How to Transfer Data from iPhone to Xiaomi: A Complete Guide with Proven Methods

The transition from iPhone to Xiaomi smartphone is not only about changing the ecosystem, but also the need to transfer all the important data: contacts, photos, messages and applications. Many users fear this process because of the risk of information loss or complex technical manipulation. In fact, there are several reliable ways to transfer data from iOS to Android, and most of them do not require special skills.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods – from official Xiaomi tools to universal solutions that work on any device. You will learn how to transfer contacts, photos, videos, notes and even a history of calls without loss, as well as what pitfalls can occur when switching between operating systems. 13/14 series, Redmi Note 12/13 and POCO F5/X5, Because they have their own synchronization.

Before you start, make sure your iPhone has enough battery power (at least 50%) and Xiaomi has enough free space to receive data. If you use iCloud for backup, make sure that the last copy is created no later than a day before the transfer – this minimizes the risk of losing current files.

1.Official way: Mi Mover app from Xiaomi

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary tool for fast data transfer between devices, which supports contact, message, photo, video, audio files and even some settings, with the main advantage of not requiring a computer or cloud services, but sharing directly over Wi-Fi.

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Install the Mi Mover app on your iPhone via the App Store (it’s free).
• 🔄 On the new Xiaomi smartphone, when you first turn on, select the option “Data Transfer” (or find Mi Mover in Settings). → Additionally).
• 📶 Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network or create an access point on Xiaomi.
• 🔗 On iPhone, open Mi Mover, scan it. QR-code from the Xiaomi screen and select data to transfer.

It can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the amount of data, and it’s important that Mi Mover doesn’t carry apps — it’s going to have to be installed manually through Google Play, and some users have noted that iMessage messages may not be displayed correctly (without attached media).

Battery Charging on Both Devices > 50%|Both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.|Xiaomi has enough free space (at least 20% more data portable)|Disabled. VPN Firewalls that can block transmission-->

2. Transfer through Google Account (contacts, calendars, notes)

If you only need to migrate contacts, calendars and notes, the easiest way is to sync through Google Account, which works on any device and does not require the installation of additional applications.

Instructions:

1. On iPhone, go to Settings → Contacts → Accounts → Add an account and select Google.
2. Enter your Google account details (if not, register a new one).
3. Activate sync for Contacts, Calendars, and Notes (if stored in Apple Notes, they will have to be exported manually via iCloud).
4. On a Xiaomi smartphone, add the same Google account to Settings → Accounts and Sync.
5. Wait until the synchronization is complete (it can take up to 15 minutes).

This way ensures that your contacts will automatically update on both devices. However, note: photos and videos are not portable this way - they will require another method. Also, some users face duplicate contacts if they previously synced with iCloud. To avoid this, clear contacts on Xiaomi before syncing or use an application to remove duplicates, such as Contacts Optimizer.

💡

If you have a lot of notes on Apple Notes, export them in PDF format via iCloud.com (Notes section → highlight the ones you need → Export to PDF) then upload the file to Xiaomi and use the Google Keep or Mi Notes app to import.

3. Photo and video transfer: iCloud vs Google Photos

Photos and videos usually take up the most space, so porting them requires special attention. You have two main options: use iCloud or Google Photos. Let's look at the pros and cons of each.

Recommendation: If you have a lot of high-resolution photos (like the iPhone 14 Pro), you should use iCloud or direct cable. If convenience and speed are important, choose Google Photos (but be prepared for a slight loss of quality when compressed).

Instructions for Google Photos:

1. Download the Google Photos app on your iPhone.
2. Log in to your Google account and enable autoload (Settings → Backup and Sync).
3. Choose quality ("High" for compression or "Original" for quality preservation).
4. On Xiaomi, install Google Photos and wait for sync.

Google Photos (compression)|Google Photos (Original Quality)|iCloud + manual|Direct transmission by cable|Another option-->

4. Message transfer and call history: complexities and solutions

One of the most problematic aspects of switching from iPhone to Xiaomi is the transfer of SMS/MMS and call history, because Apple does not provide official tools to export this data, so you have to use third-party solutions.

The most reliable ways:

• 📲 iSMS2droid (for SMS/MMS): The app exports messages from the iTunes backup to an Android-compatible format.Requires a computer and an iPhone backup.
• 📞 Phone Transfer (from MobileTrans): a paid solution, but it transfers messages, call history, and contacts. It works without a computer (via Wi-Fi).
• 🔄 Samsung Smart Switch (unofficial): Despite the name, the app sometimes works with Xiaomi, carrying messages.

Important: Messages from iMessage are not portable – they can only be saved as screenshots or through exporting chats to PDF (to do this, in iMessage click on chat → “Export”). Also note that after switching to Android, your contacts from iPhone will see your messages as SMS, not as iMessage (they will turn green instead of blue).

5. Application portability: what you need to know

Unfortunately, it is not possible to directly transfer installed applications from iOS to Android – these operating systems use different file formats (.ipa for iOS and.apk for Android).

• 📥 Download similar apps from Google Play. Most popular services (WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram) have versions for Android.
• 💰 Move purchases: If you bought apps/games through the App Store, contact the developer – some allow you to transfer purchases to Android (for example, Minecraft or Duolingo Plus).
• 🔄 Use cross-platform services: for example, Spotify, Netflix or Google Drive sync data between devices automatically.

Tip: Before removing apps from your iPhone, take screenshots of the main screens or export lists of installed programs through Settings → Screen time → All activities. This will help restore the work environment on Xiaomi faster.

Pay special attention to banking applications and authenticators. Some banks (e.g. SberBank or Tinkoff) require re-activation on a new device. For Google Authenticator or Authy, export backup codes in advance or move accounts through the cloud (if supported).

💡

Before switching to Xiaomi, check if your key apps (banks, instant messengers, games) have Android versions. Some services (such as Apple Music or Apple Pay) do not have full-fledged analogues on Android, and their functionality will be limited.

6. Alternative methods: computer, cloud services, physical media

If none of these methods work for you, you can use alternative methods, which take longer, but sometimes are the only solution.

Method 1: Transfer over a computer (Mac/Windows)

• 🖥️ Connect your iPhone to your computer and copy files (photos, videos, music) through Windows or Finder (Mac).
• 📁 Connect Xiaomi and transfer files to the appropriate folders (DCIM Downloads for other files).
• 🔌 Use the Lightning adapter → USB-C, If you want to connect devices directly, without a computer).

Method 2: Cloud services (Dropbox, OneDrive, Yandex Disk)

Upload files from your iPhone to the cloud and then download them to Xiaomi. This method is convenient for large amounts of data, but requires a stable Internet connection. For example, Yandex Disk offers 10 GB for free, and Dropbox offers 2 GB (with the option of expansion).

Method 3: Physical media (flash drive, SD-map)

If you have OTG-iPhone adapter (for example, Lightning to) USB), You can copy files to a flash drive and then paste it into Xiaomi (most models support it). USB OTG). This is the slowest but most reliable method if you don’t have access to the internet.

💡

To speed up the transfer over the computer, use iMazing (paid) or iExplorer (free with restrictions), which allows you to export data from iTunes backups in a convenient way.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When migrating data from iPhone to Xiaomi, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

⚠️ Note: If contacts are not displayed correctly after transfer (for example, instead of names - phone numbers), check the sync settings in Google Contacts. Often the problem is solved by resetting the cache of the Contacts app on Xiaomi.

Problem 1: There is not enough space for Xiaomi

Solution: before transferring, clear Xiaomi memory of unnecessary files (use Settings) → Memory. → Clean up) or transfer data in parts. You can also use it. SD-card if the model supports memory expansion).

Problem 2: Photos moved but not displayed in the gallery

Solution: Check the DCIM folder through any file manager (e.g. Files by Google).If the files are in place but not visible in the gallery, reboot your device or use the QuickPic app.

Problem 3: Messages moved, but without emojis or formatting

Solution: This is a feature of conversion between iMessage and SMS. Unfortunately, you can't save the formatting completely. Try using iSMS2droid with the Save Emoji option.

⚠️ WARNING: If you use WhatsApp, don't delete the app from your iPhone until you've moved the chats! first back up to iCloud, then install WhatsApp on Xiaomi and restore the history via Google Drive (instructions when you first start the messenger).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions