Changing your smartphone to a new Xiaomi is often accompanied by the need to migrate a huge amount of user data, and among them, browser bookmarks occupy a special place. Losing a accumulated link base over the years can be a serious problem, requiring time to restore important resources. Fortunately, the Android ecosystem and the MIUI shell offer several reliable methods to solve this problem.
The transfer process can be done through both cloud services and local copying of system files. The specific method depends on which browser you used on the old device and which interface you prefer to use now.
Consider that different browsers use different storage mechanisms, such as Google Chrome relying on a Google account, while the standard MIUI Browser can sync through the Mi Cloud, and understanding these differences will help avoid recovery errors.
In this article, we will take a detailed look at each step required to successfully migrate your favorite pages, touching both standard system tools and specific commands for advanced users, and following the instructions will allow you to save folder structure and browsing history.
Using a Google account to sync
The most versatile and simple way is to use Google’s built-in sync, which works for most Chromium-based browsers, including standard Chrome, Edge, and Opera, and you just need to log into your profile on your old device and make sure the switch opposite to Bookmarks is activated.
Once synchronization is activated, the data is automatically uploaded to the Google cloud. On the new Xiaomi phone, it is easy to log into the same account when you first set up or in the browser settings.
It is important to check if the automatic download option is enabled, sometimes users turn it off to save traffic, which prevents real-time data updates, and make sure the Internet connection is stable during the process.
If you have problems with display, try to force the data to update. To do this, in the settings of your Google account on your device, find the "Sync" section and click "Sync Now." This action initiates an immediate exchange of data with the server.
The advantage of this method is cross-platform, you can easily transfer bookmarks not only from Android to Android, but also from an iPhone or computer, which makes Google account a universal key to your data.
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Use incognito mode to check sync: log in to your account on your new device in guest mode to make sure that the data is loaded correctly without cache influence.
Migrating through Mi Cloud and Xiaomi Services
Xiaomi smartphone owners have access to their own cloud storage, Mi Cloud, which is deeply integrated into the MIUI shell and allows you to save system settings, contacts and data from a standard browser. To activate, go to your phone settings and select your Mi Account.
In the sync section, make sure that the slider opposite the Bookmark or the Browser is enabled. The system will suggest combining or replacing the data. When you switch to a new Xiaomi phone, logging into the Mi Account will automatically restore the folder structure and links.
The Mi Cloud feature is the ability to back up not only the links themselves, but also the open tabs, which allows you to instantly continue from where you left off on the old device.
⚠️ Warning: Free storage of Mi Cloud is limited to 5 GB. If you plan to store large amounts of application backup data there, there may not be enough space for bookmarks, although they take up a minimum of space.
For users who prefer the Xiaomi ecosystem, this method is preferred, it provides deeper integration with system functions such as global line search, and data in the Mi Cloud is often updated faster within the Xiaomi network.
Remember to check the sync status of i.mi.com from time to time, which will allow you to visually verify the presence of your data on the server and, if necessary, manually upload it back to the device.
Manual export through HTML-file
If automatic synchronization is not available or you want to create a local backup, use the export function. Most modern browsers allow you to save all bookmarks as one bookmark. HTML-It's a universal format that can be read by any text editor or other browser.
To do this, open the bookmark management menu (usually three dots or a gear) and find "Export bookmarks" or "Save to file" and the system will create a file that can be sent to your mail or saved to cloud storage.
On the new device, the process is reversed: select "Import from a file" and specify the path to the saved document. The browser will analyze the structure and add links to the corresponding folders. This is a reliable way to archive data without being tied to the Internet.
☑️ Pre-export verification
HTML-It's convenient to store a file on a flash drive or an external hard drive, and unlike cloud services, this method gives you complete control over the data, and no one except you has access to the contents of the file without physical access to the media.
When importing to Xiaomi, pay attention to file encoding. UTF-8 is standard, but there may sometimes be conflicts with Cyrillic folder names. If the names are displayed by Krakozabra, try opening the file in the text editor and resaving it with the correct encoding.
Comparison of data transfer methods
The best way to choose depends on your priorities: speed, security or independence from the network. Below is a comparison table that will help determine the method.
| Method | Speed. | Network dependency | Security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Sync | Tall. | Required. | Tall. |
| Mi Cloud | Medium | Required. | Tall. |
| HTML File | Low. | Not required | Depends on the user. |
| Bluetooth | Low. | Not required | Medium |
As you can see from the table, cloud-based methods benefit in speed and convenience, but require internet. Local methods like HTML or Bluetooth transmission are good for complete data isolation, but take longer.
For most users, a combined approach is optimal: constant background sync through Google or Mi Cloud for daily use and periodic export to HTML to create restore points in case of account lock.
Technical details of the HTML format
Transmission via Bluetooth and Mi Drop
In situations where the Internet connection is absent or unstable, you can use direct file transfer. Bluetooth technology or proprietary utility Mi Drop (ShareMe) allows you to quickly transfer the export file between devices.
First, export the bookmarks to the file on the old phone, as described in the section above. Then turn on Bluetooth on both devices and pair. Send the file to the new device and open it for import.
The advantage of Mi Drop is that it has a significantly higher transfer speed than classic Bluetooth, which is especially true if you are not only carrying bookmarks, but also heavy history files or app cache.
⚠️ Note: When transferring files via Bluetooth, make sure that the receiving device is allowed to receive files from "unknown devices". Otherwise, the transfer may be blocked by security systems. MIUI.
The method is also useful when transferring data from devices without a Google account, such as some Chinese versions of smartphones or Java-enabled push-button phones, if they allow export, but for modern smartphones it is more of a backup option.
After a successful transfer, remember to delete the file from public access if it contains sensitive information, or move it to a secure folder.Direct transfer minimizes the risks of leakage through third-party servers.
Solutions and work with the file system
Sometimes automatic methods fail, and you have to manually copy database files. In Android, browser bookmarks are often stored in hidden system folders, and access to them requires debugging mode or root rights.
The file path is usually /data/data/com.android.browser/databases/. The file may be called browser.db or webview.db. Copying this file to a new device with the same OS and browser version can completely clone the user profile.
To do this, you’ll need a file manager with access to system partitions, such as Root Explorer or MiXplorer. Be very careful: improper copying can lead to corrupt databases and loss of all records.
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Working with database system files is a method for advanced users, requiring the exact match of software versions on both devices.
If the bookmarks don't show up after you move, try clearing your browser cache. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management, find your browser and select Clear Cache. Don't confuse it with Clear Data, as this will delete everything.
In some cases, restarting the sync service helps. Open Settings → Accounts and sync, select the desired account and click Delete Account, and then add it again. This will force the process of completely uploading data from the server.