Changing your smartphone is always accompanied by a desire to customize your new device as quickly as possible. Owners of the Xiaomi ecosystem have the unique advantage of pre-installed tools that greatly simplify migration, one of which is ShareMe, an app that allows you to transfer files at high speed without using mobile traffic.
However, when it comes to full data portability, including contacts, messages, call history and system settings, a file sharing app may not be enough. Here comes the dedicated Mi Mover app, which is often confused with ShareMe, although their functions differ. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to organize the transfer process correctly, what nuances to take into account and how to avoid common errors that can lead to the loss of important information.
Modern Xiaomi smartphones run on the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS, which allows for deep integration of services. This means that the synchronization process can occur not only through a local Wi-Fi connection, but also through a cloud account Mi Account. Understanding the difference between these methods will allow you to choose the most effective way for your situation, whether it is switching from Android to Android or even from iOS.
⚠️ Warning: Before any data transfer operations are started, make sure that the battery charge on both devices is at least 50.
Differences between ShareMe and Mi Mover: What to Choose
Many users mistakenly believe that ShareMe (formerly known as Mi Drop) is designed to migrate the system completely.In fact, it is a powerful tool for fast transfer of multimedia and documents. It uses FTP protocol and local Wi-Fi connection to achieve speeds up to 20 MB/s and above.
By contrast, Mi Mover is designed specifically to clone a device, and it can read the structure of the system and transfer not only files, but also hidden application data, desktop icons, Wi-Fi passwords and browser history, and if you bought a new Xiaomi Redmi or Poco, this tool will become the main tool.
- 📁 ShareMe: Ideal for transferring heavy files, videos 4K and archives between any devices.
- 📱 Mi Mover: Required for full cloning of Android system settings, contacts and structure.
- ☁️ Mi Cloud: Suitable for synchronizing contacts, notes and calendar in the background.
It is important to understand that using ShareMe to transfer system data is not technically possible. The application simply does not have access to the necessary memory partitions to ensure the operating system works correctly on the new device.
Preparing devices for data migration
The success of the operation depends on proper preparation. Before starting the process, you need to make sure that both smartphones are in stable condition. On an old device, it is recommended to clear the cache of system applications so as not to transfer “junk” files.
Special attention should be paid to free space. If you plan to transfer 100 GB of data, the new phone should have at least 110 GB of free memory. The system creates temporary buffers when copying, and lack of space can cause an error in the middle of the process. You can check the available space in the Settings menu → About phone → Memory.
☑️ Ready for transfer
Remember to enable Bluetooth and geolocation on both devices. Although data is transmitted over Wi-Fi Direct, it is the Bluetooth module used to first shake hands and find a partner on the network. Without active communication modules, finding a new device can take much longer or not be successful.
Instructions: transfer via Mi Mover
The Mi Mover migration process is as automated as possible. First, run the app on your new phone and select "I'm the recipient." On the old device, select "I'm the sender." The system will prompt you to scan. QR-code or find the device via Bluetooth, and then you start to pair the data.
In the data selection phase, you'll see detailed statistics, you can select specific file types: images, music, documents, and system settings. Pay attention to the Apps section. If you migrate data to a phone with a newer version of Android, some older apps may be labeled as incompatible.
| Type of data | Transmission speed | Transfer nuances |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts and SMS | Instantly. | No losses are transferred, groups are retained |
| Photos and videos | High (up to 40 Mb/s) | Metadata (date, location) is stored |
| Annexes | Medium | Re-entry into accounts is required |
| Wi-Fi settings | Instantly. | Passwords are saved, connection is automatically |
Once the selection is confirmed, the direct transmission will begin. The screens of the devices may go out to save energy, but the process will continue in the background. Do not turn the application down forcibly or block the screen with the power button if you see heavy data transmission, as some versions of MIUI may suspend background activity.
Using ShareMe to Transfer Files
If your goal is to move files quickly without fully migrating, ShareMe is the best solution. Unlike Bluetooth, which is slow, or a cable that needs to be found somewhere, this method works instantly. Open the application on both devices, click Send on one and Accept on the other.
The unique feature is the ability to create a web server, you can transfer files from phone to computer or vice versa without installing programs on a PC, just select from the menu Connect to your computer, start the server and enter the displayed address in any browser, which allows you to work with the file system of your smartphone as a regular folder.
When transferring via ShareMe, it is important to consider the file format. APK-By sending files, app installers along with their data (if the application allows it), however, you can’t transfer system settings in this way, since the application does not have the appropriate access rights without root rights.
- 🚀 Speed: up to 50 times faster than Bluetooth, works even without the Internet.
- 🔒 Security: Transfers are over a secure local channel, data does not go to the cloud.
- 📱 Cross-platform: you can send files to iPhone and other brands.
⚠️ Attention: In transmission APK-Files via ShareMe to a new device, security system MIUI It can block the installation from unknown sources, and you will need to manually allow the installation in the window that appears or in the security settings.
Transferring data from iPhone to Xiaomi
iPhone owners don't have to worry about compatibility. Mi Mover is available on the App Store and allows you to migrate the bulk of the data. It's a similar process: install the app on iOS, select the type of data and scan. QR-But there are limitations, because of the closedness of iOS.
From the iPhone successfully migrate contacts, messages (iMessage may not be correctly displayed in the standard version). SMS-It's a program that's going to be able to move your calendar and your notes, but you can't move the apps you've installed because of the different operating systems, and you're going to have to re-download the Google Play apps.
The HEIC formats popular on iPhones may not open on some older Xiaomi models without converting.The Mi Mover app usually automatically converts them to a compatible JPEG when transferring, but this process may take additional time.
Solving problems and mistakes
Despite the fact that things are fine, there are some problems, and one of the problems that is common is that devices can't see each other, and 90 percent of the time, this is done by rebooting the communication modules, turning on and off Flight Mode on both smartphones, and also checking if the devices are connected to different Wi-Fi networks, although Mi Mover often doesn't require Internet, having a shared network or having an access point on one of the phones is necessary.
Another common error is “Not enough memory” even when there is free space. This can be due to file system fragmentation or cache errors. Clearing the cache of the Mi Mover application through the Settings menu → Apps → All apps → Mi Mover → Clearing often helps solve the problem.
If the transmission is interrupted in the middle, don't rush to start over. The application usually can restart the download from the break site. However, if the error repeats cyclically on the same file, try to exclude this file from the sample and transfer it separately. The damaged memory sector on the old phone can also cause crashes.