How to transfer data from Android to Xiaomi

Changing a mobile device is always accompanied by mild stress, because there is a natural fear of losing important contacts, photos or settings of familiar applications. This is especially true when switching to branded smartphones Xiaomi, where the MIUI or HyperOS interface has its own unique features that differ from stock Android or shells from other manufacturers. However, modern technologies have made the migration process as simple and accessible as possible even for inexperienced users.

There are several proven methods for synchronizing information, each of which has its own advantages depending on the volume of files being transferred and the speed of the Internet connection. You can use the developer's proprietary utility, Google cloud services, or a classic wired connection. The choice of a specific method depends on how quickly you need to complete the procedure and how much memory your digital archive occupies.

In this article we will analyze in detail each stage of preparing and directly copying files so that your new gadget becomes a complete copy of the old one in a matter of minutes. We will look at the nuances of working with different versions of the operating system and show you how to avoid common mistakes that lead to failures in the transfer of data packets.

Preparing devices for information migration

Before starting any manipulations, it is critically important to properly prepare both smartphones. Make sure both devices have at least battery charge 50-60%, since the transfer process can take considerable time and consume a lot of energy. It is also recommended to free up enough space on the internal storage of the new phone to avoid write errors in the middle of the process.

Check that the software on both gadgets is up to date. Go to Settings → About phone → MIUI version (or HyperOS version) and click the check for updates button. Fresh patches often contain corrections for data transfer protocol errors, which significantly increases the stability of the connection.

⚠️ Attention: If your old device has a lock screen with a pattern or a complex password, temporarily disable it or remember the combination, so as some transfer methods require confirmation of access rights during operation.

It would be a good idea to close all background applications on your old smartphone to free up RAM and processor for the cloning task. This is especially important for models with a small amount of RAM, where multitasking can cause the interface to freeze while creating a backup.

Using the proprietary Mi Mover application

The most effective and preferred way for owners of equipment of this brand is to use the built-in tool Mi Mover. This is a specialized application that creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between two devices, providing high transfer speeds without using Internet traffic. It comes pre-installed on all modern Redmi and Poco models, but can be downloaded from the Play Market on any other Android smartphone.

Run the app on both phones. On the new device, select the “I receive” role, and on the old device, select “I am the sender”. The application will automatically generate a QR code or hotspot. Point the camera of the new phone at the code of the old device to establish a secure communication channel.

After connecting, the system will prompt you to select categories of data to transfer. You can check off contacts, messages, call logs, photos, music, videos and even installed applications. Mi Mover can transfer not only the APK files of the apps themselves, but also some of their settings, which saves time on subsequent configuration.

Copying time depends on the size of the selected files and the quality of the wireless signal between devices. During the process, do not minimize the application and keep the screens turned on. Upon completion, you will receive a detailed report on how many gigabytes were successfully moved.

Synchronization via Google account

Classic a method that works on any Android device, regardless of brand. The idea is to upload data to Google cloud servers and then download it to a new device. To get started, go to Settings → Accounts → Google on your old phone.

Click on the “Account Sync” item and make sure that the switches next to Contacts, Calendar, Keep Notes and Chrome Data are activated. After that, click the "Sync" button or wait for the automatic update. This ensures that your entire address book and browser history is saved in the cloud.

However, it is worth considering the limitations of the free plan. Google provides 15 GB of storage, which is divided between Mail, Drive and Photos. If you have a lot of high-resolution photos, they may not fit into the limit.

When setting up your new Xiaomi for the first time, simply enter your Google username and password. The system will offer to restore data from the latest backup. This method is ideal for basic information, but for heavy media files it is better to use other methods.

Transferring data via computer and cable

If wireless methods seem unreliable or too slow, use a PC as an intermediate buffer. Connect the old smartphone to the computer via a USB cable and select the operating mode File transfer (MTP) in the notification shade.

Copy folders DCIM (photo from camera), Pictures, Download and Music to your computer's hard drive. Then disconnect the old phone, connect the new Xiaomi and transfer these folders to the appropriate directories of the internal memory.

This method gives complete control over the process and allows you to sort out unnecessary garbage in advance without clogging the memory of the new device. In addition, the transfer speed of a USB 3.0 cable is much more stable than that of any wireless protocol.

⚠️ Attention: When copying via a computer, do not remove the cable until the writing operation is complete. Interrupting the process may result in damaged files and the appearance of broken photos that cannot be opened.

To export contacts in the format .vcf go to the "Contacts" application on your old phone, select "Import/export" and save the file to the internal memory. Then transfer this file to your computer and then to the new phone, where import it back into the phone book.

Features of transferring messages and call logs

The most difficult part of the migration is SMS messages and call history, since they are often not completely synchronized with standard Android tools. Here again the application comes to the rescue Mi Mover, which can correctly process message databases.

If you use third-party solutions, make sure that they have access to system permissions. On new versions of Android (11, 12, 13, 14), the security system strictly limits application access to personal data, so when you first launch the transfer app, you will have to manually confirm several system requests.

It is also worth remembering the difference in encodings. In rare cases, when transferring from very old models to new ones, problems may arise with the display of special characters in message texts. It is recommended to check several dialogs immediately after completing the procedure.

Troubleshooting and common errors

During the migration process, users may encounter a number of technical difficulties. One of the most common problems is the Wi-Fi Direct connection dropping in the Mi Mover app. This usually happens because one of the devices goes into power saving mode.

To prevent this, go to the battery settings and turn off the "Power Saving" option for the duration of the transfer. You can also add the transfer application to the exception list so that the system does not “kill” its process in the background.

Another common scenario is the “Insufficient space” error, even if there is free space. This is due to the file system and temporary files created during the unpacking process. Always leave a reserve of 10-15% of the total memory.

⚠️ Attention: The MIUI and HyperOS interface is constantly updated. The location of menu items may vary slightly depending on the firmware version (Global, China, EEA). If you do not find the item you need, use the search in the settings.

If the transfer of applications was successful, but they do not open, try clearing the cache of each of them. Banking applications and services with two-factor authentication will require you to log in again for security reasons; this is normal behavior.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions