Replacing a smartphone is always associated with a certain amount of stress, especially if you’re used to the perfect organization of the workspace and don’t want to reconfigure every setting of the system. When a user buys a new device from the Xiaomi brand, they don’t have to go through the circles of hell of manually installing applications and entering passwords from Wi-Fi networks. The Chinese manufacturer’s ecosystem offers powerful built-in tools that allow you to clone an old phone almost one into one.
Modern versions of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS contain advanced synchronization algorithms that handle not only the media but also the layout of the icons on the desktop, which means that once you finish the procedure, you will pick up a new gadget and not notice the difference in the interface, all your habits, logins and even wallpaper will be waiting for you in place.
There are several proven migration methods, each with its own characteristics depending on the amount of information and the speed of the Internet connection. We will consider the most effective methods that ensure the safety of all important files and system preferences. The right tool will save you hours of time and eliminate the need to remember passwords from dozens of services.
Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration
The most efficient and quick way to transfer data between devices of the same manufacturer is to use the regular application Mi Mover. This tool is pre-installed in the default system and does not require the installation of third-party software or the presence of stable high-speed Internet, since the transmission goes over a direct Wi-Fi channel between gadgets.
To get started, you need to open the app on both smartphones. On the old device, select the role of Sender, and on the new device, Receiver. The system automatically creates an access point to which you need to connect. The connection process usually takes a few seconds, after which the file selection interface will open.
The interface allows you to flexibly configure what you want to migrate, you can choose only contacts and messages, or you can copy the entire dataset, including heavy video files and messenger cache. It is important to understand that the transfer of system settings through this tool occurs most completely between devices of the same ecosystem.
☑️ Check before launching the Mi Mover
The data transfer speeds over Mi Mover are much faster than those over Bluetooth or cloud services, and can reach 20-40 MB/s depending on the processor model, which allows you to transfer 100 GB of information in about an hour, which is a great indicator for a local wireless connection.
⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the transfer process or turn off the screens of smartphones until the final message of successful completion appears. Interrupting during the copying of system files may lead to malfunction of the new device.
Sync with Mi Cloud and Xiaomi account
An alternative and highly reliable method is to use the Mi Cloud cloud service, ideal for those who want to back up data in case of loss or breakdown of physical media, and you will need a Xiaomi Account to work with, which is the key to your data.
On an old phone, you need to go to the settings and select "Mi Account"; in the sync menu, you need to activate the saving of contacts, notes, voice recordings and, importantly, desktop layouts. Once sync is enabled, the data will go to the cloud storage.
When you turn on a new smartphone, just enter the same username and password, the system automatically prompts you to restore data from the last backup, which is especially useful if the old phone has already been sold or broken, but the cloud copy was made in advance.
What to do if the cloud is out of place?
One of the key features of cloud sync is to save Wi-Fi passwords and security settings. Once logged in to a new device, you don't have to re-enter complex character combinations to access your home network. HyperOS also knows how to synchronize open browser tabs and call history.
| Type of data | Loading speed | Network dependency | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts and SMS | Instantly. | Required. | Tall. |
| Photos and videos | Long (depending on volume) | It requires stable Wi-Fi. | Tall. |
| Annexes | Medium | Required. | Medium |
| Screen layout | Quickly. | Required. | Tall. |
Transferring Multimedia through Google Photos and Disk
For users who are deeply integrated into Google services, the easiest way to transfer photos and documents is Google Photos, which does not require a second phone at the time of transfer, since all data is stored on the servers of the corporation.
Just make sure that the old device is enabled autoload in the Google Photos app. After that, all new photos are automatically saved to the cloud. On the new Xiaomi, just log in to the same Google account, and the entire gallery will be available instantly.
For documents, PDF-It's easier to use Google Drive for files and archives, so you can upload folders of important papers to them, and then just download them on a new device, which frees up space in local memory and creates an extra layer of security.
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Use the “Free Space” feature in Google Photos after checking the download to remove the originals from the memory of your old phone and speed up the system.
The main advantage of this method is that it is brand-independent, and if you decide to switch to Samsung or Honor in a year, your photos and documents will remain available, but the system settings and icon layout are not copied in this way.
Migration of data through local backup
In the system MIUI And HyperOS has a powerful local backup feature that many people don't know about, and it allows you to create a complete cast of the system, including the settings of the applications and their data, into a special hidden partition of memory or on the computer. SD-map.
To create this copy, go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore. You can choose to create a new backup. Unlike the cloud method, even data is copied inside applications, which is critical for messengers without a cloud history.
Once you create a backup file (usually in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder), you have to transfer it to a new phone, which you can do via your computer or by copying the file to your memory card, and on the new device, you can select the Recover function in the same menu.
⚠️ Note: Local backup files can weigh tens of gigabytes. Make sure that the receiving device has enough free space before starting the recovery procedure.
This method is the most versatile for transferring data within a single version of Android, as it ensures compatibility of system files. However, when switching between very different versions of Android (for example, from Android 10 to 14), some settings may not apply correctly.
Transferring the history of calls and SMS-message
Contacts, history, and text messages are the most unpleasant things to lose, and when moving to a new Xiaomi, this data is the easiest to carry, but requires careful attention when choosing synchronization sources.
If your contacts are kept in SIM-But modern smartphones often have a combined tray, and they can be easily rearranged. SIM-The card may not fit, so it's best to export the contacts in.vcf format through the Contacts app and toss the file in any convenient way.
For SMS and call logs, the Mi Mover or local backup mentioned above is best. Google also saves call history and SMS if the appropriate option is enabled in Google account settings, but it is often restored only when you first set up the phone from scratch.
- 📞 Contacts: Synced instantly through Google Account or Mi Account.
- 💬 SMS: Requires the use of Mi Mover or applications SMS Backup & Restore for reliable transfer.
- 📝 Notes: Automatically synced via the Mi cloud if the appropriate option is enabled.
It is important to check where new contacts are saved by default, and users often save them to their phone instead of their account, which leads to data loss when changing devices, and it is recommended to always choose to save them to Google or Mi Cloud.
Features of data transfer messengers WhatsApp and Telegram
Messengers have a special place in the lives of users, and their transfer has its nuances. Telegram works on the basis of the cloud, so just enter the phone number, and all chats (except secret) will appear automatically. No additional actions are required.
WhatsApp is more complicated: apps use local backup or Google Drive. When you first launch WhatsApp on a new phone, it will prompt you to recover your correspondence history from the Google Drive cloud if you use the same account.
If the automatic recovery didn't work, you can use the Chat Transfer feature inside the WhatsApp settings on your old phone. QR-It's a code that needs to be scanned by a new device, and it creates a direct connection to transmit heavy media stories.
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It is critical for WhatsApp to use the same phone number and Google Drive account (or iCloud if you switch from an iPhone), otherwise the history of the correspondence will not recover.
Not to forget Viber and other less popular messengers, which often require you to manually back up your application settings and save the file to Google Drive to download it on your new device.
Solving and completing the setup
Once the basic transfer process is complete, the new phone’s system can “think” for a while, indexing files and installing application background updates. This is normal behavior, and during this period the device may heat up or discharge faster.
Check key applications, especially banking ones, that often require re-authorization or re-assignment for security purposes. NFC-Payment, as sometimes you need to re-add cards to Google Pay or Mi Pay.
If you used local backup to transfer Wi-Fi passwords, but they are not used, check whether the router is not a filter on the router. MAC-In other cases, the network must be automatically connected when it first appears in the area of operation.
- 🔋 Battery: After transferring data, let the phone fully discharge and charge up to 100% for calibration.
- 🔒 Security: Pass a security check in the Security app to make sure there are no conflicts.
- 🗑️ Clean: Don't rush to reset your old phone to factory settings until you make sure everything on the new one works perfectly within a couple of days.
⚠️ Note: Some banking apps may block a new device if they see two different devices trying to log in to an account at the same time.