Buying a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting moment, marred by only one technical difficulty: how to transport gigabytes of personal memories from an old device. The process of migrating data may seem like a daunting maze for an inexperienced user, but modern technology has made it as simple and fast as possible. Owners of Redmi and Poco devices are the luckiest, as the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem offer native tools for seamless integration.
There are many methods, each with its own advantages depending on the amount of information and the speed of the Internet: you can use a wired connection for maximum speed or cloud technology for automation. It is important to choose a way that does not require you to know deeply about programming and takes a minimum of time. In this article, we will discuss all the current options so that you can choose the most suitable for your situation.
Before any manipulations, make sure that both devices have sufficient battery power, preferably more than 50%. Power loss at a critical time of data transfer can cause files to be damaged or copying interrupted. Also check for free space on the target device to avoid write errors.
⚠️ Warning: Before mass data transfer, always back up your most valuable images to an external medium or computer to eliminate the risk of accidental loss in the event of a crash.
Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration
The most efficient and native way for Xiaomi devices is the Mi Mover utility, which is pre-installed in the MIUI system and optimized for working with the Android file system, which provides high transfer speeds without compressing image quality. The application creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices, bypassing the router and without consuming mobile traffic.
To start, open the settings menu on the new smartphone and find the section Additional → On an old phone, if it's not Xiaomi, you'll need to download it. APK-Application file from the official website or scan QR-code that will appear on the screen of the new gadget. After installation, run the program on both devices.
Select the Recipient on the new device and the Sender on the old one. QR-code or search for nearby devices. Once the gadgets find each other, sync will begin.
- 📱 Select the category “Images” or “Photos” in the list of transmitted data for point copying.
- 🚀 The transmission speed can reach 20-40 MB/s, which is much faster than Bluetooth.
- 🔒 Data is transmitted via a local secure channel, excluding leakage to the Internet.
☑️ Check before launching the Mi Mover
During the transfer, don't switch between applications or turn off the screen, as this can break the connection. The transmission protocol is sensitive to interruptions, and the process will have to start again. Once completed, you will receive a notification of successful import.
Sync through Google Photos and Cloud Services
If you have stable Wi-Fi access, the most convenient long-term solution is to use Google Photos cloud storage, which is good because it doesn't require both phones to be side by side at the same time, and all your pictures are saved to your Google account and automatically appear on any device you sign in.
On your old phone, open the Google Photos app, click on your profile avatar, and select Photo Settings → Autoboot. Make sure the switch is activated. Wait for all albums to be fully synced. This process can take several hours depending on the volume of your library.
Compression nuances in Google Photos
On the new Xiaomi, just log in to the same Google account when you first set up the system, and photos will be uploaded to the gallery automatically as needed, ideal for those who want to free up memory on the old device right away.
The alternative is Yandex.Disk or Mi Cloud. In the case of Mi Cloud, the path is: Settings → Mi Account → Sync → Gallery. However, it is worth remembering that free space in the Mi Cloud is limited to 5 GB, which may not be enough for a large archive.
- ☁️ Access to photos is possible from any device, including a computer and tablet.
- 🛡️ The risk of data loss in a physical phone breakdown is reduced to zero.
- ⚙️ A stable and fast internet connection is required for the initial download.
Data transfer via Bluetooth and Quick Share
When you only need to flip a few dozen images, there is no point in setting up complex cloud services or looking for a cable. Built-in Bluetooth module or Quick Share technology (formerly known as Nearby Share) allows you to transfer files out of the box without installing additional software.
To use Quick Share, make sure that both devices are enabled with Bluetooth and geolocation. Open a photo in the gallery of the old phone, click the Share button and select the Quick Share icon. The system will find a nearby Xiaomi device and request confirmation of acceptance.
This method is significantly faster than classic Bluetooth, as it uses a combination of Bluetooth for handshakes and Wi-Fi Direct to transfer the file itself.The speed can vary, but for batch transfer of hundreds of photos, it can still be slower than the Mi Mover.
⚠️ Note: When transferring large numbers of files via Bluetooth or Quick Share, the battery of both devices can run out faster than usual due to the active operation of wireless modules.
If you use classic Bluetooth (on very old models), the process will be extremely slow, in which case it is better to send photos in small groups of 10-20 pieces, so as not to overload the clipboard and avoid the system freezing.
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If Quick Share doesn’t see the device, try turning the screen off and on again on both phones, and make sure that the All or Contacts Only view settings are selected in the visibility settings.
Import via computer and USB-cable
A classic “old-fashioned” method that remains one of the most reliable, especially when working with terabytes of data: PC connection allows you to visually control the process and structure files by folder before downloading to the new Xiaomi.
Connect your old phone to your computer with a cable. In the notification curtain, select USB File Transfer (MTP) mode. On your computer, open My Computer, find the device, and copy the DCIM/Camera folder to your hard drive. Then plug the new phone in and copy the files to a similar directory.
| Method | Speed. | We need the Internet. | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Tall. | No. | Low. |
| Google Photo | Medium | Yes. | Low. |
| USB Cable | Very high. | No. | Medium |
| Bluetooth | Low. | No. | Low. |
When using a cable, it is important to use original or certified wires. Cheap “charging only” cables do not have the necessary contacts to transfer data, and the computer simply will not see the phone. Windows Device Manager may appear unknown device, which signals a problem with drivers or cable.
After copying to a new phone, it may take time for the Android system to index new media files. If the photos don't show up immediately in the gallery, try restarting your smartphone or clearing the Gallery app's cache through Settings → Apps → All Apps → Gallery → Clear the cache.
Solving problems with HEIC formats and compatibility
A common problem when switching from iPhone to Xiaomi is the HEIC photo format. Unlike the universal JPG, this format may not open in some Android apps without converting. When using Mi Mover, conversion often happens automatically, but manual copying can be difficult.
If you see files with the.heic extension that do not open, you can use the built-in converter in the Xiaomi gallery or third-party apps from Google Play. You can also change the camera settings at the source (if it is an iPhone): go to Settings → Camera → Formats and select “Most compatible”, then new photos will be written in JPG.
Another problem is broken thumbnails, and if you see gray squares instead of photos after you transfer, it means that the thumbnail cache file has been corrupted, and the solution is to remove the hidden.thumbnails folder in the DCIM directory through the file manager, after which the system will re-create the preview.
- 🔄 Format HEIC It takes up half the space than JPG, equally.
- 📱 For a viewing. HEIC PCs may require special codecs or converters.
- ⚙️ Converting a large volume of photos can take a significant processor time.
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Automatic conversion of HEIC to JPG when migrating over Mi Mover is the most trouble-free scenario for users switching from iOS.
Cleaning the old device after transfer
Once the data has been migrated successfully, it becomes a question of disposing of the old device, simply removing photos through the gallery is not enough, since it can be restored with special utilities, and completely secure personal data, before selling or transferring the phone to another person, you need to perform a complete reset.
Go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Delete all data. The system will alert you that all files will be permanently deleted. Make sure you check the new phone and all data in place before you start this procedure.
Also, be sure to log out of all accounts (Google, Mi Account, Samsung Account) so that your device is not blocked by FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection.