Buying a new smartphone, especially within the Xiaomi ecosystem, is always accompanied by a pleasant anticipation of improvements, but also the inevitable hassle of transferring information accumulated over the years. Users need to move not just contacts and photos, but also applications with their data, Wi-Fi passwords, call history and even the placement of icons on the desktop. Fortunately, the company’s engineers have developed several effective mechanisms to automate this process to a minimum of human participation.
There are several proven methods, each with its own advantages depending on the amount of data and the speed of the Internet connection: you can use the built-in Mi Mover app, which runs on a direct Wi-Fi channel, synchronize data through the Mi Cloud service, or rely on a standard Google account, the choice of the method depends on how deeply you are integrated into the brand ecosystem and how much memory is occupied on the old device.
In this article, we will take a closer look at each of the algorithms, focusing on the nuances that even experienced users often forget about. You will learn how to avoid common errors, why some applications may not be transferred automatically, and how to properly prepare both devices for the migration procedure. The fastest and most reliable way to fully clone the system is using the Mi Mover application over a direct Wi-Fi connection, since it does not depend on Internet speed and cloud storage.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before you start the copying process, you need to make sure that both smartphones are in good condition and ready for intensive work. First of all, check the battery level: both devices should have at least 50-60% of power, and it is better to connect them to power sources, since transferring large amounts of data can significantly consume battery life. Also make sure that the old and new phones have the latest version of the MIUI or HyperOS operating system installed.
It is important to free up space on the receiving device if it has been used before. Although modern algorithms can replace duplicates, the availability of free space ensures that there are no errors when writing system files, it is not superfluous to delete temporary files and cache, so as not to waste time on the transfer of digital debris.
Check the stability of Wi-Fi modules, even if you plan to use a direct connection. Make sure that both devices are enabled Bluetooth and geolocation, as these protocols are often used for initial handshakes and device detection on the network. If the old phone has restrictions on the background activity of applications, they should be removed for Mi Mover.
☑️ Ready for transfer
Don't ignore the preparation phase, as interruption in the middle of the process due to battery discharge can damage the database of contacts or messages.
Method 1: Use the Mi Mover application
The preferred method for Xiaomi owners is to use the Mi Mover tool, which is pre-installed on most of the brand’s devices and allows you to create a direct communication channel between phones, bypassing the Internet router.
To start, run the app on both smartphones, select the New Phone on the new device, and the Old Phone on the old one, and the system will prompt you to scan. QR-code or search for devices via Bluetooth, and when paired, the data category selection menu will open.
⚠️ WARNING! while running Mi Mover, do not lock smartphone screens or switch to other apps, as this may break the connection or put the process on pause.
You can choose specific types of data to port: images, music, documents, system settings, alarm clocks and even the location of icons on the desktop.The app will automatically skip the system files of the new phone and replace only user data. If you use WhatsApp or Viber, make sure to select the appropriate items, although messengers sometimes require a separate backup procedure within the apps themselves.
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If the process is stuck in the Preparation phase, try restarting both phones and disabling VPNs or third-party antiviruses that may block the local network.
Once the copy is complete, the system will suggest restarting the new phone to apply the settings, a mandatory step that allows the system to correctly index new files and register applications.
Method 2: Synchronize with Mi Cloud
An alternative method that doesn’t require both devices to be physically present at one time is the Mi Cloud cloud sync, which is ideal if your old phone is already sold, lost or broken, but you’ve taken care of backing up beforehand. 5GB of free storage is enough for contacts, notes, voice recorders and compressed photos.
On your old device, go to your Mi Account settings and select "Mi Cloud" section. You need to activate the switches for all the types of data you want to save. After you turn on sync, click "Sync" and wait until the process is over. You can check the status in the web version of the cloud through the browser on your computer.
- 📸 Gallery: photos and videos are uploaded in original quality, if the tariff allows, or in an optimized version.
- 📒 Notes: Text recordings, shopping lists and voice recorders are saved in full.
- 📞 Contacts and calls: Call history and phone book are restored instantly after logging in to your account.
- ⚙️ Settings: System settings, Wi-Fi and blacklist passwords are saved for rapid deployment.
On the new phone, just log in to the same Mi Account when you first set up or through the settings menu, and the system automatically prompts you to restore data from the last available copy, a process that can take time depending on your Internet connection speed and the amount of files you download.
What to do if 5GB is not enough?
Method 3: Transfer through Google Account
The third one is based on Google services, which is the standard for the entire Android ecosystem and allows you to transfer the bulk of user data without being tied to the phone brand, and is especially effective for porting contacts, calendar events, Chrome passwords and installed app lists.
On your old device, open your settings, search for Accounts or Users and Accounts, select your Google profile. Make sure you sync for all the items you need: Contacts, Calentar, Drive, Photos (via Google Photos). Photos often require a separate action — start the Google Photos app and enable Autoboot and Sync.
When you first turn on a new Xiaomi smartphone, the system will ask you to enter your Google account data. Once authorized, the phone will prompt you to restore applications and data from the last backup stored on Google Drive. You will see a list of applications that will be downloaded automatically, as well as settings saved in the search giant's cloud.
This is good for its versatility, but it has limitations: it won’t tolerate desktop widgets, specific MIUI settings, and some apps that don’t support Google cloud redundancy.
Comparison of data transfer methods
To make it easier for you to choose the best option, we have compiled a comparison table that reflects the key features of each method, and consider your priorities: speed, data volume or Internet connection.
| Characteristics | Mi Mover | Mi Cloud | Google Account |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed of operation | Very high (locally) | Depends on the Internet. | Medium |
| We need the Internet. | No (for updates only) | Yes (Wi-Fi/4G/5G) | Yes. |
| Limit of volume | Just a free seat. | 5GB (free) | 15 GB (shared with mail) |
| Transfer of MIUI settings | Complete. | Complete. | Basic |
As you can see from the table, the Mi Mover wins in speed and no volume limits, making it a leader for full migration. Cloud-based methods are good as an add-on or insurance in case you lose physical access to an old device.
Transfer of messages and call history
One of the most sensitive data categories for users is SMS-Losing an important confirmation code or correspondence history can be a serious problem. SMS and MMS completely, preserving the structure of the dialogues and the attached media files.
When using a Google account, SMS history can also be saved if the old phone has been enabled with the corresponding feature in Google backup settings. However, when you switch between different versions of Android or shells, there are sometimes encoding conflicts, which can display characters instead of text.
The situation is similar for call history: Mi Mover and Mi Cloud do this flawlessly, carrying even missed calls and length of conversations, allowing the new phone to become a full digital copy of the old one, which is especially important for business users who keep records of customer time.
⚠️ Attention! Messages from instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber) are not always transferred along with the system SMS. For WhatsApp, it’s better to use the built-in “Backup” feature inside the app itself before switching.
It is recommended to open several old dialogs after transfer and check the integrity of the attachments. If some files do not open, you may need to manually copy the /MIUI/gallery/cloud/ or similar folder through the file manager.
Recovery of passwords and security settings
Modern smartphones store thousands of passwords. When transferring data, it is important not to lose access to stored credentials. If you used Google Password Manager or synchronized passwords through Mi Cloud, then after logging into an account on a new device, all saved logins and passwords will automatically be loaded into the browser and autocomplete system.
Special attention should be paid to the applications of banks and government services, which, for security reasons, never automatically transfer authorization, you will have to re-enter pin codes, undergo biometric identification or confirm the login via SMS. This is normal practice of protecting the user's financial resources.
Security settings such as ad blocking, app permissions and privacy settings can also be moved over Mi Mover.However, if a new phone has a more recent version of HyperOS installed with a changed permission structure, the system can reset some settings to default values to avoid conflicts.
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Passwords from Wi-Fi networks are automatically transferred only when using Mi Mover or Mi Cloud. When resetting through Google, you will have to enter the password from the router again.