Changing Xiaomi’s smartphone to a newer model is always a joyous event, but one that often overshadows the prospect of a long and tedious setup. MIUI ecosystem owners are more fortunate than users of other brands, as the company’s engineers have provided powerful tools for data migration. Full portability is not limited to contacts and photos; it includes preserving desktop structure, Wi-Fi passwords, alarm clocks and even setting widgets.
In this article, we will discuss how to make the most of the built-in Mi Mover and cloud services so that the new gadget becomes an exact digital copy of the old one, and properly preparing both devices before starting the process will avoid common mistakes, such as loss of application data or failure of authorization in banking customers.
Modern versions of the HyperOS and MIUI shell offer several migration scenarios, each with its own characteristics. We will look at both the wireless method of transfer and the nuances of working with local backups so that you can choose the best option for your situation, the main thing is to ensure a stable connection and sufficient battery power on both devices before starting.
Preparing devices for data migration
The first and most critical step is to properly prepare both smartphones. Don't start the portability tools immediately without checking the basic system settings. Make sure both devices have the latest available system updates installed, as this ensures compatibility of backup formats and eliminates bugs that are common with older versions of the software.
Special attention should be paid to storage space. Even if you plan to port only applications, temporary process files can take up a significant amount of space. Free up at least 10-15% more space on the receiving device than the backup on the old phone takes up, a rule that is often ignored, which leads to interruption of the process at the final stage.
⚠️ Warning: Before migration is initiated, it is strongly recommended to disable VPN-services and third-party antiviruses that can block local connection between devices via Wi-Fi Direct.
The battery charge is another important technical aspect: the cloning process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of data, and if one of the devices runs out at the time of writing system files, it can damage the structure of the memory partitions.
☑️ Checklist of preparations
Use of the built-in Mi Mover application
The main tool for migration is the Mi Mover app, which allows you to transfer data over a direct Wi-Fi connection without using the Internet, which provides high speed. To start, open the application on both devices or find it in the settings menu in the About Phone section.
On the new smartphone, select Recipient and on the old one, Sender, and the system automatically creates an access point. QR-When you start syncing the code or entering the password, it's important not to switch between applications or lock screens during the active transmission phase.
When selecting data to transfer, you will have the option to detail the process, you can choose only system settings or specific user applications. Experienced users recommend choosing a manual selection mode to avoid transferring junk cache files that may have accumulated over the years of the old device.
It is worth noting that some secure applications, such as bank clients or Google Pay, may not move their internal security settings, in which case re-authorization will be required, which is a normal measure of financial data protection by software developers.
Synchronization with Mi Cloud
The alternative to direct connectivity is the Mi Cloud cloud service, which is ideal if the old phone is already sold or unavailable, but it has previously been synchronized.
Not only do you keep contacts and notes in the cloud, but you also keep your desktop structure, blacklist of numbers, and even recorder records. Go to Settings → Mi Account → Xiaomi Cloud and make sure all the switches you need are activated. Once you log in to your new device, the data will automatically pull up when you have a network.
| Type of data | Loading speed | Network dependency | Free tariff limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts and SMS | Instantly. | Tall. | 5GB |
| Photos and videos | Slowly. | Critical | 5GB |
| System settings | Quickly. | Medium | Not limited. |
| Annexes (APK) | Depends on size. | Critical | 5GB |
The main limitation of the free version of the cloud is the volume of 5 gigabytes. For photos and videos, this may not be enough, so the Mi Mover in this case looks preferable, since there are no restrictions on the amount of data transferred, except for the physical storage capacity of the phone.
Transfer of system settings and layouts
One of the most convenient features of the Xiaomi ecosystem is the ability to clone the interface, which includes not only wallpaper and theme, but also the placement of icons on the desktop and in the application menu, and when using a local backup through the computer, this process is most clean.
To create a full copy of your settings, go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore. You can create a backup system that saves Wi-Fi passwords, alarm settings, calendar and even call history. The backup file will be stored in internal memory in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder.
⚠️ Note: A backup of the system created on one version of Android or MIUI, When switching between major versions (for example, Android 11 to 13), some settings may not apply.
After transferring the backup file to the new device (via cable or Bluetooth), you need to start the recovery from the same setup menu. The system will prompt you to select a backup date. The recovery process takes less time than the full application installation, but requires care.
Where is the local backup stored?
Solving authorization problems in applications
Even if the applications are successfully ported, many of them will require re-entry into the account, including messengers, social networks and especially banking applications, and this protection is implemented at the server level of banks to prevent data theft when the device is compromised.
In the case of instant messengers like WhatsApp or Telegram, it is important to make a local copy of the chats inside the app itself. Telegram stores the history in the cloud, so just enter the phone number. WhatsApp relies on Google Drive or a local file, which you need to transfer separately if Mi Mover failed.
For banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff, etc.), data transfer is not possible for security reasons. You will have to re-enter your login, password and possibly confirm your login via SMS or push notification on your SIM card. SIM-The card is already installed in a new smartphone before the launch of such programs.
💡
Tip: For WhatsApp, use the “Chat Transfer” feature inside the app’s settings before resetting your old phone, choosing to save to Google Drive to ensure you don’t lose your correspondence history.
Cleaning the old device after transfer
Once you've made sure that all the data is in place, the apps are working, and the contacts are synchronized, it's time to prepare your old phone for sale or transfer to another user. Simply deleting files isn't enough -- you have to do a full factory reset.
Before you do this, be sure to log out of all accounts, especially Google and Mi Account. If you don't, anti-theft protection will work (FRP), The new owner will not be able to activate the device, and it is recommended to remove the memory card and SIM-The card, if not previously deleted.
The reset procedure is located in the Settings → About Phone → Reset. Select “Erase All Data” option, which takes a few minutes, after which the phone will restart in the “out of the box” state, only after that the device is considered safe for transfer to third parties.
💡
A complete reset of an old phone with a pre-exit from your Google and Mi accounts is a must-do step to protect your personal information before selling the device.