Changing your smartphone is often accompanied by a desire to quickly and without loss transfer all your media files to a new device. Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi phones may face the need to move their music library from an old Android smartphone or even an iPhone, a process that is not always obvious, especially given the features of the shell MIUI and HyperOS, which have a specific folder structure.
There are many ways to transfer music: from classical connection to music. USB-The choice of method depends on the size of your collection, the speed of the Internet and the availability of a computer. In this article, we will discuss all the current options so that you can choose the most convenient for your situation.
Incorrect file placement can lead to the fact that the built-in player simply “does not see” your tracks, even if they are physically in the memory of the device. Understanding the logic of the Xiaomi file system will help to avoid confusion and save time when sorting songs by artist or album.
Using the Mi Mover application for wireless transfer
The easiest and most native way for owners of Xiaomi equipment is to use the pre-installed utility Mi Mover, which is designed specifically for data migration between smartphones and allows you to transfer music, contacts, messages and applications without using the Internet, while data transfer speeds are much faster than through standard Bluetooth.
To get started, you need to open the app on both devices, and on the new Xiaomi phone, you need to select the Receiver role, and on the old one, the Sender. QR-If you have a code and you have a connection, you have to select Music or Audio from the data type list, and the system will automatically scan the device and suggest you select the tracks to copy.
It is important to note that Mi Mover may not work properly with protected files. DRM-protection, or tracks from streaming services, if they are not stored in local storage, and the process can be interrupted if one of the devices is power saving mode, which limits background activity.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure the screens of both smartphones don't go out while transmitting large amounts of data.Switching on the screen lock can break the Wi-Fi Direct connection that Mi Mover uses.
Transferring music through USB-cable
The classic method that remains the most reliable when working with huge archives of music, connecting to a PC allows you not only to copy files, but also to immediately sort them into the right directories, removing duplicates. USB-A cable that can transmit data, not just charge the battery.
Once you connect your smartphone to your computer, you'll see a charging mode notification on your phone screen, you'll click on it and select File Transfer (MTP) mode. You'll see a new device in the My Computer window on your PC, and you'll open up your internal memory, you'll find the Music folder, and if you don't have one, you can create a new one or use an existing one.
It is better to copy files in small portions, especially if there are thousands of tracks, this will reduce the risk of write errors and system freezes. Once you have finished copying, it is recommended to remove the device through the Windows system tray to avoid damage to the file system.
☑️ Checklist before copying
Folder settings and scanning of media files
Once the files are on the new device, they may not appear in the standard player, because of the indexing features in Android, the system scans certain directories, and if your music is in the back of hidden folders or in a directory with a dot in the title, the player will ignore it.
The optimal folder structure for Xiaomi involves placing music at the root of internal memory in the Music folder, inside which you can create subfolders by genre or artist. MIUI, inside Sound_recorder, But it is not recommended to put music there, since it is intended for a recorder.
If the music doesn't come automatically, you can force the scanning to run, and there are special media scanning apps, or you can try to clear the cache of the Media Storage system service through the application settings, hiding all system processes in the menu.
Hidden system folders
Using Cloud Storage and Streaming
The current approach to music is to move away from local storage in favor of clouds, and services like Yandex.Music, Spotify, or Google Play Music (alternatively) allow you to upload your library to a server and listen to it from any device after authorization, eliminating the need to manually transfer gigabytes of data.
The Mi Cloud is available for users of the Xiaomi ecosystem, but its music storage capabilities are limited and often require a paid subscription for large volumes.A more versatile solution is to use Google Drive or Dropbox, which have convenient applications for offline listening to downloaded tracks.
When using cloud methods, the quality of the Internet connection becomes critical. Uploading the entire collection in high quality (FLAC or 320 kbps) can quickly exhaust the limits of mobile traffic, so it is better to download the initial download via Wi-Fi.
⚠️ Note: When syncing through the cloud, monitor the sound quality settings. Some services by default compress tracks to save space, which can worsen the sound on high-quality acoustics.
Comparison of data transmission methods
To make it easier for you to decide on a method, we have prepared a comparison table that will help you evaluate the pros and cons of each method depending on your priorities: speed, convenience or quality.
| Method | Speed. | I need a PC. | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB-cable | Tall. | Yes. | Maximum |
| Mi Mover | Medium/High | No. | Tall. |
| Bluetooth | Low. | No. | Medium |
| Cloud. | Depends on the network. | No. | Tall. |
As you can see from the table, USB-The cable remains the king of speed, but requires a computer. Mi Mover is the best balance between convenience and speed for Xiaomi users. Bluetooth should only be used to transfer a couple of tracks, as the transfer speed of one album can take tens of minutes.
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For quick migration of the entire library without a computer, use Mi Mover, and cloud services are better suited for regular backup and access from different devices.
Solving problems with formats and codecs
Sometimes, after transferring, the user finds that some tracks are not playing or play without sound, due to the lack of support for certain codecs in the standard MIUI player. Popular formats like MP3 and AAC work everywhere, but FLAC, WAV or ALAC can be difficult to handle.
In such cases, you shouldn't try to convert files to your computer. It's easier and more efficient to install a third-party player from Google Play that has built-in codecs. Musicolet, Poweramp or VLC for Android apps are great choices, and they automatically recognize most formats and provide an extended equalizer.
It's also worth checking the bitrate of the files. If you're transferring music from very old phones, it could be low-quality files (128 kbps or lower) that will sound flat on modern screens and speakers. You can turn on the audio enhancement or volume normalization feature in the player's settings.
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If the standard Xiaomi player shows “File is corrupted,” try renaming the file by removing special characters from the title, or copy it again by interrupting and restarting the transfer.