Switching to a new smartphone or having to use two devices in conjunction often poses a challenge for the owner of Xiaomi equipment: how quickly and without loss to transfer all data? Modern Android operating systems offer many built-in tools, but the ecosystem of the Chinese manufacturer has its own unique features that greatly simplify this process.
Synchronization isn't just about copying files, it's about creating a single data space between devices, and users often confuse simply copying media files with fully synchronizing contacts, calendars, call history, and app settings. In the world of Xiaomi, this process is optimized to the maximum thanks to branded services. MIUI And HyperOS, you don't have to be. IT-a specialist to perform data transfer, but it is important to understand the difference between methods and choose the one that suits your current situation.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods, from cloud technologies to local transmission protocols. We will look at the nuances of working with Mi Account, the features of using the Mi Mover application and the hidden capabilities of Bluetooth-sharing. You will learn how to avoid typical errors that can lead to duplication of records or loss of data.
Preparation for synchronization: basic requirements
Before you start moving data, make sure both devices are ready to go. The fundamental requirement for most methods is that you have a stable Internet connection or connectivity on both smartphones. If you plan to use cloud services, make sure that the old device has logged in to your account, which will be used on the new gadget.
The second critical aspect is battery level: synchronization can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the amount of information, it is recommended to charge both devices to a minimum of 60-70% or connect them to power sources, and suddenly turning off one of the phones at the time of recording data can cause file damage or failures in the contact database.
⚠️ Note: Do not try to sync devices if one of them is running a critically low version of Android (below 6.0) or heavily modified firmware from third-party developers, as this may cause transfer protocol incompatibility.
It's also worth checking if there's space on the target device. Even if you're just copying contacts, the system may require space for temporary files or app updates. Freeing up space will save you from interrupting the process in advance at the finish line. Check if Wi-Fi is on if you don't want to spend mobile traffic, especially when transferring large volumes of photos and videos.
☑️ Readiness for data portability
Using Mi Account for Cloud Synchronization
The most reliable and traditional way for Xiaomi ecosystem is to use its own cloud service. Mi Account allows you to store not only contacts and notes, but also call history, messages and other information. SMS/MMS, Desktop settings and even Wi-Fi passwords. You need to go to the Settings menu to activate. → Mi Account and Authorize.
Once you log in, you'll be asked to select data categories to sync, which is a flexible tool to eliminate the extra ones, for example, you can only sync contacts and calendars, leaving heavy photos and videos for manual transmission. Click on Sync and activate the switches you want. The system will automatically upload the data to the cloud, which will take time depending on your Internet speed.
On Xiaomi’s new phone, the procedure looks mirrored. Log in to the same account, go to the sync menu and click Sync or Restore from the cloud. Data will start loading in the background. The advantage of this method is that even if you lose your phone, your data will remain secure and accessible from any other device or through the i.mi.com web interface.
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Use the Advanced Sync feature in the Mi Cloud settings to automatically remove duplicate contacts when downloaded to a new device.
It’s worth noting that free cloud space is limited (usually 5GB), so large photo archives may require a subscription, but text data, contacts, and settings take up negligible space and have little impact on the limit, making it ideal for preserving data structure and personal information.
Mi Mover app: fast local transmission
For those who don’t want to depend on the speed of the Internet or the volume of cloud storage, Xiaomi has developed a special application Mi Mover. This tool creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between the two devices, providing high data transfer speeds without using operator traffic. MIUI.
It runs simultaneously on both phones, and on the old device, select the role of "Sender" and on the new device, "New phone." QR-You can find the device manually through the list of available networks, and once you connect, you'll see a detailed data selection menu, and you can transfer everything at once: apps, music, pictures, videos, documents, and even system settings.
The main advantage of Mi Mover is the speed and ability to transfer installed applications along with their data (in some cases), which eliminates the need to re-authorize in each service.
| Parameter | Mi Account (Cloud) | Mi Mover (Locally) | Bluetooth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed. | Depends on the Internet. | High (up to 20 Mb/s) | Low. |
| Demands the Internet. | Yes. | No. | No. |
| Only a list. | Yes (APK and data) | Only APK. | |
| Data limit | Limited by the cloud | No restrictions. | Small files. |
If the transfer process is interrupted, don't panic.The Mi Mover app can resume downloading from the break site, although in some cases it may be necessary to start transferring a specific category of files again, make sure that the phone screens do not go out during the process, or adjust the increase in time to autolock in the display settings.
What if the Mi Mover can’t see the device?
Synchronization with Bluetooth and Xiaomi Share
While Bluetooth technology is considered obsolete for large amounts of data, it remains indispensable for fast transfer of multiple contacts or one photo. In the new MIUI and HyperOS shells, classic Bluetooth is often replaced or supplemented by the Xiaomi Share feature (similar to AirDrop), a technique that uses a combination of Bluetooth for search and Wi-Fi for transfer, making it very fast.
To transfer via Xiaomi Share, open a gallery or file manager, select the files you want, and click the Share button. A second phone should appear in the list of available devices if it has the corresponding module on it. The receiver should confirm the request for transfer, which is the perfect way to quickly share without configuring complex profiles.
If you use classic Bluetooth (for example, to pair with very old models), the process will be much slower. You will need to pair through the Settings → Bluetooth menu, enter the confirmation code and only then send files. The speed rarely exceeds 1-2 Mbps, so this method is not suitable for gigabytes of photos.
⚠️ Note: When transferring files via Bluetooth or Xiaomi Share, large video files may not open automatically on the receiving device until full download.
Xiaomi Share is especially useful when you want to transfer files to devices from other brands that support OPPO Share or similar standards, creating a universal sharing environment that does not require additional applications, but for a complete migration of the system, it is still better to use specialized tools like Mi Mover.
Transferring contacts and calendars through Google Services
And remember the industry standard, Google, and many Xiaomi users don't even know that their contacts are already synced, and if your old phone displays a person's icon or Google next to your contact name, it's already in the cloud, and if you add the same Google account to your new device, you can add the same Google account to your Settings → Accounts and Sync.
Google Sync covers not only contacts, but also calendar events, notes (via Google Keep) and tasks. It is a cross-platform solution that works equally well on Xiaomi, Samsung or any other Android smartphone. To activate, go to Settings → Accounts → Google and make sure the Contacts and Calendar switch is active.
In case of conflicts (e.g., duplicate records), Google offers a contact merge feature via the web interface contacts.google.com. There you can find a tool called "Fix and Manage" that will automatically find and combine duplicates, clearing the phone book of garbage, this is especially true if you have previously switched between different phones and imported contacts manually.
It is important to distinguish where the contact is stored: in memory. SIM-In order to be synchronized securely, all contacts must be moved to a Google account, and you can do this through the Contacts app by selecting the Contact Management option" → "Move your contacts".
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Google accounts are a universal contact and calendar bridge, independent of the brand of the phone, while Mi Accounts are better at keeping Xiaomi’s system settings.
Solving Typical Synchronization Problems
Even if you follow all the instructions, you can have technical difficulties. One of the most common problems is the error "Not enough space" or "Sync suspended." Often this is solved by clearing the cache of Google Play services or MIUI service. To do this, go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find the appropriate service and select "Clear cache" (not data, if you do not want to reset).
Another common problem is the endless synchronization process, and if the progress bar has been frozen by 99% for a long time, maybe one of the files is corrupted, then try to sync the data selectively, eliminating heavy videos or large files, and rebooting both devices and the router helps if sync is going through Wi-Fi.
If you encounter a Mi Account authorization problem, check if the date and time on the device are correctly set. Dissynchronizing system time for even a few minutes can cause Xiaomi security servers to fail to connect. Set the value of "Auto" in the date and time settings.
⚠️ Note: When resetting to factory settings (Hard Reset) on your old phone, make sure that the sync is complete. The All Sync indicator in your account settings is your main reference point before formatting.
In rare cases, antivirus software or third-party file managers can block access to system files for backup. Try temporarily disabling third-party defenders or using standard system tools to verify data integrity. If the problem persists, logging errors through the Service and Feedback app will help Xiaomi technicians diagnose the failure.