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

The transition from iPhone to Xiaomi smartphone is not just a change of gadget, but a complete migration of digital life. 10 years of photos, WhatsApp correspondence, notes, passwords from services, all this needs to be saved and transferred without loss. The main problem is that the ecosystems of Apple and Android are fundamentally different, and there are no direct “copying” of data, but there are workarounds — from official Mi Mover tools to manual export through the cloud.

Many users lose data during the preparation stage: they do not sync iCloud before transferring or forget to save backup copies of messengers. In this article, step-by-step instructions for all types of data (contacts, media, apps, settings), including unique nuances for Xiaomi models on the Internet. MIUI 14/15, We also look at common mistakes: why Mi Mover can't see the iPhone, how to get around the iOS file transfer restrictions, and what to do if some photos are missing after the transfer.

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1.Preparation for the transfer: what to do on the iPhone before the start

The first step is to fully sync all your data with iCloud, without which you will lose contacts, notes and photos that are not stored locally. → [Your name] → iCloud and check what is included:

• 📱 Contacts – if disabled, they will only remain on the phone;
• 📷 iCloud Photo – uploads all media files to the cloud (can take hours with a large volume);
• 📝 Notes – especially if you use the standard Notes app";
• 🔑 Passwords and keys – transfer saved logins / passwords (required for authorization on Xiaomi).

⚠️ Note: If you have an iPhone with iOS 16+ and two-factor authentication, you'll need a trusted confirmation code to sign in to iCloud on your new device. SIM-card or backup email.

Also update iOS to the latest version - old versions may have data export bugs. And don't forget to make room: to create a backup in iCloud should be at least 10-15% free-space.

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If you use Google Photos or Google Drive on your iPhone, log in to these services in advance – this will speed up the transfer to Xiaomi.

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2.Official method: transfer via Mi Mover

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary application for migrating data from other smartphones, including iPhones, pre-installed on all new devices. Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco (If not, download from Google Play. The main advantage: transfers contacts, photos, videos, music and even some settings without loss.

Step-by-step:

1. On Xiaomi, open Mi Mover (you can find it in the Tools folder or through search).
2. Select "I am the recipient" → "iOS".
3. On your iPhone, scan it. QR-code that will appear on the screen of Xiaomi (you will need to connect to one Wi-Fi network).
4. In Safari, you'll open a page with a selection of data, and check the boxes.
5. Click "Start transfer" and wait until it is completed (can take anywhere from 10 minutes to 2 hours depending on the volume).

⚠️ Attention: Mi Mover is not tolerated:

• 💬 Messages from iMessage or WhatsApp;
• 🎮 Game saving and application data;
• 📅 Calendars and reminders (if not synced with Google Account).

If Mi Mover can’t see the iPhone, check:

• 🔄 Reboot both devices;
• 📶 Connect to a 2.4 GHz network (not 5 GHz);
• 🔒 Turn it off. VPN and the iPhone firewall.

Make sure that Xiaomi has enough space (at least 20% more data portable)

Connect both phones to charge (process drains battery)

Disable “Traffic Saving Mode” on Xiaomi

Check that the iPhone is enabled Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-->

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3. Contact transfer: 3 working methods

Contacts are the most critical part of data, and you can transfer them in a number of ways:

Method 1: Using iCloud and Google Account (recommended)

1. On iPhone: Settings → Contacts → Accounts → Add an account → Google.
2. Sign in to Google Account (the same as Xiaomi).
3. Turn on contact sync.
4. On Xiaomi, add the same Google Account to Settings → Accounts.

Method 2: Export to file VCF

If you don't want to link accounts:

1. On iPhone, open Contacts → "Groups” (top) → Please remove all checks except "All contacts".
2. Click Share (in some versions of iOS, Export) and select the.vcf format.
3. Send the file to yourself by email or via Telegram.
4. On Xiaomi, open the file and add contacts automatically.

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4. Photo and video transfer: cloud vs. physical transmission

Media files take up the most space, so their transfer requires special attention. There are 4 main ways:

• 🌥️ iCloud → Google Photos (the most reliable, but longest);
• 📁 Direct transmission via cable (Lightning-to-USB-C adapter needed);
• 🔗 Cloud services (Dropbox, OneDrive);
• 💻 Computer (if there are a lot of files).

Method 1: iCloud → Google Photos (for large libraries)

1. On iPhone, upload all photos to iCloud (Settings) → Photo Photo → Download to My Photo Stream).
2. Install Google Photos from the App Store and log in.
3. In Google Photos settings, enable "Backup and Sync".
4. On Xiaomi, log in to the same Google account – photos will be uploaded automatically.

⚠️ Note: If you have iCloud Photos enabled but there is not enough space in the cloud, your iPhone can delete the originals from your phone, leaving only a preview. Before transferring, check that all photos are saved locally: Settings → [Your name] → iCloud → Storage management → Photo Photo.

Method 2: Direct transmission by cable (for 100)+ GB)

If you have a lot of data (e.g. 200GB of video), use:

• Lightning-to-USB-C adapter (for new iPhones without connector) USB-A);
• USB-C-to-USB-C cable (to connect to Xiaomi)
• File Manager on Xiaomi (e.g. Mi File Manager)

Connect iPhone to Xiaomi as a flash drive, copy files to folder DCIM or Pictures.

Through the Cloud (Google Photos, iCloud)

Cable to computer.

Right on the new phone.

I'm using a flash drive or a memory card.

Another way.-->

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5. Transporting messages from WhatsApp, Telegram and iMessage

Messages are the hardest part of migration. WhatsApp and Telegram are carried differently, and iMessage has no official way of exporting to Android at all.

WhatsApp:

• 📱 Install WhatsApp on Xiaomi and log in with the same number.
• 🔄 On iPhone, make a backup: Settings → chat → Backup copy.
• 💾 On Xiaomi, WhatsApp will offer to restore chats from Google Drive when it first launches (if a copy was made on an iPhone via Google Account).

⚠️ Note: WhatsApp on iOS only backs up in iCloud, and on Android, backs up in Google Drive:

1. Export your iCloud story to Google Drive through third-party tools (e.g. Backuptrans)
2. Or use the official WhatsApp service “Chat transfer from iOS to Android” (works only on the new Samsung, Xiaomi requires a workaround).

Telegram:

It's simpler here, Telegram syncs messages through the cloud.

1. Install Telegram on Xiaomi;
2. - to be authorized with the same number;
3. All chats and media files will be downloaded automatically.

iMessage:

Unfortunately, there is no official way to bring iMessage's story to Android.

• 📧 Export important messages to PDF through settings → Communications → Chat exports;
• 💻 Use programs like iMazing or AnyTrans to extract history to your computer;
• 🔄 Ask the interviewees to send important messages to WhatsApp/Telegram.

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To transfer WhatsApp from iPhone to Xiaomi without loss, use the service Backuptrans iPhone WhatsApp to Android Transfer (paid but reliable).

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6. Transfer of applications and their data

Apps from the iPhone to Xiaomi cannot be transferred directly – they must be installed again from Google Play.

• 📋 List of installed applications (so as not to search manually);
• 🎮 Game saving (if games support cross-platform synchronization);
• 🔐 Logins/passwords (via Google Password Manager or Google Password Manager) 1Password).

How to transfer the list of applications:

1. On iPhone, open the App Store → "Account" (your avatar) → "Purchased".
2. Take screenshots of the list or export to Notes.
3. On Xiaomi, find analogues of apps in Google Play.

Preservation of games:

If the game supports syncing via Google Play Games or Facebook:

1. On iPhone, link the game to your account.
2. Install the same game on Xiaomi.
3. Log in to the same account, progress will be made.

⚠️ Note: Some games (such as Genshin Impact or Honor of Kings) require manual email account attachment.If you don't do this before you switch to Xiaomi, progress will be lost!

Passwords and application data:

Use Google Password Manager:

1. On iPhone, export passwords: Settings → Passwords. → Password export (Face unlock required) ID/Touch ID).
2. Save the file to Google Drive.
3. On Xiaomi, import it through Settings → Google → Managing a Google Account → Security → Passwords.

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7. Transfer of notes, calendars and other data

Apple's standard apps (Notes, Calendar, Reminders) don't sync directly to Android. Here's how to migrate them:

Transfer of notes:

1. Open the Notes app on your iPhone.
2. Select a note folder → press "Share" → "Export".
3. Send yourself to an email or Telegram.
4. On Xiaomi, open a file and copy the text to Google Keep or Notes MIUI.

Calendar transfer:

The most reliable way is synchronization with Google Calendar:

1. On iPhone: Settings → Calendar → Accounts → Add an account → Google.
2. Log in to your Google Account and enable calendar sync.
3. On Xiaomi, the calendar will appear automatically in the Calendar app.

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8.After the transfer: what to check on Xiaomi

After the data migration, follow these steps to avoid problems:

• 🔍 Check contacts: Open the Contacts app and make sure all numbers are in place (especially pay attention to groups and contact photos).
• 📷 Photo and video: Open the gallery and check that all files are intact (sometimes metadata is lost - dates, geotagged files).
• 💬 Messages: Launch WhatsApp/Telegram Make sure that the chat history is restored.
• 🔋 Battery: After transferring data, reboot Xiaomi – it will reset the background processes that can drain the phone.
• 🔒 Security: Configure Face Unlock or Fingerprint in Settings → Password and security.

⚠️ Note: If after the transfer Xiaomi began to slow down, clear the cache:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select "All Apps" → "Clear the cache".
3. Reboot the phone.

Also, turn off unnecessary background processes:

1. Settings → Battery and productivity → Background process management.
2. Select “Limit background activity” for unnecessary applications.

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After transferring data, set up backup to Xiaomi: Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset → Backup MIUI. This will save your data to the Xiaomi cloud in case of a phone reset or breakage.

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FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring from iPhone to Xiaomi