Buying a new smartphone is always a pleasant thrill, but the process of moving can be a real challenge if you approach it without preparation. Owners of the Xiaomi ecosystem are in a better position, as the MIUI and HyperOS system provide built-in tools for rapid migration. You do not need to manually rewrite numbers or search for lost photos if you use the right synchronization methods.
There are several proven ways to clone information, from using a proprietary Mi Mover app to working with cloud storage. The choice of the specific method depends on the amount of data, the speed of the Internet connection and the version of the operating system on both devices. Below we will discuss each option in detail so that you can choose the best one for your situation.
The main goal is to ensure the integrity of files and not lose important settings during the transition. Modern compression algorithms allow you to copy gigabytes of data in minutes, but require compliance with certain security rules. Ignoring basic requirements can lead to damage to the database or partial loss of information.
Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration
The most efficient and quick way is to use the native Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on most of the brandβs modern smartphones.This tool creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices, bypassing the router and the Internet channel, which guarantees high transfer speeds. You do not need to waste mobile traffic or worry about the instability of the home network.
The process starts with running the app on both gadgets. On the old device, you need to select the role of "Sender" and on the new device you need to select the role of "Receiver." The system automatically scans the available devices and suggests a list to connect to. Important: during the process, the device screens should not go out, so temporarily turn off autolock in the display settings.
βοΈ Preparing for migration through Mi Mover
Once the connection is established, the system will suggest selecting data categories to transfer, you can copy everything at once, or you can select only selected sections such as contacts, messages, gallery and installed applications. The application will determine the compatibility of programs and try to migrate them along with the authorization data, if the Android security policy allows.
- π High speed transmission thanks to direct Wi-Fi channel without using the Internet.
- π± Ability to transfer not only files, but also desktop layouts and system settings.
- π Local data transfer ensures a high level of confidentiality of information.
It's worth noting that when you transfer large amounts of data, like a few hundred gigabytes of photos to 4K, the process can take considerable time. In this case, it's better to put the devices on a flat surface and not interrupt the connection. If the transfer is interrupted, Mi Mover usually knows how to resume the process from the stop, but it's better not to take risks.
Sync with Mi Cloud and Xiaomi account
The Mi Cloud cloud service provides a reliable storage for critical data such as contacts, notes, voice recordings and call history. Using a Xiaomi account allows you to instantly restore this information to a new device immediately after entering your username and password, which is especially useful if your old phone has already been sold or damaged.
To activate synchronization, you need to go to the acca-unt settings and turn on the appropriate switches. The system will suggest choosing the amount of cloud storage, since a free limit of 5 GB may not be enough for backups of applications and large albums. Paid subscription often offers favorable terms for users of the ecosystem.
What to do if you forget your account password?
If you have a photo sync option enabled, all images will automatically upload to the cloud and appear on a new smartphone, but you should consider that the original photos in high resolution can take up a lot of space, so the service offers an option to optimize storage.
| Type of data | Synchronization | Limit free. | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Automatically. | Enters 5GB. | Instantly. |
| Photos and videos | Wi-Fi. | Enters 5GB. | Background loading |
| Notes | Automatically. | Enters 5GB. | Instantly. |
| Dictaphone | Automatically. | Enters 5GB. | Instantly. |
The benefits of using the cloud are that you can access data from any device, including your computer through a web interface, but for a full copy of the system, including Wi-Fi passwords and alarm settings, you can combine the cloud with a local backup, which will double the protection of your personal data.
Backup to your computer via USB
The most conservative and reliable method is to create a full backup to an external hard drive or computer, using the built-in MIUI backup feature, which creates an archive of all the data selected, which is ideal for users who do not trust cloud storage or have a very large amount of data.
First, you need to create a backup on the smartphone itself. To do this, go to the settings menu, find the About or Advanced Settings section, and select "Reserve and Restore," and you can choose to create a local copy by specifying the password to encrypt the archive.
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Use a USB 3.0 cable and a USB 3.0 port on your computer for maximum transfer speed. Older USB 2.0 cables can significantly increase the time you copy large files.
Once you have created a backup file in your phone's memory, connect the device to your PC with a cable. In file transfer mode, find the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder. Copy the created folder to your computer. Once you set up your new phone, repeat the procedure in reverse order: copy the folder to the new phone and start the recovery.
β οΈ Note: When you restore from a backup on a new device, the firmware version must be equal to or newer than the backup version on which the backup was created. Otherwise, the system may refuse to restore data due to incompatible file structures.
This method takes more time and action from the user, but gives you complete control over the data. You know exactly where your information lies and can store archives for several years. Regularly making such copies before major system updates is a good practice of digital hygiene.
Manual transfer of multimedia and documents
Not all files are transferable through system utilities, especially if you are talking about specific folders with documents, downloads or messenger cache. In such cases, direct copying through the file manager works best. By connecting the phone as a media device (MTP), you get access to the file system like a regular flash drive.
Special attention should be paid to folders DCIM (The camera, Pictures (screenshots and images from apps) and Download, and many users forget about the folder. Android/media, where offline maps and downloaded tracks from streaming services can be stored, and copying this data manually ensures that nothing is lost.
For owners of large music and video libraries, manual copying is often the only sensible option. System utilities can analyze thousands of small files for a long time, while the conductor copies them in a stream. Use a good quality cable to avoid errors in writing sectors.
- π Full control over folder structure and ability to sort files when copying.
- πΎ Possibility of creating archives (ZIP/RAR) to save space and ease of storage.
- β‘ Independence from Android versions and shells MIUI old and new.
After manually transferring files, you may need to reboot the media scanner, and if the gallery doesnβt show new photos, you can use the media database update apps or just wait a few minutes for the system to index the new files itself.
Migration of data messengers: WhatsApp and Telegram
Messengers store their correspondence history in their own databases, which are not always fully captured by standard backup tools. WhatsApp has a built-in backup feature on Google Drive. On a new phone, you must agree to restore from the cloud when you first launch an application.
With Telegram, the situation is simpler: all the history of correspondence is stored on the messenger servers. You just need to enter the phone number and confirmation code, as all the chats, channels and groups will appear in place. However, secret chats are not portable, since they are tied to a particular device and its encryption keys.
β οΈ Note: Two-factor authentication on WhatsApp and Telegram requires you to enter a password or code you set before.If you donβt remember WhatsAppβs cloud password, it wonβt be possible to restore correspondence even if you have a backup file.
To port WhatsApp and Viber call history, you sometimes have to use the Chat Transfer feature inside the apps themselves if automatic recovery from Google Drive doesn't work. SIM-the card to which the account is registered or that you have access to SMS confirm.
Frequent problems and ways to solve them
Even with reliable tools, there can be disruptions: users often experience βNot enough spaceβ or connection interruption; the first is to clear the app cache or delete temporary files before migrating; the second is to check if the phone switches to the mobile network when the Wi-Fi signal is weak.
Another common problem is that some applications are not available after the transfer, and this is the case for banking and high-security applications, which need to be downloaded and reconfigured manually from Google Play or GetApps, and security systems block the automatic migration of such applications.
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Critical applications (banks, government services) are never automatically transferred in working order for security reasons β get ready to enter passwords again.
If the process is stuck at a certain percentage, try restarting both devices and starting over by selecting only the categories of data that have not been copied, sometimes disabling a VPN or antivirus that can block the network connection between devices helps.