Changing your smartphone is always stressful, not only with the physical replacement of your device, but also with the need to migrate digital data. Especially critical for many users is the preservation of personal records, shopping lists, work ideas and passwords, which are often stored in standard Notes apps. When you go to a device brand Xiaomi, Redmi or Poco, you come across a shell MIUI or a new HyperOS, the structure of which may be different from stock Android or custom shells like One UI from Samsung.
The problem is that different vendors use their own storage formats and cloud services. SIM-A card or memory card is not enough here, as text notes are rarely stored as separate files available for direct copying. Standard notes of Android smartphones are often stored in closed SQLite databases, which are not visible to the user without root rights. Therefore, for a successful transition, you need to use specialized tools or cloud synchronization.
In this article, we will take a look at all the current ways of transferring information, assessing their reliability and speed, learn how to use the built-in Mi Mover tool, whether to trust a Google account, and what third-party alternatives exist for those who want to save folder structure and text formatting, and also touch on data security issues during the migration process.
Using the Mi Mover app for migration
The most effective and native way to transfer data to Xiaomi devices is to use the Mi Mover app, which is designed specifically for the manufacturer’s ecosystem and is able to correctly interpret data coming from other Android devices, the process begins with installing the application on an old smartphone, if it is not there, and launching on a new device.
Once the program is launched, both devices need to create a Wi-Fi hotspot. Xiaomi’s new phone will act as a host, creating a local network to which the old device will connect. This ensures high data transfer speeds without using Internet traffic. In the data type selection menu, tick the item “Notes” (or “Notes”), as well as other necessary categories such as contacts and messages.
It's important to understand that format compatibility isn't always absolute. If the old device used a specific tag system or nesting system, the standard Notes on MIUI app can show them in a simplified form.
- 📲 Make sure that both devices are Bluetooth enabled and GPS first-hand.
- 🔋 Charge both smartphones to at least 60%, as the process can take a long time.
- 🚫 Do not switch between applications during transmission so as not to break the connection.
☑️ Check before launching the Mi Mover
⚠️ Note: During the transfer process through Mi Mover, the device screens may go out, but you can not interrupt the connection or close the application. If the transfer has stopped, it is better to start the process again by clearing the application cache.
Synchronization with Google Keep and Google Notes
If you've used Google's record-keeping services before, the transition to Xiaomi will be as smooth as possible. Google's ecosystem is universal and independent of hardware manufacturers. Just log in to your account on a new device and all the data will be automatically tweaked, the most reliable method for anyone planning to change smartphones in the future.
Google Keep is cross-platform, and allows you to store not only text, but also voice notes, to-do lists and images. On a new Redmi or Poco phone, you just need to open the "Keep" or "Notes" app (if you choose to sync with Google) and wait for the download to end. All records will be distributed by color and labels, just like on the old device.
Standard notes from Samsung or other manufacturers that have synced with Google may require pre-exporting.Sometimes old records are stored in an app that doesn't have direct integration with the Google cloud at the system level, so you need to find your sync settings inside the old app and force the update to run.
What if the notes didn’t appear immediately?
The main advantage of this method is brand independence. Even if you decide to switch to an iPhone or a smartphone from another brand in a few years, your records will remain accessible through a web interface or an app.
Transfer through cloud services of manufacturers
Many Android users store notes in the clouds of their current vendors, such as Samsung Cloud, Huawei Cloud or Mi Cloud. If you move from, for example, Samsung to Xiaomi, direct synchronization between Samsung Cloud and Mi Cloud is not possible.
First you need to export data from the old brand cloud, and often you can do this through the web version of the service on your computer, and the files are saved in.txt,.doc or a special proprietary format, and then you have to download them to a new phone and open them with the appropriate application.
If you switch from another Xiaomi device to a new one, you’ll be logged into Mi Account.Mi Cloud will instantly restore the structure of your notes, including your attachments and audio recordings, a regular mechanism that works most consistently within the brand ecosystem.
| Source of data | Export method | Compatibility with Xiaomi | Preserving formatting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Keep | Autosynchronization | Complete. | Complete. |
| Samsung Notes | Exports to PDF/TXT | Partial | Simplified |
| Mi Cloud (old) | Synchronization of the account | Complete. | Complete. |
| Local storage. | Manual export of files | Depends on the format. | Only text |
Cloud storage requires a stable Internet connection; if the volume of data is large, it can take a considerable time to download, and it is recommended to use a Wi-Fi network to avoid the cost of mobile traffic.
💡
Use the web version of an old phone's cloud service to copy text in bulk, which is often faster than trying to export notes one at a time through a mobile app.
Export and import via VCF and TXT files
When automatic methods fail or cause errors, the manual method comes to the rescue, which is suitable for any Android model, including the budget Redmi and Poco series, the essence of the method is to save each note or group of notes as a file on the internal drive.
Most Notes apps have a Share or Export function, and if you select one or more records, you can send them via Bluetooth, messenger, or save them to a file manager, and the.txt format is the most versatile and opens on any device.
Once the files are transferred to Xiaomi’s new smartphone, they can be imported into the Notes app. Some versions of MIUI allow you to import text files, automatically creating separate cards from them, and if there is no automatic import, you will have to copy the text manually.
- 📁 Create a separate folder on your old phone for all notes before transfer.
- 📤 Use the “Send All” function to save time.
- 📥 Check the text encoding (UTF-8), So instead of letters, there's no "crazy".
It's a time-consuming way of doing this if you have hundreds of records, but it ensures that information stays there and is available even without the Internet, and it's a kind of digital insurance.
⚠️ Warning: When exported to text format, complex formatting such as bold, italics, tables and nested checklists is lost.
Third-party synchronization applications
If the regular funds do not meet the requirements, you can turn to third-party solutions from Google Play. Apps like Send Anywhere, ShareMe (from Xiaomi) or specialized note managers like Evernote and Notion solve the problem of cross-platform.
Send Anywhere allows you to transfer notes (if the app allows you to export them) in six-digit code, which is convenient when you need to transfer data quickly and without registering unnecessary accounts, but for full-fledged work of notes, it is better to use specialized notebooks.
Moving to platforms like Notion or Evernote can be a strategic decision, because these apps store data on their servers, and you can change your phone without even knowing it, just install the app on the new Xiaomi and log in to your profile.
When choosing third-party software, pay attention to the permissions it requests. Don't trust access to all contacts and files to unknown programs.
💡
The transition to cross-platform app for notes (Notion, Evernote, Google Keep) eliminates the problems with data transfer when changing your smartphone in the future.
Possible problems and solutions
The migration process can be technically challenging, and users often find that after transferring notes, the text is displayed as unreadable characters, this is a problem of encoding, and the solution lies in changing the file format when exporting or using universal text editors for conversion.
Another common problem is that the Notes app doesn't exist on the new device, and in some regions of the global versions of MIUI, it can be hidden or replaced with Google Keep, so you can search for it through your Settings search or download it from the GetApps store.
It's also possible that sync failures are caused by an unstable Internet or a crowded cloud storage, and if the Mi Cloud or Google cloud is crowded, the new data won't load, you need to vacate space or buy more space.
What to do if the attachments (photos) are missing in the notes?
Can I transfer notes without the internet?
Will the history of the changes in the notes be preserved?
The solution to problems is often software updates, and make sure that both devices have the latest versions of Notes and system software. Older versions may contain bugs that prevent the correct export of data.
Remember that regular backups are key to keeping your information safe. Set up automatic sync with the cloud right now so that when you buy a new Xiaomi, you don’t have to worry about the fate of your ideas and plans.