How to transfer information from Android to Android Xiaomi

Changing a smartphone is always stressful, associated not so much with the device itself, but with the loss of what has been accumulated over the years digital memories. When you unpack a new one with the MIUI or HyperOS shell, the first question that arises is: how to quickly and painlessly drag all contacts, photos and correspondence from the old gadget. Fortunately, the Android ecosystem and the Chinese brand’s own developments offer a lot of solutions, from built-in utilities to cloud services. Xiaomi with the MIUI or HyperOS shell, the first question that arises is: how to quickly and painlessly drag all contacts, photos and correspondence from the old gadget. Fortunately, the Android ecosystem and the Chinese brand’s own developments offer a lot of solutions, from built-in utilities to cloud services.

The process of data migration has become much easier in recent years. If previously the user had to manually copy files or use complex computer apps, now a couple of taps on the screen are enough. However, to avoid errors and loss of important files, it is necessary to understand the difference between the transfer methods. We will look at the most reliable methods that guarantee the safety of your personal information when moving to any smartphone in the line Redmi or POCO.

Preparing devices for data migration

Before starting any transfer process, you need to make sure that both devices are fully ready. Ignoring this step often results in a connection failure or an error in the middle of the procedure. On the old phone, check for free space, and on the new one Xiaomi make sure that the battery charge is at least 50-60%.

Particular attention should be paid to the stability of the connection. If you plan to use wireless methods, make sure both smartphones are on the same network or ready to create a direct access point. For the wired method, you may need an adapter OTGif the connectors on the devices are different (for example, Micro-USB on the old one and Type-C on the new one).

⚠️ Attention: Before starting any manipulations, it is strongly recommended to make a complete backup copy of the data of the old phone to an external drive or to the cloud. This is insurance in case of an unexpected failure during transfer.

Also, do not forget to log out of some specific accounts on your old device if required by application security policies (for example, banking apps or corporate instant messengers). This will prevent your account from being blocked due to suspicious activity from the new IP address.

Using the proprietary Mi Mover utility

The most effective and “native” way for owners of equipment of this brand is the application Mi Mover. This utility is preinstalled on all Xiaomi devices and allows you to transfer data over a high-speed Wi-Fi channel without using the Internet. The operating algorithm is simple: you launch the application on both smartphones, select the role of sender and recipient, and then scan the QR code.

The app interface is intuitive. Once the devices are connected, you will be asked to select categories of data to transfer. You can check boxes for contacts, messages, call log, system settings, music, videos, and even installed applications. The transfer speed depends on the amount of data, but usually several gigabytes are transferred in 10-15 minutes.

It is important to note that Mi Mover does an excellent job of transferring system settings, which saves a lot of time on the initial setup of a new phone. However, some apps that are copyrighted or have a specific data structure may not transfer correctly and will require re-authorization.

The process is as follows:

• 📲 Open Settings → Advanced → Mi Mover on the new phone.
• 📲 Launch the application on the old device and select the “I am the sender” mode.
• 📲 Confirm the connection and wait until the progress bar ends.

Transfer via Google Account and Cloud

The Google ecosystem offers a universal method that works on any device running Android. When you turn on the new one for the first time Xiaomi the system will prompt you to log in to your existing Google account. If you agree, your phone will automatically prompt you to restore your data from the latest backup.

This method is ideal for transferring contacts, calendar, Google Keep notes, and Chrome browser history. Photos and videos, if you have synchronization enabled in Google Photos, will appear in the gallery automatically as they are uploaded from the cloud. This eliminates the need to physically connect cables.

However, this method has its limitations. Free Google Drive storage is limited to 15GB, split between Mail, Drive, and Photos. If you have a lot of heavy videos, you may run out of space. In this case, you will have to purchase an additional subscription or use selective synchronization.

Data type	Recovery speed	Internet dependence	Reliability
Contacts and SMS	Instantly	Required	High
Applications	Medium (download)	Required	Medium
Photo and Video	Low (background)	Required	High
System settings	Fast	Required	Medium

Wired connection and USB cable

For those who do not trust wireless technologies or have a very large amount of data (hundreds of gigabytes), there is the good old wired method. Connecting two smartphones via a USB cable provides maximum stability and speed, free from Wi-Fi interference.

To implement this scenario, you will need a cable with connectors suitable for both devices, or an adapter. When connecting, a request may appear on the screen of the new phone to allow access to data from the old device. Confirm the action and select the file transfer mode MTP.

After the connection is established, you can use the built-in file manager Xiaomi ("Explorer") to copy folders. Pay special attention to the directories DCIM (camera photo), Download (downloads) and WhatsApp (if you need to transfer messenger media files manually).

⚠️ Attention: When using cheap or damaged cables, the transfer speed may drop to a minimum, and the connection is constantly broken. Use only original or certified data cables.

This method is also convenient because it does not require the installation of additional software. You simply work with the file system as with a regular flash drive. This gives complete control over which files will be copied and which can be left on the old device.

What to do if the computer does not see the phone?

If the device is not displayed when connecting to a PC or another phone, go to the developer settings. Enable "USB Debugging" and check the connection mode in the notification shade - it should be set to "File Transfer" and not "Charge Only".

Data transfer via Bluetooth and NFC

Although these technologies are considered outdated for transferring large amounts of information, they can still be useful in emergency situations. Bluetooth is found in every smartphone, and it does not require the Internet or special cables. However, the transfer speed here is extremely low.

Using Bluetooth only makes sense to transfer several contacts, small documents or a couple of photos. This method is absolutely not suitable for migrating the entire gallery or list of applications due to the time required. The process may take hours instead of minutes.

NFC (Near Field Communication) technology works differently. It does not transfer the files themselves, but only establishes a fast connection between devices (Android Beam technology, which has now been transformed into Nearby Share). You bring the phones with their back covers to each other, and the system offers to send content.

In modern versions of MIUI, the direct transfer function via touch may be disabled by default. It must be activated in the section Connected devices. Even in this case, for large files the system will automatically switch to using Wi-Fi Direct, which is essentially a simplified version of the Mi Mover.

Transferring correspondence from instant messengers

A separate and most painful topic for many users is transferring the history of correspondence from WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber. Standard methods for copying files often do not preserve the messenger database structure, which is why you get an “empty” chat on your new phone.

For WhatsApp the only reliable way is to use the built-in backup function. On your old phone, go to Settings → Chats → Backup copy of chats and create a copy in Google Drive. On the new Xiaomi, when installing WhatsApp, you will be offered to restore this copy.

Messenger Telegram works differently: the entire history is stored on the cloud servers. You just need to enter your phone number and verification code, and all chats (except secret ones) will appear automatically. No additional actions are required.

• 💬 Viber: Requires creating a local backup in the application settings and manually copying the folder Viber via PC or Mi Mover.
• 💬 Signal: Use the "Transfer Account" function inside the application, which generates a QR code for scanning by the new device.
• 💬 LINE: Requires linking to an email and carrying out the procedure for changing the device through the account settings.

⚠️ Attention: Secret chats in Telegram and encrypted conversations in some other instant messengers cannot be transferred for security reasons. They are tied to a specific device and encryption keys stored in its memory.

Some users try to use third-party apps to download history, but this often leads to a violation of the integrity of the database. It’s better to spend 10 minutes creating an official backup in the cloud than to risk losing many years of correspondence.

Why don’t you receive notifications after the transfer?

After migrating data to Xiaomi, go to the battery settings and allow instant messengers to run in the background. The MIUI system aggressively saves energy and can “kill” the processes of migrated applications.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Will application passwords be transferred when you change your phone?

Most passwords saved in the Google password manager (Smart Lock) are synced automatically when you sign in to your account. However, passwords saved within specific applications or in third-party password managers (such as KeePass) will require manual synchronization or database export.

Is it possible to transfer data if the old phone is broken and will not turn on?

If the screen does not work, but the phone turns on and makes sounds, you can try connecting it to the computer via USB and copying the files if it was previously allowed access to data. If the phone is completely dead, it is impossible to restore data without repairing the board, except in cases where cloud synchronization has been configured.

Will the data on the old phone be erased after transferring to Xiaomi?

No, the transfer (copying) process does not delete information from the source. Your data will remain safe and sound on your old device. To remove them, you will need to perform a manual factory reset before selling or disposing of the gadget.

Why does Mi Mover display the “Not enough space” error?

This error occurs if the amount of data selected for transfer exceeds the free space on the new Xiaomi smartphone. Check the available memory in the settings and free up space by deleting unnecessary files or applications, or select only the most important categories of data to transfer.

How to transfer the home screen layout and widgets?

The Mi Mover utility can transfer the layout of icons and widgets if you are transferring data from an old Xiaomi to a new one. When switching from other Android brands (Samsung, Huawei), the layout will most likely be lost, and you will have to configure the desktop again manually.