How to transfer data from iPhone to Xiaomi: the full guide

The transition from Apple to Xiaomi devices often causes users to fear losing important information. Many fear that contacts, photos and correspondence history will remain in a closed iOS system without the possibility of recovery. However, modern data migration technologies allow you to perform this process as smoothly and quickly as possible, preserving the structure of folders and even the location of icons on the desktop.

The procedure for transferring information from an iPhone to a Xiaomi smartphone (which runs a MIUI shell or HyperOS) has become much easier in recent years. Xiaomi engineers have developed their own tools that compete in efficiency with official Google solutions. You don't need to be a programming expert to synchronize two devices.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways of migration in detail, from using the Mi Mover application to manual copying through a computer. We will look at the nuances of transferring messengers, calendars and passwords so that your new smartphone immediately becomes a familiar working tool.

Preparing devices for data migration

Before you start the transfer process, you need to properly prepare both smartphones. Make sure that the battery on both devices is charged at least 60-70%, as active transmission of large amounts of data can significantly consume energy. If the charge is low, the process can interrupt in the middle, which will damage the archives.

Both phones must be connected to a stable Wi-Fi network. Although some methods use direct Wi-Fi connection between devices, having internet is necessary for authorization to Google and Apple ID accounts. Also check for free space on Xiaomi: the amount of free memory should exceed the size of the data you plan to transfer from the iPhone.

⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the transfer process or switch to other heavy applications during the migration.This can lead to a freeze in the Mi Mover interface and the need to start the procedure again.

It is recommended to update the operating system on both devices to the latest available version in advance. In the iPhone settings, go to Settings → Main → Software Update, and on Xiaomi, select Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. Fresh security patches often contain patches for data protocols.

Using the Mi Mover application for portability

The most effective and native way is to use the Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on most Xiaomi smartphones in the Tools folder. If the app is not available, it can be downloaded from Google Play or GetApps. On the iPhone, you need to download a similar app from the App Store.

Run the app on both devices. On the new Xiaomi, select Recipient, and on the iPhone, Sender, and the app will create an access point or QR-Scan the code with the camera of the old phone or enter the password from the temporary Wi-Fi network that Xiaomi will create.

Once the connection is successful, the system will suggest you select the types of data to copy, so you can select contacts, messages, photos, videos, audio files, and even some system settings, and the process is displayed as a progress bar with an approximate completion time.

• 📱 Contacts and phone book are synced first and take the least time.
• 🖼️ Media files (photos and videos) can be transmitted for a long time depending on the resolution and the number of gigabytes.
• 📅 Calendars and notes often require additional authorization in your iCloud account.
• ⚙️ Wi-Fi password and alarm settings are transferred automatically in the background.

It is important to note that Mi Mover cannot port the apps themselves (APK-iOS files are not compatible with Android, but it will try to find their counterparts in the Google Play store and offer to install them after the migration is completed.

Alternative Method: Move to iOS by Apple

If for some reason Xiaomi’s standard solution doesn’t work, you can use Apple’s official tool, Move to iOS, which is especially useful if you’ve just reset Xiaomi to factory settings and are undergoing initial system setup.

When you set up your Android phone, when the system suggests connecting Wi-Fi or recovering data, select the option “Copy data from your iPhone.” The screen will show a digital code. Enter this code in the Move to iOS app, pre-downloaded on your iPhone.

This method is good because it is native to iOS and less likely to crash when reading protected files. However, the transfer speed through Move to iOS is often lower than that of Mi Mover, and the functionality is limited to basic data: contacts, messages, photos and email accounts.

Once the transfer is complete, Xiaomi will offer to install the available analogues of the apps you had on your iPhone, a convenient way to quickly form a basic set of software on the new device.

Transferring Contacts through Google Account

The most reliable and classic way to save contacts is through cloud sync. If you haven't previously used a Google account on your iPhone, this is the perfect moment to start. Contacts are the most important part of a user's digital profile.

On iPhone, go to Settings → Contacts → Accounts → Add an account. Select the Google logo and enter your inbox. In the sync settings list, be sure to activate the switch opposite to Contacts.

After you turn on sync, wait a few minutes until the phone uploads all the numbers to the cloud. Then on Xiaomi, log in to the same Settings account → Accounts and Sync → Google. The system automatically pulls all the entries into the phone book.

Using a Google account gives you the added benefit of accessing Google Photos, Google Drive, and Google Calendar, all of which have great iOS apps, allowing you to set up two-way sync for the future.

Transfer of multimedia and files via PC

For heavy video to be transmitted to 4K or large document archives, wireless methods may be too slow, and in such cases it is advisable to use a computer as an intermediary, a "physical" method that guarantees the integrity of bits.

Connect your iPhone to your computer and copy the DCIM folder (photo and video) to your hard drive. Then connect Xiaomi to File Transfer (MTP) mode and copy the data to internal memory or to a microSD card.

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Use the original cable or certified analogue (MFi). Cheap cables can only support charging, but not data transfer, which will lead to errors when copying large files.

When working with the Android file system, it is important to understand the structure of folders. Photos should be placed in the Pictures or DCIM folder, so that the Xiaomi gallery correctly indexes them. Music files should be placed in the Music folder, and documents should be placed in the Download.

If you use macOS, you will need an Android File Transfer or OpenMTP app, since Finder does not see the Android file system natively. On Windows, just swipe Xiaomi’s screen from top to bottom after connecting the cable and select File Transfer mode.

Nuances of transfer of messengers and applications

The hardest part of migration is WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, and banking apps, and because of the different architectures of iOS and Android, direct transmission of correspondence history is often impossible or requires special crutches.

In Telegram and Viber (partially) the story is stored on servers, just install the app on Xiaomi, enter the phone number, and all chats will be downloaded automatically, and problems with these messengers usually do not arise.

WhatsApp is more complicated. You can officially transfer the history of chats from iOS to Android only when you initially set up the phone or reset to factory settings using a Lightning-to-USB-C cable and a utility from Xiaomi/Google. Without resetting the phone, you can not save correspondence — only media files if you have a backup.

• 🔒 Banking applications will have to be reconfigured and re-connected for security reasons.
• 🎵 Subscriptions to Apple Music or iCloud are not portable, you need to re-enter card data in Android apps.
• 🎮 The progress in games will only be maintained if the game supports login via Facebook, Google Play or your own account.
• 📱 Two-factor authentication: Make sure you have access to the SIM-map.

⚠️ Note: Before removing apps from your iPhone, make sure you remember passwords from all important services. On the new system, login may require confirmation, and access to old SMS or code generators may be lost.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The key to successful migration is to take your time, and it's better to spend an hour preparing and checking backups than losing important photos or contacts when a transmission fails.