Buying a new smartphone is always a joyful experience, but it is often accompanied by stress from having to transfer all the accumulated information. The owner of the Xiaomi Redmi device is faced with the question of how to quickly and without loss move contacts, photos and settings to a new gadget. Fortunately, the Mi ecosystem offers powerful built-in tools that greatly simplify this process.
There are several proven migration methods, each of which is suitable for different use cases: you can use cloud storage, local wireless or even cable connection for maximum speed, the right choice depends on the amount of data and the state of the old device.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available methods so that you can choose the most convenient for your situation.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before any copying process begins, a number of preparatory steps must be taken to ensure that the operation is completed successfully, and both devices must be charged at least 60%, as the transfer of large files consumes battery power.
Make sure both smartphones have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled. Even if you plan to transfer data over the cloud, a stable internet connection is critical to synchronizing the Mi Cloud. Also check that the new Xiaomi Redmi has enough free storage space.
You can do a file review on your old device, remove unnecessary screenshots, duplicate photos and app cache to avoid transferring digital debris to a clean device, which will speed up the process and save space.
⚠️ Warning: If your old phone has two-factor authentication enabled, make sure you have access to the number. SIM-card or backup codes, as after transfer may require re-authorization in banking applications.
Backup your sensitive documents separately, such as by sending them to your email, will provide an additional layer of security in case of unforeseen errors in the migration process.
☑️ Preparation for transfer
Using the Mi Mover app for local porting
The most efficient and quickest way to transfer data between smartphones is the Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on all modern Xiaomi and Redmi devices, and is also available for installation on other Android smartphones, the main advantage of the method is the transfer of data over a local Wi-Fi channel, which provides high speed and does not consume mobile traffic.
To get started, open the app on both devices. On the new phone, select Recieve and on the old one, Send. QR-code that will appear on the screen of the new gadget, or you can simply choose the name of the device from the list of available networks.
Once you have established the connection, you will be asked to select data categories to transfer, and the algorithm allows you to flexibly customize the process by selecting only the desired elements.
- 📱 Contacts and Messages – Complete Correspondence History and Phone Book.
- 🖼️ Multimedia – photos, video files and audio recordings.
- 📲 Applications – list of installed programs and their data (if supported).
- ⚙️ System settings - wallpaper, alarm clocks and Wi-Fi settings.
It can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the amount of information you have, don't turn off your device screens and keep them close to each other, and interrupting the connection can damage some files.
What if the Mi Mover can’t see the device?
Synchronization through the cloud service Mi Cloud
The Mi Cloud is a central element of Xiaomi’s ecosystem, allowing not only backups but also instant synchronization when you sign in to your account on a new device, ideal if your old phone is already lost or damaged but the data has been uploaded to the cloud.
To activate the function, go to the settings menu and find the Mi Account section. Log in under your ID and select Cloud. You need to activate sync for the desired categories: contacts, notes, voice recorder, gallery and system settings.
If your photo archive is large, you need to subscribe or selectively choose what to download, and once sync is enabled, the data will automatically update on the server.
On the new Xiaomi Redmi, you just need to log in to the same Mi Account when you first set up or through the settings menu, and the system will offer to restore data from the last backup, which is the most automated method, requiring minimal user intervention.
| Parameter | Local (Mi Mover) | Cloud (Mi Cloud) | Google Account |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed. | High (up to 40 MB/s) | Depends on the Internet. | Medium |
| We need the Internet. | No (locally) | Yes (required) | Yes (required) |
| Data limit | No (memory only) | 5GB free of charge | 15GB free of charge |
| Type of data | All (incl. APK) | Contacts, photos, settings | Contacts, calendar |
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Using Mi Cloud is ideal for saving contacts and notes, as they weigh little and sync instantly, unlike heavy video files.
Transferring data from iPhone (iOS) to Xiaomi
iPhone owners who choose to switch to Android and choose Xiaomi Redmi can also easily migrate their data.The Mi Mover app has an iOS version that is available in the App Store.The process is similar to porting between Android devices, but has its limitations due to Apple's system being closed.
Install the app on your iPhone and run it. On the new Redmi, select the data acquisition mode. After connecting over Wi-Fi, you can select photos, videos and contacts to transfer. Note that apps and paid purchases from the App Store cannot be ported, as they are different operating systems.
You can also use Google account to sync contacts and calendar. On iPhone, go to Settings → Passwords and accounts, add a Google account, and turn on contact and calendar switches. After that, Xiaomi just log in to the same Google account.
Saving data of WhatsApp and Telegram messengers
Special attention should be paid to the transfer of the history of correspondence in messengers, as standard methods of backup systems often ignore them. WhatsApp has a built-in backup function. On the old device, go to Settings → Chats → Backup chats.
It is recommended to use Google Drive cloud storage for Android or iCloud for iOS.After installing WhatsApp on the new Xiaomi Redmi and entering the same phone number, the app will automatically prompt you to recover your message history from the cloud.
Telegram works differently, because it stores all the history of correspondence on its servers. You just install the application and log in to the phone number. All chats, channels and groups will appear instantly. However, secret chats (Secret Chats) are not portable, because they are tied to a particular device.
- 💬 WhatsApp – requires manual backup activation in Google Drive before changing phone.
- ✈️ Telegram is synced automatically, except for secret chats.
- 💬 Viber – uses local backup or Viber Backup on Google Drive.
⚠️ Note: When you migrate WhatsApp to a new phone with a different operating system (e.g. iOS to Android), the standard method may not work.
Solving problems in transfer
Despite the fact that processes are fine, users may encounter difficulties, often due to unstable connection or memory shortages, and if the transmission is stuck at a certain percentage, try turning off the lock screens on both devices and bringing them closer together.
If you have any errors when you restore from Mi Cloud, check the firmware version. On the old and new device, it is advisable to have the current versions of MIUI or HyperOS. Differences in the versions of the operating system can cause conflicts when restoring system settings.
If the Mi Mover app produces an error called “Not enough space,” clear the app’s cache or try to transfer data in smaller portions, selecting categories individually.
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If you are porting data from a very old Android (version 5 or 6), first upgrade the Mi Mover app to the latest version via Google Play, as older versions may not support the new Redmi encryption protocols.
In difficult cases, when standard methods don’t work, you can use a computer: connect your old phone to your PC, copy the DCIM, Download, and Documents folders to an intermediate storage, and then transfer them to the new Xiaomi.