Buying a new smartphone is always an exciting event, which, however, is often overshadowed by the fear of losing important information. Many users are wondering how to transfer data from one phone to another Android Xiaomi, so as not to lose a single photo, contact or correspondence in the messenger. Fortunately, the Android ecosystem and Xiaomi's proprietary tools offer several reliable ways to solve this problem, from cloud storage to direct connection of devices.
The migration process can take from 15 minutes to several hours, depending on the amount of information you plan to transport. Modern tools automate most of the routine operations, but the user still needs to understand the features of Mi Mover and other utilities. In this article, we will analyze each method in detail, evaluate their pros and cons, and provide a step-by-step algorithm for a seamless transition to a new device.
Preparing devices before starting the migration
Before you begin the actual process of copying files, it is critically important to properly prepare both smartphones. Make sure that both devices have sufficient battery charge, preferably at least 60-70%, so that the process is not interrupted due to battery drain. It is also recommended to free up space on the receiving device by deleting temporary files or unnecessary applications if the memory is almost full.
Update the operating system on both gadgets to the latest available version. This will minimize the risk of software version conflicts and ensure compatibility of all system migration utilities. Go to Settings → About phone and check for MIUI or HyperOS firmware updates.
⚠️ Attention: If you are using an encrypted SD card on an old device, before transferring data, it is better to decrypt it or copy the files to the internal memory, as new ones devices may not have decryption keys from the old card.
☑️ Preparing for data transfer
Particular attention should be paid to accounts. Log in to your Google account old device and make sure that syncing your contacts and calendar was successful. This will create a backup copy of the most important personal data on Google servers, which will serve as additional insurance in case of failure during a local transfer.
Using the proprietary Mi Mover utility
The most effective and fastest way to migrate within the Xiaomi ecosystem is the application Mi Mover. This utility is preinstalled on most brand smartphones and allows you to transfer data via a direct Wi-Fi connection without consuming mobile traffic and providing high transfer speeds.
To get started, launch the application on both devices. On the old phone, select the “Sender” role (Old phone), and on the new Xiaomi - “Recipient” (New phone). After this, a QR code will appear on the screen of the new device, which must be scanned with the camera of the old smartphone to establish a secure connection.
When using Mi Mover, do not lock the phone screens during the transfer, as this may break the Wi-Fi connection and interrupt the process of copying large files.
After successful pairing, you will see a list of data categories available for transfer. The system allows you to flexibly configure the selection so as not to copy garbage or duplicate files.
- 📞 Contacts and call logs are transferred instantly.
- 📸 Photos and videos are the largest block of data.
- 📱 Applications and their data - not supported for all apps.
- ⚙️ System settings - themes, wallpaper, icon locations.
Select the required items and click the “Submit” button. The transfer speed depends on the number of files and the quality of the wireless module, but usually ranges from 10 to 40 MB/s. Once the process is complete, the new phone will automatically install applications and unpack archives.
Mi Mover creates a direct connection between devices, which makes it the fastest method for transferring gigabytes of photos and videos without using the Internet.
⚠️ Attention: The Mi Mover utility may not transfer authorization data in some banking applications and instant messengers due to considerations security. You will have to enter them again manually.
Synchronization via Google Account
A classic method that works on any Android device, regardless of brand. It's ideal for transferring contacts, notes, calendar events, and a list of installed applications. However, this method is less suitable for multimedia files due to the limitations of free cloud storage.
On your old device, go to the Settings → Accounts and synchronizationsection. Select your Google profile and make sure the sliders next to Contacts, Calendar, and Drive are active. Click the “Synchronize” button to force the data to be sent to the server.
When setting up your new Xiaomi for the first time, you will be asked to enter your Google login and password. After logging in, the system will automatically prompt you to restore the backup. You will be able to select the date the last copy was created and the list of applications that need to be downloaded from the store Google Play.
| Data type | Synchronization method | Limits | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact | Google Contacts | 25,000 pcs. | Instantly |
| Photo/Video | Google Photos | 15 GB free | Depends on the Internet |
| Applications | Play Market | No | Medium |
| SMS messages | Backup | Depends on location | Low |
This method requires a stable Wi-Fi connection, especially if you plan to restore photos. If you run out of space in the cloud, the system will offer to buy an additional tariff or skip downloading media files.
Data transfer via the Xiaomi cloud
Owners of Xiaomi smartphones have access to their own cloud service Xiaomi Cloud, which is deeply integrated into the MIUI shell. This is an excellent alternative to solutions from Google, especially if you are already using the services of the brand's ecosystem.
To activate the function, log into your Mi Account phone settings. In the "Cloud" section, you can enable synchronization of the gallery, voice recordings, notes, and even desktop settings. The data is encrypted and stored on the company’s servers, providing access to it from any device after authorization.
The main advantage of this method is the ability to restore not only files, but also specific interface settings that are not saved in a standard Google backup. You can return to the usual arrangement of widgets and folders in a matter of minutes.
What to do if you run out of space in Xiaomi Cloud?
The user is provided with 5 GB of space for free. If this is not enough, you can purchase a subscription or use the cloud only for critical data, such as contacts and notes, and store photos on a memory card or in Google Photos.
However, it is worth considering the regional features of Xiaomi services. In some countries, the functionality of the cloud may be limited or require changing the region in the phone settings for full operation.
⚠️ Attention: When changing the region in the phone settings, the data saved in the cloud for the previous region may become temporarily unavailable until the settings are returned.
Manual transfer via computer
If For some reason, automatic methods are not suitable or cause errors; there is always a reliable “old-fashioned” method - using a personal computer as an intermediate buffer. This method gives complete control over the process and allows you to visually filter out unnecessary files.
Connect your old smartphone to the PC via a USB cable and select the “File Transfer” (MTP) operating mode. Copy the necessary folders, such as DCIM (camera photo), Download and Documents, to a separate directory on your computer's hard drive.
Then disconnect the old device and connect the new Xiaomi. Drag the saved folders to the internal memory of your new smartphone. To transfer contacts, you can export them to a file format .vcf via the Contacts application, transfer the file to your phone and open it for import.
This method is especially relevant when transferring heavy video files that take a long time to load into the cloud. Direct recording to a computer disk and subsequent downloading to a phone is often more stable than over a wireless network.
Transferring correspondence from instant messengers
The transfer of the history of correspondence in popular instant messengers, such as WhatsApp, Telegram i Viber. These applications store data locally or in their own clouds, and standard system tools often cannot process their databases correctly.
With WhatsApp, you need to create a backup in advance through the settings of the application itself. Go to Settings → Chats → Chat backup and click “Create a copy”. Make sure that it is saved in Google Drive, and not just locally on the device.
When installing WhatsApp on a new phone and logging into the same number, the application will automatically detect the backup in the cloud and offer to restore your message history. This process may take time depending on the size of the database.
- 📱 Telegram stores all history in the cloud - just log into your account.
- 💬 Viber requires creating a local or cloud copy before changing the device.
- 📩 Signal requires manual transfer of the database through the "Transfer" function chats" in the settings.
For instant messengers, always use the built-in backup functions inside the applications themselves, and do not rely only on the Android system backup.
Ignoring this step will lead to the fact that you will receive a clean messenger without a correspondence history, which cannot be restored after the fact without a preliminary copy.
Solving common problems and errors
During the process of data transfer, users may encounter various technical difficulties. One of the most common problems is connection dropouts when using Mi Mover. This often happens because one of the devices is trying to switch to the mobile network or the screen goes blank.
If the transfer is stuck at a certain percentage, try canceling the operation and starting over with a smaller amount of data to transfer. For example, divide the process into two stages: first transfer contacts and settings, and then copy photos and videos separately.
It is also possible that applications do not open or crash after transfer. In this case, you need to go to Settings → Applications, find the problematic app and clear its cache. As a last resort, completely deleting and reinstalling the application from the store will help.
⚠️ Attention: If after transferring the data the phone begins to quickly discharge or slow down, give it a few hours alone. The system indexes files and optimizes databases in the background, which creates a load on the processor.
Why did some photos not open after transfer?
The files may have been damaged during the transfer process or an incompatible format was used. Try opening them through the standard gallery or a third-party file manager.
In rare cases, you may need to reset the new phone to factory settings if the migration was completed with critical errors and the system is unstable. Before doing this, make sure that the data from the old device is still available to try again.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will the data from the old phone be deleted after the transfer?
No, the data transfer process is a copy, not a move. All your files, contacts and applications will remain unchanged on your old device. You can safely erase them only after you make sure that the new phone works correctly.
Is it possible to transfer data from iPhone to Xiaomi?
Yes, the Mi Mover app supports iOS. You'll need to install a special version of the app on your iPhone and follow the onscreen instructions. However, transferring some types of data, such as iMessages or in-app purchases, is not possible due to restrictions in the Apple ecosystem.
How long does it take to transfer 100 GB of data?
When using a direct Wi-Fi connection through Mi Mover, the speed can reach 20-30 MB/s. So transferring 100 GB can take 1 to 2 hours. When using cloud services, the time will depend solely on the speed of your Internet channel.
Do I need to insert a SIM card into a new phone before transferring?
For Mi Mover to work and Google synchronization, a SIM card is not required, Wi-Fi is sufficient. However, for verification in messengers and some banking applications, you will need to have an active SIM card in the device to which you are restoring data.
What to do if you forgot the password for your Mi Account?
Restore access to your account through the official Xiaomi website using the linked phone number or email. Without logging into your account, using some cloud functions and synchronizing settings will not be available, although basic file transfer via cable is possible.