The transition from Apple’s ecosystem to Android, particularly Xiaomi’s, often raises concerns about the safety of personal information. The change of operating system does change the logic of working with files, but modern methods allow you to make this process as smooth as possible. Using a personal computer as an intermediary gives the user full control over the structure of folders and the integrity of the archive.
Many rely solely on cloud services, but local cable copying provides faster transmission speeds for large amounts of data, such as 4K video. In addition, direct access to the file system avoids compression of image quality, which often occurs when synchronized over the Internet.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithm for migrating from iOS to MIUI. You will learn how to properly prepare devices, what file formats require conversion and how to avoid common errors when working with the file system of different platforms.
Preparation of equipment and software
Before you start physically connecting devices, you need to make sure that all the required components are available. For a successful operation, you will need the iPhone itself, the Xiaomi target device and a computer running Windows or macOS. It is critical to use original or certified Lightning and USB-C cables, since cheap analogues often only support charging and do not transmit data.
The computer must have an up-to-date driver for mobile devices. Windows users are encouraged to have iTunes, which contains the necessary system components for recognizing the iPhone, without which the operating system can only see the device as a power source, ignoring media content.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure both smartphones have a battery level above 50%. interruption of the data transfer process due to battery discharge can cause damage to the file system or loss of part of the archive.
It also needs to free up enough space on your computer’s hard drive, so temporary storage needs to hold the full amount of data from iCloud or iPhone internal memory, plus a small amount of storage, to create a full backup before moving it to the Android folder structure.
Exporting data from iPhone to computer
The first step is to extract information from the closed iOS file system. Connect your iPhone to your computer and unlock your smartphone screen. The first time you connect to your phone, you'll see a request for trust on your computer, you'll need to confirm the action, otherwise access to the data will be denied by Apple's security system.
The easiest way to extract photos and videos is to use a standard file explorer in Windows or the Photos app. Navigating iOS folders can be confusing, as media files are often hidden deep in the DCIM system directories. It is recommended to copy entire folders with dates to keep the shooting chronology.
- 📂 Open “This Computer” and find an Apple device.
- 📂 Go to the Internal Storage section → DCIM.
- 📂 Copy the folders. 100APPLE, 101APPLE and so on to the hard drive.
- 📂 Wait for all files to be copied without errors.
If your goal is to move contacts and calendars, using iTunes or the iCloud web version will be more efficient, and you can upload an address book in.csv or.vcf format through the interface, which is easy to read on any device, eliminating the need to manually interrupt hundreds of numbers.
Why do some iPhone photos not open on Windows?
Adaptation of formats and work with the file system
One of the biggest challenges in moving from iOS to Android is the difference in file formats. Apple is heavily using the HEIC standard for photos and HEVC for video, which provide high quality at a small size, but are not always supported by standard Android players without additional codecs.
The computer is the perfect converter. Before downloading files to Xiaomi, it makes sense to batch-process media content. Windows 10/11 has built-in extensions for working with HEIF, but for guaranteed compatibility, it is better to use third-party converters or settings for iTunes itself when importing.
| Type of data | iOS format | Recommended Android Format | We need a conversion. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photos | HEIC / JPEG | JPEG / PNG | Preferably. |
| Video | MOV / HEVC | MP4 / H.264 | I'll be sure. |
| Contacts | vCard | vCard (.vcf) | No. |
| Music. | M4A (DRM) | MP3 / FLAC | Yes (if DRM) |
Special attention should be paid to music purchased from the iTunes Store with DRM protection. Such.m4p files will not be played on Xiaomi. They must either be replaced with unprotected versions, or use streaming services by syncing libraries through the cloud.
💡
Use free video converters to convert videos from HEVC to standard H.264 MP4, which will ensure that they play on any TV or media player without installing additional codecs.
Transfer data to Xiaomi via USB
After you've prepared your files on your computer, you've got to download them to your new smartphone. Connect Xiaomi to your PC with a USB-C cable. You'll see a USB mode selection menu on your phone, and you'll be sure to select File Transfer (MTP). In Charge Only, your computer won't see internal storage.
Open the file manager on your computer and find the connected device. The folder structure in MIUI is logical and clear. For photos, the DCIM/Camera folder is for downloads, for downloads, for documents, you better create a separate directory or use Documents.
☑️ Transfer checklist
Just drag and drop the folders you've prepared from your computer to the appropriate directories on your smartphone, and the speed of the copy will depend on the version. USB-Do not remove the device until all write operations are completed, so as not to damage the file system index.
The procedure is different for contacts and calendars: a.vcf file with contacts can be simply copied to the phone’s memory and then opened on the smartphone itself via the Contacts app, and the system automatically prompts you to import the entries into your phone’s memory or into your Google account.
Use of specialized software Mi Mover
While manual copying over a PC gives you complete control, Xiaomi has developed its own Mi Mover app, which makes migration much easier. However, if you want to use your computer as a bridge, you should be aware of the possibility of working with backups.
Mi Mover app on Xiaomi allows you to create QR-You have to download a similar app from the App Store on your iPhone, and the devices connect over Wi-Fi, and the computer doesn't directly participate in this circuit, but you can use the PC to pre-sort data if you find automatic porting chaotic.
- 📲 Run Mi Mover on both devices.
- 📲 On iPhone, select “I send” and on Xiaomi, “I receive».
- 📲 Scan it. QR-iPhone-code.
- 📲 Select data types to transfer and start the process.
⚠️ Note: When wirelessly transferring large amounts of data (over 50GB), the process can take several hours.Make sure both phones are near the router or use a direct Wi-Fi connection without internet access for stability.
If you use a PC in conjunction with software, some third-party programs like iMazing or AnyDroid allow you to create iOS backups on your computer and deploy them on Android. These are paid solutions, but they can convert iMessage messages to format. SMS/MMS Android, which is impossible to do with standard tools.
Solving problems with iMessage messages
The hardest part of migration is the history of correspondence, and iMessage is closed and encrypted, so you can't just copy a folder of messages through a file manager, and they're stored in a secure SQLite database that's not accessible without jailbreaking.
The computer can help here indirectly. You can make a full backup of your iPhone in iTunes, and then use specialized software to extract correspondence in a readable format (PDF or HTML). However, there are no standard ways to see them in the Messages app on Xiaomi.
The only working method to transfer SMS/iMessage history to a native Android application is to use a transitional stage through cloud services or paid utilities that can “slip” a database. In most cases, users accept that the new device will start with a history of correspondence from scratch, and the old dialogues will remain in the archive on the computer.
Completion of migration and initial setup
Once all the files are in Xiaomi memory, you need to do a final check. Walk through the gallery, make sure all the albums are in place and the videos are played correctly. Check the phone book - sometimes contacts can be duplicated if you haven't cleared the old SIM card before importing.
It is recommended to immediately configure synchronization with your Google account, which will ensure the safety of your data in the future and will allow you to recover everything in the event of a loss of your phone or a change of device in one click. MIUI is closely integrated with the services of the search giant, so you should not ignore this step.
💡
Full data transfer through your computer gives you a physical copy of all files on your hard drive, which is the best insurance against loss of information in case of any cloud service failures.
Now your Xiaomi is ready to go. You saved all the important points and contacts by changing the platform without losing data. Further configuration of the interface and installing applications will take a minimum of time, since most services are now cross-platform.