How to transfer data from Xiaomi to iPhone 13: the full guide

Changing the operating system is always stressful for the owner of a smartphone, because there is a fear of losing important photos, contacts or correspondence. However, the transition from the MIUI platform to iOS has become much easier thanks to official tools developed by Apple engineers. If you become the owner of the new iPhone 13 and want to take all the digital luggage from the old Xiaomi, you do not need the help of specialists of the service center.

The migration process now takes tens of minutes, not hours, if both devices are properly prepared. The key element here is the Move to iOS app, which creates a secure communication channel between gadgets. It is important to understand that data transfer is possible only if you follow a certain sequence of actions, the violation of which can lead to a connection failure.

In this article, we will take a closer look at each step of preparation and execution so that you can enjoy the new device rather than waste time restoring lost information. We will look at the nuances of media transmission, calendars and even message histories from popular instant messengers.

Preparation of devices before the migration

Before you start the copying process, you need to make sure that both smartphones are in perfect technical condition for a long operation. Charge Xiaomi and iPhone 13 to at least 80%, as active operation of the Wi-Fi modules and the processor quickly consumes energy. Also check the availability of free space on the target Apple device, as the amount of data copied should not exceed the available space.

On Xiaomi, it is recommended to close all background applications that may consume traffic or interrupt the connection. Particular attention should be paid to the screen settings: set the time to automatically lock to the value of “Never” (Never) or as much as possible so that the screen does not go out during file transfer. This is critical, since a Wi-Fi connection break often occurs when the phone goes to sleep.

Make sure that both devices are enabled to transfer data over the mobile network, although the main traffic will go through the local network. On the iPhone, during the initial setup, you will need to select the “Move data from Android” option, which will start the necessary standby mode.

⚠️ Note: Do not try to connect to public Wi-Fi networks or use them. VPN-services during migration, this can block the creation of a local tunnel between devices.

The stability of the process depends on the absence of software conflicts on the Android side. If you have multiple memory cleaners or antiviruses with Network Protection feature installed, they are better temporarily deactivated, they can perceive the incoming connection from the iPhone as a potential threat and break the contact.

Installation and configuration of the Move to iOS app

The main tool for migration is the official Move to iOS app developed by Apple, which must be installed on your Xiaomi through the Google Play store. Make sure you download the original application from the Apple developer, as there may be fakes with limited functionality in the store.

Once installed, run the app on Xiaomi and accept the license agreement, and the program will request multiple permissions: access to contacts, call log, messages, and multimedia. Without all the rights requested, data portability will be incomplete or impossible.

At the setup stage of the iPhone 13, when you reach the Apps and Data screen, select the option “Move data from Android.” On the screen of the Apple smartphone, a six-digit or decimal code will appear. The same code must be entered in the application on Xiaomi to pair devices.

• 📱 Make sure that Xiaomi is enabled GPS Bluetooth, although the main channel is Wi-Fi Direct.
• 📶 Don’t connect to the router’s Wi-Fi network, the phone will create its own network.
• 🔋 Keep both devices close to each other throughout the process.
• 🚫 Don’t switch to other apps on Xiaomi while copying.

Once the code is entered, the iPhone will create a temporary secure Wi-Fi network. Your Xiaomi will suggest connecting to it — confirm this action. Connection speeds may vary, but interrupting at this stage will require restarting the entire procedure from the start.

Step-by-step data transfer process

Once the connection is established, Xiaomi will display a list of data categories available for transfer, and you can select contacts, message history, photos and videos, email accounts, calendars, and even some of the free apps that are available on both the App Store and Google Play.

For users who are actively using cloud services, an alternative path through Google Photos and Google Drive may be useful. However, Apple’s native method is preferable, since it stores folder structure and file metadata. Click Continue and start a process that can take from 15 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of information.

While transferring, the iPhone screen will display a progress scale. Even if Xiaomi receives a message about completion, do not touch the device until the indicator on the iPhone shows 100%. iOS system performs additional indexing and integrity check of the received files after the physical transfer of bytes.

⚠️ Warning: If the process has been stuck in one place for more than 30 minutes, do not rush to restart the phones. Often the indicator does not move visually, but the background recording is.

Once completed, the iPhone will offer you to adjust basic settings like Siri and screen time, your contacts, calendars and photos will automatically appear in the relevant apps, and apps you can find in the Apple Store will start downloading to the home screen.

Transfer of WhatsApp and Viber correspondence

Special attention should be paid to the migration of messengers, as their databases are stored locally and have different structures on Android and iOS. For WhatsApp, Apple and the developers of the messenger have implemented an official portability function that is built into the process of setting up the iPhone or is available inside the application itself.

To migrate WhatsApp chat history, select the Android data port option during the iPhone setup process and follow the on-screen instructions. QR-Xiaomi’s camera code via WhatsApp, and then the chat export will start, which will take extra time.

The situation is different with the Viber messenger: the official tool for directly transferring the history of correspondence between different OSes does not yet exist in the same form as WhatsApp. You will have to use the Viber backup feature on Xiaomi (which will save media to Google Drive), but it is impossible to restore the message history on the iPhone from the Android backup due to differences in file systems.

• 🟢 WhatsApp: full story, media and settings portability.
• 🔴 Viber: Only contacts and current active sessions are transferred, history is lost.
• 🔵 Telegram: history is stored in the cloud, just enter the phone number.
• 🟡 Signal: Requires you to backup manually and transfer the file.

All media files that were in chats will move to the iPhone gallery if you choose the appropriate option when migrating.

Table of compatibility of data transferred

Not all file types and settings can be transferred automatically. Some data specific to the MIUI shell is unparalleled in iOS. Below is a table to help you understand what to expect from the migration process.

As you can see from the table, Wi-Fi passwords are one of the few exceptions that Apple’s security system doesn’t allow you to transfer directly from Android devices, and you’ll have to re-enter them or use the password-sharing feature if there’s another Apple device nearby.

Music, books and PDF-Files are also not automatically transferred through a standard tool, which is better to use cloud storage or a computer with iTunes installed (or Finder on macOS). DRM-protected content.

Solving problems and errors in synchronization

Despite the smoothness of the process, users can encounter errors, and one of the most common problems is the message “Data failed” or endless waiting during the “Time Assessment” stage, most often due to the fact that Xiaomi aggressively manages memory and “kills” the background process of the Move to iOS application.

To avoid this, go to the battery settings on Xiaomi, find the Move to iOS app and set the No Limits mode. Also turn off the energy savings for the migration time. If the error repeats, try restarting both devices and starting the process again, making sure that no other apps are using the network.

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If the transfer is constantly interrupted, try to turn off the mobile Internet (SIM-map) on Xiaomi before the procedure, leaving only the Wi-Fi module for communicating with the iPhone active.

Another problem may be space shortage: iOS requires more space to deploy files than they physically take up. If your iPhone 13 has a basic storage capacity (like 128 GB) and Xiaomi is 100 GB occupied, migration may not work, in which case you should pre-clean the gallery of unnecessary videos or use cloud services for partial portability.

⚠️ Warning: After a successful transfer, be sure to check for all contacts and photos. Do not delete data from the old Xiaomi until you are fully familiar with the new iOS system.

Sometimes users notice that photos are displayed inverted or without geo-tags after transfer, due to differences in the processing of EXIF metadata, usually solved by updating the Photos app or re-syncing through the iCloud Photo Library.

Completion of the setup and work with iCloud

Once all the data is on the iPhone 13, it will prompt you to log into your Apple ID. This is a must-have for the device to work properly, and iCloud will be the new home for your contacts, calendars, and notes, ensuring they are synchronized across all Apple devices.

It is recommended to immediately configure the iCloud Photos feature to free up space on the device and protect photos. Unlike the folder structure on Android, the iOS library works on the basis of tags and dates, which can be addictive. All folders with Xiaomi will turn into albums, but the photos themselves will remain in the shared feed.

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A successful transition to the iPhone is only completed after you set up iCloud and check the operation of major applications such as the phone and messages.

Now your iPhone 13 is ready to work with a full set of personal information. Apple’s ecosystem will offer a host of new features, from AirDrop to Handoff, that will make smartphone use even more convenient. Remember, adapting to the new system takes a few days, but the rich functionality of iOS is worth it.