How to sync two Xiaomi smartphones with each other

Owning two devices from the same manufacturer often arises from the need to separate work and personal tasks or when upgrading a gadget to a newer model. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, this process is made as simple as possible thanks to the company’s built-in tools and cloud services. The user does not need to be an IT expert to exchange data between devices.

Synchronization allows you to have current contacts, calendar, notes and call history on both devices in real time, which is especially important for those who use one phone for calls and the second one as a multimedia center or workstation.

There are several proven methods of connecting devices into a single network: through a Mi Account, Google services or a specialized migration application, the choice of the particular method depends on which data is prioritized and whether the system should be cloned completely or only individual elements.

Using Mi Cloud to synchronize data

Xiaomi’s primary tool for device owners is its own cloud storage, and you need to log into Mi Account on both smartphones using the same username and password to start, creating a single digital environment where changes made on one device are automatically reflected on the other.

Once logged in, you should go to the settings menu and find the cloud service section, where you can choose which categories of data you want to sync, usually contacts, messages, notes, voice recordings, and a gallery.

⚠️ Warning: Free cloud storage is limited to 5GB. If you plan to sync heavy files such as original quality photos or videos, there may not be enough space.

It is important to understand that synchronizing a gallery can take a considerable time and require a Wi-Fi connection. In the settings, you can specify whether to download media files only over a wireless network or use mobile traffic.

• 📱 Open Settings and click on the top line with the account name.
• ☁️ Select Mi Cloud and activate the right category switches.
• 🔄 Click Sync to Forced Data Update.

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Use the Clear Data feature on the second device before logging in if you want to copy the entire structure of the first phone without mixing old files.

One of the key features is finding a device, which is that if one of the smartphones is lost, it can be tracked through a web interface or a second device that is part of the same account, a powerful security tool that you should activate in advance.

Transfer data via Mi Mover

When it comes to fully syncing two phones, for example, when you switch to a new model, the best solution is the Mi Mover app, which is built into the shell of MIUI and HyperOS, so it doesn't need to be downloaded separately, it allows you to transfer not only media files, but also system settings, home screen layout and installed applications.

The process starts with running an application on both devices, one selected as the sender and the other as the recipient, and creating a local access point allows for high data speeds without using Internet traffic.

After the scan. QR-The code starts copying. Transfer time depends on the amount of information. During operation, the screens of the devices should not go out, so it is recommended to turn off autolock or periodically touch the display.

It is worth noting that some banking applications and secure systems may not be automatically ported for security reasons, but will have to be configured and manually authorized on the new device.

Synchronization through Google account

The Google ecosystem is an alternative to Xiaomi’s own services, and for many users, this method is preferable because it is universal and does not depend on the smartphone manufacturer.

You can set up your account settings in detail which services will sync, which includes Google Contacts, Calendar, Gmail, Drive, and most importantly Google Photos, the latter service allows you to store an unlimited number of photos in compressed quality.

To activate, go to Settings -> Accounts and Sync. Here you select a Google account and the user is offered a list of services. Activating sliders triggers the background data exchange process.

• 📧 Make sure that both phones have the same primary Google account.
• ⚙️ Go to Settings -> Google -> Synchronization settings.
• ✅ Check the status of the last sync for each service.

A feature of this method is deep integration with the Android operating system: Chrome browser history, passwords and even open tabs are synchronized instantly, ensuring continuity of work.

Application cloning and space sharing

Often synchronization means that users can use two different accounts in the same application on the same device, or vice versa, to have the same set of applications on two phones. MIUI and HyperOS have the function of Cloning applications.

This feature allows you to create a copy of a popular messenger or social network, for example, you can use one phone number for the main WhatsApp account and the second number for a cloned app on the same device, which is useful if you have two Xiaomis and want to distribute SIM cards.

Configures through the Settings -> Applications -> Application Cloning menu. The system will offer a list of supported programs. After activation, a second icon with a small marker will appear on the desktop.

⚠️ Note: Clone applications take up additional space in the device’s memory and may consume more RAM. On older models, this may lead to a slowdown in the system.

To fully synchronize the state of applications between two physical devices, it is better to use cloud-based saves within the applications themselves (if they support multi-maidenness) or the Mi Cloud backup function.

Synchronization of notes and dictaphone

Xiaomi’s standard Notes and Recorder apps have powerful synchronization potential, allowing you to start recording an idea on one phone and see text or audio on another. To work, it’s critical that both devices have Mi Cloud sync enabled.

In the Notes app, data is saved automatically, but in order for it to appear on the second device, you need to make sure that the account settings are ticked against the Notes item. The same applies to voice recordings.

The file formats remain unchanged when transmitted, and audio recordings can be listened to directly in the note interface if they have been attached, creating a convenient workflow for journalists, students or businessmen.

• 📝 Open the Notes app and check the top menu to access cloud folders.
• 🎙️ In the voice recorder, files are saved to a local folder, which is then synchronized with the cloud.
• 🔗 Make sure the second phone logs in to the same Mi Account.

If synchronization is not happening, try opening the note on the first device, making the minimum change, and saving it, which initiates a forced data transfer to the server.

Solving synchronization problems

Despite the fact that processes are fine, users may encounter errors, most often due to an unstable Internet connection or an outdated version of the system component Security or Mi Service, and updating these system applications through GetApps often solves the problem.

Another common reason is time and date desynchronization: If one device is not setting the time correctly, security certificates can block the connection to the server. Always use automatic time setting over the network.

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The main cause of synchronization errors is software version conflict or crowded cloud storage. Always check for free space in Mi Cloud.

In some cases, cleaning the sync services cache helps. To do this, go to Settings -> Applications -> All applications, find Mi Cloud or Sync, and select Clear -> Clear the cache.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete system sync application data unless you are confident in your actions, which may result in the loss of local copies of data before uploading them to the cloud.

If nothing works, log out on both devices, reboot them, and re-enter, and that will recreate the authorization tokens and start the sync process from scratch.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)