Mobile apps from iPhone to Xiaomi: 5 proven ways to save data

The transition from iPhone to Xiaomi smartphone is not only a change of operating system, but also migration of all applications, data and customizations, which many users fear because of the risk of losing important information: But with the right approach, you can do the transfer almost painlessly, because you know the nuances of iOS and how it works. MIUI.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to migrate apps, from standard Xiaomi tools to third-party services that will keep even what can’t be backed up through iCloud. This guide will help you avoid typical mistakes when you transition to format incompatibility, Apple’s restrictions on exporting data, and ways to get around them without losing functionality.

1.Preparation for the transfer: what to do on the iPhone before migration

Before you start porting, you need to prepare your iPhone to save time and prevent data loss. Start by checking the relevance of backups: even if you haven't used iCloud before, now is the time to create a fresh copy.

• 📱 Go to Settings. → [Your name] → iCloud → Backup iCloud and click on “Create a backup.” Make sure the copy includes all critical data (photos, contacts, notes).
• 🔒 Check if your passwords are saved in iCloud Keychain (this will come in handy for export later). → Passwords and log in if necessary.
• 🎮 If you play mobile games, linking accounts to Google Play Games, Facebook or other services is the only way to keep progress when you change platforms.
• 📧 Export contacts to.vcf file via Settings → Contacts → Export (if this item is not available, use iCloud.com on your computer).

Important: iCloud backup doesn’t include data from some apps (like WhatsApp or Telegram) unless they’re synced to the messaging cloud itself, and Apple blocks direct exports of purchases from the App Store — they’ll have to be bought again on Google Play if the app is cross-platform.

⚠️ Note: If your iPhone has two-factor authentication enabled for Apple ID, Turn it off temporarily or make sure you have access to trusted devices.When transferring data, Xiaomi may request confirmation via SMS, which won't come in the new phone.

2. Standard way: Google’s “Switching to Android” app

The simplest and most official method is to use Google’s Switch to Android, an app developed by Google specifically for migration from iOS that supports porting:

• 📞 Contacts (including groups and contact notes)
• 📅 Calendars and events
• 📷 Photos and videos (without Live Photos)
• 💬 Messages from iMessage (text only, no attachments)
• 🔄 Call history
• 🌐 Safari bookmarks (move to Chrome)

However, this method has limitations:

To take advantage of this method:

1. Download “Switch to Android”** from the App Store to iPhone.
2. On the new Xiaomi, when you first set up, select Copy Data from iPhone (if the phone is already configured, reset it to factory settings or use Settings). → Google → Set-up and restoration → Re-establish contacts).
3. Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network and follow the instructions on the screen. The iPhone will have a code that you need to type into Xiaomi.
4. Select the data to transfer and wait for the process to be completed (can take up to 30 minutes depending on the volume).

⚠️ Note: If you have a Xiaomi version MIUI 14+, The standard Google app may not recognize the phone as compatible, in which case use an alternative method via Mi Mover (see next section).

Download the application on iPhone|Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network|Charge both devices at least 50 times%|Free up space on Xiaomi (requires at least 2 GB of free space)|Shut down. VPN both-device-->

Alternative from Xiaomi: Mi Mover app

Xiaomi offers its own solution for migration – the Mi Mover utility, which is included in the standard set MIUI. Unlike Google’s tool, it supports the transfer of some data that would otherwise have to be copied manually:

• 📱 List of installed apps (links to Google Play, but not the apps themselves) APK-file)
• 📁 Files from internal memory (music, documents, downloads)
• 🎵 Alerts and reminders settings
• 📶 Wi-Fi settings (networks and passwords)

To take advantage of the Mi Mover:

1. On Xiaomi, open Settings → The phone. → Data migration (or find Mi Mover through Settings search).
2. Select “I am a new user» → «iOS».
3. On your iPhone, scan it. QR-code that will appear on the Xiaomi screen (you may need to download Mi Mover from the App Store).
4. Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi Direct network (created automatically) and select data to transfer.

Mi Mover is faster than Google’s solution, but it has its own nuances:

• ❌ Does not transfer data from messengers (WhatsApp, Viber, etc.).
• ❌ Doesn't keep history alive. SMS/iMessage.
• ⚠️ Sometimes it “hangs” during the connection stage – in this case, restart the process and make sure that the iPhone has turned off the power saving mode.

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If the Mi Mover can't see the iPhone, try connecting both phones to charge.Some Xiaomi models block data transmission when the battery level is low (less than 20%).

4. Application portability: how to save data and purchases

The most difficult part of migration is transferring not just a list of applications, but their data: saves in games, settings, purchases, etc. There is no universal solution, but you can act on the following algorithm:

4.1. cross-platform applications (WhatsApp, Telegram, Spotify, etc.)

Most popular services sync data through the cloud to move it:

• 💬 WhatsApp: Backup your Settings → chat → Backup and link it to Google Drive. On Xiaomi, install WhatsApp and recover data when you first run it.
• 📤 Telegram: all data is stored in the cloud – just log in to a new device.
• 🎵 Spotify/Apple Music: log in via account – playlists and saved tracks will be downloaded automatically.

4.2. Games and applications with purchases

For games and paid applications:

• 🎮 Link the game to your Google Play Games account, Facebook account, or your own developer account (such as Supercell). ID Clash of Clans).
• 💰 Purchases in the App Store are not portable – if the app is on Google Play, you will have to buy it again. Except for cross-platform services (for example, Netflix or Duolingo Plus).
• 📦 For local saves (such as Minecraft or Stardew Valley), use a file copy via iTunes or iMazing.

4.3 Apps that are not available on Google Play

Some apps are only available on iOS (e.g. Apple Arcade, GarageBand or regional banking apps).

• 🔍 Check if there is an alternative in Google Play (for example, FL Studio Mobile instead of GarageBand).
• 🌐 Use the web version of the service (for example, Apple Music via the browser).
• ⚠️ Don't install it. APK-Files from unverified sources – this could compromise Xiaomi’s security.

5. Transfer of passwords and browser data

One of the most frustrating things about changing platforms is losing saved passwords, and fortunately, you can move them in a number of ways:

5.1 Exports from iCloud Keychain

If you have used iCloud Keychain:

1. On your computer (Mac or Windows with iCloud for Windows), open iCloud.com and log in.
2. Go to the Passwords section (confirmation may be required via SMS device).
3. Click on the gear icon in the lower left corner and select “Export Passwords”.
4. Save the file in format.CSV (It'll be password protected).
5. Import it to the password manager on Xiaomi (like Google Password Manager or Bitwarden).

5.2.Moving from Safari to Chrome

To transfer bookmarks and browser history:

• 🖥️ On Mac: Open Safari, go to File → Export bookmarks and save the.html file. then import it to Chrome on Xiaomi via Settings → Bookmarks → Import of bookmarks.
• 🪟 On Windows: Use iCloud for Windows to sync bookmarks with Chrome or Edge, then log in to Xiaomi with the same Google account.

⚠️ Note: exporting passwords from iCloud Keychain requires two-factor authentication. If it is disabled, turn it on temporarily in Settings → Apple ID → Password and security.

6. Transfer of files, photos and music

Multimedia files — photos, videos and music — are the easiest to transfer, but there are nuances here, too.

6.1. via Google Photos or Mi Cloud

The most reliable way to use photos and videos:

• 📷 Install Google Photos on your iPhone and enable automatic download in Settings → Backup and synchronization.
• 📁 Wait for the download to complete (check in the web version of photos.google.com).
• 📱 On Xiaomi, install Google Photos, log in and wait for sync.

The alternative is Mi Cloud (cloud from Xiaomi), but it’s less convenient for large amounts of data (free only 5GB).

Direct transmission via cable

If you have a lot of files (such as local music or documents), use the Lightning-to-USB-C cable:

1. Connect your iPhone to Xiaomi via an adapter (or directly if you have one on Xiaomi) USB-A).
2. On the iPhone, select “Trust this computer” in the window that appears.
3. On Xiaomi, open Explorer and select your iPhone as a removable drive.
4. Copy the necessary files into the phone memory.

6.3 Music from Apple Music

If you have used Apple Music:

• 🎶 Downloaded tracks in format.m4p (DRM-protected) will not be transferred - they can only be listened to through a web player.
• 💿 Buying on iTunes (without a DRM) You can copy it to your computer and then download it to Xiaomi via Google Play Music or VLC.
• 🔄 Alternative: Use Spotify or YouTube Music – they support cross-platform sync.

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To transfer photos in their original quality, use Google Photos with the setting “High quality” (unlimited storage) or “Original quality” (considered as a quota of Google Drive).

7.Setup Xiaomi after the transfer: what to do first

After the data transfer, you need to configure Xiaomi for a comfortable experience. Here is a checklist of key actions:

• 🔒 Set up unlocking: fingerprint (Settings) → Password and security → Fingerprint and facial recognition (if supported).
• 📶 Connect all accounts: Google (for synchronization of contacts, mail and calendar), Mi Account (for cloud services Xiaomi), social networks.
• 🔋 Optimize the battery: disable auto-run of unnecessary applications in Settings → Annexes → Auto-start.
• 🛡️ Install antivirus (e.g. Google Play Protect or Malwarebytes) — MIUI More vulnerable to malware than iOS.
• 🎯 Set up Google Assistant instead of Siri: Long-term clicking on the Home button (or gesture) calls Google Assistant by default.

It is also recommended that:

• 📵 Turn off the adverts in MIUI: Settings → The phone. → Advertising → Disable personalized advertising.
• 🔄 Update all apps via Google Play – some may be outdated after the transfer.
• 📡 Check the mobile network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Access point (APN) — Sometimes they get lost after they migrate.

8. Frequent problems and their solutions

Even with a careful transfer, the data may not be transferred or not work correctly. Consider the typical errors and how to fix them:

⚠️ Note: if after the transfer to Xiaomi stopped coming SMS with a confirmation code (for example, from the bank), check whether there is any SIM-iMessage-linked card. Turn off iMessage in Settings → Messages on iPhone.

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If some contacts are missing after the transfer to Xiaomi, check if they are duplicated in Google and Mi accounts. Combine them manually in the Contacts app.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions