How to sync Xiaomi and iPhone: 5 proven ways

Transferring data between smartphones across different ecosystems is one of the most common problems users have faced when they switch from Android to iOS (or vice versa).If you have a Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 and a new iPhone 15, simple file transfers over Bluetooth or NFC are often unstable or unavailable, and the reasons are because Apple is closed and MIUI is not a firmware, such as the iPhone does not support the Mi Share standard, and Xiaomi cannot connect directly to AirDrop.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current syncs, from cloud services to wired solutions, and how to avoid data loss during the transition. We’ll focus on transferring contacts, photos and notes, because these are the types of files that are most often lost when you’re incorrectly synchronized. If you’re planning a full transition from Xiaomi to iPhone (or back), keep this instruction, which will save you hours on finding working methods.

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1. Preparation of devices before synchronization

Before you start porting data, be sure to back up on both devices. This will protect you from losing information if something goes wrong. On Xiaomi, you can back up via Settings → About Phone → Backup by choosing to save to Mi Cloud or Google Drive. On iPhone, go to Settings → [Your name] → iCloud → Backup iCloud and start the process.

Also check:

• 🔋 Battery charge – both devices must have at least 50% to avoid being turned off during transmission.
• 📶 Stable Internet connection – Cloud synchronization methods will require Wi-Fi or mobile Internet at good speed.
• 🔄 Free space – the target device should have enough memory for the received files (especially relevant for photos and videos).

If you’re using Xiaomi with MIUI 14+ firmware, make sure that Mi Share is enabled (Settings → Connection & Sharing → Mi Share). On your iPhone, check that AirDrop is available at Control Point (swipe down from the top right corner of the screen).

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If you are transferring data from Xiaomi to iPhone, disable Battery Optimization for sync applications (such as Google Photos or Move to iOS) on Android, which will prevent interruption of the process.

Method 2: Synchronization through cloud services

The most versatile method is cloud storage, which is suitable for transferring photos, videos, documents and contacts, but can take a long time with a lot of data.

2.1. Google Account (for contacts, calendar, mail)

If your Xiaomi has a Google account attached, your contacts and calendars are already synced to the cloud to move them to your iPhone:

1. On iPhone, go to Settings → Contacts → Accounts → Add an account → Google.
2. Enter your Google account details and enable synchronization of Contacts and Calendars.
3. Wait until the synchronization is complete (it can take up to 10 minutes).

2.2 Google Photos (for media files)

Google Photos automatically uploads all photos and videos to the cloud to transfer them to the iPhone:

• 📱 Install Google Photos on iPhone from the App Store.
• 🔗 Sign in to the same account as Xiaomi.
• 📁 Click on your profile → Photo library → select files → Save it to the device.

2.3. iCloud (for full sync with iPhone)

If you are switching from Xiaomi to iPhone, you can upload data to iCloud via the web version:

1. On Xiaomi, open your browser and go to iCloud.com.
2. Sign in with your Apple ID (if not, create it).
3. Upload files manually through Photos, Contacts or Notes.
4. On iPhone, enable sync in Settings → [Your name] → iCloud.

Method 2: Direct transmission via cable (OTG or Lightning)

If you don't have a stable Internet connection or the data is too large (like 4K video), the best option is a wired connection.

• 🔌 Lightning adapter → USB OTG (Connecting Xiaomi to iPhone).
• 📱 File Manager on iPhone (for example, Documents by Readdle or FileExplorer).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your iPhone via an adapter.
2. On your iPhone, open the file manager and select the connected device (Xiaomi will appear as an external drive).
3. Copy the files you want (usually in DCIM, Downloads, or Pictures folders).
4. Move them to your iPhone memory or to the cloud.

Important: iPhone doesn’t support the exFAT file system format on external drives, so if your Xiaomi is formatted to this standard, use a FAT32-enabled adapter or pre-reformat the flash drive.

1. Check adapter compatibility (must support USB OTG).

2. Install the file manager on the iPhone.

3. unlock both devices (screens must not go out).

4. disable Charging mode through USB on Xiaomi (Settings) → Additionally. → For developers → Configuration USB → File transfer).-->

Method 3: Move to iOS (official solution from Apple)

If you're switching from Xiaomi to iPhone entirely, the best option is Apple's official Move to iOS app.

• 📞 Contacts, call history;
• 📸 Photographs and videos;
• 📅 Calendars, email accounts;
• 🎵 Songs and books (if not protected) DRM).

How to use:

1. On iPhone, when you first set up, select Data Transfer from Android.
2. On Xiaomi, install Move to iOS from Google Play.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions: connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network and enter the code that will appear on the iPhone.
4. Select the data to transfer and wait until it is completed (may take up to 1 hour).

⚠️ Note: Move to iOS only works during the initial setup of the iPhone. If you have already set up the device, you will have to reset it to factory settings (Settings) → Mainstream → Transfer or discharge → Erase content and settings).

Also note that:

• 🚫 Not all apps are portable (only those in the App Store).
• 📶 Speed depends on the quality of the Wi-Fi connection.
• 🔄 If the process is interrupted, start again – partial transfer is impossible.

5. Method 4: Wireless transmission via Mi Share or AirDrop

While Xiaomi and iPhone use different protocols for wireless transmission (Mi Share and AirDrop respectively), there are workarounds:

5.1 Mi Share → AirDrop through an intermediary

If you have a MacBook or iPad, you can use them as a middle ground:

1. With Xiaomi, send files via Mi Share to MacBook.
2. On a MacBook, open AirDrop (Finder → AirDrop) and send files to your iPhone.

Alternative annexes

If you don’t have Apple devices at hand, use cross-platform solutions:

• 📲 Send Anywhere – Wi-Fi Direct transmission without file size restrictions.
• 🌐 Snapdrop is a web service for sharing files between devices on the same network.
• 🔗 Feem – creates a local network for fast transmission.

Example of Send Anywhere:

1. Install the app on both devices.
2. On Xiaomi, select files and click Send – a 6-digit code is generated.
3. On iPhone, enter this code in the Receive field.

6. Method 5: Synchronization through a computer (Windows/Mac)

If you have a PC or a Mac, you can use it to transfer data, and it's robust and works for all types of files, including music, documents and archives.

6.1. Transfer over Windows

1. Connect Xiaomi to your computer via USB and select File Transfer mode.
2. Copy the folders you need (DCIM, Downloads, etc.) to your hard drive.
3. Connect your iPhone and open iTunes (or Finder on Mac).
4. Drag files to the Files section (for iTunes) or to the device folder (for Finder).

6.2. Transfer of contacts via vCard

For the transfer of contacts:

1. On Xiaomi, export your contacts to the.vcf file (Contacts → Settings → Export).
2. Move the file to your computer and then to your iPhone (via email or cloud).
3. On the iPhone, open the file and add contacts automatically.

⚠️ Note: When connecting an iPhone to Windows, you may need to install iTunes to recognize the device.

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions, you can have problems.

If none of these methods worked, try:

• 🔄 Reboot both devices – sometimes it solves connection issues.
• 📱 Update the firmware – on Xiaomi check Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🛠️ Reset network settings on iPhone (Settings) → Mainstream → Transfer or discharge → Resetting network settings).

8. FAQ: Answers to popular questions