Buying a new smartphone is always a pleasant thrill, but it also raises the question of migration of user data. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices can breathe a sigh of relief, as the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem offers powerful built-in tools for seamless transition. You do not need to manually rewrite numbers or search for each application again if you approach the process systematically and beforehand.
There are several proven synchronization methods, each with different features depending on the operating system of your old gadget. Whether it is Android or iOS, the algorithm of actions will differ only in minor details, which we will discuss in this guide, the main thing is to ensure stable connection and battery charge of both devices before starting the procedure.
In this article, we will take a closer look at how the Mi Mover app works, Google account settings, and manual backup techniques, and how to avoid common errors and save folder structure, Wi-Fi passwords, and even desktop icons. Proper preparation will save you important files and save you hours of time.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before launching any transfer tool, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps that are often ignored by users: Make sure that both smartphones have at least 60% battery charge, as the process of transferring a large amount of information can be energy-intensive, and it is also recommended to connect to a Wi-Fi network, especially if you plan to use cloud services for synchronization.
On the old device, it’s worth a storage audit: remove unnecessary files, app cache and duplicate photos.This will significantly speed up the copying process and free up space on the new Xiaomi. Check that both phones are enabled with Bluetooth and geolocation, as they are often used to initially detect devices from each other.
An important step is to update the system software to the latest available version. Manufacturers regularly release patches that improve the stability of communication modules. If an old phone has a critically outdated version of Android installed, some modern file formats may not display correctly after the transfer.
☑️ Checklist for transfer preparations
Be sure to check the space available on your new device. The amount of memory available should exceed the size of the data you plan to transfer. If there is not enough space, some files can be temporarily saved on your computer or in the cloud so as not to interrupt the migration process.
Using the Mi Mover app for Android
The most effective regular tool for owners of Xiaomi equipment is the Mi Mover app, which is preinstalled in the MIUI system and allows you to transfer data over a direct Wi-Fi connection without using the Internet. For other Android-based devices, the application is free to download from Google Play.
Run the app on both smartphones. Select Receiver on the new phone and Sender on the old one. QR-code or connect to the access point you created. Once you have established the connection, you will see a complete list of data categories available for transfer.
⚠️ Warning: Do not turn off your phone screens or leave the Mi Mi Miver app during transmission, otherwise the connection may break and the process will have to start again.
You can select contacts, messages, calls, system settings, images, music, videos and documents, and pay special attention to the Apps section: Mi Mover will try to find and migrate installation packages (APKs), but data within some banking applications may not be saved for security reasons.
The speed of transmission depends on the volume of data and the quality of the wireless module. Usually, it takes 15 to 40 minutes to transfer 50 GB of information, and once completed, the new device will automatically install applications and restore their structure.
Transferring data from iPhone (iOS) to Xiaomi
iPhone owners also have Mi Mover available, but the functionality can be somewhat limited compared to the Android-Android pair.The iOS app can be found on the App Store.The process begins similarly: creating a pair of devices through scanning. QR-code.
With iOS devices, you can migrate contacts, photos, videos and calendar events, but system settings, iMessage messages and apps themselves will not be able to move due to the closed Apple ecosystem.
For photos and videos, there is an alternative way through Google Photos: install the app on your iPhone, log in to your account and enable sync. All media files will automatically appear in the new phone gallery after you log in to the same account.
What to do with iCloud passwords?
If you’ve been using iCloud extensively, make sure your contacts are synced to your Google account. In your iPhone settings, go to Contacts and select your Gmail account as your primary account to save new records before you switch.
Synchronization through Google Account
The universal method that works for any operating system is synchronization through Google. This is the “gold standard” that guarantees the safety of your contacts, notes, calendar events and browser history. When you first set up the new Xiaomi system will prompt you to enter account information.
Once logged in, the phone will automatically pull data from the cloud, with contacts appearing in the phone book, events appearing in the calendar, and Google Keep notes opening in the app, a technique that is especially important for those who change devices frequently.
To work properly, check your sync settings on your old device. Go to Settings → Accounts → Google and make sure that all the switches are active. Often users forget to sync contacts, surprised that they disappear.
| Type of data | Synchronization method | Automation |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Google Contacts | Complete. |
| Photos and videos | Google Photo | Full (with Wi-Fi enabled) |
| Passwords. | Google Password Manager | Complete. |
| Annexes | Google Play Store | List and installation (data not always) |
It’s important to understand that Google doesn’t store data inside apps (such as game progress or messaging) unless developers have cloud-based storage. Messengers like WhatsApp or Telegram require a separate backup procedure.
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Google Account is the foundation of your digital identity, and you need to set it up first before using any other transfer tools.
Backup of messengers and applications
Popular messengers require special attention, as they store correspondence locally or in their own clouds. WhatsApp on Android requires you to back up to Google Drive. Open the application, go to Settings → Chats → Backup and click “Create”.
When WhatsApp first launches on the new Xiaomi, it will prompt you to restore your message history from the copy you found. Without this step, all correspondence will be lost, only contacts will remain. Viber is similar to the procedure, but you need to link to your phone number and have a copy on Google Drive.
Telegram is simpler: it's completely cloud-based, just enter your phone number and confirmation code, and all chats (except secret ones) will load automatically, secret chats are device-specific and cannot be ported.
⚠️ Warning: Two-factor authentication in messengers is mandatory. Make sure you have access to your phone number or recovery codes, or you may lose access to your account on your new device.
Banking applications and social networks usually do not require data transfer, as they store information on servers, you only need to re-enter your username and password, and it is recommended to remember or write down complex passwords in advance so as not to get stuck in the authorization phase.
Problem Solving and FAQ
Users may experience difficulties in migrating, from a process freeze to the absence of some files, most often due to unstable connection or incompatibility of operating system versions. If the transfer is interrupted, try restarting both devices and starting over again, selecting only the missing data.
Sometimes, after the transfer, the contacts may appear twice or in the wrong format, in which case, go to the Contacts app on Xiaomi, select Settings, and find the Combine Duplicates feature, which will clear the phone book of unnecessary garbage.
If the photos are moved but not displayed in the gallery, it is possible that the.nomedia file blocks the scanning of the folder, or the media scanner has not yet completed work, in which case it is enough to wait 10-15 minutes or restart the device.
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If Mi Mover doesn’t see the app, try updating the Mi Mover app itself via GetApps or Google Play on both phones before starting the procedure.
In rare cases, switching from very old versions of Android (below 5.0) can cause problems with database formats, only manually exporting contacts to a.vcf file and then importing them through the new phone’s contact menu.