Buying a new smartphone, especially within the same manufacturer’s ecosystem, is often less stressful than switching from another platform. However, even when switching from Xiaomi to Poco (which is technically the Chinese giant’s “daughter”), users have many questions about the safety of personal information, and the migration process has become much easier thanks to the built-in tools MIUI and HyperOS, but requires attention to detail to prevent losses.
The challenge is not so much the file transfer itself as the proper configuration of Google services and specific banking applications. The wrong sequence of actions can lead to the gallery being empty and the call history not being preserved. In this article, we will examine all available methods, from cloud synchronization to direct cable connection.
Before you start active, you need to prepare both devices. Backup is a golden rule that should not be neglected even when using automatic utilities. Make sure that both smartphones are charged at least 60-70% of the battery, so that the process is not interrupted halfway due to battery discharge.
Preparation of devices before the migration
The first step to successful porting is cleaning and optimizing the original device. If the old Xiaomi has accumulated a lot of temporary files or app cache, the copying process may be delayed or ended in error, it is recommended to remove unnecessary applications and make room for system utilities to work faster.
The second important step is to verify the operating system version. Although Poco and Xiaomi use similar shells, differences in the versions of Android or MIUI can cause conflicts when transferring some system settings. It is advisable to upgrade both smartphones to the latest available version of the software through the Settings menu → About Phone → System Update.
⚠️ Note: Before starting the procedure, be sure to check the availability of free space on the new device. The amount of memory available on Poco should exceed the amount of data planned for transfer from Xiaomi.
It's also worth making sure you remember the password from your Mi Account and Google account.These accounts are key to unlocking the device after you move and restore purchases in the Play Market. If two-factor authentication is enabled, prepare your phone to receive it. SMS-code.
☑️ Preparation for data portability
Mi Mover Method: A Standard Solution for the Ecosystem
The most efficient and quickest way to migrate is to use the built-in Mi Mover app, which is designed specifically for MIUI and HyperOS devices, and allows data to be transmitted over a direct Wi-Fi connection without using the Internet, while transferring speeds are much faster than those over cloud services.
To start the process, open the application on both devices. It's usually in the Tools folder or searchable in the Mi Mover settings menu. On the old phone, select the Sender role, and on the new Poco, the Recipient. The application will create a Wi-Fi hotspot to connect to.
Once the connection is established, the system will suggest selecting data categories to transfer, you can choose all at once or selectively approach the process, leaving only the essentials on the new device, and the encryption algorithm used by the application ensures that your passwords and personal photos are not available to third parties during the transfer.
- 📱 Contacts and messages – are transferred along with the history of correspondence in the standard application.
- 📸 Photo and video – the gallery is copied in full resolution, preserving the folder structure.
- 📲 Applications – are installed automatically, but data within some banking applications may require separate login.
- ⚙️ System settings – including wallpaper, icon location and alarm clock settings.
It is important to note that large amounts of data, such as 4K video recordings, can be transmitted for long periods of time. Don't disconnect devices and keep screens on until the process is complete.
What to do if the Mi Mover is frozen?
Using Google Accounts to Sync
An alternative and often more reliable method is syncing through the Google cloud, ideal for those who plan to switch smartphones again in the future, perhaps to a different brand of device, the data stored in Google Drive and Google Photos is tied to your email address and is independent of the hardware manufacturer.
On the old Xiaomi, go to your Google account settings and make sure all the right sync sliders are active. Pay special attention to contacts, calendar and notes. Often users forget to enable sync for the Other Data section, where you can store passwords from Chrome or set up Wi-Fi networks.
When you first set up a new Poco, just type in the same email address, the system will prompt you to restore the backup, you can choose which copy to use if there are more than one, and this method also allows you to download a list of previously installed applications, although the APK files themselves will have to be downloaded from the store.
| Type of data | Google Limit (free of charge) | Recovery speed | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | 15 GB (total) | Instantly. | Tall. |
| Photo (compressed) | Unlimited (in saving mode) | Depends on the Internet. | Tall. |
| Annexes | Not counted in the limit | Medium | Medium |
| System settings | Not counted in the limit | Quickly. | Tall. |
The main disadvantage of this method is the dependence on Internet connection speed, if you have tariffed traffic, it is better to connect to stable Wi-Fi before starting recovery, and it is worth remembering that photos in their original quality are in the quota of 15 GB.
Transferring multimedia via PC and cable
For users with terabytes of photos and videos, wireless methods may be too slow, and the most rational solution is to use a computer as an intermediary, which also allows you to structure files before downloading to the new Poco.
Connect the old Xiaomi to your computer via USB-cable and select file transfer mode (MTP). Copy the folders. DCIM, Pictures, Download and Music on your hard drive, then plug the new smartphone and transfer the data to the appropriate directories, ensuring that you create an accurate physical copy of your data.
When working with a file system, it is important to keep the folder structure, especially for media files. If you just throw all the photos into the root of memory, the gallery may not work correctly or long-term index files. Create logical partitions or save the original folder structure.
⚠️ Note: When copying via PC, make sure you use a quality cable that supports data transfer, not just charging. Cheap cables can cause connection breaks when transferring large files.
It's also convenient because it allows you to create an archived copy on an external hard drive at the same time, so you can do two things: transfer data to a new device and create a backup in case your smartphone is lost or stolen.
Nuances of WhatsApp and messengers transfer
The transfer of WhatsApp’s history is worth special attention, as standard migration methods sometimes work with it incorrectly. The messenger stores data in a secure partition, and it often requires a separate backup inside the application itself to transfer it.
On your old phone, go to WhatsApp settings, select Chats → Chat Backup and click Create. Make sure the copy is saved to Google Drive, not locally. On the new Poco, the first time you install the app, you will be asked to restore your history from the cloud.
If you use a local backup via Mi Mover, the process can be automatic, but sometimes manual intervention is required, in which case database files need to be manually moved through the file manager to the Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases folder.
- 💬 Create a fresh backup in WhatsApp settings before changing your phone.
- 🔑 Make sure the phone number on the new device is the same as on the old one.
- ☁️ Check for free space on Google Drive to accommodate backup.
- 🔋 Do not turn off the Internet while restoring your message history.
It is worth considering that secret chats in some messengers are not recoverable from backups for security reasons, their content will only remain on the old device until you delete the account.
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Tip: WhatsApp can use the “Chat Transfer” function inside the application itself (Settings) → chat → Chat transfers that create QR-Direct transmission to a new device without using the cloud.
Solving and eliminating errors
Even if all instructions are followed, there can be technical difficulties, and users often face a situation where applications have been moved but do not open, requiring re-authorization, which is normal behavior for banking applications and services with a high degree of protection.
Another common problem is broken links to files in the gallery, and if you see photos after transferring them, but they don't open, try clearing the Gallery app's cache or running a scan of media files through the file manager. Sometimes the system takes time to re-index.
If Mi Mover gives a connection error, try to turn off mobile Internet on both devices, leaving only Wi-Fi. Also helps forgetting the Wi-Fi network in the settings and reconnecting. If the problem persists, rebooting both smartphones often resolves the conflict of network drivers.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone is slow after the data transfer, don't panic. 2-3 hours of active work) for database optimization and background indexing of files.
Don’t ignore the security messages that may appear when installing apps outside of the Play Market if you are portable. APK-Always check the source of the file, even if it was taken from another personal device.
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Local migration via Mi Mover is faster and does not require internet, but synchronization through Google Account is more reliable saves data in the long run.