How to sync two Xiaomis: The Complete Guide

Buying a new Xiaomi smartphone is always a joyous event, but it is often overshadowed by the need for a tedious process to transfer all the accumulated data. Users have to think about how to synchronize two shaomi to avoid losing a single contact, photo or important document when moving to a new device. Fortunately, the MiUI and HyperOS ecosystem offers powerful built-in tools to perform cloning of the system in just a few touches.

Modern synchronization methods avoid manually copying files one by one and installing applications again. Local data transfer via Mi Mover works faster and more stable than cloud services with large amounts of information (more than 50 GB). In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to transfer information, from using a proprietary application to deep setting up your Mi Account, so that your new gadget becomes an exact copy of the old one in 15-20 minutes.

Preparation of devices for the transfer procedure

Before any data manipulations begin, it is critical to make sure that both smartphones are in good working order and ready for intensive work. Synchronizing the two Xiaomis requires a stable battery charge, as the backup and recovery process can consume a significant amount of power. 60-70%.

You also need to check for free space on the receiving device. The amount of free memory should exceed the size of the data you plan to transfer from the old phone. If the old smartphone is occupied by 100 GB, and the new one is free only 80 GB, the process will end in error or not all files will be transferred.

Be sure to check the operating system versions. Although Mi Mover tools are usually compatible between different versions of Android and MiUI, the same firmware version on both devices ensures maximum compatibility of settings and passwords from Wi-Fi. It is advisable to update both devices to the latest available version through the Settings menu → About Phone → System Update.

Using the Mi Mover app for local porting

The most efficient and quick way to sync the two shaomi is to use the built-in Mi Mover app, which creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices, bypassing the Internet channel, which provides high speed transfer of even “heavy” video files and games.

To start the process, open the app on both smartphones. On the new device, select Recipient and on the old device, Sender. QR-A code that will appear on the screen of the new phone, and after scanning, a secure connection will be established, and you can select the categories of data to transfer.

The app allows you to flexibly configure what will be cloned, you can only select contacts, messages and call logs, or you can copy everything, including desktop icons and Wi-Fi passwords. It's important to note that some banking applications may not be automatically migrated for security reasons and will have to be reconfigured.

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If the transfer process is 99 percent frozen, don't panic. Often, at this point, the system is doing the final indexing of files. Wait 5-10 minutes before you interrupt the connection.

Consider that when you transfer large amounts of data (e.g. 200 GB of photos), phones can get hot, which is a normal physical reaction of the CPU and Wi-Fi module to high load, and if you see a warning about overheating, it is better to pause the process and let the devices cool down.

Synchronization through the cloud service Mi Cloud

An alternative to local porting is cloud synchronization via Mi Cloud, ideal for those who want data to be accessible not only on two phones at once, but also saved in the event of a device loss. This method requires a Xiaomi account and a stable Internet connection, preferably via Wi-Fi.

To set up sync, log in to your account on both devices via the Settings menu. → Mi Account: In the Sync section, you need to activate switches for the desired categories: Contacts, Messages, Notes, Recorder, Calendar and Gallery. Once activated, this data will be automatically updated on all devices where you log in to the same acca.

But the cloud has its limitations: only 5GB of space is available for free, and if you plan to sync a gallery with thousands of photos and videos, that won't be enough, so you'll either have to buy a subscription or selectively approach the synchronized data.

An important advantage of cloud sync is the ability to remotely manage: You can send messages or see the location of the second phone directly from the main device, as long as both are connected to the same account and have active Internet.

Transferring data through Google Account

And the classic method of synchronizing through Google services is not to be forgotten: Because the Android operating system is deeply integrated with the search giant’s ecosystem, this method is often the main one for transferring contacts, calendar events and a list of installed applications. When you first set up the new Xiaomi system will offer to restore data from Google backup.

To manually set up, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google. Here you will see a list of services that can be synced. Make sure that the checkmarks are in front of Contacts, Calendar, Google Photos (for media) and Drive. Once sync is enabled, the data will start loading in the background.

The thing about this method is that it works best with contacts and apps, and photos and videos are better synced through a separate Google Photos app, where you can choose High for unlimited storage or Original for storage space.

Synchronizing passwords through Google Password Manager is also very useful, if you used to save passwords in Chrome on an old phone, then on a new one, when you log in to a Google account, all saved logins and passwords will automatically be pulled into the browser and system password store.

Comparison of data synchronization methods

The choice of the specific method depends on your goals and technical capabilities, and to make it easier for you to decide how to synchronize two shaomi in your particular case, we have prepared a comparative table of the main characteristics of each method.

As you can see from the table, Mi Mover is the undisputed leader in the initial setup of a new phone, as it allows you to transfer the “heavy” structure of the system. Cloud methods are more suitable for constant background synchronization of changes in contacts and notes throughout the life of the device.

⚠️ Never use the same Mi Cloud account on two phones at the same time to sync your gallery and messages unless you want that data to be duplicated and mixed. For constant use of two phones, it is better to have different accounts, and data is transferred one-time via Mi Mover.

Solving common synchronization problems

Users may experience various errors during data transfer, and often the problem is that one device goes into sleep mode, interrupting the connection. To avoid this, set the screen settings for both smartphones to set a timeout of "Never" or "30 minutes" for the duration of the procedure.

Another common problem is the incompatibility of Mi Mover versions: If phones are very different in year of release (for example, one came out in 2018 and another in 2026), the old device may be an outdated version of the program, in which case you need to update the application through the GetApps store or Google Play before transferring.

If sync is interrupted in the middle, don't rush to start over. Check to see if the antivirus or system optimizer is blocking the background work of the transmission application. Sometimes it helps to turn off mobile Internet (4G/5G) on both devices so that traffic goes exclusively through the local Wi-Fi channel.

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Connection stability is more important than speed. If the Mi Mover is constantly breaking, try to push the phones closer together or remove metal objects between them that shield the signal.

In rare cases, you may need to manually reset your network settings. This can be done through the Settings menu → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. After the restart, try starting the data transfer again.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions