How to transfer data from iPhone to Xiaomi Redmi: a complete guide with instructions

Moving from iPhone to Xiaomi Redmi smartphone is not only about changing the ecosystem, but also about migrating all the important data. Contacts, photos, messages, notes, even apps, all need to be saved and moved correctly to the new device, and many users face challenges ranging from format incompatibility to data loss when synchronized incorrectly.

In this article, we will analyze 5 proven ways to transfer data from iOS to iOS. MIUI, Including official tools from Xiaomi and Apple, cloud services and third-party applications, we will pay special attention to the typical errors that lead to loss of information, and give recommendations for optimizing the process.+, Redmi 12 or other model – this guide will save time and nerves.

1.Preparation for the transfer: what to do on the iPhone and Redmi

Before you start the transfer, be sure to follow a few steps on both devices, which minimizes the risk of data loss and speeds up the process.

On the iPhone:

• 🔄 Update iOS to the latest version: Settings → Mainstream → Update: Older versions may not support modern transmission protocols.
• 🔒 Turn off Find My iPhone (if you plan to use Move to iOS backwards): Settings → [Your name] → Find it. → Find an iPhone.
• ☁️ Check the free space in iCloud: if there is a lot of data, you may need to buy additional volume.
• 📱 Make a backup copy to iTunes (for the purpose of Windows/macOS) Finder (for macOS Catalina and newer).

On Xiaomi Redmi:

• 📱 Update. MIUI Up to the current version: Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🔌 Connect to Wi-Fi at good speed – many ways require data download from the cloud.
• 🔒 Put the debugging on. USB (if you plan to use it ADB Xiaomi Migration: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB.
• 📁 Release at least 10-15 GB of memory – temporary files can take up a lot of space when transferred.

⚠️ Note: If the iPhone enabled two-factor authentication for Apple ID, When transferring contacts or notes through iCloud, you may need to enter a confirmation code. make sure you have access to a trusted device or phone number in advance.

Method 1: Official Xiaomi Migration app (for new devices)

Xiaomi Migration is a built-in tool in the MIUI, It's a wireless system that allows you to move data from your iPhone to Redmi over a wireless network. MIUI 12 and newer, but has limitations: not all iPhone models are supported correctly (especially older ones, up to the iPhone 8).

How to use:

1. On Redmi, select Data Transfer when you first turn on (or find the Migration app in the menu).
2. On iPhone, download Xiaomi Migration from the App Store (if not, use Move to iOS in reverse mode).
3. Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network.
4. On the iPhone, select data for transfer (contacts, photos, videos, calendars).
5. Confirm the transfer to Redmi and wait until it is completed.

⚠️ Warning: If the transfer is interrupted during the photo transfer stage, do not turn off Wi-Fi or block the screen. Re-starting can lead to duplicate files.

Download Xiaomi Migration on iPhone|Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network|Charge both phones at least 50 times%|Release 5+ GB of memory on Redmi|Shut down. VPN both-device-->

Method 2: Use Move to iOS (Reverse Portal)

Apple’s Move to iOS app is designed to transfer data from Android to iPhone, but it can be used in the opposite direction — with some caveats.This method is suitable if Xiaomi Migration doesn’t work or you want to migrate messages from iMessage.

Algorithm of action:

1. On Redmi, install Move to iOS from Google Play (may be required) VPN, Since the application is not officially available for Android).
2. On iPhone, reset the settings to factory: Settings → Mainstream → Transfer or discharge → Erase content and settings.
3. When setting up your iPhone, select Data Transfer from Android and enter the code that appears on Redmi.
4. On Redmi in Move to iOS, select data for export (contacts, photos, accounts).
5. Wait until the connection is completed and do not interrupt it – the process can take up to an hour.

This method does not support the transfer of applications and their data (for example, save in games or configure messengers), and there may be problems with encoding in messages if they contain emoji or special characters.

Method 3: Transfer over cloud services (iCloud) + Google Drive)

The most versatile, but not always fast, way is to synchronize data across the cloud, and it's suitable for transferring photos, contacts, calendars and notes, and the main advantage is that it doesn't require physical connection of devices.

Instructions for contacts and calendars:

1. On iPhone, export contacts to iCloud: Settings → [Your name] → iCloud (include Contacts and Calendars).
2. On your computer, go to iCloud.com, select Contacts. → ⚙️ → Export vCard.
3. Download the.vcf file to Google Contacts (contacts.google.com).
4. On Redmi, add a Google account and enable contact sync.

Instructions for photo and video:

• 📁 Download media files from your iPhone to Google Photos (the app will automatically offer backups).
• ☁️ On Redmi, set up Google Photos and log in to the same account.
• 🔄 Wait for synchronization (may take several hours with a large volume).
• 📥 Save the necessary files in local memory: open the photo → ⋮ → Save it to the device.

⚠️ Note: When uploading to Google Photos Videos in Resolution 4K and higher will be compressed to 1080p, If you have an unpaid rate.To avoid quality loss, use Google One (15GB free) or transfer files via cable.

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If you have a lot of photos, break them into folders. 500-1000 It's going to speed up the process and reduce the risk of synchronization errors.

5. Method 4: Direct transmission via cable (via adapter)

If you don't have access to stable Wi-Fi or data takes up tens of gigabytes, the most reliable way to do this is to connect directly through a cable.

• 🔌 Lightning → USB-C adapter (if Redmi has a connector) USB-C).
• 📱 Cable USB-C → USB-C lightning → USB-A + OTG-adapter.
• 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS (Optionally, for backup).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your iPhone to your computer and copy all the necessary files (photos, videos, music) to your PC folder.
2. Disable iPhone and connect Redmi to your computer in File Transfer mode (MTP).
3. Transfer files from folder to PC to Redmi memory (for example, to folder) DCIM/Camera photo).
4. For contacts, export them from iCloud to.vcf (as in method 3) and copy the file to Redmi, then import through Contacts. → ⋮ → Imports/Exports.

If you don’t have a computer, you can use a direct iPhone connection to Redmi via a phone. OTG:

1. Connect your iPhone to Redmi with a Lightning-OTG adapter.
2. On iPhone, allow access to photos and media files.
3. On Redmi, open the files. → USB-device and copy the necessary data.

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Direct transmission over cable is the only way to transfer files without compression and loss, especially for professional photos and videos in ProRes or ProRes format. RAW.

Method 5: Third-Party Applications (SHAREit, Send Anywhere, Feem)

If the built-in tools don't work, you can use third-party file transfer applications, which usually support cross-platform data sharing over Wi-Fi Direct or through the creation of a local network.

Top.-3 Applications for transferring from iPhone to Xiaomi Redmi:

• 📲 SHAREit is a high-speed transfer with no file size restrictions.
• 🔗 Send Anywhere – 6-digit code generation for connection. Supports files up to 10 GB in the free version.
• 🌐 Feem creates a local network between devices. There's no limit to the size, but the interface is less intuitive.

How to use (Send Anywhere):

1. Install the app on both devices.
2. On iPhone, select files to send and click Send.
3. 6-digit code is generated or QR-code.
4. On Redmi, enter this code in the Receive field.
5. Confirm the transmission and wait for completion.

⚠️ Note: When using SHAREit, disable Battery Optimization for the Redmi app, otherwise the transfer may be interrupted. → Annexes → Application management → SHAREit → Battery → No restrictions.

7. Applications and their data portability: what you need to know

Unfortunately, it is not possible to directly transfer installed applications from iOS to Android due to the difference in the system architecture.

• 📥 Install Android versions of the same apps from Google Play.
• ☁️ Recover data via the cloud (if the application supports cross-platform synchronization).
• 🎮 For games, use Google Play Games or Facebook to save progress.

List of popular applications and their cross-platform analogues:

To transfer game saves:

• 🎮 If the game supports Google Play Games, sign in to the same Redmi account.
• 🔗 For games with Facebook support (such as Clash of Clans) – link your account to the social network.
• 💾 If the game is local (no cloud), try to find saves in the iTunes Backup folder and transfer them manually (requires root rights to Android).

8. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even when following instructions, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to solve them:

1.The transfer is interrupted at half

• 🔋 Check the battery charge (should be) >30%).
• 📶 Switch to a more stable Wi-Fi network (or use a cable).
• 🚫 Close all background applications on both devices.

2. Contacts are not transferred or duplicated

• ☁️ Make sure your contacts are synced to iCloud, not just to your iCloud. SIM-card.
• 🔄 Before importing on Redmi, clear your existing contacts (take a backup copy!).
• 📱 Check that Redmi is synced with Google Contacts.

3.Photos moved, but no shooting date

• 📅 Use applications like ExifTool or Photo Exif Editor to recover metadata.
• 🖼️ When you transfer through Google Photos, the date is saved, but can be lost when you manually copy.

4. Applications are not installed on Redmi

• 🔓 Check out regional restrictions on Google Play (for example, some apps are not available in the UK).
• 📥 Install. APK-Manual files from verified sources (e.g. APKMirror).
• 🔧 Enable installation from unknown sources: Settings → Annexes → Special access → Installation of unknown applications.

5 Messages from iMessage are not portable

• 💬 Export your history via iMazing or iExplorer (paid, required) Mac/PC).
• 📧 Save important messages as screenshots or send them to yourself by mail.

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If the data transfer took more than 2 hours, interrupt the process and try another method. Long transfers often lead to errors and file loss.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data transfer