Changing your smartphone, especially a new Xiaomi or Redmi, is always accompanied by a pleasant anticipation of familiarity with improved specs and fresh design. However, this process is often overshadowed by the prospect of a long and tedious configuration of the device, as well as the risk of losing important contacts, correspondence or photos. It is to solve this problem that the company’s engineers have developed a specialized tool that is integrated into the shell of MIUI and allows you to clone the contents of the old gadget in just a few touches.
Mi Mover (or “Mi Transfer”) is a system utility designed to quickly migrate user data between Android devices. Unlike standard cloud backup methods, which can take hours when internet is slow, it uses direct Wi-Fi between phones, which allows for high speeds for even large amounts of information, such as a photo gallery or messenger cache, without using mobile network traffic.
The main advantage of using a regular tool is its deep integration with the operating system. The program is able to transfer not only media files and contacts, but also system settings, the location of icons on the desktop, as well as data from some applications. A critical factor is that Mi Mover is able to transmit passwords from Wi-Fi networks and alarms, which saves the user from having to configure the phone from scratch.
What is Mi Mover and why is it needed?
Mi Mover goes far beyond simply copying files, providing a comprehensive solution for migrating a user’s digital identity, and can scan the internal memory of a source device, analyze data types, and generate packets for secure transmission. Supports work with both internal storage and external SD-cards, if they are installed in a smartphone.
The app is designed to fit into the Xiaomi ecosystem, but it can work with most Android devices, meaning you can easily move from any modern smartphone to the new Redmi Note or Xiaomi Mi. The app will automatically determine the data available for portability and offer the best migration scenario.
- 📱 Full copy of contacts, call logs and SMS-messages without losing the history of correspondence.
- 📸 Instant transfer of the entire gallery, including high-resolution video and RAW-photo.
- ⚙️ Cloning of system settings, including alarm clock, dictaphone and calendar parameters.
- 🔒 Secure data transfer via local encrypted connection without Internet access.
It's important to understand that an app is not a cloud service in the conventional sense, it doesn't store your data on the company's servers, it transfers it directly from device to device, and it greatly increases privacy because it doesn't leave your control. For users who value privacy, this is a powerful argument for using this method.
⚠️ Note: When transferring data from iPhone to Android via Mi Mover, some specific Apple file formats may not be supported or require conversion.Always check format compatibility before starting a mass migration.
This tool is especially useful when you buy a new phone in a store, when you need to set up quickly, you don't have to wait for apps to download from the store or manually type in your friends' numbers, all you need to do is start the process and wait for it to be completed, and then you get a device that's almost ready to go.
📊 What device do you plan to switch to Xiaomi?
The old Xiaomi/Redmi
Other Android (Samsung, Honor)
iPhone (iOS)
New phone, no data.
Preparation of devices for data transfer
The success of the migration operation depends on the proper preparation of both smartphones. Before launching the Mi Mover, you need to make sure that both devices have sufficient battery power, it is recommended that the charge level on both gadgets is at least 50%, and ideally connect them to power sources to eliminate the risk of sudden shutdown at a critical moment.
You should also check for free space on the receiving device. The amount of free memory should exceed the size of the data you plan to transfer. If there is not enough space on the new Redmi, the process may be interrupted or terminated by an error, which will require a repetition of the entire procedure.
Be sure to turn on the Wi-Fi module on both smartphones. The app creates a local network using Wi-Fi adapters, even if they are not connected to the router. Make sure that the devices do not turn on the "Saving Energy" mode in aggressive mode, as it can limit background processes and reduce transmission speeds.
If you are switching from a device from another manufacturer, you may need to download the latest version of the app from the Google Play store or scan it. QR-On Xiaomi devices, the app is already built into the system and usually does not require additional updates, unless a critical version of the firmware has come out.
Step-by-step: how to start Mi Mover
The process of starting and configuring the connection is as simple as possible for the user. On a new Xiaomi or Redmi phone, the application is often prompted to start automatically when the device is first turned on in the original setup wizard. If you missed this point or decided to migrate the data later, look for the “Mi Mover” shortcut in the Tools folder or through a search system.
Once you start the app, you'll be asked to choose a device role. On the new phone, click "I'm the recipient" (or "This is the new phone") and on the old phone, "I'm the sender" (or "This is the old phone"). The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but the logic remains the same: one phone creates a network, the other connects to it.
Path to the app: Settings → About phone → Click multiple times on the MIUI version (if the shortcut is hidden) → Tools → Mi Mover
Next, the screen of the new device will appear QR-Take an old phone, run an app on it, select sender mode, and scan that code with the camera. The devices will automatically find each other and establish a secure connection. In some cases, you may need to confirm the connection on both screens.
What to do if QR-code not scanned?
If the camera can't read the code, make sure the lenses are clean and the lighting is sufficient. You can also choose a manual connection method: on an old phone, click "Handwise Connect" and select the Wi-Fi network the new phone has created from the list of available networks. The password is usually displayed on the screen of the receiving device.> After successful pairing, data analysis will begin. This can take from a few seconds to a couple of minutes, depending on the number of files on the old device. Don't interrupt the process and keep the phones close to each other, so as not to break the Wi-Fi connection. What data can and can not be transferred Imported to clearly understand the screen of the host device. System files and secure data of some banking applications remain in place.The table below shows the main data types and their migration status when using the standard application functionality: Data type Portability Status Note Contacts and SMS ✅ Complete History and Groups Photos and Videos Preserved ✅ Complete In the original quality of the Appendix (APK) ✅ Partial Only installation file, data inside may not be saved Wi-Fi passwords ✅ Complete Only between devices MIUI Bank data ❌ Not tolerated Requires separate authorizations, but apps deserve special attention, although the software "bodies" themselves are not (APK-files will be copied and installed on a new phone, their internal data (save games, messenger cache, logins) are often protected by the system and are not subject to direct copying. For a full migration of chats to WhatsApp or Telegram, it is better to use built-in backup functions inside the applications themselves. ⚠️ Note: Google account authorization data and two-factor authentication are not automatically transferred; you will have to re-enter passwords or confirm login via the user interface. SMS It's also worth noting that the widget layout and desktop design are only copied if both devices are running similar versions of the shell. MIUI. When switching from a heavily outdated version to a new folder structure, the system can change automatically. Solving typical problems and errors Despite the debugging process, users may encounter technical difficulties. One of the most common problems is a sudden 99 percent interruption or connection error. This is most often due to an unstable Wi-Fi module or an energy saving system intervention. If the transmission is up, try turning off Flight Mode and turning it back on both devices, then try again. Another common situation is that the application does not see certain types of files, which can occur if the files are in secure system folders or have custom extensions, in which case Mi Mover may ignore them. It is recommended to manually check for important documents after the process is completed. 🔄 Unconnected Error: Make sure your old phone doesn’t have mobile internet enabled, which can conflict with your local Wi-Fi connection. 📉 Low Transfer Speed: Close all background apps on both smartphones to free up CPU and radio resources. 📁 Files are corrupted: If photos or videos don’t open after transfer, try moving them in smaller portions by choosing between the two. 500-1000 In rare cases, you may need to reset your network settings. → Connection and sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth: This action will remove stored networks, but often resolves problems with software failures of communication modules that interfere with the Mi Mover. While Mi Mover is the preferred tool for quick migration, other options are worth considering for regular data retention. Google One allows you to automatically synchronize contacts, calendar and photos in high quality (with compression) or in the original (if there is space). For advanced users, it is possible to create full backups through a computer using ADB or specialized software like Mi PC Suite (although support for the latter in new models is limited) Local backup via built-in Settings feature → The phone. → Backup and recovery allows you to create a complete image of the system that can be stored on the SD-Using third-party cloud storage, such as Yandex.Disk or Dropbox, can also be a great addition. They allow you to set up autoload photos and videos, which creates an additional level of protection against data loss in the event of physical failure of both phones at the same time. 💡Combine Mi Mover for quick initial setup and cloud sync for constant data protection – this is the gold standard of security for Xiaomi users. Can I use Mi Mover to transfer data from iPhone? Yes, the application supports data transfer from iOS to Android. This will require installing the Mi Mover app from the App Store on iPhone. However, the functionality will be limited: you can transfer contacts, photos, videos and calendar events. iMessages, apps from the App Store and iOS system settings will not be transferred due to the closedness of the Apple ecosystem. What to do if SMS messages are lost after the transfer? In modern versions of Android, access to SMS is limited by security policies. Make sure that when you install the Mi Mover on your old phone, you gave all the requested permissions, including access to the Internet applications for the SMS to be re-based, if you try to copy the SMS messages before you use the Google Drive? No, the Internet is not required. The application creates a direct Wi-Fi hotspot between two devices. All traffic is local, which ensures high speed and security. Mobile Internet is better off during the process so that the system does not try to use it for other background tasks. How long does it take to transfer 100 GB of data? The speed depends on the version of Wi-Fi modules in both phones. With modern standards (Wi-Fi 5/6), speeds can reach 20-40 Mb / s. Thus, 100 GB of data will be transferred from about 40 minutes to 1.5 hours. With older devices, the time can increase to 3-4 hours.