How to copy everything from Xiaomi to Xiaomi: the complete guide

Buying a new Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone always starts with the thrill of unpacking, but immediately after that comes the need to transfer a huge amount of information from the old device. Users are often afraid of losing important contacts, messaging or photos accumulated over the years of use. Fortunately, the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem offers powerful built-in tools that allow you to clone the contents of one phone to another in just a few clicks.

The data migration process has become much easier with the advent of specialized utilities such as Mi Mover, which work without the need to connect to a computer or have a stable Internet connection to transfer files. You do not need to be a technician to successfully perform this operation, since the program interface is as simplified and adapted to the mass user as possible, the main thing is to properly prepare both devices and choose the best transfer method that suits your situation.

In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can copy data, from fast wireless sharing to cloud backups. We will look at the nuances of porting system settings, Wi-Fi passwords, and even the location of icons on your desktop. To successfully complete the process without errors, it is critical that both devices have a battery charge of at least 50-60%, since active data transfer can significantly consume energy.

Preparation of devices for data transfer

Before running any migration programs, both smartphones must be basicly trained, which ensures connection stability and prevents possible failures in the middle of the process when interruption may be undesirable. Make sure that the old phone is closed heavy applications that can load the processor and the Wi-Fi module.

The second important step is to verify the operating system version. While the Mi Mover is compatible with most Android versions and MIUI shells, having current updates on both devices minimizes the risk of conflicts when migrating specific system settings, and it is also recommended to free up space on a new smartphone if it has already accumulated any files after purchase.

⚠️ Note: If you are using an old device's encryption feature or have a complex screen lock password installed, make sure to remember it.In some cases, the system may request proof of identity before beginning to copy protected partitions.

Also, be sure to check the status of wireless communication modules. Most transfer methods require a serviceable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module to work, and if one of the phones is unstable, it is better to use a cable connection or method through a computer, which we will discuss below.

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Before you start transferring, clear the cache of junk files on your old phone through the standard Security app to avoid copying digital trash to your new device.

Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration

The most effective and recommended way is to use the proprietary utility Mi Mover, which is pre-installed on most modern Xiaomi smartphones and is available for download from the GetApps store or Google Play for other brands, and creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between phones, which ensures high data transfer speeds without using Internet traffic.

Starting the process starts with opening the app on both devices, and on the new smartphone you choose the Receiver role, and on the old one, the Sender. QR-If you have code or manually connect to the network you've created, the system will tell you to choose data categories to transfer. You can copy everything at once or select only specific file types, such as images, contacts or installed applications.

• 📱 Contacts and Messages: Complete Preservation of History SMS and a phone book with all the numbers tied.
• 📸 Multimedia: Photos, video and audio recordings are transferred in original quality without compression.
• ⚙️ System settings: Wi-Fi passwords, alarm clocks, blacklist and desktop shortcut location.
• 📲 Annexes: Copyed by themselves APK-Program files, but data within some banking applications may require separate authorization.

It's important to note that the speed of copying depends on the amount of information being transmitted and the distance between the devices. During the process, the phone screens may go out, but you should not interrupt the connection. If the transfer is stuck at a certain percentage, try canceling the operation and repeating it by selecting a smaller amount of data for batch sending.

Sync with Mi Cloud and Google Account

An alternative to direct connectivity is cloud sync, which is ideal for those who have made regular backups. Xiaomi ecosystem is closely integrated with Google services, allowing for flexible data management. To get started, you need to log into your Mi Account on both devices via the settings menu.

In the "Mi Cloud" section, you should activate synchronization of the necessary categories: contacts, notes, voice recorder, calendar and gallery. Once this function is enabled, the data is automatically uploaded to the company's servers. On the new phone, you just need to log into the same account, and the information will "fly" automatically when there is Internet, this is especially useful if the old phone is already sold or lost, but the backup is still there.

Special attention should be paid to synchronization through Google Account. When you first set up a new Xiaomi smartphone, the system will offer to restore data from Google backup, which will restore the list of installed applications, passwords saved in the password manager, and call history. However, photos and videos may not recover if you do not turn on sync in the Google Photos app.

Transferring data through a computer and a wired connection

If wireless methods are unstable or you need to move hundreds of gigabytes of data, the most reliable option is to use a PC. USB-cable and select the mode of operation "File transfer» (MTP). Copy the folders. DCIM, Pictures, Download and Music on your computer hard drive.

Then, connect the new smartphone and transfer the stored data to the appropriate directories, which is good because it allows you to audit files and clear the gallery of unnecessary things before downloading to the new device, and you can create a full backup of the system using ADB tools through the computer, although this requires more technical knowledge.

For users who prefer to have a local copy of the system as a whole, there is a Local Backup feature in the phone's settings menu, which can be transferred to a computer and then downloaded to a new phone and restored through the same menu section, ensuring that you have a copy of the data even in the event of problems with cloud services.

• 💻 Direct Copy: Drag and drop folders in Windows Explorer or macOS.
• 🔄 Local Backup: Creating a System Archive through Settings MIUI/HyperOS.
• 🔌 Cable connection: Use of USB-Hub to connect two phones directly (requires support) OTG).

⚠️ Note: When copying files through your computer, keep an eye on folder structure. If you put photos in the wrong directory, the phone gallery may not see them or duplicate albums.

Nuances of Application Portability and Authorizations

The most difficult part of migration is often not to transfer files, restore access to accounts in applications. Banking applications, government services and messengers (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) have increased security measures. When you move through Mi Mover, the applications themselves will install, but inside them you will have to re-enter passwords or confirm login via SMS.

The WhatsApp messenger needs to be a special focus, and to keep your correspondence history, you need to back up your old phone on Google Drive, and on your new device, when you first start, the messenger will offer to restore your story from the cloud, and without this preliminary correspondence procedure, you won't be able to use the new phone, even if all the apps are copied.

Also, consider that some apps may not work properly on a new version of Android if it is significantly newer than the previous one. In such cases, you may need to update the application through the store or reinstall it. Data inside applications that are not protected by cloud synchronization can be lost if you do not use the full backup system.

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Critical applications (banks, two-factor authentication) always require manual reconfiguration and identity verification, regardless of the transfer method.

Possible mistakes and ways to solve them

Users can experience a variety of errors in the process of cloning data, a common problem is the disconnection of Wi-Fi Direct during the transfer of large files, which can be due to interference in the air or energy-saving algorithms of the system that try to “sleep down” to save charge.

If the process is stuck in the Preparation phase or at a certain percentage, try restarting both smartphones and repeating the procedure, and shutting down mobile internet on both devices helps to prevent the system from trying to switch to the cellular network. In rare cases, cleaning the cache of the Mi Mover application itself through application settings helps.

Another common situation is file format incompatibility or paths, especially if you are moving from a very old version of MIUI to a new HyperOS. In this case, the system may skip some files or create copies of them in the Other folder.

• 📉 Low speed: Make sure there are no running microwave ovens or powerful routers around to create interference.
• 🔋 Battery discharge: The process can take an hour or more, so keep your phones on charge or make sure to charge high.
• 🚫 Lack of space: Check that the new phone has more space than the amount of data it can transfer.