How to transfer applications from Xiaomi to Xiaomi: the complete guide

Buying a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting moment, but the process of transferring data accumulated over the years can turn into a nightmare if you don’t know the right tools. Fortunately, the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem offers powerful built-in migration mechanisms that allow you to copy not only contacts and photos, but also the applications themselves along with their data.

Unlike competitors, where you often have to re-enter each service, the two Xiaomi devices allow you to perform a cloning system almost one-to-one. Mi Mover system application is able to transfer data even without an Internet connection, using direct Wi-Fi connection between devices. In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of the process so that you can start using the new gadget immediately, rather than spending days setting up.

There are several transfer scenarios, from a complete migration during initial setup to selectively copying an already running machine, depending on the version of the operating system and the amount of information available, and understanding these differences will help avoid errors and loss of important files.

Preparing devices for data migration

Before you start the copying process, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps that will ensure the stability of the connection. Both smartphones must be charged at least 50-60%, as the active transfer of large amounts of data through Wi-Fi Direct significantly consumes battery power. If one of the devices runs out in the process, the procedure will have to start again, which can lead to conflicts in the file system.

It’s also important to make sure that both devices have wireless connectivity enabled. Although Mi Mover creates its own local area network, basic Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings must be active to detect devices, and it’s recommended that you free up space on the receiving smartphone that exceeds the data volume on the old device by at least 10-15%.

It is not superfluous to check the relevance of the migration version of the application. In new versions of HyperOS, this tool is updated through the GetApps store, and the outdated version may not see the new device or not work correctly with the data formats of modern applications.

⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the transfer process or switch to other heavy tasks on smartphones during the migration, this can damage the archives with the application data.

• 🔋 Charge both smartphones to at least 60% before the procedure.
• 📶 Make sure that both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled.
• 💾 Check the availability of space on the new Xiaomi (preferably) 20-30 GB).
• 🔄 Update the Mi Mover app on both devices to the latest version.

Use of the built-in Mi Mover application

The main tool for solving the problem is the regular utility Mi Mover, which is preinstalled in the Tools folder on all smartphones of the brand. To start the process on the old device, you need to select the Sender mode (Old phone), and on the new one - the Recipient (New phone). After the scan. QR-code or manually select a device from the list, gadgets will establish a direct connection.

The interface allows you to flexibly configure what will be transferred. You can only select applications, leave media files in place, or copy everything, including system settings and widgets on the desktop. The algorithm automatically determines compatible applications and prompts you to migrate their data, including the history of correspondence in some messengers and game progress.

Transfer speeds depend on the number of files and the power of Wi-Fi modules. Heavy games and graphics editors can be copied longer than usual utilities. Once the copy is completed, the installation process will begin, which may take additional time even after the transfer of files is completed.

It is worth noting that some banking applications and secure services may not migrate their data for security reasons, in which case Mi Mover will copy the shortcut but require re-authorization within the program, which is normal Android security behavior.

• 📱 Run Mi Mover on both smartphones via menu or search.
• 📡 Select the role of the device: “Sender” on the old, “Receiver” on the new.
• 🔗 Connect devices through QR-code-drive.
• ✅ Check the section "Applications" and the necessary data.

Migration through Google Account and Cloud Services

An alternative, and sometimes more reliable, way is to use Google’s cloud profile, which, when a new Xiaomi smartphone is first activated, will prompt the system to restore data from the backup, a method that is particularly effective for transferring installed programs, Wi-Fi network settings, and contacts.

However, it is important to understand the difference: Google saves the list of applications and their data (depending on the support of the developer), but does not always copy the cache and heavy files inside games. For full synchronization, it is better to use a bundle: restore the list of applications through Google, and heavy files through Mi Mover or Xiaomi Cloud.

To activate this method, you need to make sure that the switch is active and the last copy is recent on the old phone in the Settings menu → Google → Backup is made, and on the new device, you just need to enter the same email address when you initially set up.

Using Xiaomi’s cloud also has its benefits, especially for ecosystem users.Sync through Mi Cloud allows you to save theme settings, icon layouts, and specific system application data that Google may ignore.

• ☁️ Log in to the same Google account on the new device when you first set up.
• 📥 Select “Restore from copy” when the relevant offer appears.
• 📂 Wait for the list of applications to download from the cloud storage.
• 🔐 Enter passwords for applications that require re-authorization.

Transfer of data messengers: WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber

The messengers are worth special attention, as they store the most important correspondence. Standard application portability often copies only the program itself, leaving a message history on the old device. For WhatsApp and Viber, it is critical to perform local or cloud backups inside the settings of the messenger itself before transferring.

Telegram is a simpler place: the whole story is stored on a server, and you just have to type in the phone number and confirmation code, but the secret chats are device-specific and cannot be ported by any known method, and you have to recreate them.

WhatsApp on Android has a built-in chat port feature that is often activated automatically when you first start an app on a new phone if you have an old phone nearby. If the automatic search doesn’t work, use the built-in Backup feature in chat settings, save it to Google Drive, and restore it when you install it on the new Xiaomi.

⚠️ Warning: When transferring WhatsApp, make sure the new phone uses the same phone number and Google account where the backup was made, or recovery will not be possible.

Some users prefer to use the Chat Transfer feature inside WhatsApp itself, which creates a local file and transfers it over the Internet. QR-This method is more reliable than the cloud if the Internet connection is unstable.

Comparison of transfer methods: table

To make it easier for you to choose the best method, we have prepared a comparative table of the main methods, each of which has its advantages depending on the specific situation and condition of the devices.

As you can see from the table, Mi Mover is the undisputed leader in functionality and speed for Xiaomi-to-Xiaomi bundle.It does not consume mobile operator traffic and allows you to transfer even what is often lost in cloud synchronization.

However, if an old phone is already sold or lost and no backup is made, the only option is to manually log in to accounts, so the backup-the-reset rule remains the gold standard of digital hygiene.

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M i Mover is the only method that allows you to transfer the arrangement of icons and widgets of the desktop one to one, maintaining the usual interface.

Solution and troubleshooting

Users may experience a variety of errors during migration, often with a certain percentage of the process hanging over or some apps labeled as “not compatible,” most of the time due to differences in Android or MIUI versions.

If the transmission is interrupted, don't panic. Delete the already copied data from the new phone (or reset it to factory settings if the process was in progress at the first setup) and try to re-start the Mi Mover. Make sure the screens of both smartphones are on fire and the app is in the active window.

Sometimes antivirus or aggressive power saving settings can block data transmission, in which case it is recommended to temporarily disable battery optimization for the Mi Mover application in the system settings, and also helps to turn off mobile Internet on both devices so that they only use the Wi-Fi module.

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If Mi Mover doesn’t see the device, try turning on the Access Point on one of the phones and connecting the second to that network manually before starting the scan.

• 🚫 Not enough space error: Clear cache or delete unnecessary files before copying.
• 📉 Low speed: Keep devices away from routers and other sources of interference.
• 📱 Application not installed: check if the installation source is blocked (Play Protect).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)