How to transfer data from iPhone to Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Switching from an iPhone to a Xiaomi smartphone (be it a Redmi Note 13 Pro+, POCO F6 or Xiaomi 14 Ultra) is a step that requires careful preparation. The main fear of users is the loss of contacts, photos or notes when changing the ecosystem. In practice, transferring data between iOS and Android takes 15-40 minutes, if you know the nuances. Apple and Xiaomi use different formats of storage, so a direct clone of the system is impossible - but 90% of data (including the history of calls and Wi-Fi passwords) can be saved.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working migration methods, from the official Mi Mover tool to workarounds for rare cases (for example, when an iPhone is locked or broken), we will analyze which data is transferred completely and which will have to be restored manually, and also warn against typical errors. For example, using iCloud to transfer photos to Xiaomi without prior optimization can take up to 12 hours due to download speed limitations at a free tariff.

Spoiler: The fastest way is direct cable (Lightning → USB-C) + Mi Mover, but it only works on new Xiaomi models with MIUI 14+. If you have old firmware or a broken connector, read about alternative options with Google Drive or a computer.

1.Preparation for the transfer: what to do on the iPhone and Xiaomi

Before you migrate, make sure you follow these steps, which will save you hours of time and prevent data loss.

✅ Update iOS to the latest version. Older versions (below 15.0) may lack key export features, such as the ability to unload passwords from iCloud Keychain to a file. Check for relevance in Settings → Basic → Software Update.

✅ Clear up unnecessary data. 100GB photos will take 5 times longer to transfer than 20GB. Remove duplicates in Photos (use the built-in Repeat tool on Recently Deleted), archive old messages in iCloud, and uninstall unnecessary apps.

✅ Back up to iCloud. Even if you plan to transfer data over the cable, you need a backup in case of a crash. Go to Settings → [Your name] → iCloud → Backup iCloud and click Create Backup. Make sure Contacts, Photos and Notes are enabled.

Backup to iCloud| Update iOS to the latest version|Delete duplicate photos and videos |Record password from Apple ID|Deactivate two-factor authentication (if used)

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Now prepare your Xiaomi smartphone:

1. Reset to factory settings (if the phone is new, skip this step).This will remove junk files from the previous owner and avoid conflicts when transferring.Way: Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Connect to Wi-Fi. Downloading data from clouds (iCloud, Google Drive) will require a stable connection. Use a 5GHz network to speed up.
3. Install the latest MIUI updates. Older versions of the firmware may not have Mi Mover. Check relevance: Settings → About Phone → System Update.

⚠️ Warning: If you migrate data to Xiaomi with custom firmware (like LineageOS), the official Mi Mover won't work. Use methods with Google Account or computer.

2. Method 1: Mi Mover is the official tool of Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a MIUI-built application for migrating data from an iPhone, Android, or even Windows Phone. It supports porting.

• 📞 Contacts (including groups and notes to numbers)
• 📷 Photos and videos (album structure retained)
• 💬 Messages (SMS and iMessage, but no attachments)
• 📅 Calendars and reminders
• 🔑 Wi-Fi passwords (only if iPhone is unlocked)

❌ What is NOT tolerable:

• 🎵 Music and playlists (except purchases from Apple Music)
• 📱 Application settings (e.g. save in games)
• 📄 Files from iCloud Files (only if they are synced locally)

Step-by-step:

1. On Xiaomi, run Mi Mover (you can find it in the app menu or through search).
2. Select I am a new user of the → iPhone.
3. On the iPhone, open the App Store and install the Mi Mover app (developed by Xiaomi Inc.).
4. Connect your phones over cable (use the original Lightning → USB-C or adapter). The iPhone will be prompted to "Trust this computer?" confirm.
5. In Mi Mover on iPhone, select data to transfer and click Start.
6. Wait until it's finished (time depends on the amount of data you have).

⚠️ Warning: If the Mi Mover is stuck in the Preparing phase, check: On iPhone, turn off Screen Time (Settings → Screen Time → Privacy Limits). On Xiaomi, turn on File Transfer Mode (MTP) in the settings USB. Use a cable no longer than 1 meter long (long cables can cause transmission errors).

Mi Mover (by cable)|iCloud + Google Account|Computer (iTunes/Finder)|Manual transfer (flash drive, email)|Other option

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3. Method 2: Transfer over iCloud and Google Account

If Mi Mover doesn’t work (for example, because of an older version of MIUI), use a cloud bridge: upload data from your iPhone to iCloud, and then import it to Xiaomi via Google Account. This method takes longer, but is reliable and requires no cable.

Step 1: Exporting data from iCloud

1. On iPhone, open Settings → [Your name] → iCloud and enable sync for: 📞 Contacts 📅 Calendars 📝 Notes 📷 Photo (iCloud Photo option)

Settings → iCloud → Storage

iCloud.com

Apple ID

Contacts

Cmd+A

Ctrl+A

.vcf

Calendars

.ics

Notes

.txt

Step 2.Import to Xiaomi

1. On Xiaomi, add your Google Account (Settings → Accounts and Sync → Add an account).
2. Open Google Contacts (contacts.google.com) on your computer and import the.vcf file.
3. For calendars, use Google Calendar (calendar.google.com) → Import.
4. Upload photos and videos to Google Photos (pre-installe the app on Xiaomi).

Instructions for Windows:

1. Connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes (or Finder on your Mac).
2. Backup: File → Devices → Create a backup (select “On this computer”).
3. Once completed, find the backup folder: C:\Users\[Your name]\Apple\MobileSync\Backup\There will be files with the.mddata and.mdinfo extensions – they can’t be opened directly, but you can extract data using utilities like iMazing or iExplorer.
4. Copy the files you need (photos, music) to your computer, and then move them to Xiaomi via Explorer (in File Transfer mode).

Instructions for macOS:

1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac and open the Finder.
2. In the Review section, select your iPhone and create a local copy (General → Archive Now).
3. Use Android File Transfer to connect Xiaomi and transfer files.

⚠️ Warning: iTunes backups are encrypted by default. If you forget your password, it will be impossible to recover your data! Before transferring, check it to iTunes Settings → Devices.

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To speed up music transfer, convert.m4a (Apple) files to.mp3 using VLC or Audacity>. This will save space and avoid playback problems on Xiaomi.

5. Method 4: Portability of photos and videos without loss of quality

Photos and videos are the heaviest data, and it requires a lot of attention to be moved around. If you use iCloud or Google Photos, the quality can be reduced by compression. Let's look at 3 ways to save the originals:

1. via Google Photos in original quality

2. via Snapdrop (no clouds)

3. Through Steps (for Live Photos)

6. Method 5: Message transfer and call history

Messages and call history are the most “capricious” data when switching from iOS to Android. There are no official tools to move them, but there are workarounds.

SMS/iMessage portability:

1. On your iPhone, install the iSMS2droid app (App Store).
2. Export messages to the.xml file.
3. Copy the file on Xiaomi and import it via SMS Backup & Restore (Google Play).

Transferring the call history:

• 📞 Use iCloud + Google Contacts: On your iPhone, enable synchronization of calls with iCloud (Settings → Apple ID → iCloud → Calls). Export data via iCloud.com (Calls section will appear after sync). Import Google Contacts as a CSV- file.

⚠️ Warning: Messages from iMessage cannot be migrated to Android, they are tied to the Apple ecosystem. You will only get SMS/MMS (green bubbles). To avoid losing important chats, take screenshots or export them to PDF via Notes.

7. Transfer of applications and game saves

Apps from the App Store are not ported directly to Android, but you can save:

• 📋 Lists of installed apps – export through the App Store (Account → Shopping) and look for analogs on Google Play.
• 🎮 Game saves – for cross-platform games (Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile) link your account to Facebook, Google Play Games or Mi Account.
• 💳 Subscriptions – Cancel autopayments in the App Store (Settings → [Your name] → Subscriptions) and re-apply to Google Play.

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If the game doesn’t support cross-platform synchronization, try using iOS emulators on PC (like AltStore) to extract saves.

8. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when you follow instructions, users have problems. TOP-5 mistakes and their solutions:

1 Mi Mover doesn't see iPhone

• 🔌 Check the cable - use the original Lightning → USB-C.
• 🔒 Unlock your iPhone and confirm your trust in your computer.
• 📱 On Xiaomi, turn on Debugging on USB (Settings → About Phone → Version MIUI → 7 times Press → Return to Additional → For Developers).

2.Photos moved forward without dates and albums

• 📅 Use Google Photos with the option Save Dates and Locations.
• 🗃️ For albums, create folders on Xiaomi manually and distribute photos.

3.Messages were transferred without emojis or with cracosyabras

• 😊 Before export, change the encoding to iSMS2droid to UTF-8.
• 📲 Install Apple Color Emoji fonts on Xiaomi via iFont.

4.Music is not played on Xiaomi

• 🎵 Convert files.m4a to.mp3 via VLC.
• 🔊 Check for DRM- protection (buy the tracks again on YouTube Music).

5.Apple ID account blocked after transfer

• 🔐 This happens when you try to enter a password multiple times. Unblock it through iforgot.apple.com.
• 📧 If email access is lost, contact Apple with a device purchase check.