Buying a new Xiaomi smartphone is always a joyous event, but it is often overshadowed by the need to transfer data. This process becomes especially painful when the old device has accumulated gigabytes of personal photos and videos. These moments of memory cannot be lost, so the issue of data migration comes first. Fortunately, the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem offers several reliable ways to solve this problem, from embedded utilities to cloud storage.
Many users mistakenly believe that transferring files requires a computer or complex manipulation of cables. This is not true. Modern synchronization algorithms allow you to perform cloning of the gallery without wires and loss of source quality. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods that ensure the safety of your data when you move to a new device.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before you start the copying process, you need to make sure that both smartphones are ready to work. First of all, check the battery level on both devices. If during the transfer one of the phones runs out and turns off, the process will stop and the files may be damaged.
☑️ Pre-testing
You should also free up space on the receiving device. Even if you change your phone to a model with a large amount of memory, it is better to make sure that the internal drive is not full of system debris. Delete unnecessary files or move them to the memory card if the slot is designed.
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Before you start the transfer, clear the gallery cache on your old phone, which will speed up the scanning of media files and prevent possible errors when counting the number of photos.
Use of the built-in Mi Mover application
The most efficient and quickest way to transfer photos is to use the regular Mi Mover utility, which is pre-installed on most Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones running MIUI, and works on the principle of direct Wi-Fi Direct connection, which provides high speed transfer without using Internet traffic.
Run the app on both devices. On the new phone, select Recipient and on the old phone, Sender, the system automatically creates an access point or prompts you to scan. QR-The code for the connection. Once you've established the connection, you'll see a list of data categories.
From the list, select Images or Gallery, where you can filter content in detail: select only photos, only videos, or specific albums. If you have more than 100 GB of data, the process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours, so don't block device screens.
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Mirover creates a direct connection between devices, so the copy speed is limited only by the Wi-Fi capabilities of your smartphones and can reach 20-40 MB / s.
It is important to note that Mi Mover saves not only the files themselves, but also the folder structure, as well as metadata (date of shooting, geolocation), which is critical for those who like to sort the archive by chronology or location.
Sync through Google Photos and Cloud Services
If you have stable Wi-Fi access, Google Photos is a great option, and the good thing about this is that it doesn't require both phones to be physically present at the same time, and all you need is a Google account.
On an old smartphone, open the Google Photos app, log in to your account and enable sync. Make sure you select Original quality if you don't want to lose in detail on your snapshots. Google's free storage is limited to 15GB, so large archives may require a Google One subscription.
What to do if the synchronization is suspended?
Once you have finished downloading on your old device, just log in to the same Google account on your new Xiaomi phone. All your photos will automatically appear in the gallery. The advantage of this method is that you get a backup in the cloud, which protects data from loss in the event of any device breakage.
Transfer over local Wi-Fi connection and FTP
For advanced users who prefer full control of the process, there is a method of transferring files over the FTP protocol or over a local network. Xiaomi's built-in file manager (Conductor) has a remote control function.
1. Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. On an old phone, open Explorer, go to FTP or PC Access.
3. Launch the server and enter IP-address to the address bar of the explorer on the new phone (or use a third-party file manager that supports the LAN/SMB).
This allows you to copy files selectively without installing unnecessary applications. The speed depends on the router, but it is usually faster than when transferring via Bluetooth. However, if there are too many files, the interface can work slower than in specialized utilities like Mi Mover.
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When you're going over the Wi-Fi router, make sure both phones are in the zone of confident reception. Breaking the connection in the middle of copying a big album will require a repeat of the procedure for this album.
Comparison of methods of photo transfer
To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have prepared a comparison table of basic methods, which will help you estimate the time spent and the resources required.
| Method | Speed | Internet Needed | Keeps folder structure | Complexity |
|:--- |:--- |:--- |:--- |:--- |
| Mi Mover | Very High | No (Wi-Fi Direct) | Yes | Low |
| Google Photo | Medium (depending on channel) | Yes | No (sorting by date) | Very low |
| USB (OTG) cable | High | No | Yes | Medium |
| Bluetooth | Very Low | No | Yes | Low |
As you can see from the table, for the mass migration of thousands of photos, Mi Mover is the leader in speed and convenience. Cloud methods are good for background synchronization, but the initial download of a large amount of data can take days.
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For one-time transfer of a huge archive (over 64 GB) using cable through the OTG-Adapter can be more reliable than wireless methods, as it eliminates radio interference.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
Users may experience a variety of errors during data transfer, most often due to connection interruption or lack of space. If the process is stuck at a certain percentage, don't panic. Try canceling the operation, restarting both smartphones and trying again by choosing to copy in smaller portions (for example, 10,000 photos at a time).
Why didn't some photos move?
Another common problem is time-dissynchronization in photos. If the shooting date is lost, check the time and time zone settings on the new device. In some cases, re-indexing media files through the system recovery menu or third-party gallery apps helps.