How to transfer data from Android to Xiaomi: Full instructions

Changing a smartphone is always an exciting process, especially when an old device has accumulated years of correspondence, photos and important documents. Owners of Xiaomi equipment, moving from other Android gadgets, often wonder how to quickly and safely migrate all this digital luggage. Fortunately, the Android ecosystem and the Chinese manufacturer’s proprietary tools allow you to do this almost automatically, preserving the structure of folders and application settings.

There are several proven methods, each with its own advantages depending on the amount of information and the speed of the Internet connection: you can use the built-in Mi Mover app, Google cloud services or classic manual copying through the computer, the main thing is to choose the right algorithm of actions so that you do not lose any important files and do not waste hours on reconfigurating the system.

In this article, we will take a closer look at all the migration options available, focusing on the nuances of working with the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS. We will look at how to correctly migrate WhatsApp, system settings and even passwords from Wi-Fi networks so that the new phone becomes a full digital reflection of your old device immediately after turning on.

Preparing devices before migration

Before you start the copying process, you need to perform a series of preparatory steps on both devices, which is a critical step, ignoring which can lead to connection errors or interruption of data transmission halfway. Make sure that both smartphones are charged at least 60%, as active Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules consume significant energy.

On the receiving device (new Xiaomi), it is recommended to reset to factory settings if you have already managed to configure something, or just start setting up from scratch. On the old phone, you should make room by deleting temporary files and check for system updates. The most common mistake is the lack of current versions of applications for porting on both gadgets, which causes transmission protocol conflicts.

Also, you should decide on the transfer method beforehand. If you have a very large amount of data (more than 100 GB), it is better to use the creation of an access point through an application, since the wired connection or the cloud can be too slow.

Use of the Mi Mover app

The most effective and preferred way for Xiaomi users is to use the native Mi Mover tool, which is designed specifically for working with the MIUI file system and allows you to transfer not only media files, but also deep system settings, placing icons on the desktop and even call history.

The process starts with installing the app on both phones. On the new Xiaomi, it's often pre-installed in the Tools folder. Once launched, you have to select the device's role: on the old phone, press "I send" and on the new phone, "I accept." The receiving device will create a special Wi-Fi hotspot to which the sender needs to connect.

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If the devices can’t see each other, try temporarily disabling mobile internet (4G/5G) on both smartphones, leaving only the Wi-Fi module on to create a local network.

Once you pair it successfully, you'll open up a data selection menu, where you can flexibly configure what you want to migrate, and the system will sort the files into categories, so you can eliminate the extra, like heavy videos, if you don't need them right now. Wi-Fi Direct transmission speeds are typically 10 to 40 MB/s, which is much faster than Bluetooth.

• 📱 Contacts and messages: A full copy of the phone book and SMS-archive.
• 🖼️ Multimedia: Photos, videos, music and dictaphone recordings are transferred while maintaining folder structure.
• ⚙️ System settings: Wi-Fi passwords, alarm clocks, blacklist and even desktop wallpaper.

Transfer through a Google account

An alternative, classic method that works on any Android smartphone, including Xiaomi, is ideal for those who want to keep Google services in continuity, synchronizing the data of the old phone with the Google cloud and then restoring it to the new device when you log in to the same account.

To start, make sure that the old device in the Settings → Accounts → Google has enabled synchronization of all the necessary items: Contacts, Calendar, Drive, Photos. It is also important to go to the System → Backup and click the Start Copy button to save the list of applications and Wi-Fi passwords to the cloud.

⚠️ Note: This method will not transfer the application files themselves (cache, save games without the cloud), but only their installers, and it may not save third-party launcher settings or specific system modifications.

When you first turn on a new Xiaomi, you will be asked to restore data from the cloud. Select the last available backup of your old phone. The system will automatically start downloading the app list from Google Play and restore contacts. This process requires a stable Internet connection and can take considerable time with a large number of applications.

Manual copying through a computer

For users who are used to having complete control over their files, or when wireless connectivity is in trouble, the PC-proven method remains the exact physical copy of the internal memory and SD card. This is especially true when carrying huge amounts of data where wireless protocols can crash.

Connect your old phone to your computer through USB-cable and select the mode of operation USB File transfer (MTP). Copy all the contents of the internal memory into a separate folder on your hard drive. Pay special attention to folders. DCIM (Photos and videos), Download, Documents and WhatsApp/Media.

Then plug in a new Xiaomi.If the new phone's file system is different or empty, just drag the copied folders to the root of internal memory.However, there's a nuance here: some Android system folders may have different paths or identifiers, so after copying some apps may not see the files right away.

Nuances of WhatsApp and messengers transfer

Messengers, especially WhatsApp and Telegram, require special attention because their databases are often protected or stored in specific memory sections, and simply copying folders here may not be enough to save the history of correspondence, especially when changing the phone model.

WhatsApp has a built-in backup mechanism. On an old phone, go to Settings → Chats → Backup chats and create a fresh copy in Google Drive. When you install WhatsApp on the new Xiaomi, the app will detect the backup and offer to restore the message history.

Telegram works differently: all correspondence history is stored on the messenger servers. You just need to enter the phone number and confirmation code, as all chats, channels and media (within the cache) will be downloaded automatically.

Decisions and errors in transfer

Even with automated tools, there can be errors, and one of the most common is interrupting Wi-Fi Direct while Mi Mover is running, which often happens when one device is power-saving, which aggressively shuts down the communication modules.

Another problem is the incompatibility of Android versions. If you move from a very old version (like Android 6) to a fresh Android 13/14, some system settings may not move correctly due to changes in the structure of the file paths, in which case the system will suggest migrating only user data, skipping the system configs.

⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the transfer process, even if it seems to be stalled. Interrupting the recording of the database of contacts or messages can lead to their complete loss or corruption (damage) of the database file.

If you notice that some apps are unstable or crashing after the transfer, try clearing their cache or reinstalling them manually from Google Play.This will help update the application libraries for the new version of your Xiaomi operating system.

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The best strategy is combined: use Mi Mover for the main data set and settings, and for WhatsApp and important documents, make a separate backup to the cloud for backup.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)