How to transfer data from Xiaomi to iPhone 11: 5 proven ways

Why migrating data from Android to iOS is not as easy as it seems

Moving from Xiaomi to iPhone 11 is not just about changing the ecosystem, it's also about migrating all of your data, from contacts to message history. Unlike transferring between devices of the same brand (like the Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 13), there are two fundamentally different operating systems: Android and iOS, the main problem is that there is no universal tool that would automatically carry everything all at once.

Apple offers the official iOS Transition app, but it only works when you first set up a new iPhone and often crashes when you transfer large amounts of data (such as 4K videos or Telegram message archives). Xiaomi owners also face the nuances of MIUI: some files (such as notes or recordings from a voice recorder) are stored in proprietary formats that iOS does not recognize. In this article, we will examine all the current methods, from cloud services to manual transfer via computer.

It’s important to consider technical limitations: the iPhone 11 supports APFS file system, while Xiaomi works with ext4 or F2FS. This means that simply copying files through a Explorer (as between two Android devices) is not enough.

Method 1: The official iOS Transition app – when it works

Apple's iOS app is the most obvious option, but only works if your iPhone 11 isn't set up yet (or you're ready to reset it to factory settings).

• 📞 Contacts (from phone book and Google account)
• 📧 History of communications (SMS/MMS, but not messengers)
• 📷 Photos and videos (limited to 10 GB per session)
• 📍 Web browser bookmarks (only from Chrome)
• 🎵 Music and books (if not protected) DRM)

How to do this:

1. On Xiaomi download the app Switch to iOS from Google Play.
2. On iPhone 11, when you first set up, select Data Transfer from Android.
3. On Xiaomi, open the app, accept the terms and enter the code that will appear on the iPhone.
4. Select data to transfer and wait for completion (can take up to 1 hour at 5+GB).

⚠️ Note: If Xiaomi has a migration feature enabled MIUI (in your account settings, disable it – it conflicts with the Apple app and can interrupt the transfer.

The main disadvantage of this method is that it does not transfer data from third-party messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) and some system settings (for example, alarm clocks or notes), and there are often errors when transmitting high-resolution video (for example, files from Xiaomi 12S Ultra to 8K).

Method 2: Transferring your Google Account to the Web is universal, but not for everything

If you've used Google services on Xiaomi, some of the data is already synced to the cloud.

• 📇 Contacts (from Google Contacts)
• 📅 Calendar (Google Calendar)
• 📧 Mail (Gmail)
• 📍 Bookmark (Google Chrome)
• 📷 Photo and video (Google Photos if backup was enabled)

Instructions:

1. On iPhone 11, go to Settings → Passwords and Accounts → Add an account → Google.
2. Enter your Google account details (the same as the one used on Xiaomi).
3. Turn on synchronization for the necessary services (contacts, calendars, mail).
4. For photos: download the Google Photos app from the App Store and log in to the same account.

Limitations:

• 🚫 Not tolerated. SMS, call history.
• 🚫 Photos in original quality take up space in the cloud (free only 15 GB).
• 🚫 Some data (such as Wi-Fi settings) are not synced.

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Before transferring, check if backup is enabled on Xiaomi: go to Settings → Google → Backup and make sure the latest copy is fresh.

Method 3: Manual copying through a computer - for complete control

If you need to transfer all data without exception (including messenger files, documents or non-standard formats), the most reliable way is to use a computer (Windows or Mac) as an intermediary.

• 💻 Computer with USB-port
• ⚡ USB-Type-C cables (for Xiaomi) and Lightning (for iPhone 11)

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your computer and copy all the files you need to a separate folder (for example, D:\Xiaomi_Backup). Pay special attention:

⚠️ Note: When transferring music to iTunes, files are in the format.m4a (AAC) They are automatically converted, and.flac or.ape are not supported. Use a converter (e.g., a converter, VLC), If you need to maintain the original quality.

Are there all cables (Type-C and Lightning) available?

Are hidden folders (such as those with call records) copied?

Is there a backup of WhatsApp (Databases folder)?

Is iCloud synced to iPhone disabled during transfer?-->

Method 4: Transfer messengers – WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber

Standard methods don't carry the history of chats from instant messengers. Each application has its own algorithm:

WhatsApp

WhatsApp does not officially support porting between Android and iOS, but there is a workaround through paid services (like Backuptrans or iCareFone).

1. On Xiaomi, back up to Settings → Chat → Backup.
2. Connect your phone to your computer and copy /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases.
3. Use WhatsApp Viewer (Windows) to export chats to.html.
4. Send your files by mail and open them on your iPhone.

Cons: you will receive only text messages without attachments (photos, videos, voice).

Telegram

It's simpler here, Telegram syncs the story through the cloud.

1. On Xiaomi, make sure all messages are uploaded (open chats and wait for sync).
2. On the iPhone 11, install Telegram and log in to the same account.
3. All chats and media files will be downloaded automatically (unless they have been deleted from the servers).

Viber

Viber offers an official transfer via the Viber Transfer Tool, but it only works when connecting both phones to the same Wi-Fi at the same time.

1. On Xiaomi, back up to Settings → Account → Backup.
2. Copy the viber.bak file to your computer.
3. On your iPhone, install Viber, log in to your account and wait for the offer to restore the story.

⚠️ Note: If you have used secret chats on Telegram or Viber, their history is not portable – these messages are stored only on the device and deleted after logging out of your account.

Method 5: Transfer applications and game data – what to save

Unfortunately, it is not possible to directly transfer installed applications from Xiaomi to iPhone 11 – Android and iOS have different file formats (.apk vs.ipa).

• 🎮 Save game progress (if the game supports cross-platform accounts, for example, through Google Play Games or Facebook).
• 📱 Move the settings of some apps (e.g. Spotify, Netflix) through your account login.
• 📥 Install app analogues from the App Store (for example, instead of MIUI Calculator – Standard Calculator from Apple).

How to transfer game data:

1. Make sure the game supports cloud-based saves (e.g. Genshin Impact, Clash of Clans).
2. On Xiaomi, link your game account to a social network or email.
3. On iPhone 11, install the game from the App Store, log in to the same account and download save.

For applications without cloud sync (for example, some offline games or specialized utilities), portability is impossible – you have to start from scratch.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even when following instructions, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

Another common mistake is not having enough space on your iPhone when you migrate: Check the free space in Settings → Main → iPhone Storage before migrating and clean it if necessary (for example, by deleting unnecessary apps or temporary files).

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Before transferring data, always back up to Xiaomi via Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. This will allow you to recover information if something goes wrong.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions