Changing the ecosystem from iOS to Android, particularly Xiaomi smartphones, often causes users to worry about losing important data, photos and settings. However, modern technology allows this process to be carried out as painlessly and quickly as possible, preserving the structure of contacts, media and even the location of icons on the desktop.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can migrate data, from official apps like Move to iOS and Mi Mover to cloud storage and manual copying through your computer. You will learn about the nuances of working with messengers, passwords and specific files that may not be automatically transferred. The right sequence of actions is the key to successful migration without stress.
Before proceeding with the procedure, you need to make sure that both devices are charged at least 60-70%, as the process can take a considerable time, especially with a large amount of photos and videos. It is also critical that both smartphones are in close proximity to each other and have a stable connection to the same Wi-Fi network or work over a direct Wi-Fi connection. Ignoring these basic requirements can lead to a connection break and the need to start the procedure again.
Preparing iPhone and Xiaomi for data migration
The first step is to check the versions of the operating systems on both devices. On iPhone, go to Settings → Main → Software Update and make sure that the current version of iOS is installed. For Xiaomi, go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version and check for updates. Version compatibility often affects the transfer speed and the list of supported file types.
Make room on Xiaomi’s new smartphone. Although the system usually offers to clear space when you’re short, it’s best to make sure there’s more free memory than the data on the old iPhone. Delete unnecessary caches, old downloads, or temporarily transfer bulky files to your computer if the internal drive is full.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to start a transfer if your iPhone is power saving or Xiaomi is power saving. These settings can limit the background activity of applications and break the Wi-Fi connection at the most inopportune time.
It is also recommended to turn off iMessage on iPhone if you plan a number. SIM-Android cards to avoid losing SMS-Messages from other Apple users. Go to Settings for this → Messages and switch the slider to an inactive state, which will prevent messages from being blocked on the Apple server side after being retrieved. SIM-map.
Using the Mi Mover app for direct transfer
The most effective and native way for Xiaomi devices is to use the built-in Mi Mover app. It is preinstalled on most shell models. MIUI HyperOS, but if it is not available, you can download it. APK-This application creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices without consuming mobile traffic.
Run the app on both devices. On Xiaomi, select Recipient and on iPhone, Sender. QR-The code or manual connection to the Wi-Fi network that the Xiaomi phone will create will start the synchronization process.
- 📱 Contacts and calls: phone book, call history and blacklist are transferred.
- 📸 Multimedia: photos, videos, audio recordings and dictaphone recordings.
- 📅 Organizer: calendar events, notes and reminders (in text format).
- 📲 Apps: Attempts to find similar apps in Google Play Market.
It can take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of data. It's important not to lock the device screens and keep the applications active. If the screen goes out, the transmission may stop. In the event of a failure, Mi Mover usually suggests that you resume the transmission from the stop, rather than start again.
Alternative method: Google Drive and cloud services
If the direct connection is unstable or you prefer cloud technology, a great option is to use a Google account. iPhones need to install the Google Drive app or Google One from the App Store, a method especially good for those who plan to actively use Google services on a new device.
Once you install the app and log in to your Google account, go to your backup settings, and you can choose which data to sync with. The system will automatically upload contacts, calendar events and photos (via Google Photos) to the cloud, and then you can easily log into the same account on Xiaomi when you first set up or in the settings menu.
The main advantage of this method is that it is independent of the physical presence of both phones nearby. You can back up in the evening and activate the new Xiaomi in the morning, and all the data will “fly” over the network. However, the speed depends on your Internet connection, and the free limit of 15 GB can be quickly exhausted by the video archive.
Transferring Multimedia through Computer and Cable
For users with a huge archive of high-resolution photos and videos (ProRes, 4K 60fps), the most reliable way is classic copying via PC, which allows you to control the process, verify the integrity of files and is independent of wireless network speed.
Connect your iPhone to your computer via cable. If you're using Windows and you don't have iTunes installed, the system may not see the device to access the files. Then unlock your iPhone screen and press "Trust this computer." Open "My computer," find your Apple device, and copy the DCIM folder to your hard drive.
Then connect Xiaomi to your computer. In the notification curtain, select the mode of operation. USB —"MTP (File transfers...” Copy previously saved photo and video folders into your phone’s internal memory or to SD-This is a way of guaranteeing the maximum speed of transferring large amounts of data.
| Method | Speed. | Reliability | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Tall. | Tall. | Low. |
| Google Drive | Medium | Medium | Low. |
| Through PC (Cable) | Very high. | Maximum | Medium |
| Send Anywhere | Depends on Wi-Fi. | Medium | Low. |
Nuances of transfer of messengers and applications
The most difficult part of migrating from iOS to Android is to transfer the history of correspondence in messengers. If WhatsApp has an official function of transferring chats when you initially set up Xiaomi (via cable or via a cable). QR-Telegram, Viber or Signal, stores all the history in the cloud, so simply enter your phone number.
Viber and Signal will require you to create local backups on your iPhone and try to restore them to Android, but cross-platform compatibility is often limited. In the case of Viber, you can try backing up on Google Drive (if the iOS version of the app allows it) or use the “Transfer History” feature inside the app settings, if it is available for your version of the OS.
⚠️ Note: Apps purchased from the App Store are not portable to Android for free; you will have to re-purchase paid software from the Google Play Market or search for free analogues; in-app subscriptions may also not be saved if the developer does not support a cross-platform account.
As for banking applications and government services, they will have to be installed again and undergo a full authorization procedure with confirmation of the use of the system. SMS or through push notifications on your old device (if it's still on hand). SIM-Card is active for receiving confirmation codes.
Solving problems and errors in synchronization
Often users experience a certain percentage of the process hanging over or some files getting corrupted. If Mi Mover issues an error, try restarting both devices and disabling VPNs or proxy services that may interfere with the local connection, and it also helps to forget the Wi-Fi network in the settings and connect again.
Another common problem is that contact names are not displayed correctly or that one entry is split into multiple takes, which is solved by the contact merging function in the Contacts app on Xiaomi, which will find duplicates by phone number or email and offer to combine them into one card.
If the photos have lost metadata (date of shooting, geolocation) after transfer, this may be due to the HEIC format that the iPhone uses. Xiaomi usually converts them to JPG automatically, but sometimes the process goes wrong, in which case it is better to use the method of copying through a PC, where you can pre-convert files to a compatible format.