How to copy data from Xiaomi to Realme: step-by-step transfer

Changing the Android smartphone ecosystem is always an exciting but technically challenging process, especially when it comes to switching between different shell manufacturers. Users who choose to switch from MIUI to Realme UI often face the fear of losing important contacts, messaging or system settings. However, modern migration tools make this process as transparent and fast as possible, keeping your digital life intact.

Before starting the procedure, you need to understand that both brands’ file architectures are Android-based, but the way you store your system settings may be different, which means that if contacts and photos are transferred without problems, some specific alarm clock or calendar settings may require manual checks. It is important to prepare both devices in advance, charging them to at least 60-70% so that a sudden power outage does not interrupt the critical data copying process.

There are several proven methods of transferring information, each with its own advantages depending on the volume of files transferred: you can use built-in utilities from manufacturers, Google cloud services or specialized cloning applications. The choice of the specific method depends on how deeply you want to integrate old data into the new system and whether you are willing to spend time setting up Wi-Fi Direct connections.

Preparing devices for data migration

Successful transfer of information depends on the correct preparation of both smartphones. Before running any programs, make sure that both devices are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, as most modern utilities use these protocols to create a local network with high bandwidth. On a Xiaomi device, it is also worth checking the availability of free space, although we usually deal with freeing up memory before selling or transferring an old gadget.

You should pay special attention to your Google Account. If your contacts, notes, and calendars are synced to the Google cloud, half the work is done. Check this by going to your account settings on your old phone. If sync has been disabled, turn it on right now and wait for the search giant to upload the data.

⚠️ Note: Do not perform a full Factory Reset on a Xiaomi device until you are 100% sure that all data is successfully displayed and working on the new Realme.

For stability of connection it is recommended to turn off the power saving mode on both smartphones. Aggressive algorithms MIUI and Realme UI can try to "sleep down" during transfer of large volumes of data, which will lead to disconnection of connection, and it is also worth to close background applications that can consume traffic or CPU time.

Using the Clone Phone app from Realme

The most effective and native way to move is to use the official Clone Phone app, designed specifically for devices. OPPO This app is pre-installed on the brand’s new smartphones, but it can also be easily found and installed on a Xiaomi device via the Google Play Store or scanning. QR-code that appears on the screen of the new phone when you first set up.

It starts with running the app on both devices, and on the new Realme, you're going to play "This is a new phone," and on the old Xiaomi, you're going to play "This is an old phone." QR-The system automatically creates a secure connection, and you'll see a list of data categories available for transfer.

• 📱 Contacts and Messages: The whole phone book, history is transferred SMS and MMS messages, which allows you not to lose important confirmation codes or correspondence.
• 🖼️ Multimedia: Photos, videos, music files and documents are transferred in their original quality without compression.
• ⚙️ System settings: Some system settings, such as alarm settings, wallpaper and icon location, can be copied if Android versions are compatible.
• 📲 Annexes: Installed APK-Files are transferred and automatically installed on the new device, saving your work environment.

It is important to note that when transferring applications, the programs themselves will be installed, but login to them (logins and passwords) will have to be re-entered for security reasons. Two-factor authentication and banking applications require separate attention and often do not transfer their cached data between different manufacturers.

Alternative method through Mi Mover

If for some reason, the proprietary utility Realme does not work correctly, you can use the native tool from Xiaomi - Mi Mover. Although this application is sharpened for receiving data on Xiaomi, it is also great at sending data to other devices if the target smartphone has compatible software or uses a web interface. However, for the Xiaomi -> Realme bundle, this method is often used in the opposite direction, but the transfer functionality remains useful.

To implement this method, you'll need to install Mi Mover on both devices, and once you've selected the device type (sender/receiver) and established the connection, you'll be able to select specific folders and files, and the feature of the method is that it allows you to filter data more flexibly, such as selecting only photos for 2023 or only contacts from a specific group.

Transfer speeds through Mi Mover are often faster than standard Android tools, as the application is optimized for large data sets. However, format compatibility can be limping: some MIUI system files can simply be ignored by Realme, which, however, is even better for the purity of the new installation.

Synchronization through Google Account

The most reliable, though not always the fastest, way is to use Google’s cloud sync, which is ideal for anyone who wants to start with a clean slate on a new device, saving only the most important information: contacts, calendar events, notes and passwords. When you first turn on Realme, just type in the same Gmail address, and the phone will pull all the data from the cloud.

For photos and videos, the best way to use the Google Photos app is to make sure that Xiaomi has Autoboot and Sync enabled. Once all media files are uploaded to the cloud (the indicator confirms completion), just install the app on Realme and log in. All your albums will be available instantly, without taking up space in internal memory, if space saving mode is enabled.

The advantage of this method is that it's independent of the phone model, so if you decide to switch to Samsung or iPhone in a year, your data will be preserved, and Google will also keep location history, voice recordings, and even some of the Wi-Fi settings you've previously connected to.

⚠️ Note: When using cloud methods, make sure you are connected to stable Wi-Fi. Transferring a lot of data over the mobile internet can exhaust your plan and take a long time.

Transfer of WhatsApp and Viber correspondence

The messengers are worth moving, as they store their correspondence history locally or in their clouds, which are not always friendly with system backups. For WhatsApp, the easiest way is to back up Google Drive on an old phone. Go to Settings → Chats → Backup and click Create.

When you first run WhatsApp on Realme, the app will find the backup in the Google cloud and prompt you to restore it. It's critical to use the same phone number and the same Google account, otherwise you won't be able to restore it. Once you've finished, all your chats, media and settings will be in a new place.

Viber is similar, but sometimes requires manual intervention. In Viber settings on Xiaomi, select Account -> Backup. Once you install the app on Realme and confirm the number, the system will suggest recovering the history from the backup file. If automatic recovery fails, you can try to transfer the Viber folder from internal memory manually through the computer.

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For WhatsApp Business, back up separately from regular WhatsApp, as they use different storages in Google Drive and may conflict when recovering on a new device.

Decision and integrity verification

Once the transfer process is complete, take your time to delete data from the old device. Do a thorough review of the new smartphone. Walk through the gallery, check for all albums, open the phone book and make sure the numbers are not lost and displayed correctly. Pay special attention to the names of contacts with Cyrillic alphabet - sometimes when transferring between different encodings, "krakozyabra" can occur.

Check applications, especially banking and enterprise applications. Some may require re-binding the device or resetting security settings. If you've used cloning, some applications may not work smoothly due to the differences in paths to the MIUI and Realme UI system libraries. In that case, the best solution is to remove the problematic application and reinstall it from the Play Market store.

If you find that some of your data is lost, don't panic. Often files can lie in hidden folders or be labeled "hidden." Use a file manager like Files by Google or built-in Explorer, and check the root directories. It's also worth looking at the Android/media folder, where some apps store downloaded files.

In conclusion, moving from Xiaomi to Realme is a great way to refresh the user experience while getting a cleaner shell and often more productive hardware for the same money. Modern migration tools have made this process accessible even to inexperienced users. The main thing is to act consistently, not interrupt the transfer process and always have an up-to-date backup of important data before any manipulation.