the same phone number and the same Google/iCloud account. For Viber, the procedure is similar, but the backup is often stored locally, and you need to manually transfer it to the Viber folder on the new device before installing the application.

Banking apps and Google Pay (now Google Wallet) require re-authorization, and for security reasons, payment tokens and biometrics are not portable, you will have to re-link cards and set up fingerprint or Face ID login.

Some enterprise applications may require a password reset or confirmation through a security administrator if they detect a device change (Device ID).Be prepared for the fact that access to work chats may require additional verification steps.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)