Buying a new smartphone from Xiaomi, whether it is the flagship Xiaomi 13 Pro or the budget Redmi Note, is always accompanied by a desire to start using it faster, while preserving all the accumulated digital memory.
The most valuable asset for most gadget owners is personal photos and videos that accumulate over the years and take up gigabytes of space.
The process of transferring this data may seem complicated only at first glance, but modern technologies allow you to migrate multimedia files in minutes without loss of quality.
In this article, we will take a detailed look at all available synchronization methods, from built-in utilities to cloud storage, so you can choose the most convenient option for your situation.
Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration
The most efficient and standard way to transfer data between Xiaomi and Redmi devices is to use the built-in Mi Mover tool.
This utility is preinstalled in MIUI and HyperOS, which allows you to create a direct Wi-Fi connection between the old and new phone, providing a high transfer rate.
To start working on a new device, you need to launch the application and select the status “I am the recipient”, after which you should click “I am the sender” on the old smartphone.
Scanning. QR-code displayed on the screen of the new gadget, instantly connect devices in a single local network.
- 📸 Select the category "Images" in the list of transmitted data to transfer all albums.
- ⚙️ Make sure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network or use an access point.
- 🔋 Check the battery level as the process may require significant resources.
It is important to note that Mi Mover stores folder structure and file metadata, which is critical for sorting archives by date.
If the old phone has a custom shell or device from another manufacturer, the application can be downloaded from Google Play or the official website.
⚠️ Note: Do not interrupt the transfer process or switch to other applications while copying large amounts of data, this can lead to file corruption.
☑️ Preparation for transfer via Mi Mover
Sync through Google Photos and Cloud Services
An alternative and often more reliable method is to use cloud technologies, in particular the service Google Photos.
This method is ideal if you don’t have cables on hand or want to back up before you start any manipulations of the system.
On the old device, you need to open the Google Photos app, log in to your account and activate the “Autoboot and Sync” function.
After you have finished uploading all images to the cloud, just log in to the same account on the new Xiaomi, and the entire media library will be available.
The main advantage of this method is independence from the physical condition of the old phone: even if it fails, your photos will remain safe.
However, it’s worth considering that free space on Google is limited to 15GB, so large archives may require a subscription or storage cleanup.
How to compress photos to save space?
You can also use other cloud drives, such as Yandex.Disk or Dropbox, if they are already actively used for your work.
Just install the application on a new device, log in and download the necessary folders to the local memory of the phone.
Transferring data from iPhone to Xiaomi
Owners of Apple equipment, who decided to switch to the Android platform, also have effective tools for migration.
The Mi Mover app is available in the App Store and allows you to transfer photos, contacts and calendar from the iPhone to Xiaomi wirelessly.
The process is similar to transfer between Androids: on the iPhone, the sender mode is selected, the code is scanned and the transfer is started.
It should be remembered that due to the limitations of iOS, some system data may not be available for copying, but the media library is completely ported.
Another option is to use the Move to iOS program backwards, but it doesn’t work with Android, so Mi Mover remains the only regular solution.
For users who are afraid of the compression quality during transmission, it is recommended to pre-upload the photo to iCloud through the iOS settings.
- 🍏 Make sure your iPhone allows you to access photos for the Mi Mover app.
- 📶 Use a stable Wi-Fi connection as video files can weigh a lot.
- 🔒 Turn off the power saving mode on your iPhone so it doesn’t break the connection.
⚠️ Note: When transferring from iPhone, live photos can be converted to static images or video files depending on the version. MIUI.
Transfer via Bluetooth and Nearby Share
If you only need to transfer a small portion of photos or a few videos, you can use the built-in Bluetooth module or Nearby Share function.
This method does not require the installation of additional applications and the availability of the Internet, working exclusively at the expense of hardware modules of smartphones.
To activate Nearby Share (now “Fast Transfer”), you need to enable Bluetooth and geolocation on both devices.
Select a photo in the gallery, click the “Share” button and find your new Xiaomi in the list of available devices.
Nearby Share transfer speeds are significantly higher than classic Bluetooth and comparable to Wi-Fi Direct.
However, for thousands of photos, this method will not be effective because of the need to confirm each group of files manually.
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Use Nearby Share to quickly transfer 10-20 high quality photos when you don’t have a cable and Wi-Fi router on hand.
Classic Bluetooth should only be used in extreme cases when other methods are not available, as the speed of transfer of one photo can take up to a minute.
After pairing the devices, the files will automatically be saved to the Bluetooth folder in the internal storage.
Use of the USB-cable
The most traditional and reliable way, independent of the speed of wireless networks, is to copy through a PC.
Connect your old phone to your computer in File Transfer (MTP) mode and copy the DCIM folder to your hard drive.
Then connect the new Xiaomi and move the saved data to the appropriate directory.
This method also allows you to audit files by removing duplicates and debris before downloading to a new device.
For advanced users, the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) feature is available, allowing you to manage the file system through the command line.
The adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/C:/Backup/ command will allow you to upload all photos from the camera of the old phone.
adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/ ./phone_backup/
adb push ./phone_backup/ /sdcard/DCIM/Using the cable guarantees no image compression and maximum speed limited only by the USB port standard.
It is recommended to use original cables, as cheap analogues can only work in charging mode.
Comparison of methods and possible problems
To systematize the information and choose the best way, consider a comparative table of the main characteristics of methods.
| Method | Speed. | We need the Internet. | Keeps quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Tall. | No. | Yes. |
| Google Photo | Medium | Yes. | Depends on the settings. |
| USB Cable | Very high. | No. | Yes. |
| Bluetooth | Low. | No. | Yes. |
A common problem with transfer is the lack of space on the new device, so check the free space before starting the procedure.
Users may also encounter the HEIC file format from the iPhone, which is not always correctly displayed in the standard Android gallery.
In such cases, the system may offer a conversion when first opened or a third-party viewer may be required.
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For a complete cloning of the phone, while saving all metadata and folders, it is best to use Mi Mover or a wired connection.