Changing your smartphone, especially to a more modern model from Xiaomi or Redmi, is always accompanied by the desire to immediately start using the device without spending hours manually setting up. Fortunately, the Android ecosystem and proprietary MIUI utilities allow you to automate this process to the limit. You no longer need to manually type in phone numbers or search for the installation files of each application.
However, despite the availability of automated tools, users often face nuances that can stop migration, such as migrating authorizations in banking applications or saving the history of correspondence in instant messengers requires special attention. In this article, we will examine all available methods, from cloud services to local copying via Wi-Fi Direct.
The right preparation of the original device is the key to success. Whether you are switching from another Android smartphone or from an iPhone, the algorithm of actions will have its own peculiarities. Let's consider how to make this transition as painless and fast as possible, keeping your entire digital life intact.
Preparing devices for information migration
Before running any transfer tools, you need to make sure that both devices are ready to work. Battery charge is a critical parameter: the process of copying large amounts of data can take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours, and it is unacceptable to discharge the phone in the middle of the procedure.
The second important aspect is a stable Internet connection if you plan to use cloud services. However, for local transfer via Mi Mover, Internet is not required, since devices create direct Wi-Fi communication between each other. Make sure that both phones are enabled wireless module and geolocation, as in some versions of Android this is a mandatory requirement for device detection.
It's also worth freeing up space on the receiving device. Although modern Redmis have memory, it's better to check the available space in advance. If you're moving from an old phone with a lot of junk files, it makes sense to pre-clean so you don't copy unnecessary digital junk.
โ๏ธ Ready for transfer
Keep it in mind, if an old phone has a complex password or pattern lock, keep it in memory. During the migration process, the system may request multiple ID verifications to access secure memory areas or accounts.
Using the Mi Mover app for local porting
The most efficient and quickest way to migrate within the Xiaomi ecosystem is the Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on all MIUI-enabled devices, but for other brands, it can be downloaded from the Google Play Store, which allows you to transfer contacts, messages, call logs, photos, music, videos, documents and even system settings.
The process starts with running the app on both devices, and the new phone that will receive the data, you have to select the Receiver role, and the old device selects the Sender role, and then the new phone will appear on the screen. QR-code that needs to be scanned by the camera of the old device.
โ ๏ธ Warning: Do not interrupt the Wi-Fi connection during transmission. If the phone screens go out, the process may stop.
Once connected, the phones will create a secure local area network, and you'll see a list of data categories that you can copy, and you can flexibly customize the choice of transferring only contacts and photos, ignoring heavy video files, or making a full cloned copy, and the speed of transfer depends on the volume of data, and can reach several megabytes per second.
What if the Mi Mover canโt see the device?
It is important to note that some system applications and secure account data may not be automatically migrated for security reasons, and in such cases, manual authorization will be required once the process is complete.
Synchronization through Google Account and Cloud Services
An alternative to local copying is Googleโs cloud infrastructure, ideal for those who want to have a backup in case of loss or breakage of the device. When you first set up a new Xiaomi Redmi, the system will prompt you to log into your Google account. If you enter the same data as on your old phone, automatic synchronization will begin.
First of all, contacts, calendar events and notes are restored, stored directly in Googleโs profile and do not take up space in your phoneโs memory. To restore the list of installed applications, you need to go to the Google Play Store, go to the profile and select the โManage Apps and Deviceโ section, where you will see a list of programs installed on other devices.
Photos and videos are best synced through Google Photos. By enabling Autoboot and Sync on your old device, you ensure that all your media files are in the cloud. On the new phone, itโs easy to log in to the app, and the entire gallery is instantly accessible, taking up minimal space thanks to the smart storage feature.
But the cloud method has its limitations: the speed of recovery depends on the speed of your Internet channel; it can take several hours to download tens of gigabytes of photos; and the free space on Google One may not be enough to make a full copy, and you will have to buy additional volume or clean the archive.
Transferring data from iPhone to Xiaomi Redmi
Switching from iOS to Android used to be a difficult process, but Xiaomi now offers great tools for migrating from the iPhone.The Mi Mover app supports iOS, but the functionality may be limited compared to transferring between Android devices. To get started on the iPhone, you need to download the Move to iOS app or use the built-in portability when you initially set up Redmi.
When using the method through settings โ Additional settings โ Transfer data to Redmi, select "C iPhone" option. QR-Once you've established a connection, you can choose contacts, messages, photos and videos to transmit. Calendar and notes are also often convertible.
Note that apps purchased from the App Store are not portable to Android, as they are different ecosystems. You will have to re-download their counterparts from GetApps or Google Play. Paid features inside the apps are also not saved unless the developer has a cross-platform account.
| Type of data | Contacts | Photo/Video | Communications | Annexes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone โ Redmi | Yes. | Yes. | Yes (SMS) | No (list only) |
| Android โ Redmi | Yes. | Yes. | Yes (SMS/MMS) | Yeah (APK files) |
| Through the PC. | Yes (vCard) | Yes. | No. | No. |
| Google Cloud | Yes. | Yes (Google Photo) | No. | List of lists |
For a full transition from iOS, it is also recommended to install the Google Drive app on your iPhone, back up your contacts and calendar, and then log in to this account on the new Redmi.
Manual copying via USB and computer
If wireless methods seem too slow or unstable, there's always a time-tested way to do this, which is to copy through a computer, and it gives you complete control of the file system, and it allows you to structure the data in the way that you want. USB-cable and access to files on PC.
Connect your old phone to your computer and select the USB File Transfer (MTP) mode. In Windows Explorer or macOS, copy the required folders (DCIM, Pictures, Download, Music) to your hard drive. Then connect the new Xiaomi and transfer this data to the appropriate directories, a procedure that is especially useful for transferring heavy video archives.
๐ก
Use USB 3.0 ports on your computer for maximum copy speed of large files. The cable should also support data transfer, not just charging.
Contacts can be transferred separately by exporting them to a.vcf (vCard) file. On an old phone, go to the Contacts app, select Export and save the file to internal memory or send yourself an email. On a new device, just open the file and all numbers will be automatically added to the phone book.
The good thing about this is that it doesn't depend on Android versions or MIUI shell features. You just move bytes of information from one medium to another, but you can't move your system settings, your Wi-Fi passwords, or your desktop icons that way.
Nuances of the transfer of messages and messengers
Special attention should be paid to the migration of data from messengers such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber. Unlike system SMS, the history of correspondence is stored inside applications and is often protected by encryption. WhatsApp on Android has a built-in backup feature on Google Drive. On the new phone, the messenger will offer to restore the history from the cloud when it first starts.
Mi Mover also can port WhatsApp data, including media files, if both phones are running Android. However, if you change the platform (from iOS to Android or vice versa), the process becomes more complicated, in such cases, you may need to use official portability tools that appear when you initially set up Redmi, or third-party paid slits.
โ ๏ธ Warning: Two-factor authentication in messengers can block the sign-in on a new device if you donโt remember the password or donโt have access to it. SIM-Make sure that you have a map. SIM-The card is active and capable of receiving SMS number-confirmation.
For Telegram, the situation is simpler: all the history of correspondence (except secret chats) is stored on the servers. Just enter the phone number and confirmation code, and all the chats will load automatically. Secret chats are tied to a specific device and cannot be transferred.
๐ก
For a successful WhatsApp port, it is critical that the new phone has the same phone number and Google account (or iCloud for iOS) active as the old one.
Donโt forget to check the notification settings, too. After transferring the data to the new Redmi, the sound and vibration settings for specific contacts may get lost and youโll have to manually reset them.