Moving from iPhone to Xiaomi smartphone is a crucial step that requires careful data preparation. Many users fear losing important information such as contacts, photos, notes or even message history. Fortunately, the migration process between the Apple and MIUI ecosystems is now as simple as possible. In this article, we will examine all the current ways of data transfer, from official tools to alternative solutions for specific cases.
The main rule is: do not start migrating data until you make sure that the versions of the software are compatible. For example, if your iPhone is running iOS 17 and Xiaomi is running MIUI 14 or later, there should be no problems. But for outdated firmware (for example, MIUI 12 and below), additional steps may be required. Also, note that some data (for example, apps from the App Store or payment cards in Apple Pay) is fundamentally impossible to transfer to Android, we will also discuss more about this.
Let’s just say that the most reliable way is to use Xiaomi’s official Mi Mover app, which supports most types of data transfer over a direct Wi-Fi connection without intermediaries, but if you have any difficulties (for example, the app can’t see the iPhone), we will offer alternatives using cloud services or a computer.
Preparation for data transfer: what to do before the start
Before you start migrating, follow a few critical steps to avoid data loss or disruptions in the process.
1. Back up your iPhone. Even if you plan to transfer data directly, backup to iCloud or your computer will be your insurance.
2. Check the space available on Xiaomi. If you are carrying a large number of photos or videos, make sure that the new smartphone has enough memory. For example, 1000 high-resolution photos can take up to 5-8 GB.
- 🗑️ Delete unnecessary files through Files → Cleanup.
- 🔄 Transfer some of the data to the microSD card (if the slot is supported by the model).
Update both devices: Outdated versions of iOS or MIUI can cause compatibility errors. Current versions as of 2026:
- 🤖 MIUI 14/15 (For most of the Xiaomi models, Redmi, POCO).
⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi is working on MIUI 12 or older, the Mi Mover app may not support direct transmission from your iPhone.In this case, use cloud services (Section 3).
4. Prepare accessories. Depending on the method of transfer chosen, you may need:
- 🔌 USB-C → Lightning cable (for direct connection).
- 🖥️ Windows or macOS computer (for porting over iTunes or Xiaomi) PC Suite).
- 🌐 Stable Wi-Fi connection (for cloud services).
Method 1: Official Mi Mover appendix (recommended method)
Mi Mover is a proprietary tool from Xiaomi that allows you to transfer most data from the iPhone to Android without intermediaries.
- 🔄 Supports the transfer of contacts, messages, photos, videos, calendars and notes.
- 🚀 It works without a computer – enough Wi-Fi network.
- 🔒 Stores folder structure and file metadata.
Step-by-step:
- Download Mi Mover on Xiaomi from Google Play (if it is not in the default firmware).
- On the iPhone, install the Xiaomi Mi Mover app from the App Store.
- Run Mi Mover on both devices and select: On Xiaomi: I'm a New User → iOS. On iPhone: Send Data.
iPhone
QR-code
Xiaomi
Wi-Fi
Select data types to transfer and confirm the start of the process.
What can be transferred through Mi Mover:
| Type of data | Is it supported? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts | ✅ Yes. | Including groups and contact photos |
| Messages (SMS/iMessage) | ✅ Yes. | Text messages only, no attachments |
| Photos and videos | ✅ Yes. | Creation date and albums are preserved |
| Notes | ⚠️ Partially. | Text only, without attachments and formatting |
| Annexes | ❌ No. | Only links to analogues are transferred to Google Play |
Important: If the transfer process is interrupted, do not turn off the devices or close the application.
⚠️ Note: Mi Mover does not transfer data from some Apple system applications, such as Apple Health or Wallet).
☑️ Preparation for transfer via Mi Mover
Method 2: Transfer over cloud services (iCloud and Google Drive)
If Mi Mover doesn't work for some reason (e.g., because of outdated firmware), you can use cloud storage, which is universal, but requires more time and traffic.
Option A: via iCloud (for contacts, photos, notes)
Xiaomi
iCloud
- 🔑 Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Add an account → iCloud.
- 📱 Enter your Apple data ID.
- Enable the synchronization of the data you need (for example, Contacts will be automatically added to the phone book).
The advantages of the cloud method:
- ☁️ No need for cables or special applications.
- 🔄 You can transfer data gradually (for example, only photos today, contacts tomorrow).
- 📱 It works on older versions of iOS and MIUI.
Disadvantages:
- ⏳ Slower than direct connection (depending on internet speed).
- 💾 Limiting free space on iCloud (5GB) and Google Drive (15GB).
- 🔒 Some data (e.g., some data, SMS) You can’t export to the cloud.
💡
If you have a lot of photos, use Google Photos in “Original Quality” mode so they won’t shrink when you upload. Go to Settings → Backup and Sync → Download Quality and select Original
Method 3: Transfer via computer (for large amounts of data)
If you need to move tens of gigabytes of data, like 4K video or large archives, the most reliable way is to use a computer as an intermediary, a method that takes longer, but ensures that files are safe.
Instructions for Windows:
Instructions for macOS:
What can be transferred in this way:
- 📸 Photos and videos in original quality.
- 🎵 Music and podcasts (formats) MP3, AAC).
- 📄 Documents (PDF, DOCX, XLSX).
- 🎮 Save games (if stored in files).
Limitations:
- ❌ Contacts, messages and system settings are not transferred – use other methods for them.
- 🔌 Lightning cable required → USB-A/C (depending on the computer ports).
⚠️ Note: When connecting Xiaomi to a Mac, you may need to allow debugging USB In the developer settings. Go to Settings for that. → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times, then in Settings. → Additionally. → For developers and enable debugging by USB.
How to transfer music from Apple Music to Xiaomi?
5. Method 4: transfer specific data (messages, health, passwords)
Some types of data require a special approach because they are not carried by standard methods. Let's look at the most complicated cases.
A. Messages (SMS/iMessage)
To transfer the history of messages, use specialized programs:
- 📱 iSMS2droid (free, iTunes backup requires: Backup your iPhone via iTunes. Find the backup file on your computer (usually in the computer). ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/ Download it to Mac. iSMS2droid and convert sms.db to XML. Transfer the file to Xiaomi and import through SMS Backup & Restore.
Backuptrans iPhone SMS to Android Transfer
iMessage
B. Health data (Apple Health)
Unfortunately, Apple Health does not have a direct export to Google Fit.
- 🏥 Health Auto Export (iPhone app): Export data to the iPhone CSV or JSON. Import to Google Fit via Google Sheets or specialized services.
QS Ledger
C. Passwords and Keychain (iCloud Keychain)
Transferring passwords from iCloud Keychain to Android is possible only through workarounds:
- 🔑 Export passwords to CSV on Mac: security dump-keychain -d login.keychain-db | grep "airport" | awk '{print $NF}' (Administrator rights are required).
- 🌐 Import to Google Password Manager or Bitwarden.
Problem 3: Not all contacts are transferred
- 📇 Duplicates: if contacts are stored in multiple accounts (iCloud, Google, SIM), combine them before transferring them.
- 🔍 Hidden contacts: Check groups in iCloud – some may be disabled from syncing.
Problem 4: Xiaomi is not defined by a computer
- 🖥️ There are no drivers: download Mi PC Suite from the official Xiaomi website.
- 🔌 Wrong Connection Mode: In Xiaomi Notification Curtain, Select File Transfer (MTP).
Once unlocked, use the methods from this article to transfer data.