Buying a new smartphone is always a pleasant anticipation, but the process of transferring information often turns into a real stress test for the user. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices can breathe a sigh of relief, as the company's engineers have introduced powerful tools for migration. The modern Mi Mover allows you to clone the contents of the memory of an old gadget to a new one in minutes, creating an accurate digital copy of your device.
It's not just about copying photos or videos. System utilities can stream folder structure, save Wi-Fi passwords, call history, and even desktop icons. It's important to understand that the choice of method depends on the source operating system: the transition from Android will be as smooth as possible, while migration from iOS will require the use of specialized applications to synchronize cloud data.
Before any manipulations, make sure that both devices have sufficient battery power, preferably more than 60%. Wi-Fi Direct data transfer speeds can reach 40 MB/s, which is much faster than standard Bluetooth. Do not interrupt the connection and keep the device screens on until the process is complete to avoid damaging archives or losing some files at the time of recording.
Preparing devices for data migration
Successful start of the procedure depends on the quality of pre-preparedness of both gadgets. On the old phone, you need to make room by deleting temporary files and cache of applications that you do not plan to restore. On the new Xiaomi, you should complete the initial setting of the language and region, but do not rush to log into social networks accounts.
Both smartphones must be connected to a stable Wi-Fi network if you plan to use cloud methods, or be in close proximity to each other to work through a local protocol. Check the availability of free space on the target device: the amount of free memory must exceed the size of the data transferred by at least 10-15% for the correct operation of the file system.
⚠️ Note: If an old phone has custom firmware installed or root rights obtained, standard migration tools may not work properly, in which case it is recommended to first complete a full backup on the computer.
Make sure that both devices have the latest MIUI or HyperOS security updates installed, which minimizes the risk of application version conflict when transferring accounts and passwords.
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Use Do Not Disturb mode on both phones during data transfers so that incoming calls do not break the connection.
Using the Mi Mover app for Android
The most efficient way to switch between Android smartphones is the Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed in the new Xiaomi phones, and for an old device, it can be downloaded free of charge from Google Play or GetApps. The utility works on the principle of creating a local access point, which provides high speed and privacy, since data does not leave the limits of your devices.
To get started, run the app on both gadgets, and on the new phone, select I'm a recipient, and on the old phone, I'm a sender. QR-code that appears on the screen of the receiving device, or connect to the created Wi-Fi network manually.
Once the connection is established, the interface will suggest selecting data categories to transfer, you can selectively mark contacts, messages, call history, system settings, images, audio, video and documents, and the option to clone installed applications, including their data, if the security policy of specific programs allows.
☑️ Checklist before Mi Mover launch
Importantly, some Google system applications or specific banking services may not be fully portable due to operating system security limitations, requiring re-authorization or manual reinstallation, which can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the amount of information.
| Type of data | Transmission speed | Demands the Internet. | It keeps the structure. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts and SMS | Instantly. | No. | Yes. |
| Photos and videos | High (up to 40 MB/s) | No. | Yes. |
| Annexes (APK) | Medium | No. | Partially. |
| System settings | Quickly. | No. | Yes. |
Switching from iPhone (iOS) to Xiaomi
Migration from the Apple ecosystem to Android has historically been considered a challenge, but modern Xiaomi tools have made it much easier.The main tool here is also Mi Mover, which has a special version for iOS available in the App Store. However, due to the closedness of the iOS file system, the data set will be somewhat limited compared to the transition from Android.
The process starts similarly: installing an app on an iPhone, selecting a sender role, and scanning. QR-The system will offer to transfer contacts, photos, videos and calendar events, iMessage messages and call history are not always broadcast correctly due to differences in encryption and storage protocols.
Many popular services like WhatsApp now have a built-in chat port feature on Android, but it requires the use of a special cable (Lightning to USB-C) or third-party utilities during the initial setup of the phone.
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Don’t forget to turn off iMessage before retrieving it. SIM-iPhone cards, otherwise you may stop receiving them SMS This is a common problem that users face when changing platforms, and it is also recommended to back up iCloud in case you need to return data back.
Sync with Mi Cloud and Google Account
The alternative to direct data transfer is to use cloud storage, ideal if you don't have physical access to both devices at the same time or your old phone has already been sold, and Mi Cloud is deeply integrated into the MIUI shell, allowing you to store contacts, notes, voice recordings and schedules.
To activate sync, log into your Mi Account on your old device via the Settings menu → Mi Account → Sync. Select the necessary items and click Sync. Once you log in to the same account on the new Xiaomi, all data will automatically load in the background.
Contacts and calendar are best kept in Google Contact. Make sure that the old phone has a checkmark in your Google account settings that says "Contacts." When you add the same account to your new smartphone, the phonebook will automatically fill in within minutes.
⚠️ Warning: Free space in Mi Cloud is limited to 5 GB. For large volumes of photos and videos, you will need to pay a subscription or use Google Photos with the "Saving Space" mode".
Using the cloud ensures that your data is not lost even when your device breaks down, but this method requires a stable and preferably fast Internet connection, and it can take several hours to download a large archive of photos.
Manual transfer of multimedia and documents
Sometimes automatic systems fail or the user wants to select specific files manually, in which case the most reliable method is to connect the smartphone to the computer through the computer. USB-New Xiaomi supports file systems FAT32 and exFAT, which allows you to work with large-volume flash drives through an adapter OTG.
Connect your old phone to your PC, select File Transfer Mode (MTP) in the USB Connection Notification. Copy the DCIM folders (camera photos and videos), Pictures (screenshots and images from instant messengers), Download and Documents to your computer’s hard drive.
Then plug the new Xiaomi and copy the saved folders to the appropriate internal memory directories. Android folder structure is universal, so photos will immediately appear in the gallery and music will appear in the player. This method is especially useful for carrying heavy video files in 4K resolution.
For users who prefer wireless solutions, there are file sharing applications such as Send Anywhere or Portal by Pushbullet. IP-address, which is convenient if there is no cable or card reader at hand.
Problem Solving and Application Recovery
Even with advanced tools, errors can occur, and a common problem is that some apps are missing after porting, because Google Play may hide apps that are not compatible with the new processor or Android version. In this case, you will have to find an alternative or download. APK-file.
If notifications from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) do not work after the migration, check the energy saving settings. MIUI aggressively manages background processes. Go to Settings → Applications → Settings → Settings → Selected features and find the desired messenger, turn on Auto Start and select No Limits mode.
If contacts are displayed incorrectly or duplicated, use Google Contacts via the web interface. There is a convenient function "Current and Manage", which allows you to combine duplicates and delete erroneous entries with one click.
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After transferring the data, be sure to restart the new smartphone, which will allow the system to index the files and correctly apply the new settings.