How to transfer files to another Xiaomi phone: the full guide

Changing your smartphone is often a stress test, especially when you have accumulated gigabytes of photos, important documents and correspondence in messengers. Owners of the Xiaomi ecosystem are more fortunate than users of many other brands, as the company has provided powerful built-in tools for data migration. The right approach to the question of how to transfer files to another Xiaomi phone will allow you to start working with a new device in minutes, preserving the usual digital environment.

There are several proven synchronization methods, each with its own advantages depending on the amount of information and the speed of the Internet connection: you can use cloud storage, local Wi-Fi Direct transmission or classic cable. The choice of the particular method depends on whether you move from another Android smartphone or switch from an iPhone.

In this article, we will take a closer look at all the current portability methods, from the Mi Mover app to Google’s cloud services and Mi Cloud, and we will also discuss the nuances of password transfer, system settings and hidden folders that are often lost when surface copying.

Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration

The most efficient and quickest way to transfer data between Xiaomi devices is to use the Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed in the MIUI and HyperOS shell, so you don’t have to search for it in the app store. The algorithm creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices, which ensures high transfer speeds without using mobile traffic.

To start working, launch the application on both smartphones through the Settings menu → The phone. → Mi Mover or find it in the Tools folder. On the new device, select Receiver and on the old device, Sender. QR-code or select a device from a list of available networks, it is important that the screens of both phones are turned on throughout the process.

The interface allows you to flexibly customize your data selection, you can only transfer contacts and SMS, or you can copy the entire array of media, including photos, videos and music. Once you select categories, click the "Send" button and wait for the process to be completed. The speed can reach tens of megabytes per second, which is much faster than Bluetooth.

⚠️ Warning: Do not block smartphone screens while transferring large files. Screen saver or going to sleep mode can break the Wi-Fi Direct connection and the process will have to start again.

The Mi Mover copies the installation files of the programs, but in some cases, you may need to re-authorize in banking applications or messengers for security reasons, this is a normal practice associated with linking accounts to specific hardware.

Sync with Mi Cloud and Google account

Cloud technology makes the change of phone as transparent as possible for the user. If you have been using Xiaomi services, most of your data is already in the cloud. To check, log into Settings → Mi Account and make sure that synchronization of contacts, notes, calendar and voice recorder is activated.

When you log in to your Mi Account on a new device, all of that data will automatically be pulled in the background, as is the case with the Google ecosystem: Your contacts, calendar events, even some of your system settings are stored in Gmail, and you just need to enter your username and password when you first set up Android to restore your digital identity.

However, the cloud method has its limitations: free space in the Mi Cloud is only 5 GB, which may not be enough to back up photos in full resolution, in which case it makes sense to buy additional space or use Google Photos for media files, and Mi Cloud to leave for system settings.

Using dual syncs, both Mi and Google, creates a robust insurance policy, and if one service is temporarily unavailable or has login problems, you will have a copy of your critical data elsewhere, especially for your work contacts and documents.

Transferring data from iPhone to Xiaomi

The transition from iOS to Android used to be a challenge, but Xiaomi has now made it as easy as possible. The Mi Mover app is available on the App Store, allowing you to initiate data transfer directly from your iPhone. You will need to download the app to an Apple device and run it.

The main challenge is iOS access rights. Apple's security system strictly controls access to data, so you'll have to manually allow access to contacts, photos and calendar when you first run. Without those permissions, the app simply won't see the information to be moved.

The process is this: Xiaomi selects Receiver, iPhone selects Sender. Scan code. Key point: iPhone will have to press the Start Transfer button, and then the system will warn that the application will work in the background. Do not turn the application down on the iPhone, otherwise the transfer will interrupt.

Notably, apps purchased from the App Store won’t be available on Android, because they’re different platforms, you’ll have to re-download their Google Play counterparts, and some privacy settings and passwords stored in the iCloud keychain may not be portable unless you’re using cross-platform password managers.

Local transmission via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct

If you can't use a cloud or a proprietary application, there's always classic methods. The MIUI file manager, built into the shell, allows you to send files over Bluetooth, which is extremely slow for large amounts of data, but ideal for quickly transferring multiple documents or contacts.

To activate Bluetooth, open Explorer, select the files you want, and click Send. Select the device from the paired list. Transfer speeds rarely exceed 2-3 MB/s, so 4K videos are better not to copy — the process will take hours.

💡

Use the Send Nearby Share feature if both phones run on Android.It runs faster than Bluetooth and doesn't require you to set up complex networks, using a combination of Bluetooth for search and Wi-Fi for data transfer.

A more advanced local transmission option is to create a Wi-Fi hotspot, so you can turn on the modem mode on one phone and connect to it from another. FTP-server in the file manager (the function "Access from PC") you can transfer files over the local network at high speed.

To do this, select PC Access in the Explorer, turn it on, and type the displayed address (e.g. ftp://192.168.43.1:2121) into the address bar of the Explorer on the receiving device or computer, which allows you to manage files as in a regular folder, copying them in a batch without compression and loss of quality.

Backup to the computer and return

The most reliable, though PC-required, way is to create a full backup on your computer. USB-cable and select file transfer mode (MTP). Copy the folders. DCIM, Download, Documents and MIUI hard-drive.

However, to fully restore settings and applications, it is better to use the built-in local backup function. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore → Mobile Device. Create a backup with a password for encrypting data.

Once you have created a backup, the backup file (usually in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder) needs to be copied to your computer. Then plug in the new phone, create an empty backup (to have the folder structure), interrupt the process, and replace the fresh backup file with the one you saved from your old phone.

⚠️ Note: When restoring a backup created on one version MIUI, on a phone with a different version (especially a newer one), some system settings may not apply correctly.

The good thing about this method is that it even keeps the icons on the desktop and the alarm settings, and it's critical that you don't interrupt the recovery process and keep the phone connected to the charger, because the decompression operation of the archive is very stressful.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

💡

The fastest and most complete way to transfer data between Xiaomi phones is to use the Mi Mover app over a direct Wi-Fi connection, which keeps the folder structure, applications and system settings better than any other method.