Changing a smartphone is always an exciting moment, but the process of transferring accumulated information often causes stress. New devices in the line Xiaomi offer powerful migration tools that allow you to maintain your familiar environment of use. You do not need to manually rewrite contacts or search for old photos in the gallery, since modern data transfer protocols make this process automated.
However, there are nuances associated with the version of the operating system and the type of data being transferred. In this article, we will analyze in detail all the available methods, from proprietary utilities to cloud services, so that the transition to a new gadget goes as smoothly as possible. It is important to understand that full clone system is not always possible, and some settings will have to be adapted to the new MIUI or HyperOS interface.
Before starting the procedure, make sure that both devices are charged at least 50-60%. Transferring large amounts of data, especially over Wi-Fi Direct, can be a significant drain on energy, and suddenly turning off one of your phones will interrupt the process, requiring you to start the procedure again from the beginning.
Preparing devices for data migration
Successful transfer of information directly depends on the preliminary preparation of both smartphones. On your old device, you need to free up space by deleting unnecessary cached files and duplicate photos to speed up the copying process. On the new one Xiaomi you should complete the initial setup of the language and network connection, but do not rush to log into your accounts before the migration begins.
A critical step is to update the software on both devices. Developers are constantly improving the algorithms for Mi Mover and Google system services. Go to Settings → About phone and check for updates. If the versions of Android or shell differ significantly, conflicts may arise when transferring specific system settings.
⚠️ Attention: If custom firmware is installed on your old phone or received root access, standard transfer methods may not work correctly. In such cases, it is recommended to make a full backup of important data manually before starting the procedure.
It is also worth checking the availability of free space on the target device. Sometimes users buy a model with less memory than the previous device had. Make sure that the available memory is sufficient to accommodate all the applications, media files and system data that you plan to migrate.
Using the proprietary Mi Mover application
The most effective way to migrate within the ecosystem is to use the pre-installed utility Mi Mover. This tool is designed specifically to work with the MIUI and HyperOS shells, transferring not only files, but also folder structures, alarm settings, and even the location of icons on the desktop.
Run the application on both devices. On the new smartphone, select the role “I am the recipient”, and on the old one - “I am the sender”. After scanning the QR code, the devices will create a secure connection. You can select specific categories of data for transfer, which allows you to flexibly manage the process and avoid copying unnecessary things.
☑️ Ready to transfer via Mi Mover
The transfer process is carried out via a direct Wi-Fi channel, which ensures high speed that does not depend on the quality of your home Internet. However, it is worth remembering that while the utility is running, other applications may be unstable due to the load on the wireless module.
If the transfer is stuck at 99%, do not reboot the phones immediately. Wait 5-10 minutes - the system may complete indexing small files in the background.
Recovery via Google account
The Google ecosystem offers a universal method that works when moving from any Android smartphone to Xiaomi. This method is ideal for transferring contacts, calendar events, passwords from the Chrome password manager, and a list of installed applications.
When you turn on a new device for the first time, the system will prompt you to restore data from a backup copy. Select your Google Account and select the latest available copy. Please note that photos and videos, if they have not been uploaded to Google Photos, are not transferred through this method.
| Data type | Google method | Mi Mover method | Manual method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact | Automatic | Automatic | VCF export |
| Photo and Video | Only via cloud | Direct transfer | USB cable |
| Applications | List of links | APK and data | Store |
| Wi-Fi settings | Yes (if enabled) | Yes | Manual input |
An important advantage of this method is the synchronization of purchased content on Google Play. All paid apps linked to your account will be available for re-download at no additional cost. However, data inside some applications (for example, progress in games) may not be saved if the developer does not use cloud saves.
Transferring multimedia and documents manually
Sometimes automatic systems fail or the user wants to transfer only specific folders. In this case, the most reliable option is connecting to a computer. Connect the old phone to the PC, copy the folders DCIM, Download and Documents to your hard drive.
Then connect the new one Xiaomi and move the files to the appropriate directories. This method is especially useful for transferring heavy, high-definition video files that can take a long time to travel over the air. In addition, it allows you to organize files in a convenient order immediately on your new device.
For users who prefer mobile solutions, there are third-party file managers with a Wi-Fi transfer function. Applications like Send Anywhere allow you to generate a digital key to quickly send selected files without establishing a connection between specific devices.
⚠️ Attention: When manually copying hidden folders (starting with a dot), such as
.thumbnails, make sure that your file manager is set to display hidden system files, otherwise some of the gallery thumbnails may not appear transfer.
Synchronizing messages and call logs
Transferring SMS history and call lists often causes difficulties, since standard Android tools are not always willing to share this data between different manufacturers. On Xiaomi smartphones, this function is built directly into the initial setup process or into the Mi Mover application.
When choosing a data type in Mi Mover, be sure to check the “Messages” and “Call Log” checkboxes. Once the process is complete, check the Phone and Messages app on your new device. The history should be updated automatically, saving the dates and contacts of the senders.
What to do if the SMS have not been transferred?
If the standard method did not work, try using the SMS Backup & Restore application. It will create an XML backup file on the old phone, which needs to be transferred to the new one and restored through the same application.
It is worth considering that messages from banks and two-factor authentication services may not be transferred due to security reasons for some operating systems. In such cases, you will need to re-request confirmation codes from the services.
Transferring data from WhatsApp and Telegram messengers
Messengers occupy a special place in the user data structure. For Telegram the process is as simple as possible: just enter the phone number on the new device, and all chats, channels and media will be downloaded from the cloud servers automatically. Local application settings may require manual adjustments.
With WhatsApp the situation is more complicated. The app stores backups either in Google Drive or locally in memory. When using Mi Mover, WhatsApp data is often transferred correctly along with the chat history. If you're using Google restore, make sure you have a fresh backup in your WhatsApp settings on your old phone.
In WhatsApp settings on your old device, go to Settings → Chats → Chat backup and click "Backup". After installing the application on the new Xiaomi and entering the number, the system will offer to restore data from the found copy.
To successfully transfer WhatsApp via Google Drive, both phones must use the same Google account, and a fresh backup must be performed on the old device immediately before the migration.
⚠️ Attention: Messenger interfaces and backup methods can be updated by developers. If the standard procedure does not work, check the latest instructions in the “Help” section inside the WhatsApp or Telegram application itself.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will my passwords from Wi-Fi networks be transferred?
Yes, when using Mi Mover or recovery via Google Account (if synchronization of system settings was enabled on the old device), passwords from saved Wi-Fi networks will be transferred. The new phone will automatically connect to familiar networks.
Do I need to delete data from the old phone before selling it?
Required. After successfully transferring and checking the functionality of all data on the new Xiaomi, reset the old device to factory settings through the menu Settings → About phone → Reset settings. This will delete all personal information.
Is it possible to transfer data from iPhone to Xiaomi?
Yes, the Mi Mover app supports receiving data from iOS. However, the functionality is limited: you can transfer contacts, photos, videos and calendar. Applications and their data cannot be transferred due to differences in operating systems.
What to do if the process is frozen at the "Preparing" stage?
Try to restart both smartphones and start the procedure again. Make sure that power saving mode is turned off on both devices and that the screen does not go dark during the transfer. Also check if the antivirus is blocking the creation of the connection.