Buying a new smartphone is always a thrill, but it’s often overshadowed by the thought of how to recycle all the photos, contacts and apps that have accumulated over the years. Xiaomi’s ecosystem is in a better position, as the company has provided several efficient ways to migrate data.
Modern shells MIUI And HyperOS offers built-in tools that make the procedure virtually invisible to the user. IT-The key is to prepare both devices in advance and choose the most appropriate scenario for the operation.
In this article, we will take a look at all the options available, from using the Mi Mover app to manually transferring it through cloud storage, how to save folder structure, Wi-Fi passwords, and even desktop icons, and getting the right training will save you from losing important data and nerves.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before you start any manipulation, you need to make sure that both smartphones are ready to go, which is a basic step, ignoring which can lead to interruption or errors, first check the battery power on both devices.
The optimal charge level is above 50%. If the battery is drained, connect the devices to a power source or charge them fully. Also make sure that both phones are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, as these modules are often used to create a direct connection.
Free up space on your new device. If you plan to carry a lot of media, make sure that there is enough free memory on the new Xiaomi. Otherwise, some files may not be copied, or the system will prompt you to clear the cache.
- 🔋 Charge both smartphones to at least 60% for stable operation.
- 📶 Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in both device settings.
- 💾 Check the availability of free space on the new gadget.
- 🔒 Unlock the screens of both phones before the procedure begins.
⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the data transfer process, even if it seems to be stalled.Forced closure of the application can cause files to be damaged or settings to reset on the new device.
It is also important to update the system software on both devices to the latest available version. Developers often release patches that improve the stability of synchronization tools. You can check for updates in the settings menu in the About Phone section.
☑️ Ready for transfer
Using the Mi Mover app for fast transfer
The most effective and quickest way is to use the regular utility Mi Mover. This application is preinstalled on most Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, and for older models it can be downloaded from the GetApps store or Google Play.
Run the app on both devices. On the old phone, select Sender and on the new phone, Receiver, and the system automatically prompts you to create an access point or use it. QR-Pairing code with a new phone's camera is the most reliable method.
Once you connect the devices, you'll see a list of data categories that you can transfer, you can select only contacts and messages, or you can copy everything, including apps, photos, videos and system settings, and you'll copy it over your local Wi-Fi Direct channel, which allows you to do it at a high speed without using Internet traffic.
- 📲 Open the Mi Mover app on both smartphones.
- 👤 Select “Sender” on the old and “Receiver” on the new device.
- 🔗 Scan it. QR-link-in.
- ✅ Tick the data types to copy and click “Send».
The speed of transfer depends on the number of files. Large video files can be copied longer, but the connection is usually stable. During the process, the screens may go out, but do not lock the phones completely unless required by the on-screen instruction.
Synchronization through Google Account and Cloud Services
If direct transfer is not possible for some reason, cloud synchronization is the best way to help, and it's ideal for retrieving contacts, notes, calendars and passwords, and the main tool is a Google account.
On your old device, make sure sync is enabled. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync and select your Google account. Make sure the switches opposite Contacts, Calendar, Notes and other important items are active. Press the sync button manually to be sure the data is up to date.
On a new smartphone, when you first turn on, just type in the same Google login and password. The system will automatically prompt you to restore a backup of your settings and applications. You can also use the Mi Cloud cloud if you have actively used Xiaomi services.
| Type of data | Google Account | Mi Cloud | Local copy. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Automatically. | Automatically. | File.vcf |
| Photos and videos | Google Photos (15GB) | 5GB free of charge | DCIM folder |
| Wi-Fi passwords | Yes (via Google) | Yes (via Mi Cloud) | No. |
| Icon placement | Partially. | Yes (full copy) | Yes (full copy) |
Using the cloud requires a stable Internet connection, and if you have a lot of photos, it can take a considerable amount of time to download the initial download, but this method ensures that the data is safe even in the event of loss or breakage of an old phone.
⚠️ Warning: Free space in a Google account is limited to 15 GB. If your archive is larger, some of the data may not sync without buying additional space.
Manual transfer of files via computer
For users who prefer complete control of the process, or with terabytes of data, the best option is with a PC, which allows not only to transfer files, but also to audit them, removing unnecessary debris before downloading to a new device.
Connect your old smartphone to your computer through USB-In the notification menu on the phone, select the mode of operation. USB «File transfer” or MTP. Open My Computer on your PC, find the device and copy the folders DCIM (Photos and videos), Download, Music and others on hard drive.
Then plug in a new Xiaomi. If it's not already set up, you can use the recovery mode or just copy files after you first set up, and paste the copied folders into the corresponding internal memory directories of the new phone.
Structure of folders for manual copying:
/DCIM/Camera (Camera photo)
/DCIM/Screenshots (Screenshots)
/Download (downloads from the browser)
/Music (Music)
/Documents (Documents)The good thing about this is that it's versatile and doesn't depend on Android or MIUI versions, but it doesn't migrate to installed apps and their data, system settings and passwords, it's a solution that's exclusively for media content and documents.
What to do if your computer can’t see your phone?
Transfer of messages and call history
Special attention should be paid to the transfer of SMS and call history, as standard Android tools do not always do this obvious. Mi Mover app copes with this task best, transferring messages along with nested pictures and contacts.
If you use third-party messaging apps like Textra or QKSMS, check their backup settings. Often they allow you to create a backup that can be restored after you install the app on a new device.
For call history, it is most reliable to use synchronization through SIM-map (if contacts are stored there) or through Google Contacts, which now can save call history on Android 9 and up. Check the Call Backup setting in Google's Phone app.
- 📱 Use Mi Mover for complex transfer SMS and call logs.
- ☁️ Enable call synchronization in Google Phone settings.
- 💾 Keep the important ones. SMS In the app “Notes” or take screenshots.
- 📲 Make sure that SIM-The map is not full of old contacts.
Some carriers offer their own cloud services to maintain contacts and SMS. Check your operator’s personal account, there may already be a backup copy that can be restored on a new one. SIM-map.
💡
Before transferring, remove old, unnecessary items. SMS-This will greatly speed up the migration process and free up space on the new device that you won’t waste on garbage.
Common mistakes and ways to solve them
Even with convenient tools, users sometimes run into problems, a common mistake is interrupting Wi-Fi Direct while Mi Mover is running, which can happen if one of the devices goes into power saving mode.
Another common problem is the lack of space. Users often forget that system files and app cache also take up space.
If the process is stuck at a certain percentage, don't panic. Wait 5-10 minutes. If progress is not progressing, try restarting the app on both devices and starting over again, selecting only those categories that have not been copied.
⚠️ Note: When transferring data from banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff, etc.), they may require re-assignment of the device or login by login and password for security reasons.
Two-factor authentication is also worth remembering if you change your phone number or SIM-card, make sure you have access to confirmation codes, otherwise logging into accounts on a new phone may be difficult.
💡
The most reliable way to avoid errors is to use a combination of methods: Mi Mover for applications and settings, plus manually checking mission-critical files via a PC or cloud.
Completion of the setup and integrity check
Once you've finished copying, don't rush to throw away your old phone. Do a thorough check on the new device. Open the gallery and make sure all the albums are in place. Check your contact list and try to make a test call.
Run the main apps: messengers, social networks, banks. In some cases, especially with WhatsApp and Telegram, you may need a separate procedure to restore the history of correspondence from the cloud backup within the application itself.
For WhatsApp on Android, the backup is stored on Google Drive. When you first run the messenger on the new phone, the system will prompt you to restore the history. Make sure you use the same phone number and Google account.
- 📸 Check for all photos and videos in the gallery.
- 💬 Enter the messengers and restore the history of correspondence.
- 🏦 Log in to the banking applications and check the balance.
- 🎵 Make sure that the music files are played correctly.
Once you make sure that all the data is in place and working correctly, you can start cleaning and disposing of your old smartphone. Remember to perform a full Wipe data reset on your old device before selling it or transferring it to another person so that your personal data does not fall into the wrong hands.