Introduction: Why migrating data from iOS to Android is not a trivial task
The transition from iPhone to Xiaomi is not just a smartphone change, but a transition between two fundamentally different ecosystems. If everything syncs through iCloud within Apple in minutes, moving data to Android requires workarounds. The main problem is that iOS and MIUI use different formats of information storage: contacts in.vcf vs.abbu, photos in HEIC vs. JPEG, and applications are not directly compatible at all.
In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to transfer data, from official Xiaomi tools to universal services like Google Drive or Send Anywhere. Particular attention will be paid to transferring messages from iMessage to MIUI - this is the only case where you can not do without third-party programs, you will learn how to avoid loss of quality photos when converting from HEIC to JPEG and why you should not trust cloud services for transferring passwords from Wi-Fi.
Method 1: Official Mi Mover app is a fast but limited option
Mi Mover is a Xiaomi proprietary tool that runs on both devices and transmits data over a direct Wi-Fi connection, and it supports transferring contacts, photos, videos, music, notes, and even some of the system's settings.
- 🚫 He doesn't transmit messages (SMS/iMessage) call-book
- 🚫 It doesn’t work with iPhone older than iOS 12 (iPhone 6/6S There could be mistakes)
- 🚫 Converts. HEIC into JPEG with loss of quality (unless the settings are changed)
- ✅ Supports app transfers (but only those on Google Play)
How to use Mi Mover:
- Download the app on iPhone from the App Store and Xiaomi from Google Play.
- On Xiaomi, choose I send → iOS, on iPhone – I am the recipient.
- Scan it. QR-code from the screen Xiaomi camera iPhone.
- Select data types to transfer and wait until it is completed (can take up to 30 minutes at 30+GB).
⚠️ Note: If the iPhone enabled the function of Optimization of storage photos (Settings) → Photos), Mi Mover will only carry thumbnails. Turn it off before you start and wait for the originals to download.
Method 2: Google Drive is a universal but slow method
Google Drive is the only cloud service that officially supports iPhone backup and Android recovery, and the advantage of this method is that it works even without a direct connection of devices, and data is stored in the cloud up to 15 GB for free.
- 🐢 Download speed depends on your internet connection (at 50GB of data it can take 5 GB of data).+ hours)
- 🔄 Photos in HEIC automatically convert to JPEG (loss of quality up to 15%)
- 📱 Applications are not portable – only their lists (you will need to install manually)
- 🔒 Wi-Fi passwords and saved browser logins are not transmitted
Step-by-step:
- On your iPhone, install Google Drive and log in.
- Go to the menu → Settings → Backup.
- Select data types (contacts, calendars, photos/video) and click Start copying.
- On Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select Restore from backup and log in to the same Google account.
| Type of data | Mi Mover | Google Drive | Send Anywhere |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. |
| Photo/video | ✅ Yes (with conversion) | ✅ Yes (with conversion) | ✅ Yes (no conversion) |
| Messages (SMS/iMessage) | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ❌ No. |
| Annexes | ✅ List (manual installation) | ✅ List (manual installation) | ❌ No. |
| Wi-Fi passwords | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ❌ No. |
💡
If you need to transfer Wi-Fi passwords, use the WiFi Password Viewer app on your iPhone (jailbreak required) or manually rewrite them before resetting your iPhone.
Method 3: Send Anywhere for large files without loss of quality
Send Anywhere is a cross-platform file transfer service without cloud intermediaries. Unlike Google Drive, it doesn't convert HEIC to JPEG, it doesn't compress video, and it works even without the Internet (over a local network), minus you need to transfer data by category (photos, videos, documents separately).
How to transfer data:
- Install Send Anywhere on both devices.
- On iPhone, select files and click Send → Generate the key.
- On Xiaomi, enter a 6-digit key and confirm receipt.
- Repeat for each type of data (export contacts to.vcf via Contacts → Share).
⚠️ Note: When transferring more than 10 GB of data, break it into 4-5 GB pieces. Send Anywhere can interrupt the connection on large files due to iOS backlink restrictions.
Charge of both devices > 50% | Disable VPN on both smartphones | Connect to the same Wi-Fi | Free 10-15% of memory on Xiaomi-->
Method 4: Transfer Messages from iMessage to Xiaomi (PC Only)
This is the most difficult phase, as Apple does not provide official tools for exporting iMessage, the only working way is to use iMazing (paid, ~$40) or Backuptrans (free trial), a process that takes 30-60 minutes and requires an iPhone to connect to a computer.
Instructions for iMazing:
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac/PC and start iMazing.
- Select Messages → Export as Text/CSV/PDF.
- Export messages to CSV (for further import to Google Contacts or Excel).
- Move the file to Xiaomi and use the SMS Backup & Restore app to recover.
The alternative is Backuptrans iPhone WhatsApp to Android Transfer (which works for regular SMS as well), which backs up messages in a MIUI-compatible format but requires root rights to Xiaomi for full recovery.
What to do if the messages are not transferred
Method 5: Manual transfer via computer (for advanced users)
This method is suitable if you need to transfer sample data or if other methods have not worked. You will need a computer (Mac or PC) and Lightning→USB/USB-C→USB cables.
What can be transferred manually:
- 📁 Photos and videos: copy from the folder DCIM on iPhone (via Explorer)/Finder) folder DCIM/Camera Xiaomi.
For the portability of applications:
- Create a list of installed apps on your iPhone through Settings → Screen time → All activities.
- Find analogues in Google Play (use AppFollow to search for cross-platform apps).
- Install them on Xiaomi and log in to the same accounts (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram, banking applications).
💡
Manual transfer is the only way to maintain original quality HEIC-Use the CopyTrans program. HEIC for Windows or iMazing HEIC Converter to view such files on PC before copying.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even when following instructions, users face problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:
- Mi Mover: Make sure your iPhone has disabled Airplane Mode and VPN, and that both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (not mobile Internet). If the problem persists, restart both smartphones.
- Photos moved but not opened on Xiaomi: This means that HEIC-The files are not supported by your version. MIUI. Install from Google Play app HEIF Image Viewer or convert files in advance via iMazing.
- Contacts are duplicated after the transfer: This happens if you used both Mi Mover and Google Drive. Go to Google Contacts on Xiaomi and select Combine Duplicates.
- Apps have not recovered: Mi Mover and Google Drive only port app lists, not app data, for example, game progress or WhatsApp settings will have to be restored through backups of the apps themselves.
⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi with global firmware (MIUI Global, not Chinese, some features of the Mi Mover may be limited. For example, on the Redmi Note 12 for Russia, the transfer of notes from Apple Notes is unstable.