Introduction: Why it is important to transfer information correctly
Changing a smartphone is always stressful, not so much with mastering a new interface as with the risk of losing important data. Owners of the Xiaomi ecosystem often face the need to transfer archives accumulated over the years to a new device, whether it is a flagship of the same brand or a gadget from another manufacturer. Correct transfer ensures that no contact, photo or password from Wi-Fi will not be lost during the migration process.
Modern technology offers several proven ways to do this, each with its own advantages: some users prefer cloud services for automatic synchronization, others choose local Wi-Fi Direct transmission for speed. Wi-Fi Direct data transfer speeds can reach 40 MB / s, which is much faster than classic Bluetooth.
In this article, we will take a look at all the current methods, from the built-in Mi Mover app to manual copying via your computer, and learn how to avoid typical errors and prepare both devices for flawless operation immediately after turning on.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before any transfer tool is launched, a number of preparatory steps must be taken, a critical step that is often ignored, resulting in interruption or file corruption. Make sure that both smartphones have at least 50-60% battery charge, as active communication modules quickly consume energy.
It’s also worth checking if you’re switching from a 64GB model to a phone with a similar amount of storage but already full of system and apps, and it’s recommended that you temporarily remove unnecessary caches or move heavy video to an external medium.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to interrupt the file transfer process after it has started, this may damage the contact database or corrupt system files on the new device.
Be sure to connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network if you plan to use cloud methods or wireless transmission, and the stability of the connection directly affects the integrity of the data packets being transmitted.
Using the Mi Mover app to switch to Xiaomi
The most effective way for owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco equipment is the regular Mi Mover application, which is preinstalled in the shell of MIUI and HyperOS, making it available without downloading additional files from third-party sources.
To get started, run the app on both devices. On the old phone, select Sender and on the new phone, Receiver, and the system automatically scans the available devices nearby. If the automatic search fails, you can scan. QR-code that appears on the screen of the receiving gadget.
Once you have established the connection, you will be asked to select the types of data to transfer.
- 📸 Images and videos from the gallery
- 📞 Contacts and call history
- 📱 Annexes and their data
- ⚙️ System settings and alarm clocks
Importantly, Mi Mover allows you to even transfer the placement of icons on the desktop, keeping the usual interface. The process can take from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the amount of information.
☑️ Checklist before Mi Mover launch
Synchronization through Google Account and Cloud Services
Google’s ecosystem provides a powerful tool for those who want to remain independent of the smartphone brand, ideal if you’re switching to a device from another manufacturer, such as Samsung or Pixel, with Google Drive and contact sync being the primary storage.
To activate backup, go to your phone's settings, search for the Google section, and select Backup. Here you can initiate data saving right now. Make sure that sync is enabled for:
- 📇 Contacts (stored in the Google cloud)
- 📅 Calendar and notes
- 📷 Photos (via Google Photos)
Once the new phone is turned on, just enter the same email address and the system will prompt you to restore data from the last backup. Apps downloaded from the Play Market will also be automatically downloaded to the device.
However, consider the limitations of Google One's free rate, which provides 15GB of space. If your photo and video archive is large, some of the data may not sync without buying additional space.
What to do if the synchronization is suspended?
Comparison of transfer methods: table of possibilities
The right tool depends on your priorities: speed, convenience or network independence. Below is a comparative description of the main ways to migrate data from Xiaomi devices.
| Method | Speed. | Internet dependency | Data types |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | High (Wi-Fi Direct) | Not required | All (including settings) |
| Google Sync | Medium | Required. | Contacts, photos, applications |
| Bluetooth | Low. | Not required | Only files and contacts |
| PC (USB) | Tall. | Not required | Multimedia files |
As can be seen from the table, Mi Mover is best suited for full cloning of the system, while a Google account is enough for selective transfer of contacts.
Transferring data to iPhone (iOS)
The transition from Android to iOS is more complicated due to the differences in file systems and the closed Apple ecosystem, but Apple has developed a special application Move to iOS, which greatly simplifies the task.
Install the “Move to iOS” app on your Xiaomi from Google Play. On your new iPhone, during the initial setup, select the option “Move to Android Data” and the iPhone screen will show the code that you need to enter on Android.
Once connected, the devices will create a temporary secure Wi-Fi network.
- 📞 Contacts and communications history
- 🖼️ Photo and video from the gallery
- 📧 Email accounts
- 🌐 Browser bookmarks
It’s important to understand that paid apps from Google Play won’t automatically migrate – they’ll have to be re-buyed in the App Store, and files that aren’t supported by iOS (such as apk files or specific document formats) won’t be migrated.
⚠️ Warning: While transferring data to your iPhone, do not switch to the mobile network or leave the application, even if an incoming call arrives.
💡
Tip: If you have a lot of.mp3 music, copy it to your computer and then sync it to your iPhone via iTunes or Finder, as large music libraries may not be able to transfer directly to Wi-Fi.
Manual method: connection to a computer
If wireless methods seem unreliable or you need to throw hundreds of gigabytes of data, the classic version of the standard is the following: USB-cable remains the king of stability, and this method requires a computer running Windows, macOS or Linux.
Connect your old Xiaomi to your PC with a cable. In notifications, select USB File Transfer (MTP) mode. Open your computer explorer, find your device, and copy the DCIM (photo and video), Download, Documents, and Music folders to your hard drive.
Then, plug in the new phone and transfer the stored data to the appropriate directories, a technique that is particularly good for transferring heavy video to 4K, which can be loaded over the air for a long time.
Photos on Xiaomi: /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Camera/For advanced users, USB debugging mode is available, allowing you to use utilities like ADB for a full system backup, but this requires technical knowledge.
💡
Manual copying via PC is the only way to guarantee file transfer without compression and loss of quality, which is critical for photographers.