How to transfer all data from Xiaomi to iPhone: 7 proven ways

Moving from Xiaomi to iPhone is not just an ecosystem shift, it’s also a technically challenging data transfer task. Even if you’ve been carefully preparing to buy a new iPhone, the risk of losing photos, contacts, or notes remains high. Unlike switching between devices of the same brand (like Mi 11 to Mi 14), changing Android to iOS requires considering the features of both operating systems, from file formats to the limitations of cloud services.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to transfer data, from the official Move to iOS app to manual methods using Google Drive, iCloud, and even physical drives. We’ll focus on Apple’s hidden limitations, which aren’t mentioned in the official instructions, but can block the transfer of some files, such as why iPhone refuses to accept.mkv videos recorded on Xiaomi, and how to get around it.

If you've tried to migrate data and you've encountered errors, there's a section at the end of this article that addresses the 10 most common problems, and for those who are just planning a transition, we've prepared a training checklist to avoid the typical mistakes.

1. Xiaomi Preparation for Data Transfer

Before you start the transfer, you need to bring Xiaomi into a state where all data will be available for export. MIUI, Unparalleled in iOS (e.g. App Duplicate or Hidden Albums).

First, check the space available on both devices. Move to iOS on your iPhone should have at least 2-3 GB of free space over and above the amount of data you can carry, and if there isn’t enough space, temporarily remove heavy apps (like games) or transfer them to a memory card.

Update. MIUI last-minute|Remove duplicate contacts|Turn off the Hidden Albums in the Gallery|Synchronize notes with Mi Cloud|Check the video format (convert.mkv to.mkv.mp4)-->

Second, disable all locking features that may interfere with file access:

• 🔒 Remove the password/fingerprint from the protected folder in MIUI (It blocks access to files even for system utilities).
• 📱 Enable the Developer Mode and activate Debugging by USB (You need to manually transfer through the computer).
• ☁️ Temporarily disable automatic sync with Mi Cloud if you plan to use other cloud services.

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi enabled the function of Encrypting the device (occurring on models with the MIUI 12+), Move to iOS may be an error, in which case use alternative methods (see Section 3).

2.Official way: Move to iOS app

Apple's Move to iOS app is the most advertised portability, but it doesn't work consistently in practice, with the main advantage of porting not only media files, but also account settings, messages (including WhatsApp), and call history.

• 🚫 Applications are not portable (only their data, if there are analogues in the App Store).
• 🎵 Music and podcasts are only transferred if they are not protected. DRM (For example, Apple Music tracks are not copied).
• 📅 Calendars and notes are only transferred if they have been synced with a Google Account.

Step-by-step:

1. On iPhone, when you first turn on, select Set up manually → Transfer data from Android.
2. On Xiaomi, install Move to iOS from Google Play and open it.
3. Confirm the code that will appear on the iPhone.
4. Select data for transfer (contacts, messages, photos, etc.) and wait for completion.

⚠️ Note: If the transfer is interrupted during the photo transfer phase, don’t start the process again – this can create duplicates. Instead, wait until the completion and manually check the missing files via iCloud.

Move to iOS|Google Drive|iCloud|Manual transfer via computer|No, this is my first transition.-->

3. Alternative cloud services: Google Drive vs iCloud

If Move to iOS didn't work (for example, due to a connection error), you can use cloud storage, and there are two options: Google Drive (more convenient for contacts and documents) and iCloud (optimized for media files).

Method 1: Transfer over Google Drive

This method is suitable for contacts, calendars, notes and documents, and is less convenient for photos and videos due to file size restrictions (maximum 15 GB at a free rate).

1. On Xiaomi, open Settings → Google → Backup and enable synchronization for the desired data.
2. On iPhone, add a Google Account through Settings → Passwords and accounts.
3. Enable synchronization for Contacts, Calendars and Notes.

Method 2: Transfer over iCloud

iCloud is better for photos, videos and backups, but has a strict limitation: free available only 5 GB. If more data, you will have to buy additional space (from 50 GB for 0.99).$ monthly).

• 📤 On Xiaomi, upload files to iCloud via your browser (icloud.com) or iCloud app for Windows (if you use a PC).
• 📥 On iPhone, log in to the same iCloud account and enable sync for the data you need.

For large data volumes (e.g., 50)+ GB photo is better to combine clouds: most of it is transferred through Google Photos, and the rest is transferred through iCloud or a physical drive.

4. Manual transfer via computer (Windows/Mac)

If cloud services don't work (e.g., because of slow Internet), you can transfer data over a computer, which is universal, but takes longer.

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows 10+ macOS.
• 🔌 USB-TypeC cables (for Xiaomi) and Lightning/USB-C (iPhone).
• 📁 Programs: iTunes (for older versions of iOS) or Finder (for macOS Catalina and newer).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your computer and copy all the necessary files (photos, videos, music) into a separate folder.
2. Connect your iPhone and open it. iTunes/Finder.
3. In the Files section, select Sync Music/Photo and specify the data folder.
4. Click Apply and wait until it is completed.

⚠️ Note: When synced via iTunes, all existing data on your iPhone in selected categories (such as music) will be deleted. If your iPhone already has important files, back them up first.

To transfer contacts and messages through the computer, you can use specialized programs:

• 📞 CopyTrans Contacts – for transferring contacts and SMS.
• 💬 Backuptrans Android iPhone Transfer for WhatsApp, Viber, etc.

1. Update iTunes to the latest version.

2.Reinstall Apple Mobile Device drivers (for Windows).

3.Use the original Lightning cable – cheap analogues often do not support data transmission.-->

5. Transfer of photos and videos without loss

Photos and videos are the most valuable data, and their transfer is often accompanied by problems.

• 🎥.mkv or.avi video will not be played on iPhone without conversion.
• 📸 Photo format HEIF/HEIC (used MIUI 12+) It may not be displayed correctly in iOS.
• 🗃️ Albums and tags (e.g. Favorites in Google Photos) are not always saved.

Decisions:

1. Video Conversion: Use HandBrake or VLC to convert.mkv to.mp4 (codecs H.264 or H.265).
2. Portability of photo: 📲 Google Photos: Enable Autoboot on Xiaomi, then download a photo on iPhone via the app. 🖥️ Through the computer: copy the folder DCIM From Xiaomi to PC, then import to Photos on Mac or via iTunes.

💡

If you have a lot of high-resolution videos (4K/8K), transfer them over a computer – cloud services often compress files, degrade the quality.

6. Transfer of applications and their data

When you switch from Android to iOS, apps don't automatically migrate — you need to install them again from the App Store. However, some apps (like games or instant messengers) can be saved. Here's how to do this:

Method 1: Synchronize through accounts

Many apps support cross-platform synchronization through accounts:

• 🎮 Games: Google Play Games → Link to your Google or Facebook account, then log in to your iPhone.
• 💬 Messengers: WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber – make a backup on Xiaomi, then restore on iPhone.
• 📝 Google Keep, Evernote – sync through the cloud.

Method 2: Manual export/import

For applications without cloud sync (such as some banking or fitness apps):

1. On Xiaomi, find the data export option in the application settings (usually in.json or.csv format).
2. Transfer the file to your iPhone via iCloud Drive or Email.
3. In a similar app on iPhone, select Data Import.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. SberBank Online or Tinkoff) block data transfer between platforms for security reasons, in which case you will have to re-enter the data.

7.Mobilization of WhatsApp and other messengers

WhatsApp is one of the few apps that officially supports transferring chats from Android to iPhone, but the process has nuances:

1. On Xiaomi, update WhatsApp to the latest version.
2. Create a backup of chats: Settings → chat → Backup copy.
3. Install WhatsApp on your iPhone and log in to the same account.
4. Follow the instructions for recovery from the backup.

For other messengers:

• 📌 Telegram: chats are synced automatically through the cloud.
• 💬 Viber: backup is created in Google Drive, but you can't restore it to your iPhone.
• 🗣️ Signal: does not support cross-platform transfer.

1.Do you use the same phone number?

2. Is there enough space on the iPhone (a backup copy can weigh a few GB).

3. Is the iPhone connected to Wi-Fi (recovery does not work via mobile Internet).-->

8. Solving common problems

Even with the right instructions, you can get errors, and here are the 10 most common problems and solutions.

If neither of these methods worked, try resetting your iPhone (not Xiaomi!) and repeat the clean-state transfer, which often helps with sync errors.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions