Changing your smartphone, especially in the Xiaomi ecosystem, is often perceived as a stressful situation, involving the risk of losing important contacts, photos and app settings. Fortunately, modern technology avoids manually copying files and configuring each application anew. The migration process has become much easier thanks to the built-in shell tools MIUI and HyperOS, which take care of all the technical work.
In this article, we will discuss the most effective methods to quickly and safely transfer all information from the old device to the new. You will learn about the nuances of the system application Mi Mover, the features of synchronization through the cloud and how to save data messengers. Competent approach to training will allow you to start using a new gadget immediately after unpacking without spending hours restoring your usual digital environment.
Before you start copying directly, make sure both devices are ready to go, charge both smartphones to at least 60-70%, as the process of transferring a large amount of information can be energy-intensive, and check the availability of free space on the receiving device to avoid interrupting the operation halfway.
Preparation of devices and selection of method of transmission
The first step is to properly prepare both gadgets. Make sure that the old and new phone have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, as these modules are used to create a direct link. If you plan to use cloud services, check the stability of the Internet connection, preferably over a high-speed network.
There are three main ways to transfer data: local (through a direct connection of devices), cloud (through a Mi or Google account), and manual (via a computer or memory card), the local method is the fastest and does not require an Internet connection, making it preferable for transferring heavy files like video to 4K.
It is also important to update the Mi Mover app on both devices to the latest version available from the GetApps store or Google Play. Older versions may not work properly with new file formats or may not support transferring some system settings. If one device has a very old version of Android installed, the functionality may be limited.
⚠️ Attention: Before any data port operation is initiated, it is strongly recommended to back up critical files to an external medium. Although the risk of data loss is minimal, technical failures in the transmission of large amounts of information cannot be completely eliminated.
Using the Mi Mover app for local transmission
The most effective tool is the built-in Mi Mover app, which allows you to transfer contacts, messages, call history, photos, videos, music, documents, and even installed applications along with their data, the process begins with running the application on both devices.
On the new smartphone, select the role of “I’m a recipient” and on the old one, “I’m a sender.” QR-Select the right device in the list or scan the code with the camera of the old phone to establish a secure connection.
☑️ Preparation for transmission via Mi Mover
Once connected, the interfaces sync up, and you'll see a list of data categories to transfer. You can select specific file types or use the "Select All" button. The system will automatically calculate the transfer time and the amount of memory you need. Click "Send" to start the process.
During transmission, do not turn off device screens or switch to other applications so as not to interrupt the connection. The copy speed depends on the volume of data and the quality of Wi-Fi modules, but usually ranges from 10 to 40 MB / s. Large files can be copied longer, but the progress will be displayed in real time.
What should I do if the transmission is interrupted?
Sync with your Mi and Google account
An alternative to local copying is cloud sync, which is ideal for saving contacts, notes, calendars and photos, and requires you to log in to the same Google and Mi Account account on both devices, which will automatically update data in the background.
In your Google account settings (Settings → Accounts & Sync → Google), make sure that the contacts, calendar and other important services sliders are enabled. Similar steps are taken for your Xiaomi account (Settings → Mi Account → Sync).
The advantage of the cloud method is that your data will always be safe even in the event of physical loss or breakage of an old phone.However, free space in the cloud is limited (usually 5 GB for Google and 5 GB for Mi), so for a full backup system with games and heavy applications, this method will not work without buying additional space.
| Type of data | Mi Mover (Locally) | Google Account | Mi Cloud |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. |
| Photos and videos | Yeah (originals) | Yes (compressed or original) | Yes (with limitations) |
| Annexes (APK) | Yes. | List only. | No. |
| Application data | Partially. | Depends on the developer. | No. |
| System settings | Yeah (Wi-Fi passwords, alarm clocks) | Partially. | No. |
Once you log in to your account on your new device, the data will start to load automatically when you have internet, which can take a while, especially if you have a lot of high-resolution photos, and it is recommended to connect your phone to the charger and Wi-Fi network overnight for full sync.
Transferring messages, calls and browser history
One of the most important parts of migration is to keep your email and call history. Standard Android tools often don't save SMS and MMS when you change devices, but Mi Mover does a great job of doing that. It copies the messaging database, keeping the dialog structure and attachments structure.
The process is similar to the call history, with the log of incoming, outgoing and missed calls being completely identical to the one on the old phone, useful for finding numbers or confirming communications, and transferring contact locks and forwarding settings.
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When transferring messages, pay attention to MMS attachments. If they were deleted from memory on the old phone but displayed in the dialogue, they may not appear on the new device or be marked as corrupt.
Browser history and saved passwords are synced through your account. If you use Google Chrome or the built-in Mi Browser browser with sync enabled, all your tabs, bookmarks and logins will pull up immediately after authorization, otherwise you will have to export passwords manually or rely on the built-in save feature in the system.
It is worth noting that some banking applications and messengers with enhanced security may require re-authorization or additional security checks after transfer, which is a normal security response to changing the device, and it does not indicate an error when copying data.
Nuances of transfer WhatsApp, Viber and Telegram
Messengers require special attention because they store data in secure directories. Telegram usually does not have problems: just enter a phone number, and all chats (except secret ones) will be downloaded from the server. Secret chats are tied to a specific device and cannot be transferred.
WhatsApp and Viber are more complicated, and these apps use Google Drive or iCloud backups to restore history. When you first run on a new phone, the messenger will prompt you to recover data from the cloud. Make sure that the old phone has a fresh backup in the chat settings right before you replace it.
⚠️ Note: When you restore WhatsApp to a new device, make sure you use the same phone number and Google account as the old one.
If cloud recovery doesn’t work or takes too long, you can try using the Chat Transfer feature inside WhatsApp itself (Settings). → chat → Chat transfer. This method creates local QR-code that needs to be scanned with a new phone, which is similar to the work of Mi Mover, but is specialized specifically for the messenger.
For Viber, it is also important to create a local or cloud copy. In the application settings (Account → Backup Viber), start creating a backup. When installing the application on a new phone, follow the instructions on the screen to restore from the created copy.
Solutions and optimization after the transfer
Once the data transfer is complete, you may feel that the new phone is slower than the old one. This is temporary: it takes time for the system to index files, optimize applications and load content in the background. Give the device a couple of hours of quiet operation with Wi-Fi connected.
Sometimes apps may not open or not work properly, so try clearing the cache of the problem app (Settings → Applications → [Application Name] → Memory → Clear cache) if that doesn’t work, remove and install the app again from the store.
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After transferring the data, be sure to check the NFC, Bluetooth and geolocation, and sometimes the settings of these modules are reset or require re-confirmation of access rights for ported applications.
Don't forget to check your notification settings. On the newer versions of MIUI and HyperOS, your system strictly controls background activity. Go to your battery settings and make sure that your important messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, email) have a "No Limits" background activity limit so you don't miss messages.
It's also worth rechecking the settings of alarm clocks and recurring events on the calendar. Despite the fact that Mi Mover claims to be full copy, in rare cases, time zones or repetition rules can be lost. Visual check will take a minute, but will save you from being late.