Buying a new smartphone is always accompanied by mixed feelings: the joy of owning a fresh gadget and a slight panic at the need to transfer all the accumulated data. Owners of the Xiaomi ecosystem are in a favorable position, because the manufacturer has provided powerful built-in tools for migration. The process of changing the device no longer requires manual rewriting contacts or searching for lost photos, if you approach it systematically.
Synchronization isn't just about copying files, it's about creating a digital twin of your workspace on a new device. Modern models, whether it's the flagship Xiaomi 14 or the budget Redmi Note, use a single MIUI or HyperOS platform, which makes it much easier. However, there are nuances that are often overlooked, which leads to loss of information or problems with app authorization.
In this article, we'll take a look at all the transfer techniques available, focusing on Mi Mover, the standard application for moving within the ecosystem, how to prepare both devices, which data is automatically transferred and which will require manual intervention, and how to prepare properly will save you hours of time and nerves.
Device preparation and backup
Before any manipulations begin, it is critical to make sure both smartphones are ready to go.The old device often has a full memory and a lot of temporary files that can slow down the transfer process or cause errors.It is recommended to conduct a storage audit and remove unnecessary debris to speed up synchronization.
Be sure to check the battery level on both gadgets. The process of transferring a large amount of data, especially through Wi-Fi Direct, actively consumes energy. If one of the smartphones turns off in the middle of the process, you will have to start all over again. The optimal solution is to connect both devices to a power source or have a charge of at least 60-70%.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to interrupt the data transfer process or switch between apps on an old smartphone while Mi Mover is running.This may damage the archive and lose some contacts or messages.
Also make sure that both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled. Although there is no Internet connection required to transfer files over the local network, system services use these modules to detect devices. If an old phone has an extremely old version of MIUI, you may need to update the transfer application via GetApps.
- 🔋 Charge both smartphones to at least 70% or connect to a charger.
- 📶 Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices.
- 🧹 Clean Old Phone of Temporary Files and Unnecessary Apps.
- 📱 Unlock the screens of both smartphones and make sure they don’t go into sleep too quickly.
Using the Mi Mover application for wireless transfer
The most efficient way to sync is to use the built-in Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on most Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO. If it’s not on an old phone (like a very old version of Android), you can download it from the GetApps store or find an installation device. APK-The application creates a direct secure connection between devices, bypassing external servers.
Run the app on both smartphones, and on the new device, select "I'm a recipient" and on the old one, "I'm a sender." QR-code or connect through device search. Once you have established the connection, you will see a list of data categories available for portability.
☑️ Check before launching the Mi Mover
You can choose from specific types of data: contacts, messages, call log, applications, system settings, images, videos and music. It is worth noting that Wi-Fi passwords and some system settings are only transferred between devices with the same version of the MIUI shell. Apps will be downloaded again from the store, but their data (cache, logins) will be saved if the developer does not prohibit the backup.
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When carrying a large amount of photos (more than 50 GB), the process can take up to 2 hours, it is better to run it overnight and leave the phones lying next to each other.
Once you select the data, click Send. The progress bar will appear on the screen. The speed of transfer depends on the number of files and the distance between devices. Don't move far away from your smartphones so you don't break the connection.
Sync through Mi Account and Cloud Services
The alternative to direct transmission is the use of cloud storage Mi Cloud. This method is ideal if you do not have both phones at hand at the same time or the old device has already been sold/given away, but it was made backup.
To activate, you need to log into your Mi Account settings on your old device and enable synchronization of the desired partitions. After that, on the new phone, you just need to enter the same Mi ID and password. The data will be automatically pulled up when you have the Internet. 5 GB of space is available for free, which may not be enough for photos and videos, but enough for contacts and settings.
| Type of data | Mi Mover (Locally) | Mi Cloud (Cloud) | Google Account |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Yes (instantly) | Yeah (auto) | Yeah (auto) |
| Photos and videos | Yeah (originals) | Yes (compressed or original) | Yes (Google Photo) |
| Annexes | Yes (apk + data) | No (list only) | Yeah (list) |
| System settings | Yes (partially) | Yes. | No. |
| SMS and call history | Yes. | No. | No. |
It's important to understand the difference between local and cloud porting. Mi Mover copies files "as is" by taking up space on a new device. Mi Cloud stores them on a server, and they take up space in the cloud, saving the phone's memory if the storage optimization option is enabled.
What to do if the synchronization is suspended?
Working with Google Account and Data Protection
Google’s ecosystem is the foundation for Android smartphones. When you first set up the new Xiaomi, it will prompt you to sign in to your Google account. This is a critical step, as this is where you store your Play Market purchases, YouTube Premium subscriptions, documents and, most importantly, passwords stored in your Chrome browser.
Once you log in to your Google account, you will start to load a list of apps you used on your old device in the background, and you will see a notification that the apps are ready to install, which is convenient because you don’t have to search for every software manually, but banking apps and some instant messengers (like Telegram or WhatsApp) require a separate security setting.
⚠️ Note: Two-factor authentication (2FA) This can be an obstacle if the SIM card has not yet been transferred to a new phone. Make sure you can receive SMS or use codes from an authenticator application that you had to export in advance.
For instant messengers like WhatsApp, standard Mi Mover porting may not keep your email history completely due to Android security limitations, and it is recommended to use the built-in backup feature in the app itself on your old phone (Google Drive) and then restore it from the backup on a new one.
Transfer of specific data: passwords, browsers and 2FA
If you’ve used a password manager (built into Chrome, Mi Pass, or a third-party like Bitwarden), make sure that the master password or biometrics work on the new device.
Bank and government applications (Public Services, Sberbank, Tinkoff) require re-authorization. Often, an SMS or push notification is required to log in to an old device. So don't rush to reset your old phone to factory settings. Leave it on for 2-3 days until you make sure that all services are running on the new gadget.
For users of Google Authenticator or Mi Authenticator, there is an export function. In the application on the old phone, you need to select "Change accounts" -> "Export accounts, scan the accounts QR-This will save access to accounts that require two-factor protection.
- 🔐 Export the codes 2FA authenticator.
- 🌐 Check the synchronization of bookmarks and passwords in the browser.
- 🏦 Prepare to re-enter banking applications (may require video identification).
- 💬 Make a local backup of correspondence in messengers, if they are not stored in the cloud.
Completion of migration and cleaning of old device
When all the data is moved, the apps are installed and the logins are completed, the final stage comes. Check the gallery for all the photos in place. Open contacts for any duplicates (Xiaomi's system often suggests combining duplicate records). Make sure alarm clocks, calendars and reminders are synchronized correctly.
Only after careful inspection can you start cleaning your old device, not just delete files, but completely reset to factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Reset) to ensure that your personal information is not shared with the new owner if you plan to sell or give your smartphone.
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The full migration cycle is only complete when you are sure that the old device is empty and everything is working normally on the new one.
Once reset, the old phone can be used as a media center, a security camera (via special apps) or simply removed as a backup.The new Xiaomi is fully ready to go, retaining the familiar digital environment, but with new speed and performance.