Buying a new smartphone is always a joyful event, but it is often overshadowed by the need to “relocate.” The owner of the device is faced with the question: how to transfer data from an old phone to a new android Xiaomi, so as not to lose any contact, important dialogue in the messenger or a memorable snapshot. Modern technologies of the ecosystem MIUI and HyperOS offer several effective ways to solve this problem, each of which has its own advantages depending on the situation.
In this article, we will take a look at all the migration methods available, from the use of built-in utilities to cloud services, and learn how to avoid common mistakes, such as losing your call history or incorrectly displaying photos after transfer. The process of updating your gadget should be enjoyable, not turn into a technical quest with the risk of losing information.
Before you start taking action, you need to understand that the choice of method depends on the operating system of your old device. If you move from another Android smartphone, the process will be as automated as possible. iPhone owners also do not need to worry, since Xiaomi tools allow you to import data from iOS, albeit with some restrictions on the type of files portable.
Preparation of devices for the transfer procedure
Successful data migration begins well before the first press of the Start button. A fundamental requirement is a stable battery charge on both devices. It is recommended to charge the old and new smartphones to a minimum of 60-70% so that a sudden power outage at a critical moment does not lead to file damage or a system failure.
⚠️ Warning: Don’t rely on wireless charging alone while carrying large amounts of data. Direct network connection or high battery power ensures that the process is not interrupted by the system’s energy-saving algorithms.
It is also critical to check for free space: the new Xiaomi should have a free amount of memory that exceeds the size of the data you plan to transfer. If the old phone is 100 GB occupied, and the new one is only 80 GB free, the process will either stop or end in error.
Don’t forget to check for system software updates on both devices. Often, manufacturers will release patches that improve stability of the Mi Mover utility or data protocols. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI (or HyperOS) version and make sure you have the latest build installed.
Another important preparatory step is to clean up the storage of unnecessary "junk": temporary files, cache of remote applications and duplicate photos will only increase the transfer time. Use the built-in "Security" tool to quickly clean the system before you start migrating.
☑️ Checklist for transfer preparations
Using the Mi Mover application: a standard solution
The most efficient and preferred way for users of the Xiaomi ecosystem is to use the built-in Mi Mover app, which is designed specifically for fast and secure data transfer between Android and iOS devices. It is pre-installed on all modern smartphones of the brand and is available for download on Google Play for other models.
The process starts with running the app on both devices, and the new Xiaomi smartphone needs to select the Receiver role, and the old one needs to select the Sender role. QR-code or connect via a Wi-Fi hotspot that the new device will create. Wi-Fi Direct transfer speeds are significantly faster than Bluetooth, allowing you to pump tens of gigabytes in minutes.
Mi Mover interface allows you to flexibly customize your data selection. You can migrate not only contacts, messages and call history, but also the applications themselves with their data, system settings, alarms and, of course, the media library. that some banking applications may not migrate their login data for security purposes, requiring re-authorization.
What if the Mi Mover can’t see the device?
It is important to note that when you transfer photos and videos through Mi Mover, the original image quality is preserved completely, including metadata (EXIF), such as the shooting date and geolocation, which distinguishes it from sending via messengers, where quality is often compressed.
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Mi Mover is the only way to migrate apps along with their data and settings without losing progress in games and utilities.
Sync with Google Account and Cloud
A classic method that remains relevant for those who appreciate the reliability of cloud technologies. Synchronization through Google Account allows you to save your contacts, calendar events, notes and even passwords saved in the Chrome browser. When you first set up the new Xiaomi, you just need to enter the login and password from your Google profile, and the system will automatically pull up all the stored data.
For photos and videos, Google Photos is the best option. Make sure your old device has Autoboot and Sync enabled. Once you have finished downloading on your new phone, just log in to the same account and your entire library will be available in its original quality (or in space saving mode, depending on your settings).
But there are some nuances to this method: Google’s free storage is limited to 15GB, which may not be enough for users with a large archive of photos and videos, in which case you will either have to buy space or selectively sync only the most important albums.
| Type of data | Google Synchronization | Mi Mover | Manual method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Automatically. | Yes. | File.vcf |
| Annexes | List only (download again) | Yeah (with data) | No. |
| Photo/Video | Google Photos (we need the internet) | Yes (locally) | Copying files |
| SMS messages | No (third party software required) | Yes. | No. |
Special attention should be paid to backup of system settings. Google One allows you to save the desktop layout, passwords from Wi-Fi networks and some application settings. This helps the new Xiaomi phone to adapt faster to the usual style of use of the owner.
Transferring data from iPhone to Xiaomi
The transition from iOS to Android has long been considered a difficult process, but it is now as simple as possible. The Mi Mover app has an iPhone version that you can find on the App Store, which allows you to transfer contacts, calendar events, photos and videos. installation of the application on the iPhone, scanning QR-code from the new Xiaomi and the start of the transfer.
However, there are technical limitations due to the closedness of the Apple operating system, you will not be able to transfer installed applications, their data, call history and SMS-It may also be difficult to transfer files in the original format. HEIC, although modern versions MIUI Learned to display them correctly.
For users deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem, it is recommended that you pre-upload your contacts and calendar to your Google account through your iPhone settings (Settings → Contacts → Accounts) to ensure that your address book is safe and sound on your new device.
⚠️ Warning: When transferring from your iPhone, make sure that your device has turned off Storage Optimization mode for photos if you want to keep the originals as high as possible, or wait for full versions to download to iCloud before transferring.
Music and video files purchased on iTunes with DRM protection will not play on Android, but will need to be replaced with analogues from streaming services or download files without protection by copying them through a computer.
Manual method: USB-cable
For those who prefer complete control of the process or don't trust wireless methods, there's a good old-fashioned way through the computer: By connecting an old phone to a PC, you can copy DCIM (photo and video), Download, Documents, and others folders to a separate folder on your hard drive.
Then, by plugging in the new Xiaomi, you simply copy that data into internal memory, a technique that is particularly useful for carrying heavy files like videos to the memory. 4K Or archives of working documents that can take hundreds of gigabytes, and the speed of the transfer is limited only by the speed of your computer. USB-cable and port.
For contacts and messages, this method is less convenient, since it requires intermediate export to.vcf (for contacts) and.xml or.sms (for messages, it often requires third-party applications such as SMS Backup & Restore).
Use high-quality cables with support for high-speed data transfer (USB 3.0 and higher) to reduce latency. Cheap charging cables can work unstable when transmitting large amounts of information, causing copy errors.
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Use a file manager with folder comparison on your PC to make sure all files are copied correctly and no bytes are lost in the process.
Frequent problems and ways to solve them
Users may encounter various difficulties in migrating, and one of the most common problems is interrupting Wi-Fi Direct when using Mi Mover, which can be due to interference from other networks or energy-saving modes, and the solution is simple: keep the devices close to each other and turn off the screens so that the system does not go to sleep.
Another common situation is broken apps after portability: If the program does not start or does not work correctly, it is better to delete it and download it again from Google Play or GetApps. Often older versions of applications can conflict with the new version of Android or the HyperOS shell.
If you find some photos missing or appearing as a black square, check the source file format.Some specific formats may require additional codecs or conversion, although modern Xiaomi smartphones support popular formats.
If automatic methods fail completely, don't panic. Break it down into stages: first, move the contacts through the network. SIM-You can use a map or Google, then you can use a cable to get a picture, and you can manually install the apps, and it takes longer, but it guarantees you the results.