Changing your smartphone is always an exciting process, especially when the transition is between devices in different Android ecosystems. The transition from Xiaomi to OnePlus requires careful preparation to avoid losing important contacts, messaging history and media. Modern operating systems offer many tools for migration, but the choice of the specific method depends on the version of MIUI and OxygenOS.
Chinese brand owners often face nuances when migrating Wi-Fi system settings and passwords. However, thanks to Android standardization, most user data is saved almost completely.
In this article, we’ll look at all the current syncs, from embedded utilities to cloud services, how to avoid common bugs and why some apps may not be ported automatically. Google account will be your main ally in the process.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before starting the procedure, make sure that both smartphones are charged at least 60%, the cloning process actively consumes energy, and suddenly turning off the device can damage files or interrupt the connection.
Also check for space on the new OnePlus: The internal memory of the new gadget should exceed the amount of data occupied by the old Xiaomi. If there is not enough space, some photos or videos will have to be temporarily deleted or transferred to the computer.
⚠️ Warning: Don't interrupt the data transfer process even if the smartphone screens are gone. Interrupting during the copying phase of system libraries can make a new phone unstable.
Make sure that both devices are enabled with Bluetooth and GPS. These modules are used to quickly find devices and establish a secure P2P (Peer-to-Peer) communication channel, which greatly speeds up the transfer of large files without using the Internet.
☑️ Checklist before start
Using the Clone Phone app from OnePlus
The most effective and native way for owners of new equipment is to use the proprietary utility Clone Phone. This application is pre-installed on all OnePlus smartphones and optimized for working with the shell OxygenOS or ColorOS.
To start working on the new device, run the application and select the role "This is a new phone." QR-On the old Xiaomi, you need to download a similar app from Google Play or scan the code with the camera if the utility offers a web version.
Once you connect the devices, you'll see a list of categories to transfer. You can select selective synchronization:
- 📞 Contacts and call history
- 📸 Photos, video and audio files
- 📱 Applications and data
- 📅 Calendar and notes
The utility will try to copy the cache and logins, but for banking applications and messengers with enhanced security (for example, Telegram or WhatsApp), re-authorization may be required.
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When transferring WhatsApp via Clone Phone, use the Chat Transfer function inside the messenger itself to ensure that your correspondence history is saved.
Transfer through Google Account and Cloud Services
If you’ve been using the Google ecosystem on Xiaomi, the recovery of data on OnePlus will be as smooth as possible.
Google automatically syncs contacts, calendar events, Chrome browser passwords and a list of installed apps. Photos, if Autoboot is enabled, will already be available in the Google Photos app immediately after logging in.
However, there are limitations to this method: Google Drive does not default to download files, documents, and some MIUI system settings. You need to manually back up the Google settings on your old phone to make a full copy.
| Type of data | Google Sync | Clone Phone | Mi Mover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. |
| Photo/Video | ✅ Yes (via Photo) | ✅ Yes (locally) | ✅ Yes. |
| Wi-Fi passwords | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. |
| Application data | ⚠️ Partially. | ✅ Tall. | ✅ Tall. |
| System settings | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. |
Alternative method: Mi Mover and its features
Many users prefer to use the native Mi Mover app, which is already installed on Xiaomi. Although it is tailored to the MIUI ecosystem, it is able to create backups that are compatible with other Android devices, albeit with limitations.
When you try to transfer data to OnePlus via Mi Mover, the system may suggest creating a local backup. This file can be transferred to a new phone and tried to restore through the settings menu, but the folder structure of OxygenOS may differ from MIUI.
The main problem with this method is the incompatibility of some system files, settings of alarm clocks, voice recorders and specific functions of Xiaomi may not be displayed correctly or be ignored by the new device.
Why Mi Miver might not work perfectly?
It is recommended to use Mi Mover only to create an intermediate copy on a PC, if other methods are not available. For direct transfer from phone to phone, it is better to choose specialized cross-platform solutions.
Specificity of transfer of messengers and applications
WhatsApp has its own backup system. On Xiaomi, go to chat settings, select Backup and make sure it is saved to Google Drive.
When you install WhatsApp on OnePlus and log in to the same phone number, the system will offer to restore the history from the cloud.This is the only guaranteed way to save correspondence, since direct copying of data folders is often blocked by Android 12/13/14 access permissions.
Telegram and Viber are simpler: they store their history in the cloud, just log in and all chats will be instantaneous, but Telegram’s secret chats and Viber’s local files may not be automatically transferred.
⚠️ Note: Two-factor authentication (2FA) In the messengers requires access to SIM-map or codes from the authenticator application. SIM-The card is active before setting up a new phone.
Banking applications and government services (Government Services, Sberbank, Tinkoff) will have to be reconfigured for security reasons, and they do not transfer session keys between devices.
Solution and troubleshooting
When migrating, users often experience a certain percentage of the process hanging, usually due to unstable Wi-Fi connections or background processes consuming resources.
If the data transmission is interrupted, try restarting both smartphones and turning off the "Energy Saving" mode. VPN-Services that can block local connection between devices.
If the contacts are moved but no photos, check where the numbers on the old phone were stored. SIM-cards or locally in your phone’s memory (not Google), they need to be exported to.vcf and imported manually.
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The most common mistake is trying to move data when the lock screen is active, and unlock both devices before starting the procedure.
Completion of setup and optimization of OnePlus
After successfully completing the transfer, take your time to delete data from your old Xiaomi.Use the new phone for 1-2 days to make sure all files are in place and apps are working correctly.
The new OxygenOS shell has its own gesture and notification management features. It is recommended to go to the Settings → Usability section and adapt the interface to your habits, since the logic of MIUI and ColorOS differs.
Check the sync of photos and contacts during the first day, and if it goes well, you can reset your old device completely, making sure your Google and Mi accounts are removed from the system.