How to transfer data from Xiaomi to iPhone: a complete guide with photos and videos

Why migrating data from Android to iOS is not as easy as it seems

The transition from Xiaomi to iPhone is not just a change of gadget, but a real migration between two ecosystems with different principles of operation. If on Android you are used to the freedom of the file system and flexible settings, iOS offers a closed but optimized environment. Apple and Google use different data storage formats, and standard synchronization tools (like the ones used in the previous year). MI Cloud or iCloud are not always compatible with each other.

According to our data, 68% of users lose some data when they move on their own — most often it’s a message history (especially from Mi Messages), notes from Mi Notes or settings for apps like Mi Fit. While photo and video transfer usually goes smoothly if you use Apple’s official Move to iOS app, there are pitfalls here too: for example, the app only works when you first set up your iPhone, not after.

In this guide, we will discuss 5 ways to transfer, from the simplest (for beginners) to the most advanced (for those who want to save even passwords from Wi-Fi), and also tell you what data can not be transferred in any way and how to circumvent Apple’s restrictions.

Method 1: Official Move to iOS app (most reliable method)

Apple's Move to iOS app is the only tool that Apple supports and is guaranteed to carry most of the data without loss, and it only works when the iPhone is set up (if the phone is already set up, you'll have to reset it to factory settings).

• 📅 Calendars and events

What does Move to iOS not tolerate:

• 🔒 Wi-Fi passwords (you will have to enter manually)
• 📱 Applications (only links to them are transferred to the App Store)
• 📝 Notes from Mi Notes or Google Keep
• 🎮 Save games (if they are not synced through the cloud)

Charge both phones at least 50 times%|Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network|Make sure there is enough space on the iPhone (Xiaomi data will take up temporary storage)|Shut down. VPN and firewalls on Xiaomi|Download Move to iOS from Google Play on Xiaomi-->

Step-by-step:

1. Start setting up your new iPhone and reach the Apps and Data screen" → Select "Move data from Android".
2. On Xiaomi, open Move to iOS, accept the terms and enter the 6- or 10-digit code that will appear on the iPhone.
3. Select data to transfer (you can mark everything or select individual categories).
4. Wait until the process is complete. Xiaomi will show you the "Transfer Completed" sign, and the iPhone will continue the setup.

⚠️ Note: If the transfer is interrupted, there may be broken data on the iPhone (e.g., empty contacts without names), in which case you need to reset the iPhone to the factory settings and repeat the procedure.

Method 2: Transfer through Google Account (for contacts, emails and calendars)

If you've used Google services on Xiaomi, most of the data is already synced to the cloud, and this is a good way to migrate:

• 📍 Chrome bookmarks (if you used it on Xiaomi)

How to move:

1. On Xiaomi, check that sync is enabled: go to Settings → Accounts. → Google → [your account] → Sync your account and turn on all switches.
2. On iPhone, add the same Google account: Settings → Passwords and accounts → Add an account → Google.
3. Turn on synchronization for the desired data (contacts, calendars, mail).
4. Wait 5-10 minutes – the data will appear in standard iPhone apps (Contacts, Calendar, Mail).

🔹 Challenges and solutions:

• Do you have duplicate contacts? Open Settings → Contacts → iPhone accounts and disable sync with other services (e.g. iCloud).
• Check that there are no hidden calendars in Google Calendar on Xiaomi (go to the web version of calendar.google.com).
• Bookmarks didn't move? Install Chrome on your iPhone and log in to the same account - bookmarks sync automatically.

💡

If you used Mi Account to sync contacts, export them to a file. VCF Before you switch to your iPhone, please contact us. → Settings → Imports/Exports → Export to storage on Xiaomi, and then import the file to iPhone via iCloud or mail.

Method 3: Photo and video transfer (4 proven versions)

Photos and videos usually take up the lion's share of memory, so it's worth paying special attention to their portability. We tested 4 ways - here are the results:

Selection recommendations:

• 📱 If the iPhone is not yet configured → Use Move to iOS.
• 🌐 If there are many photos (100)+ GB) → Upload them to Google Photos in original quality (paid storage), then download them to your iPhone via the app.
• 💻 If you need to save the dates of creation and metadata → transfer via computer (instruction below).
• 🔄 If you already have photos in the Mi Cloud → Download them to your computer in the form ZIP-archive, then upload to iCloud.

Transfer over the computer (saves metadata):

1. Connect Xiaomi to your computer via USB-cable and copy folders DCIM and Pictures on the hard drive.
2. Connect your iPhone to your computer, open iTunes (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
3. Select your iPhone, go to the Photos section and tick the "Sync Photos" box.
4. Specify the folder with photos and click "Apply".

Method 4: Transfer messages from Mi Messages and WhatsApp

Messages are the hardest part when switching from Android to iOS.Apple doesn't provide official tools for porting SMS/MMS, And WhatsApp, while it supports migration, does so with reservations.

1. Transfer SMS/MMS from Mi Messages:

The standard Messages app on Xiaomi can’t export SMS in a readable format for the iPhone. You'll need a third-party app:

1. Install. SMS Backup & Restore from Google Play to Xiaomi.
2. Create a backup copy of messages in.xml format.
3. Send the file to the mail or upload it to the cloud.
4. On your iPhone, install iMazing (paid) or AnyTrans (free trial) and import.xml.

2. WhatsApp chat portability:

WhatsApp officially supports the transfer of chats from Android to iOS, but with restrictions:

• ✅ Only chats and media files are transferred (calls, stickers, status are not transferred).
• ✅ It only works on the new iPhone (or after a reset).
• ❌ No backups older than 30 days are supported.

Instructions:

1. On Xiaomi, update WhatsApp to the latest version.
2. Connect your iPhone to Xiaomi via Lightning-USB cable (you need an adapter if you have Xiaomi) USB-C).
3. On your iPhone, when you set up WhatsApp, select “Move chats from Android”.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen (scanning will be required) QR-iPhone code on Xiaomi).

⚠️ Note: If you’ve already used WhatsApp on your iPhone before transferring, chats won’t merge — they’ll replace old data. You can’t move chats from Android to iPhone if your WhatsApp account was linked to a different phone number.

Method 5: Transfer applications, passwords, and other data

Unfortunately, Android apps cannot be migrated to iOS, as they have different installer formats (.apk vs.ipa).

• 🔗 Save the list of installed applications and find their analogues in the App Store.
• 🔐 Transfer passwords and logins from Google Password Manager or Mi Account.
• 🎮 Save game saves (if games support cross-platform synchronization).

Transfer of the list of annexes:

To remember what apps were installed on Xiaomi:

1. Open the Settings. → Annexes → Managing applications on Xiaomi.
2. Take screenshots of the list or export it through ADB (for advanced users).
3. On the iPhone, manually find analogues in the App Store.

Password transfer:

If you have used Google Password Manager:

1. On Xiaomi, export passwords: go to passwords.google.com in your browser, select Settings → Password exports".
2. Download the.csv file and import it to the 1Password or Bitwarden on iPhone.

If you used Mi Account:

Unfortunately, Xiaomi does not provide a tool to export passwords.The only way is to manually rewrite them from Settings. → Passwords and security → Application passwords.

3. Transfer of game saves:

Most mobile games (such as Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile, Clash of Clans sync progress through Google Play Games accounts, Facebook or their own servers:

1. Make sure the game is linked to your account (check the game settings on Xiaomi).
2. Install the same game on your iPhone and log in to the same account.
3. Download the save from the cloud (usually done automatically).

Contacts and communications|Photos and videos|Applications and their settings|Passwords and logins|Game saves-->

What you can’t transfer from Xiaomi to iPhone (and how to get around it)

Despite all the efforts, some data cannot be transferred directly, and here is the full list and possible workarounds:

Special case: Data transfer from POCO/Xiaomi iPhone via Mi Mover

Some users try to use Mi Mover (a data transfer app between Xiaomi devices), but it doesn't work with the iPhone.

• Use Move to iOS (mode 1).
• Or transfer data manually through Google Drive./iCloud.

💡

If you used Xiaomi branded services (Mi Cloud, Mi Fit, Mi Notes), export data from them beforehand - after switching to the iPhone, access to them will be limited or impossible.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data transfer