How to save data on Android when changing your Xiaomi phone: an expert guide

Buying a new Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone is always a joyous event, promising higher performance and an improved camera. However, the euphoria of unpacking often turns to anxiety when the user realizes the amount of information that needs to be transferred from the old device. The process of migrating data to Android has become much easier in recent years, but still requires careful attention to avoid losing valuable pictures or important dialogues.

There are several proven ways to transfer information, each with its own advantages depending on the condition of the old phone and the size of the files. If you are wondering how to save data on Android when you change your Xiaomi phone, you will have to choose between cloud services, local transfer over Wi-Fi or using a computer.

In this guide, we will take a closer look at all the current migration methods, including using the Mi Mover utility, syncing through a Google account and manual copying. We will look at the nuances of password transfer, system settings and even data from banking applications, which often cause the most questions among users.

Preparing devices for data migration

Before you start any tool for transfer, you need to do basic training of both smartphones. Make sure that the old and new device is charged at least 60% of the battery, as the process can be energy-intensive and time-consuming. It is also highly desirable to connect to a stable Wi-Fi network, especially if the amount of data transferred exceeds several gigabytes.

Check the space available on the new Xiaomi. Even if you’re switching from a phone with less storage, make sure the system and pre-installed apps don’t take up all the space. It’s recommended that you have at least 10-15% of your internal memory free to run your system comfortably.

• 🔋 Charge both devices to at least 60% or connect them to a power source.
• 📶 Connect both smartphones to the same Wi-Fi network to speed up transfers.
• 🆔 Remember your Google account password and your Mi Account password.
• 🧹 Clean your old phone of unnecessary garbage to speed up the process.

Don’t forget to update the system software on both devices to the latest available version. Manufacturers often release patches that improve connection stability and interoperability between different versions of Android.

Using the Mi Mover app for quick transfer

The most effective and native way for Xiaomi ecosystem is to use the built-in Mi Mover app, which is designed specifically for data migration between devices running MIUI and HyperOS shells, providing high transfer speeds without compressing the quality of photos.

To get started, open the app on both phones. On the new Xiaomi, select Recipient, and on the old device, Sender. The app will automatically create a Wi-Fi hotspot or prompt you to scan. QR-code for establishing a secure connection between gadgets.

⚠️ Note: When using Mi Mover, do not switch to other apps or block the smartphone screen, as this can break the connection and interrupt file transfer.

Once connected, the device interfaces are synchronized, and you'll see a list of categories to transfer. You can choose all or only specific data types, such as contacts, messages, call logs, images, videos, audio files and documents, and you can also support porting most installed applications and even their settings.

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If you have an old phone that isn’t Xiaomi, you can still use the Mi Mover by downloading it. APK-application file to the sender device via the browser or QR-code that will show the new phone.

The data transfer speeds over Mi Mover are significantly faster than those over Bluetooth or mobile internet, as direct local connections are created, and tens of gigabytes of files can be copied in minutes, making this a preferred method for full migration.

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Mi Mover is the native and fastest way to transfer data between Xiaomi phones without using the Internet and losing file quality.

Sync through Google Account and Cloud Services

If you don’t have direct portability or want to back up just in case, cloud services are the perfect solution, and Google’s ecosystem allows you to store contacts, calendars, notes, and even passwords that automatically pull up when you sign in on a new device.

To activate sync, go to the old phone’s settings on the Settings → Accounts → Google path. Make sure the switches opposite the desired items (Contacts, Calendar, Drive, etc.) are activated, and click on the Sync button to ensure that the latest version of your data goes to the server.

Google Photos is a special service, if you have Autoboot and Sync enabled, all your photos and videos are already stored in the cloud in their original or optimized quality. On the new Xiaomi, it is enough to simply install the Google Photos app and log into the same account to make the entire library available.

Xiaomi users can also use Mi Cloud, which is deeply integrated into the shell and allows you to create full backups of the system, including the location of icons on the desktop and settings alarm clocks. However, it is worth remembering that only 5 GB of space is available for free, which may not be enough for a full backup.

It is important to understand the difference between synchronization and backup: Synchronization works in real time for specific types of data (contacts, photos), whereas a system backup is a snapshot of the state of the device at a certain point in time, which is restored entirely.

Manual copying of files through a computer

For users who are used to keeping full control of their data, the method of copying through a PC remains the "gold standard" by connecting an old phone to a computer via a computer. USB-cable in the mode "File transfer» (MTP), You can access the file system as if it were a normal flash drive.

Copy DCIM (camera photos and videos), Pictures (screenshots and images from social networks), Download and Documents folders to your computer hard drive. Then connect the new Xiaomi and transfer these folders to the appropriate internal memory directories or to a microSD card.

This method is particularly useful for transferring heavy files that are not useful to upload to the cloud, or specific application data that is not automatically synchronized, such as offline card cache files or downloaded tracks from music services.

When working with a file system through a computer, be careful: do not delete system folders or interrupt the copying process abruptly, so as not to damage the file table.

Transfer of messages, contacts and call logs

Contacts and call history are perhaps the most important piece of data for any user. In modern Android versions, contacts are stored by default in a Google account, not in a phone’s memory or on a phone. SIM-You can check this by opening the Contacts app and going to the display settings.

If your contacts are stored on SIM-map, new Xiaomi has no problem counting them.Put the SIM, go to Contacts → Settings → Import/Export contacts and choose import from SIM-After that, it is recommended to copy them to your Google account for security.

Call logs and SMS are more complicated, because standard Google tools don't always keep this story in detail, and Mi Mover comes to the rescue again, which can carry SMS and call logs in batches, saving date and time.

⚠️ Attention: When transferring SMS-Messages to a newer phone with a newer version of Android: Some old messages may not be displayed correctly or distributed across different dialogs.

For messengers like WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber, there are built-in backup mechanisms. WhatsApp needs to go to Settings → Chats → Backup chats and create a copy on Google Drive. When you install the application on a new phone and enter the same number, the system will prompt you to restore your correspondence history from the cloud.

Nuances of application and data portability

The process of installing apps on the new Xiaomi is automatically done through the Google Play Store or GetApps after you log in to your account, but the data inside the apps (game progress, logins, settings) is not always portable.

Many modern games and applications use cloud-based saves linked to Google Play Games accounts, Facebook accounts, or the developer’s own servers, in which case simply log in to the app on a new device and progress will be restored.

Banking applications are special, because they don't carry authorization data and caches for security reasons, you have to log in to every banking application using your login, password and confirmation via SMS or Push token, and some banks require that you re-assign the device, which is normal security.

Applications that store data locally (such as voice recorders, some photo editors) may require manual file transfer via Mi Mover or USB. If the application supports data export, it is better to use this feature before changing your phone.

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Most applications will recover automatically, but banking and secure programs will require re-authorization and identity verification.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)