Transferring data from Xiaomi to iPhone 8 Plus: 5 proven ways (2026)

Why migrating data from Android to iOS is difficult

The transition from Xiaomi to the iPhone 8 Plus is not just a change of gadget, but a complete migration between two different ecosystems. While inside Android (even between brands like Samsung, Huawei and Xiaomi) data transfer often boils down to synchronization through Google Account, switching to iOS requires workarounds. The main problem is Apple’s closedness: the company does not support direct downloads of Android backups to iCloud or iTunes.

The second nuance is that the iPhone 8 Plus (2017) runs on iOS 16 at its maximum, which limits compatibility with some modern services. For example, Apple’s Move to iOS app officially requires Android 9.0+, and many Xiaomi smartphones on MIUI 12/13 still support Android 10-12, which means that owners of older models (for example, the Redmi Note 5 or Mi A2) will have to use alternative methods.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to transfer data, from official Move to iOS to manual copying via computer, with a special focus on contacts, photos/video, messages and applications, as these categories are the most questionable.

Method 1: The official Move to iOS app

Apple’s Move to iOS app is the easiest way to migrate data from Xiaomi to the iPhone 8 Plus, but with reservations. It only works when you first set up your iPhone (not after resetting!). If you’ve already activated the device, you’ll have to reset it to factory settings (Settings → Basic → Reset → Erase Content and Settings).

What Move to iOS brings:

• 📞 Contacts (from Google Account or local memory)
• 📷 Photos and videos (except files in the cloud)
• 💬 Communications (SMS/MMS, but not messenger)
• 📅 Calendars and reminders
• 📍 Chrome bookmarks (converted to Safari)
• ⚠️ Not portable: apps (only links to the App Store), notes, passwords, data from game accounts.

Step-by-step:

1. On iPhone 8 Plus, when setting up, select Data Transfer from Android.
2. On Xiaomi, download Move to iOS from Google Play.
3. Launch the app on Xiaomi, agree to the terms and enter the 6-digit code that will appear on the iPhone.
4. Select data to transfer and wait for completion (can take 10–60 minutes depending on the volume).

⚠️ Note: If you have the option to save traffic on Xiaomi (Settings) → The Internet and the Internet → Transfer of data → Save traffic, turn it off – it can interrupt the transfer.

Charging both phones > 50%|Disable traffic savings on Xiaomi|Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network|Make sure there is enough space on the iPhone (transfer takes up time space)|Move to iOS beforehand (after resetting the iPhone, the Internet may not work)-->

Method 2: Transfer through Google Account (contacts, calendars, mail)

If Move to iOS didn’t work or you’ve already set up an iPhone, syncing through Google Account will be a lifesaver for Gmail contacts, calendars and emails. MIUI.

Instructions:

1. On Xiaomi, check that contacts are synced with Google Account: Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync → Enable Contacts
2. On iPhone 8 Plus, add the same Google Account: Settings → Passwords and accounts → Add an account → Google
3. Enable contact sync (Settings → Contacts → Accounts → Google → Contacts).

What to do if no contacts appear?

• 🔄 Update your iPhone contacts page (pull down in the Contacts app).
• 📱 Reboot both phones.
• ⚙️ Make sure that on Xiaomi in the contact settings (Contacts) → Settings → Import/Exports) do not show only contacts with SIM.

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If you have duplicate contacts after transfer, use the function “Merge contacts in the settings of iPhone: Settings → Contacts → Accounts → Combine contacts”

Method 3: Photo and video transfer (Google Photo vs iCloud)

Photos and video are the most voluminous data, and porting them requires special attention. You have two reliable options: Google Photos (free up to 15 GB) or iCloud (5 GB free). Let's consider both.

Option A: Google Photos (recommended for large libraries)

If you have thousands of photos, Google Photos will do better thanks to compression without loss of quality.

1. On Xiaomi, install Google Photos.
2. Enable autoboot: Google Photos → Profile → Settings → Backup and Sync → On-Site
3. On iPhone 8 Plus, download Google Photos from the App Store and log in to the same account.
4. Wait for all photos to be uploaded (it can take hours with a large volume).

Option B: iCloud (if you plan to stay in the Apple ecosystem)

iCloud is integrated into iOS, but has a 5GB limit. If you need more, you’ll have to buy space (from 50GB for 59). ₽/moss).

1. On Xiaomi, upload photos to iCloud via your browser: Open icloud.com → Log in with Apple ID → Download files manually
2. On your iPhone, enable sync: Settings → [Your name] → iCloud → Photo → iCloud Photo (On)

⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Cloud on Xiaomi to store photos, export them to Google Photos or your computer first.Mi Cloud does not have direct integration with iOS, and access to files after the transition will be limited.

Method 4: Message Transfer (SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram)

Messages are the hardest part of the transfer. SMS/MMS can be migrated via Move to iOS (see Method 1), but with instant messengers, it's getting more complicated. Let's take each case separately.

WhatsApp

WhatsApp does not officially support chat transfers between Android and iOS, but there is a workaround via email (only history, no media files):

1. On Xiaomi, open a chat room. → ⋮ → Chat exports → No media.
2. Send the file to your mail.
3. On the iPhone, open the letter and save the attachment (for example, in Notes).

Telegram

In Telegram, transfer is easier thanks to cloud synchronization:

• 🔄 Install Telegram on iPhone 8 Plus.
• 📱 Sign in to the same account – all chats and media files will be downloaded automatically.
• ⚠️ Exception: Secret chats don’t sync – they need to be moved manually through export (similar to WhatsApp).

SMS via third-party programs

If Move to iOS doesn't work, use MobileTrans or Dr.Fone (paid but reliable), which copy SMS directly via USB:

1. Connect both phones to the computer.
2. Select the option to Transfer SMS in the program.
3. Follow the instructions (usually you need to enable USB Debugging on Xiaomi).

Method 5: Manual transfer via computer (for power users)

If cloud services and applications are not suitable (for example, due to slow Internet connection), manual porting over a PC will be the only way out.

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS.
• 🔌 USB-cables for both phones.
• 📁 Enough space on the hard drive (photos/video take up a lot of space).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your computer in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Copy the folders you need (DCIM for photos, Download for downloads) on your PC.
3. Connect your iPhone 8 Plus and open iTunes (Windows) or Finder (macOS).
4. Select Device → Files → Move data through File Sharing (for photos, it is better to use iCloud or Google Photos, since iTunes does not support direct media downloads).

For the transfer of music:

• 🎵 Use iTunes to sync tracks (formats) MP3, AAC, ALAC).
• 🚫 Not supported: FLAC, WMA — They need to be converted in advance.

⚠️ Note: If the iPhone 8 Plus is enabled with Storage Optimization (Settings) → Music), iTunes may not show all tracks.

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Manual transfer via computer is the most reliable method, but it takes time and technical skills, and use it if other methods have failed or you have a large amount of data (100+ GB).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even when you follow instructions, users have problems. TOP-5 mistakes and their solutions:

1. Move to iOS doesn't find code Problem: App on Xiaomi doesn't see code from iPhone: 🔄 Reboot both phones. 📶 Connect to a single Wi-Fi network (not mobile internet!). ⚙️ On Xiaomi, turn it off. VPN and the Firewall (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → firewall).

Photos in Google Photos not uploaded

Problem: The download stops by 99% or gives an error.

Decision:

• 📶 Switch to mobile internet (sometimes Wi-Fi blocks downloads).
• 🗃️ Clear the Google Photo cache (Settings) → Annexes → Google Photo → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
• Contacts are duplicated on iPhone Problem: After synchronization, there are repetitive contacts. Solution: Use the function of Combine contacts in Settings → Contacts → Accounts.

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 🔋 Battery charge (transfer will be interrupted when the discharge is below 20%).
• 📦 Free space on the iPhone 8 Plus (minimum 10% of the volume of data transferred).
• 🔄 Version MIUI Xiaomi (on very old versions, Move to iOS may not work).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions