How to sync your Xiaomi phone: methods and instructions

Switching to a new smartphone or having to have identical data on two devices is a challenge that every owner of modern technology faces. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, this process is as automated as possible thanks to proprietary services MIUI and HyperOS. The right setup allows you to instantly transfer contacts, call history, messages and even placement of icons on the desktop.

There are several ways to do this, from the Mi Cloud cloud to the local Mi Mover wireless connection, and the specific method depends on the state of the devices and the amount of information being transmitted, and we will discuss each option in detail below so that you can choose the one that is most suitable for your situation.

Preparing devices for synchronization

Before you start the data transfer process, you need to make sure that both smartphones are ready to go, which is a basic step, ignoring which can lead to errors or interruption of file transfer in the middle of the process, make sure that both devices are on Wi-Fi and battery level is above 50%.

The operating system version is critical. If you're trying to sync an old phone with the latest model, the difference in Android versions or the MIUI shell can cause format compatibility conflicts.

• 📱 Check the availability of free space on the receiving device - it should be more than the amount of data transmitted.
• 🔋 Connect both phones to a power source or make sure the batteries are high.
• 📶 Make sure that both devices have Bluetooth and geolocation modules enabled for accurate detection.

It is also recommended to delete temporary files and application cache on the old device so as not to transfer “digital debris” to the new device, which will speed up the system after the migration.

⚠️ Warning: Do not try to sync your devices if one of them has critical system updates that require a reboot. Complete the upgrade and restart the smartphone before starting the procedure.

Using the Mi Mover app for local porting

The fastest and most reliable way to sync a Xiaomi phone to a phone is by using 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 large amounts of data, such as 4K video or game backups.

To get started, open the settings menu and find About Phone, then select Mi Mover or find the app in the Tools folder. On one device, select the Sender role and on the other, the New Phone. The new phone's camera will scan. QR-code on the old screen, after which the establishment of a secure connection will begin.

The application interface allows you to flexibly customize the selection of data, you can only transfer contacts and messages, or make a full cloned copy of the system, including passwords from Wi-Fi networks and alarm settings.

• 🚀 Transfer speeds can reach 40 MB/s, which is much faster than Bluetooth.
• 🔒 Data is transmitted over a local channel, excluding leakage through third-party servers.
• 🔄 The process can be (pause) and resumed when the connection is broken.

If the automatic scan doesn’t work, you can connect devices manually by searching for available Wi-Fi networks that the application creates on the receiving device.

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When transferring data via Mi Mover, do not switch to other apps or block the smartphone screen, as this can break the Wi-Fi Direct connection.

Synchronization with your Mi Cloud account

The Mi Cloud is the heart of Xiaomi’s ecosystem, which allows you to not just migrate data once, but keep it up to date on all devices in real time, and to use this method, you need to log into the same Mi Account on both smartphones.

Go to the settings, click on the top plaque with your account name, and select the Mi Cloud section. Here you will see a list of categories: Contacts, Messages, Gallery, Recorder, Notes, etc. Activate the switches opposite those points that should sync automatically.

Once sync is enabled on the old phone, the data will start to be uploaded to Xiaomi servers. On the new device, just log in to the same account, and the information will “fly” in the background, which is especially convenient for storing call history and SMS.

It is important to understand that free space of 5 GB may not be enough for a full backup of photos and videos, in which case the system will offer to purchase an additional tariff or sync only the most important categories.

Google Account as a universal method

Don’t discount the opportunities that Android itself provides. Google account sync works on any smartphone, regardless of brand, making this method ideal if you’re switching from, say, Samsung to Xiaomi or vice versa.

To activate, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google. Make sure the checkmarks are in front of Contacts, Calendar and Drive. Calendar contacts and events are saved almost instantly, and photos can be customized through the Google Photos app.

The main advantage of this method is that it is independent of the manufacturer's servers, and even if you decide to change Xiaomi to another brand in the future, your data will remain available, but the system settings, the placement of widgets and passwords from Wi-Fi are not portable in this way.

• 🌐 Cross-platform: works between any Android and iOS-based devices.
• 💾 Reliability: Data is stored at Google’s facilities, which are rarely affected by failures.
• 📲 Convenience: no additional applications required, everything is built into the system.

It is recommended to use Google sync in conjunction with Mi Cloud to create a double backup of the most important data.

Transferring data from iPhone to Xiaomi

Apple owners also have an easy migration option, with the Mi Mover app having an iOS version that can be downloaded from the App Store, a process similar to synchronizing two Android devices, but with its limitations.

iPhones must be allowed to access contacts, photos and calendars. QR-It is worth noting that apps, messages and iOS settings cannot be migrated to Android due to the closed Apple ecosystem.

Alternatively, using the Move to iOS feature backwards doesn’t work, so relying on Mi Mover or manually installing apps is the only way.

⚠️ Note: When transferring photos from iPhone to Xiaomi via Mi Mover, metadata (shot date, geolocation) for some formats may not be saved HEIC. It is recommended to convert them in advance to JPEG Or use Google Photos or use Google Photos.

Synchronization solution and errors

Even if all instructions are followed, there can be technical failures, and users often experience a situation where the process is 99% suspended or devices can’t see each other, and most of the time the problem lies in the power saving settings or application versions.

If Mi Mover doesn’t find the device, try manually enabling Bluetooth and Geolocation on both phones.Also make sure neither device is in Flight or Do Not Disturb mode, which can block network requests.

If you have cloud sync errors (constant download attempts), try logging out of your Mi Account on both devices, rebooting your smartphones, and logging in again. This updates your authorization tokens.

In rare cases, network resets help: go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. This will not delete your personal files, but will return network settings to factory values.

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90% of sync problems are solved by updating the Mi Mover app to the latest version via GetApps or Google Play.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)