Buying a new smartphone is always a pleasant experience, but it is often overshadowed by the need to carry over years of digital baggage. Xiaomi device owners are in a great position to develop powerful built-in tools for migration, the process of transferring is much easier than a few years ago, when you had to manually download each application again.
Modern methods allow you to clone not only the installation files themselves, but also their data, logins and even the placement of icons on the desktop. However, there are nuances that depend on the version of the MIUI operating system or the new HyperOS, and also on which device the transition is from. In this article, we will discuss in detail all ways that you can start using the gadget immediately after unpacking.
It should be noted that for successful completion of the operation, the battery charge of both devices must be at least 50-60%.Abrupt power outage at the time of transferring large amounts of data can lead to file damage or interruption of account synchronization.
Use of the Mi Mover application
The most efficient and quickest way to transfer is to use the pre-installed Mi Mover utility, which is designed specifically for the Xiaomi ecosystem and allows you to transfer contacts, messages, photos, music and most importantly, installed applications. The utility works on the principle of creating a local Wi-Fi network between two devices, which ensures high speed of transmission of Internet traffic without any connection.
It runs the same on both phones, and you need to find the app in the Tools folder or search in the settings, and if the old device doesn't have the program (like a different brand phone), you can download it from Google Play or scan it. QR-A code that will appear on the screen of the new smartphone, and after launch, the system will prompt you to choose the role of the device: "Sender" or "Receiver".
☑️ Preparation for transfer via Mi Mover
Once the communication is established, the data selection menu will open, and it is important to be careful: not all categories may be selected by default. The application interface allows you to flexibly configure filters so as not to copy system debris or temporary files.
- 📱 Select the category "Applications" and tick all programs that need to be moved.
- 📸 Remember to check the Images and Video tab if the media files are stored in the device’s memory.
- 📞 Make sure that the "System Settings" item is activated to save Wi-Fi passwords and alarms.
- 📝 Check the "Messages" and "Call logs" section to save your correspondence history.
⚠️ Note: When transferring banking applications and encrypted messengers (such as WhatsApp, Telegram) data may not be transferred completely for security reasons. For WhatsApp, it is better to use the built-in backup function to the cloud before starting the procedure.
Once the selection is confirmed, the copying process will begin, the speed depends on the amount of data and the quality of the wireless module, on average, it takes between 10 and 20 minutes to transfer 50-60 applications with the cache, and when the operation is completed, a report will appear on the screen of the new phone on the number of successfully transferred elements.
What to do if the Mi Mover is frozen?
Transfer via Google and Play Market account
An alternative and often more reliable method for users who don’t want to use third-party utilities or switch from an iPhone is to restore from a Google backup.This method is native to the Android operating system and ensures that all packages installed are compatible.
To implement this plan on your old device, you need to make sure that sync is enabled. Go to Settings → Google → Backup and click Start Copy. In this menu, you will see a list of applications that will be saved and the date of the last sync. It is important that the list is current at the time of the phone replacement.
On the new Xiaomi, when you first set up (or after you run Hard Reset), type in the same email address. The system will automatically detect the backup and prompt you to restore the list of applications. They will start downloading and installing in the background immediately after you connect to Wi-Fi.
| Parameter | Mi Mover | Google Backup | Hand-mounted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed. | High (locally) | Medium (depending on the Internet) | Low. |
| Application data | Partially/completely | Only if maintained. | Just a clean APK. |
| Network requirement | Not required (Wi-Fi Direct) | A stable Wi-Fi is required | Required for downloading |
| Compatibility | Android/iOS | Android only. | Anybody. |
The advantage of the method through Google Play is that all applications will be immediately updated to the latest versions available at the time of installation, however, some services will still have to be logged in manually, since authorization tokens are rarely transferred through the cloud for security purposes.
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Use the App Library feature in Play Market on your new device. Go to Profile → App and Device Management → Library to see a list of all the programs you’ve ever installed and quickly download the ones you need.
Migration from iPhone to Xiaomi
The transition from iOS to Android has long been considered a difficult process, but now Xiaomi offers an optimized script, the main tool here is also the Mi Mover app, which is available in the App Store, which allows you to transfer contacts, photos, videos and even some applications, if their Android versions exist.
The process starts with installing the app on the iPhone. Once you start, you need to create an access point or connect to the Wi-Fi network created by the new Xiaomi phone. The interface on iOS will be slightly different from the Android version, but the logic remains the same: choose "Sender", scan. QR-code and wait for connection.
Note that paid apps purchased from the App Store are not automatically portable; you will have to reintroduce them to Google Play if the developer does not provide a cross-platform subscription. Free apps that have analogues in the Google Store will be offered for installation automatically.
- 🍏 Contacts and calendars are transferred without problems via iCloud sync or directly.
- 💬 iMessage messages can not be transferred to Android due to the closed protocol Apple.
- 📷 High-resolution photos may require additional format conversion time.
- 🔒 Two-factor authentication: Make sure you have access to your phone number or backup codes, as SIM-map will be re-posted.
⚠️ Before you abandon the iPhone, be sure to disable the “Find iPhone” function and exit iCloud, otherwise the device may remain locked for the new owner, and some data will not be untied from Apple servers.
Once the basic transfer is complete, it’s recommended to install the Move to iOS app (if it’s still relevant for the return journey, though rarely needed here) or simply take advantage of Google services like Google Photos and Google Contacts, which perfectly sync Apple’s ecosystem with Android.
Manual installation of APK files and work with archivers
In some cases, standard methods don't work, like if you want to migrate a modified version of an application or a program that's been removed from official stores, and this is where manual APK installation comes in, and this requires pre-preparation on your old device.
File managers with application export function can be used to extract installation files, such as MT Manager, APK Extractor or embedded tools MIUI. The process is as follows: you select an application, create a copy of it as an installation file, and transfer this file to a new phone via Bluetooth, USB-cable.
adb pull /data/app/com.example.app/base.apk./backup.apkFor advanced users, the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) backup method is available. By connecting an old phone to a computer, you can make a full backup of installed packages. However, it is worth remembering that without Root rights, the standard adb backup command on modern versions of Android often saves only APK, ignoring user data.
Once the files are transferred to the new Xiaomi, you must allow installation from unknown sources. The MIUI Guard security system can warn of potential danger, but if the file is received from a trusted device, it can be ignored.
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The manual method is ideal for carrying rare or modified applications, but it takes time and basic file system skills.
Synchronization of data within applications
Just copying an app is half the battle. The main value lies inside: correspondence, game progress, notes and settings. Many modern applications use cloud sync, tied to a developer account or social network, and once you install the program on a new phone, you just need to log in to your account.
Telegram stores the entire story on the server, so just enter a phone number. WhatsApp requires a backup in Google Drive. Go to WhatsApp settings on your old phone, select Chats → Backup and click Create. On the new device, when you first start, the system will prompt you to restore data from the backup found.
Game progress is most often saved through the Google Play Games service. Make sure that the old phone has synced in the game settings. When you launch the game on the new Xiaomi, a pop-up will appear with a suggestion to download the saved progress.
- 📧 Mail clients: data is not copied, you need to re-enter the login and password from the box.
- 🎵 Music streaming: playlists will automatically pull up when logged in to Spotify or Yandex.Music.
- 🛒 Bank applications: require full re-authorization and device binding, copies of data are not transferred for security reasons.
⚠️ Note: Two-factor authentication (2FA) It can be a hindrance if you lose access to your old number or authentication app, save recovery codes for important accounts (Google, social media, exchanges) in advance).
Solving problems and errors when copying
Despite the fact that processes are fine, users can encounter errors. One of the most common problems is the lack of space on the new device. Even if the memory is declared as 128 GB, some is occupied by the system. Before starting the migration, check the free space in the Settings → About Phone → Storage section.
Another problem is the incompatibility of Android versions. If you move from a very old device (Android 6-7) to the newest Xiaomi with Android 13-14, some old apps may simply not install or work incorrectly, in which case the system will suggest finding analogues in the store.
It is also possible to fail when transferring large amounts of data due to unstable connection. If the process is constantly interrupted, try to reduce the number of files selected or break the transfer into several stages: first applications, then photos, then videos.