The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but data porting often turns into a headache. Photos, contacts, messages and apps accumulated over the years of using an old device need to be moved without loss. Fortunately, the Xiaomi ecosystem offers several convenient ways to migrate, from built-in tools to versatile solutions for Android and iOS.
Many users mistakenly believe that data transfer requires technical skills or special equipment, but in fact, even a beginner can cope with the problem of data transfer. 10-30 The key is to prepare both devices in advance: discharge the battery at least below the limit. 50%, Free up space on the new smartphone and make sure the Internet connection is stable (if cloud-based transfer is used). In this article, we will analyze all the current methods - from the official Mi Mover to manual copying through a computer, and also reveal the nuances that even the manufacturer's instructions are silent about.
We will focus on the transfer from iPhone to Xiaomi – this process has its pitfalls due to the different operating systems, you will also learn how to avoid typical errors (for example, a transmission interruption over Wi-Fi or loss of photo quality) and what to do if standard methods do not work. Whether you upgrade from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 or upgrade from iPhone 12 to Xiaomi 14 POCO F6, There is a solution for your case.
1.The official way: Mi Mover by Xiaomi
Mi Mover is a proprietary application from Xiaomi, designed for wireless data transfer between devices, it is pre-installed on all modern smartphones of the brand (starting with the introduction of the new model). MIUI 9) and supports migration from most Android devices, the main advantage is the preservation of folder structure and metadata (for example, the date of creation of the photo).
To use the Mi Mover, you need to download it from Google Play (for Android) or the App Store (for iOS) on your old phone. The new Xiaomi app is already installed – it can be found in the Tools folder or through a search system.
- 📱 Step 1. Open Mi Mover on both devices. On the old phone, select I am the sender, on the new phone, I am the receiver.
- 🔗 Step 2: The new Xiaomi will be generated QR-Scan it with an old phone or enter a 6-digit code manually.
- 📁 Step 3: Select data types to transfer: contacts, messages, photos, videos, audio or applications. Note that applications are only portable as APK-files (without data).
- ⚡ Step 4: Confirm the start of transmission. It can take anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour, depending on the amount of data and the speed of Wi-Fi.
Important: if the old phone is installed Android 10+, Before the transfer begins, you may need to temporarily disable battery optimization for Mi Mover in the settings.
Charging both phones >50%|Connecting to a Wi-Fi network (or using an access point)|Released. ≥10 GB on the new Xiaomi|Disabled. VPN firewalls|Google Contact Sync Disabled (to avoid duplications)-->
2.Moving from iPhone to Xiaomi: features and workarounds
The transition from iOS to Android is always more difficult than between devices on the same OS. Mi Mover supports porting from the iPhone, but with limitations: for example, you do not transfer notes, reminders and data of some applications (for example, WhatsApp).
The most reliable way to use cloud services in conjunction with Mi Mover:
1. Contacts and calendars: sync with iCloud, then export to.vcf and.ics files via the web version of iCloud.com. Download them to the new Xiaomi and import through Google Contacts or Calendar.
2. Photos and Videos: Use Google Photos (up to 15GB free) or iCloud Photos (download the archive on PC, then transfer to Xiaomi).
3.Messages: Apple's Move to iOS app only works backwards, so for portability SMS You will need to use third-party utilities like iMazing (paid) or Backuptrans.
To transfer WhatsApp from iPhone to Xiaomi, there is a separate algorithm:
Transferring WhatsApp chats from iPhone to Xiaomi
If Mi Mover refuses to see the iPhone, check:
- Is Local Network disabled in iPhone settings (Settings) → Wi-Fi → (i) close to the network).
- Are connections to this device allowed in Settings → Bluetooth.
- Is the firmware on both phones updated (Xiaomi should at least be available) MIUI 12).
Android (not Xiaomi)|iPhone|Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO|Another brand-->
3. Transfer through Google Account (for Android)
If both devices are running Android, the easiest way is to sync through Google Account, a method that can transfer contacts, calendars, notes (from Google Keep), emails, and certain settings, but doesn’t copy photos, videos, or apps—it requires additional steps.
Instructions:
1. On your old phone, open Settings → Accounts. → Google and enable sync for all the data you need.
2.On the new Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select Restore Data from a backup and log in to the same Google account.
3. If the phone is already configured, go to Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronize and start the process manually.
To transfer photos and videos via Google:
Install Google Photos on your old phone and enable Backup and Sync.
On the new Xiaomi, log in to the same account – media files will download automatically (may take several hours with a large volume).
Please note: Free storage is limited to 15 GB. If you need to transfer more, temporarily subscribe to a paid subscription or use alternative methods.
Warning: If the old phone used a different Google account, the licenses of the paid apps may be affected after the transfer, and you will have to buy them again or transfer them to the Family Library.
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Before transferring through Google, check if the storage limit is exceeded. one.google.com/storage Clean up unnecessary files (such as old backups).
Wire Transfer: via cable OTG computer
Wireless is convenient, but it's not always stable, and if you have more than 50 GB of data or Wi-Fi that's intermittent, wired transfer is the best solution. OTG-adapter or using a computer as an intermediary.
Method 1: Direct connection via OTG
1.Buy. OTG-Adapter (e.g., Xiaomi Type-C to) USB) and cable for an old phone (e.g. Micro-USB).
2. Connect the old phone to the new Xiaomi via an adapter.
3. Explorer (Files) will open on the new device – select folders to copy (for example, DCIM for photo or downloading).
4. Copy files into the right directories on Xiaomi.
Method 2: Computer (most reliable)
1. Connect your old phone to your PC and copy all the files you need to your hard drive (for example, to a folder). Xiaomi_Transfer).
2. Connect the new Xiaomi and transfer the data back.
3. For contacts, export them in.vcf format via Google Contacts or Outlook, then import them to a new phone.
The advantage of the wired method is the maximum speed (up to 480 Mbit / s with a speed of USB 3.0) and no risk of communication breakdown, but it takes longer to prepare and is not suitable for porting applications or system settings.
| Transfer method | Speed. | Supported data | Conditions required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Average (10-30 MB/s) | Contacts, SMS, Photos, videos, apps (APK) | Wi-Fi, charge. >50%, MIUI 9+ |
| Google Account | Low (depending on the internet) | Contacts, calendars, mail, notes | Stable Internet, free space in Google Drive |
| OTG-cable | High (up to 480 Mbps) | Any files (except applications) | adapter OTG, physical access to telephones |
| Computer | Very high. | Any files, backups | USB-cables, free space on the PC |
| iCloud/iTunes | Low. | Photos, contacts, calendars (partially) | Apple account, PC with iTunes (for backup) |
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Wired transfer via computer is the only method that guarantees 100% data security at large volumes (100)+ GB).
5. Transfer of applications and their data
Standard methods (including Mi Mover) can only be used APK-Application files, but not their data, such as if you play Genshin Impact or use it. 1Password, You can't keep progress and settings. To migrate data applications, use specialized tools:
- 📦 For Android: Titanium Backup (requires root) or Swift Backup (works on some firmware without root) create full app backups along with data.
- 🔄 For cross-platform applications: Many services (e.g. Spotify, Netflix, Telegram) sync data through your account. Just log in to your new phone.
- 🎮 For games: Use built-in backup features (e.g. Link to account in the PUBG Mobile) or third-party services such as Helium.
To transfer WhatsApp from Android to Android:
1. Create a backup on your old phone (Settings) → chat → Backup copy).
2. Copy the folder. /sdcard/WhatsApp/ The new Xiaomi (via the OTG computer).
3. Install WhatsApp on your new device and restore data from the local copy.
Important for gaming: Some titles (such as Honor of Kings or Free Fire) link progress to the device, not to the account, VK) or email, or the saves will be lost.
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If the game doesn’t support cloud storage, try manually copying files from the folder. /Android/obb/ or /Android/data/ This may require you to enable the display of hidden files in the Explorer.
6. Transfer from phones of other brands (Samsung, Huawei, Oppo)
Smartphone makers often block third-party portability tools to promote their solutions, such as Samsung using Smart Switch and Huawei using Phone Clone. To transfer data from such devices to Xiaomi, use an algorithm:
For Samsung:
1. Install Smart Switch on your PC and back up your old phone.
2. Connect the new Xiaomi to your computer and manually copy files from the backup (they are stored in a folder) C:\Users\Your name\Documents\Samsung\SmartSwitch\backup).
Contact and SMS export in.vcf and.xml formats respectively.
For Huawei/Honor:
Use HiSuite to create a backup on your PC, then extract the data from the archive.
Alternative: In Huawei settings, enable Data Transfer and select Mi Mover as the recipient (not all models).
For Oppo/Realme/OnePlus:
These brands use Clone Phone, which is compatible with Mi Mover, run both apps and follow the instructions on the screen.
If standard methods don’t work, the universal solution is to transfer files via a computer (described in section 4) or cloud services (Google Drive, Yandex Drive). For example, for Samsung, you can temporarily upload files to Samsung Cloud and then download them to Xiaomi through a browser.
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When transferring from other brands, always check the format of the data exported. SMS.smb that is not readable on Xiaomi – you will need to convert to.xml via online services.
7. Elimination of errors in data transfer
Even if you follow the instructions, you can get into trouble. Let's look at the typical problems and their solutions.
- 🚫 Mi Mover doesn’t see the old device: – Make sure both phones have Developer Mode on and Battery Optimization for Mi Mover turned off. – Reboot both devices and try connecting via Access Point (on the new Xiaomi). If you are using an iPhone, check if you are allowed to connect to the local network in Settings → Wi-Fi → (i) close to the network.
- ⏳ The transfer is stuck 0% or 100%: - Turn it off. VPN firewalls (e.g., Avast or 360 - Try to reduce the amount of data transmitted (for example, transfer photos and contacts separately). - If the process is stalled at the final stage, wait. 10-15 Sometimes the system takes a long time to process the last files.
- 📂 Some files are not transferred: - Check if they are not protected DRM (For example, music from Apple Music or movies from Google Play Movies can not be copied. - Make sure that the new Xiaomi has enough space (minimum reserve - 10% of the volume of data transferred).
If Mi Mover is not connected or the server is not available, try:
1. Change the region in your phone settings to India or China (sometimes helps bypass geo-blocking).
2. Use Mi Mover version 3.0.0.18 (download) APK You can do it with APKCombo).
3. Move data over Xiaomi Cloud (upload files to the cloud from your old phone, then download them to your new one).
Critical error: if after the transfer Xiaomi began to brake or overheat, reset the cache in Settings → Memory. → Cleanup. In extreme cases, make a hard reset (but this will delete all data, including transferred data).
What to do if contacts are lost after transfer?
8.Xiaomi Optimization After Data Transfer
Data portability is only half the battle, and to make your new smartphone work quickly and smoothly, follow a few steps to optimize:
Cleaning of duplicates:
- Use the built-in Cleanup app (Tools) → Cleaning up) to remove repetitive photos or contacts.
- For deep cleaning, install Files by Google – it will find unnecessary files (for example, old ones). APK cache).
Synchronization setting:
- Open the Settings. → Accounts and disable automatic sync for unnecessary data (e.g. Google News or Fitbit).
- For Xiaomi Cloud, set a download limit in Settings → Xiaomi account → Cloud. → Synchronization settings.
3. Transfer of applications to the memory card:
If your Xiaomi supports microSD, move heavy apps (such as games) to the map.
Settings → Annexes → Application management → (select the application) → Warehouse → Change. → Memory map
Battery optimization:
- After transferring the data, some applications can drain the battery in the background. → Battery → Battery use and limit activity for unnecessary services.
If Xiaomi is slowing down after the transfer, try:
- Disable system animation: Enable Developer Mode (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Click 7 times) and install Windows Animation, Transition Animation and Animation Duration on Disabled.
- Clean the cache of system applications: Settings → Memory. → Cleanup → Kesh.
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After the data transfer, it is recommended to restart Xiaomi and wait for the background optimization to be completed (it can take up to 30 minutes).