Mi Mover on Xiaomi: what kind of application is it and how to transfer data correctly

When you first get to know a Xiaomi smartphone, many users notice the Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed, a utility with a concise interface and a non-obvious purpose. In fact, it is one of the key tools of the Xiaomi ecosystem that makes it much easier to migrate data between devices. But how exactly does it work? Can you trust it with sensitive information? And why does data transfer sometimes end up with an error?

Today we will discuss in detail what Mi Mover is, what types of data it supports, how to use the application correctly on different Xiaomi models (from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra), as well as reveal the nuances that are not written in the official instructions.

What is Mi Mover and why is it needed?

Mi Mover is a Xiaomi-branded app designed to wirelessly transfer data between smartphones, allowing you to transfer contacts, messages, photos, videos, apps, and even system settings without using cables or cloud services. The utility’s main advantage is speed and simplicity: the process takes only a few minutes, and all actions are intuitive even for a beginner.

The app is built into the firmware MIUI (Starting with version 8) and automatically activated when you first turn on a new Xiaomi device, however, it can be launched at any time through the settings menu or icon on the desktop. It is important to note that Mi Mover works not only between Xiaomi smartphones – it supports data transfer from devices of other brands (for example, Samsung, Huawei or even iPhone), although in this case the functionality may be limited.

Main use cases:

• 📱 Smartphone Change – Quickly Transfer All Data From Your Old Phone to the New Xiaomi.
• 🔄 Backup – creating a local copy of important files on another device.
• 📲 Device-to-device sharing – sharing photos, contacts, or apps with friends or colleagues.
• 🔧 Reset recovery – return data to your phone after hard reset.

Unlike cloud services (like Google Drive or Mi Cloud), Mi Mover doesn’t require an internet connection to transfer files — data is transmitted directly over Wi-Fi Direct, which speeds up the process and improves security. However, there are limitations: for example, the application does not carry passwords from Wi-Fi or data from some banking applications (due to security policies).

What data can be transferred using Mi Mover

The Mi Mover functionality depends on the version MIUI And on new devices (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T Or the Redmi Note 12 Pro.+) The list of supported data types is wider than the old ones (Redmi 5 or Mi). A2). Here is a complete list of what can be passed on:

Please note that Mi Mover does not tolerate:

• 🔒 Passwords from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices (they will have to be re-entered).
• 💳 Data of banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff, etc.) due to security restrictions.
• 🎮 Preserve games (e.g. Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile).
• 📁 Files from secure folders DRM (For example, some uploaded movies).

Important: If you migrate data from your iPhone to Xiaomi, the list of supported file types is shortened — for example, no notes from Apple Notes or call history are transferred, due to the limitations of the iOS operating system.

How to use Mi Mover: step-by-step instructions

The process of transferring data using Mi Mover is a series of steps, and consider the most common scenario: migrating from an old smartphone to a new Xiaomi.

Preparation of devices

Before starting, make sure that:

• 🔋 Both smartphones have at least 50 batteries%.
• 📶 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled (they will need to create a connection).
• 📱 There is plenty of free space on your old phone for temporary files.
• 🔒 Disabled. VPN Firewalls (they can block the connection).

Mi Mover launches

1. On the new Xiaomi smartphone, when you first turn on, select the “Data Transfer” option (or find the Mi Mover app in the menu).

On an old phone:

- If it's Xiaomi: Open Mi Mover → "I'm the sender" → select data for transfer.

- If it’s an iPhone or another Android: install Mi Mover from the App Store/Google Play and follow the instructions.

3. On the new device, select "I am the recipient" and wait until it appears. QR-code.

Connection and transfer

1. Scan it. QR-code from an old phone (or enter the code from the old phone) PIN-manually).

2. Confirm the connection on both devices.

3. Select data types to transfer (you can mark all or select individual categories).

4 Wait until the process is complete. The time depends on the amount of data:

- 1-5 GB: ~5-10 minutes.

- 10–30 GB: ~20-40 minutes.

5. Once completed, press "Done" and restart the new smartphone.

Battery charge >50% on both devices|

Free space on the new phone (at least 20% more data transfer volume)|

Power-saving modes disabled|

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled and not blocked by antivirus-->

⚠️ Warning: If you see a “Disconnected” error on your screen during the transfer, try restarting Wi-Fi on both devices or using a mobile hotspot instead of Wi-Fi Direct. Also check if the connection is blocked by an antivirus (for example, Avast or Kaspersky).

Possible mistakes and how to correct them

Despite the simplicity of the interface, users sometimes encounter problems when working with Mi Mover. Let's look at the most common errors and how to fix them.

Error: "I was unable to connect to the device"

Reasons:

• 📶 Unstable Wi-Fi connection or interference from other devices.
• 🔄 Different versions MIUI on smartphones (such as the old Redmi) 4X s MIUI 9 and the new Xiaomi 12 S MIUI 14).
• 🔒 firewall VPN lock-in.

Decisions:

1. Reboot both devices.
2. Turn it off. VPN Temporarily deactivate the antivirus.
3. Try connecting via a mobile hotspot instead of Wi-Fi Direct.
4. Update MIUI on both phones to the latest version.

Error: "Not enough space on the device"

This problem occurs when the new smartphone does not have enough space for temporary files. Mi Mover backs up before transferring, so it requires at least 20% more space than the amount of data being transferred.

What to do:

• 🧹 Clear cache and unnecessary files on the new device (use the built-in Cleanup utility in the settings).
• 📁 Transfer data in parts (for example, first photos, then applications).
• 🔄 Use a memory card (if supported) for temporary storage.

Error: "Transfer interrupted" or "Unknown error"

This is most often due to:

• 🔋 A broken battery on one of the devices.
• 📵 Connection losses (for example, if you are out of Wi-Fi coverage).
• 🛠️ The damaged files on the old phone.

⚠️ Note: if the transfer is interrupted during the transfer of applications, do not try to start the process again immediately - wait 5-10 minutes. Otherwise, a conflict of temporary files may occur and the data will be lost.

Mi Mover Alternatives: When to Use Other Ways

While Mi Mover is convenient for fast data transfer, in some cases it is better to use alternative methods.

1. Cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud)

✅ When to use:

• 🌍 You need to transfer data to another brand’s device (for example, from Xiaomi to Samsung).
• 📱 Want to have a backup in the cloud in case of losing your phone.
• 🔄 Transfer a small amount of data (up to 10 GB).

❌ Deficiencies:

• 🐢 Slow download/download speeds with poor internet.
• 💰 Limited free space (15GB on Google Drive, 5GB on Mi Cloud).
• 🔒 Not all data types are synchronized (e.g, SMS or system settings).

2. Cable. OTG adapter

✅ When to use:

• 📁 You need to transfer a lot of data (for example, 50).+ GB photos).
• 🔋 Battery on one of the devices is discharged (the cable does not require Wi-Fi).
• 📱 Older phone doesn't support Wi-Fi Direct.

⚠️ Important: This method will be needed OTG-cable USB-C to USB-C Data is manually transferred through the file manager.

3. Third-party applications (SHAREit, Xender)

✅ When to use:

• 📱 Transferring data between devices of different brands (e.g. Xiaomi and Huawei).
• 🎮 You need to transfer saves to games or files that Mi Mover does not support.

❌ Deficiencies:

• 🛡️ Data breach risk (some applications collect information about users).
• 📦 Advertising and proposals to install additional software.

💡

If you migrate data from your iPhone to Xiaomi, back up your iTunes first, and then use iMazing or AnyTrans to extract files, tools that allow you to export even data that Mi Mover doesn’t support (such as call history or notes).

Security and privacy: Can you trust Mi Mover?

One of the most common questions users ask is, “How secure is it to transfer personal data over Mi Mover?” and the answer depends on several factors:

How data is protected during transfer

1. Wi-Fi Direct: Mi Mover uses a direct connection between devices without an internet connection, which means that data does not pass through Xiaomi servers and cannot be intercepted by third parties (provided that there are no malicious devices nearby connected to the same network).

2. Encryption: In the latest versions MIUI 13/14 data is encrypted using a protocol AES-256 (The same standard is used by banks and government agencies).

3. Local Storage: Temporary files are deleted from both devices after the transfer is completed.

Risks and how to minimize them

Despite the safety measures, there are nuances:

• 🔓 If you are migrating data from your iPhone, the Mi Mover app requests access to contacts, photos and other data. In theory, Xiaomi can collect this information (like any other app.
• 📡 Using public Wi-Fi to connect is theoretically possible to intercept traffic (although this is unlikely due to encryption).
• 📱 If malware is installed on an old phone, it can penetrate the new device along with the transferred files.

⚠️ Warning: Never use Mi Mover to transfer data from a phone that has been stolen or bought from hands without resetting.Temporary files may contain personal information of the previous owner and are difficult to completely delete.

For maximum safety:

• 🔒 Before transferring, check both devices for viruses (for example, using Malwarebytes).
• 📵 Use Wi-Fi instead of public networks.
• 🗑️ After the transfer, clear the Mi Mover cache in the application settings.

Mi Mover on different Xiaomi models: features and limitations

The functionality of the Mi Mover may differ depending on the smartphone model and version MIUI. Let’s look at the key differences:

On older devices (e.g. Redmi) 3S Mi Mover may not work properly due to outdated iron or version MIUI. Alternative methods (cable) are recommended. OTG cloud).

On new flagships (for example, Xiaomi 14 Ultra) the application supports additional features:

• 🔄 Reverse transfer – you can return data from the new phone to the old one.
• 📂 Selective Transfer – Selection of specific folders or file types.
• 🔒 Two-factor authentication – confirmation of transfer via Xiaomi account.

💡

On devices with MIUI 14 Mi Mover data transfer is 30-40% faster thanks to Wi-Fi Direct optimization and file compression on the fly.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions about Mi Mover