Buying a new smartphone from Xiaomi is always a pleasant excitement, but the owner inevitably faces the question of preserving the accumulated digital life. Shifting data from Xiaomi to Xiaomi is not just copying contacts, it is the migration of your personality: from Wi-Fi settings to progress in games and the history of correspondence in instant messengers. Fortunately, the ecosystem of MIUI and HyperOS offers powerful built-in tools that make this process as simple and fast as possible.
There are several proven synchronization methods, each with its own advantages depending on the amount of information and speed of your Internet connection. You can use a specialized application Mi Mover, which works on a local Wi-Fi channel, or rely on the cloud service Mi Cloud to automatically restore settings. In this article, we will analyze all the details so you can choose the best method for your situation.
And don't forget to manually copy important documents through a computer or use third-party cloud storage if automated methods don't work for some reason, and it's important to understand that before any data transfer operation begins, you need to make sure that both devices have enough battery power to keep the process from interrupting halfway.
Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration
The most efficient and quickest way to transfer data from Xiaomi to Xiaomi is to use the Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on the default system on most modern models and does not require an Internet connection, as it creates a direct wireless connection between devices. File transfer speed is limited only by the capabilities of the Wi-Fi module, which allows you to pump gigabytes of photos and videos in minutes.
To get started, open the app on both smartphones. On the old device, select the role of "Sender" (Old phone), and on the new one, select the role of "Receiver" (New phone). QR-If you have a code or manual password, the device will connect, and you can select data categories to transfer. The system will automatically sort the files by type, allowing you to eliminate unnecessary debris.
During the transfer, the screens of the devices may temporarily go out to save energy, but the copying process will continue. It is not recommended to fold the application or move to other menus during the active phase, as this can lead to desynchronization of data packets. Once completed, you will receive a detailed report on the number of copied files and the success of the operation.
What to do if the Mi Mover is frozen?
If the process is stuck at a certain percentage, try to turn off Bluetooth on both devices and start the transfer again. Sometimes the Bluetooth protocol conflict interferes with the stable Wi-Fi Direct connection. It is worth noting that Mi Mover is able to transfer not only media files, but also system settings, including the location of icons on the desktop and passwords from well-known Wi-Fi networks. This creates the feeling that you are using a familiar phone, just in a more modern case. Data recovery through Mi Cloud service Mi Cloud is a fundamental part of Xiaomi ecosystem, providing backup of critical data. If you activate synchronize in advance to your old Xiaomi device, you can simply transfer data to your new Xiaomi account. This is ideal for those who value automation and don’t want to mess with cables or direct connections. When you first set up a new smartphone, the system will prompt you to log in to Mi Account. Once you enter your login and password, you will be prompted to restore your backup. You can choose the last available recovery point that contains a snapshot of the system for a specific date, which usually includes contacts, messages, call history, notes and voice recordings. Data Type Restores Automatically Requires manual selection of Contacts Yes No Photos and Videos Yes (Gallery) No Application No (list only) Yes Wi-Fi Settings Yes No Message SMS It is important to understand that free space in the cloud is not so much, usually 5 GB, which may not be enough for a full backup system with photos in the original quality. In this case, it makes sense to use the cloud only for contacts and settings, and to transfer heavy files in another way: manual copying through a computer, the classic method that never loses its relevance is the use of a computer as an intermediate buffer. This gives you complete control over the file structure and allows you to audit the data before it hits a new smartphone. To transfer data from Xiaomi to Xiaomi via a PC, you will need a high-quality dataset. USB-cable and file manager on your computer. Connect your old phone to your computer and select file transfer mode (MTP) In the notification, copy the necessary folders, such as: DCIM (Photos and videos, Downloads and Documents, to your hard drive. Then plug in the new phone and transfer that data to the appropriate directories. This method is particularly useful for transferring specific folders of some applications that are not always captured by standard synchronization tools. For example, some voice recorders or specialized editors can store projects in their own folders at the root of internal memory. 💡When copying large amounts of data through USB 2.0 speeds can be slow. Use the original cable and ports. USB 3.0 on a computer to speed up the process. But there's a big drawback to this method: it can't handle system settings, passwords and desktop structure. You'll have to reconfigure the interface and enter passwords from the akka is manually. WhatsApp and Telegram Special attention should be paid to the transfer of the history of correspondence in messengers, as standard copying methods often do not affect the databases of these applications for security reasons. WhatsApp has a built-in backup feature that you need to use on your old device before you change your phone. Go to WhatsApp settings, select Chats and then Chat Backup. Create a copy on Google Drive. When you install the app on the new Xiaomi, the system will prompt you to recover your email history from the cloud. 📱 For Telegram, you do not need to do anything: all chats are stored on the server and will appear immediately after authorization. 💬 Viber also needs to back up in settings by selecting Google Drive or local save. 📸 On Instagram and Facebook, data is uploaded automatically after logging in.Some users face a problem when a WhatsApp backup isn't visible on a new device. This is most often because you logged into a Google account other than where the backup is stored, or you didn’t give the app access to storage when you first started. 📊 WhatsAppTelegramViberSignal Synchronize contacts and Google calendar The most reliable way not to lose contacts is to store them in your Google account, not in your phone’s memory. If your numbers are saved to Google Contacts, when you add an account to a new Xiaomi, they sync automatically in a couple of minutes. You can check where your contacts are saved in the Contacts app in the display settings. All events created with a Google account will instantly appear on the new device, eliminating the need to manually interrupt birthdays, appointments and reminders. To control synchronization go to Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Google and make sure that the checkmarks are in front of the right points. SIM-In the card or in the memory of the old phone, use the function of export to the file.vcf. This file can be transferred via Bluetooth or messenger and imported on the new device through the contact menu. ⚠️ Note: When exporting contacts to.vcf, make sure you choose the photo format if you want to save subscriber avatars. CSV The format often cuts off graphics. Transfer problems Despite the fact that things are fine, sometimes there are failures. One of the common problems is the lack of space on the new device. Before you start a large-scale transfer, make sure that the amount of free memory on the receiving phone exceeds the amount of data on the sender. Another common difficulty is disconnection when using Mi Mover, which can be due to energy-saving algorithms that kill the background Wi-Fi process. It is recommended to turn off the power saving mode at the time of transfer and allow the Mi Mover application to work in the background without restrictions. 🔋 Battery discharge: The process could stop if the charge drops below 20%.Keep chargers on hand. 📶 Network conflict: Make sure phones don’t try to switch to mobile internet or other Wi-Fi network. 🔒 Screen lock: Do not lock device screens during transmission, as some security systems may break the connection when the display is off. If neither method works, reset the network settings on both devices, but this is an extreme measure requiring re-entering Wi-Fi passwords. Interrupting the Mi Mover process is not critical. You can run it again and the application will try to continue from the stop or overwrite already copied files. However, for the integrity of the contact database, it is better to wait until the end. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Will Wi-Fi passwords be saved after the transfer? Yes, when you use the Mi Mover app or restore from a full Mi Cloud backup, the saved passwords from the Wi-Fi networks will be transferred to the new phone. You don't have to re-enter them. Do you have to delete them? SIM-- The card before the process? SIM-You don't need a card, but if you plan to use the recovery feature, SMS, make sure that SIM-The card with the number that the messages came to is installed in the phone or you remember what number was used for the reservation. What if apps don't open after porting? Some applications, especially banking ones, require re-authorization or biometrics setup on a new device for security purposes. This is normal behavior. Just log in again using your credentials. Can I toss data over if one phone has MIUI 12 and another has MIUI 14? Yes, the Mi Mover app is compatible with different versions of the shell. However, the interface and the list of available data portability may differ slightly. It's recommended to update both devices to the latest available version before starting.