Moving from the Android operating system you’re used to on Xiaomi smartphones to the closed iOS ecosystem can seem like a complex process that requires deep technical knowledge. In fact, modern tools allow you to migrate data in just a few tens of minutes, saving your contacts, photos and even folder structure. iPhone 11 and newer models can use Apple’s built-in utility, which automatically syncs most file types.
However, there are important nuances to consider before starting a procedure: Unlike cloud syncs, direct Wi-Fi transfer requires stable connection and no background tasks. If you plan to transfer all data over a direct Wi-Fi connection without using a PC, make sure that both devices are charged by more than 50%, as the process can be energy-intensive for both participants.
In this article, we will take a closer look at official migration methods, look at alternative ways to migrate through cloud storage, and focus on specific applications like WhatsApp and Viber, whose databases often raise the most questions when changing platforms.
Preparing devices before migration
The first step to a successful transfer is to properly prepare both smartphones, and Xiaomi should make room on the device by removing temporary files and cache that are not needed on the new device, which will not only speed up the process, but also avoid errors in calculating the free space on the iPhone 11.
Be sure to check the operating system version. Move to iOS on Android requires version 4.0 or higher to run, but for all features to work properly, it's best to use the current MIUI. On the Apple side, make sure iOS is updated to the latest available version.
- 🔋 Charge both smartphones to at least 70% or connect them to power supplies.
- 📶 Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network or use the mobile internet to download applications.
- 🚫 Turn off power saving mode on Xiaomi so that the system does not interrupt the data transfer.
☑️ Ready for transfer
You should also sign in to your Google account on your Xiaomi device in advance to make sure all contacts and calendars are synced to the cloud, which will create an additional restore point in case the direct transfer goes wrong.
⚠️ Note: Do not open other apps on Xiaomi during the migration process.Any background action, such as an incoming call or messenger notification, can break the connection between devices.
Use of the Move app to iOS
The official and most reliable way to migrate data is to use Apple’s Move to iOS app, which is designed specifically for these occasions, and is available on the Google Play store, and allows you to transfer contacts, message history, photos, videos, web bookmarks, and even some of the free apps that both stores have.
The process starts with setting up the new iPhone 11, and if the phone is already set up and in use, it will have to be reset to factory settings, as the migration function is only available at the initial activation stage, and after selecting the language and region, the "Move Data from Android" sentence will appear on the screen.
What to do if the iPhone is already set up?
The iPhone will have a six-digit or ten-digit code, which you type into the application field on your Xiaomi smartphone, and then the devices will create a temporary secure Wi-Fi network that will connect to the Android smartphone.
- 📲 Download the Move to iOS app from Google Play on Xiaomi.
- 🔗 Enter the code displayed on the iPhone screen in the Android app.
- ✅ Select data types to copy and wait for the loading band to end.
It's important to understand that the speed of the transfer depends on the amount of data and the quality of the wireless module. Photos and videos can be copied the longest. Do not interrupt the process, even if it seems to be frozen, at which time files are written to the disk.
Transferring your contacts and calendar through Google
If direct porting is not possible for some reason or you have already set up an iPhone, the most effective way to save contacts and calendar records is to sync through a Google account.
To do this, on iPhone 11, you need to go to Settings → Contacts → Accounts. Here you should select “Add Account” and enter the details of your Google account that was used on Xiaomi. After authorization, the system will prompt you to choose which data to sync.
Make sure the switch opposite the Contacts item is activated. In a few minutes, your entire phone book will appear in the standard Contacts app on iOS, a similar procedure for calendar and notes if you have used Google Keep or standard Google notes.
| Type of data | Transfer method | Speed. | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Google Sync | Instantly. | Tall. |
| Photo/Video | Move to iOS / Google Photos | Medium | Tall. |
| Messages (SMS) | Move to iOS | Depends on the volume. | Medium |
| Music. | Apple Music/PC | Low. | Medium |
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If you have saved numbers on Android contacts SIM-copy them to your phone memory or Google account before retrieving SIM-The iPhone can’t import contacts directly from the SIM.
Migration of messengers: WhatsApp and Viber
Special attention should be paid to transferring the history of correspondence in messengers, as standard means of the system can not do this. For WhatsApp, Apple and the developers of the application have implemented an official portability function, but it is also available only when you initially set up the iPhone.
From the Apps and Data menu on your iPhone, select Move WhatsApp Chats. QR-Open WhatsApp on Xiaomi, go to Settings → chat → Transfer chats and scan the code. The process will take time proportional to the size of the database.
⚠️ Note: Local WhatsApp backups stored in Google Drive cannot be restored to iPhone directly.Use only the official cable or Wi-Fi transfer method during setup.
Viber is more complicated. There's no official way to transfer your email history from Android to iOS right now. You can log in to your account, but the chats will stay on your old device. The only way is to use Viber on your PC as a temporary solution or to accept the loss of history.
Working with multimedia and files
Photos and videos take up the lion's share of any user's memory. In addition to the Move to iOS app, Google Photos is a great solution. Install the app of the same name on your iPhone, log in to your account, and your entire library will be available in original quality (or in compressed, depending on your settings).
For music transfer, the situation is ambiguous: files purchased from Google Play Music (if the service is still available in your area) or uploaded to YouTube Music can be listened to through the corresponding iOS apps. MP3-Files will either have to be downloaded via iTunes (on PC) or use cloud storage.
If you're used to the Android file system and you store documents in folders, you'll need the Files app on your iPhone. You can upload documents to Google Drive, Dropbox or Yandex.Disk on Xiaomi, and then download them through official clients on your iPhone. iOS allows you to open files of any format directly from these applications.
- 📸 Use Google Photos to instantly access the gallery without downloading to your device.
- 🎵 For music, use streaming services (Spotify, Yandex Music, Apple Music).
- 📄 Documents are best stored in cloud-based offices (Google Docs, Office 365).
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Using Google cloud services on iPhone is the bridge that makes the transition from Android as painless as possible, while keeping access to all your data.
Possible problems and solutions
Despite the fact that the processes are fine, users may encounter difficulties, and a common problem is the connection error when using Move to iOS. If the process is interrupted in the middle, try to turn off mobile Internet on Xiaomi and leave only Wi-Fi, and turn off VPN and proxy.
Another common issue is file formats: Some videos captured on Xiaomi’s high-resolution camera or specific codecs may not play on an iPhone without converting, and third-party video players from the App Store, such as VLC for Mobile, which support almost any format, will help.
If you can't find an app that you used on Android, don't worry. Many developers release versions for iOS under different names or with a slightly modified interface. Check the App Store by entering the name of the developer company.