Buying a new smartphone is always a joyous event, but it is often overshadowed by the need to transfer a huge amount of information from an old device. Xiaomi ecosystem owners are in a good position, as the company has developed powerful built-in tools for data migration.
There are several proven methods, each with its own advantages depending on the amount of information being transferred and the speed of the Internet connection. Local transmission over Wi-Fi Direct is the fastest and does not require a connection to the global network.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the available cloning methods, focusing on the Mi Mover app, how to avoid common errors and why some data may not be copied on its first run. It takes a little time to prepare, but the result is worth it.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before any copying process begins, it is critical to properly prepare both smartphones: Make sure that both devices, both old and new, have a battery charge of at least 50-60%. Active wireless data use a significant amount of power, and a sudden shutdown of one of the devices can interrupt the operation halfway.
You also need to check if there is space available on the receiving device, and the amount of memory you have available should exceed the size of the data you plan to transfer, and if you copy a 50GB archive of photos and videos and only 40GB is available on the new Redmi or Poco, the process will end in error or copy the data partially.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to start the transfer if one of the devices is in power saving mode. This may cause the Wi-Fi Direct connection to break through, through which files are exchanged.
It is recommended that you upgrade MIUI or HyperOS on both devices to the latest available version, which minimizes the risk of data format incompatibility and ensures that the carrier application works correctly. Often security updates fix bugs that interfere with the stable operation of network modules.
For successful synchronization, you will need:
- 📱 Both smartphones with the screen on and unlocked interface.
- 📶 Stable Wi-Fi module (even without internet access for local transmission).
- 🔋 Chargers at hand in case of a long procedure.
Remove unnecessary junk from the gallery and downloads on your old phone in advance, not only speeding up the copying process, but also allowing you to immediately configure clean space on the new gadget without carrying thousands of unnecessary screenshots and temporary files.
Using the Mi Mover app for quick transfer
The most effective and recommended way is to use the pre-installed Mi Mover app, which is designed specifically for the Xiaomi ecosystem and allows you to transfer contacts, messages, call history, apps, photos, music and videos without using Internet traffic.
The process starts with running the app on both devices, and the new smartphone that will receive the data, you have to select the Receiver role, and then you'll see the screen. QR-The code and name of the Wi-Fi hotspot that you create. On the old phone, select the role of "Sender" and scan the code with the camera.
☑️ Check before launching the Mi Mover
Once you connect the devices, you'll see a list of data categories to copy, and you can flexibly adjust your choices, like moving only contacts and messages, leaving apps for manual installation, or copying all media content. The compression algorithm used by the application greatly speeds up the transfer of large files.
It is important not to interrupt the process or switch to other applications during copying. The transfer speed depends on the size of the files and can vary from a few minutes to an hour. Once completed, the new phone will suggest restarting or immediately start using the transferred data.
- 🚀 High speed transmission due to Wi-Fi Direct technology.
- 🔒 Security: Data is transmitted over a local channel, bypassing third-party servers.
- 📲 Compatible with all modern models Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco.
⚠️ Note: When porting applications, some (especially banking) may require re-authorization or biometrics setup on the new device for security reasons.
Sync with Mi Cloud and Xiaomi account
An alternative to local copying is cloud sync via Mi Cloud, ideal for those who regularly back up or if an old device has already been sold/lost but the data is stored in the cloud, and Mi Account and a stable Internet connection are required to work.
Log in to the Mi Account settings on your old phone and make sure that the sync sliders are activated for the right partitions: contacts, notes, voice recorder, gallery. Click on Sync to ensure that the latest data has gone to the server. On the new device, just log in to the same acca-unt, and the information will “tighten up” automatically.
Cloud has limitations related to the amount of free storage (usually 5 GB). For large volumes of photos and videos, this may not be enough, so often a combined approach is used: contacts and notes through the cloud, and media files through Mi Mover or computer.
What to do if you forget your Mi Account password?
The advantage of this is that it's independent of the physical condition of the old phone, and even if it's broken, but the data has been synchronized before, you can easily restore it on any new Xiaomi, making cloud strategy a reliable insurance policy.
Backup to the computer and recovery
For users who prefer full control over their data, PC copying is the most reliable way to create a physical copy of the entire system or individual memory partitions. You will need a USB cable and a computer with a file manager installed or Mi PC Suite (for older models) or just a Windows/MacOS Explorer.
Connect your old phone to your computer and select File Transfer Mode (MTP). Copy DCIM (photo and video), MIUI (screenshots and voice recorder), Download and other important directories to your hard drive. Then connect the new phone and transfer the files to similar folders.
For a deeper backup, including system settings and application lists, you can use the built-in local backup function. Path to it: Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore → Mobile Device. The backup file you create is stored in internal memory and can also be transferred to your PC.
| Method | Speed. | We need the Internet. | What's copying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Tall. | No. | Everything (Applications, Data, Media) |
| Mi Cloud | Medium | Yes. | Contacts, photos, settings |
| USB Cable (PC) | Depends on the cable. | No. | Files, media, documents |
After transferring files to a new device, the system can index media files for a while. Don't worry if the photos don't show up instantly in the gallery - the background indexing process will take a few minutes.
Transfer of messages, contacts and call logs
The most sensitive thing for users is often the loss of their correspondence and call history. Fortunately, Android and the MIUI shell allow you to transfer SMS and MMS messages along with attachments. When using Mi Mover, this process is transparent to the user.
Contacts are stored or in memory SIM-card, or in the memory of your phone/Google account. SIM, But the modern and more reliable way is to export contacts to a.vcf file or sync with Google Contacts. When you log in to a Google account on a new phone, all numbers will automatically appear.
The call log is also copied through the regular migration tools. Please note that on the new device, the numbering of unknown numbers may temporarily be incorrect until the Caller ID is completed via the Internet.
For instant messengers like WhatsApp or Telegram, you need a separate approach. Telegram stores history in the cloud, so just log in to your account. WhatsApp needs to back up chats on Google Drive on your old phone and restore it when you first start on a new one.
- 💬 SMS and MMS Copyed in full with the attachments.
- 📞 The log of calls is saved with determination of time and duration.
- 📇 Contacts are best kept in the Google cloud for cross-platform.
Solving problems when copying
Despite the fact that processes are fine, users may encounter difficulties, and one of the common problems is that the process is stuck at a certain percentage, usually due to a corrupt file in a queue or an unstable radio module, in which case it helps to reboot both devices and try again with a smaller amount of data.
Another nuance is that of banking and government services, because they don't transfer their cached data and session keys for security reasons, and after transferring, you have to log back into every banking application and set up your fingerprint or Face ID, which is normal data protection behavior.
⚠️ Warning: If there is a “Not enough space” error during the transfer, check not only the main memory, but also the hidden partitions. Sometimes cleaning the cache of junk files before starting helps solve the problem.
In rare cases, you may not be able to put your icons on your desktop, and this is treated through the theme of design: apply a standard theme, then return yours, or simply manually regroup the widgets, and the folder structure in the file manager remains unchanged.
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Tip: Before you hand over your old phone to a trade-in or sell it, be sure to complete a full reset (Wipe Data) through the Recovery menu or Settings so that your personal data does not get to outsiders.