Buying a new smartphone Xiaomi is always a pleasant event, which, however, is often overshadowed by the need to transfer all accumulated information from the old device. Users are faced with the question: how to quickly and without loss transfer contacts, photos, messages and application settings. Fortunately, the ecosystem MIUI and the Android operating system provide several powerful tools for solving this task, making the process as automated as possible.
In this article we will analyze in detail all available synchronization methods: from a proprietary utility Mi Mover, which is considered the gold standard for owners of this brand, to cloud services and manual transfer methods. You will learn how to prepare both gadgets for the procedure, what nuances exist when switching from other brands to Redmi or POCO, and how to avoid common mistakes that lead to data loss.
Regardless of whether your old device is also a product of the Chinese giant or is a device from a completely different manufacturer, the action algorithms will be clear and accessible even for beginners. The main thing is to choose the appropriate method based on the amount of information transferred and the speed of your Internet connection.
Preparing devices for the migration process
Before you start directly copying files, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps that guarantee the stability of the process. First of all, check the battery level on both smartphones. It is advisable that both devices have at least 50-60% charge, and even better, connect them to power sources for the duration of the entire procedure.
The second important stage is updating the software. An outdated version MIUI or Android may contain bugs that prevent the data transfer modules from working correctly. Go to settings and check for system updates. Also make sure that both phones have the Wi-Fi i Bluetoothmodules enabled, as they are often used to create a direct access point between gadgets.
⚠️ Attention: If you are switching from an iPhone to Android, the process will be different and will require the use of the special Mi Mover application for iOS. This instruction is aimed primarily at the Android-Android pair.
Free up space on your new device. Although modern smartphones have a large amount of memory, checking the free space before starting the operation will never be superfluous. Delete unnecessary caches or temporary files so that data reception goes smoothly due to lack of space.
☑️ Ready for synchronization
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 utility Mi Mover. This application is pre-installed on all smartphones with the MIUI shell and allows you to transfer data via a high-speed Wi-Fi Direct channel without consuming mobile traffic.
To get started, launch the application on both devices. Usually its icon is located in the "Tools" folder or in the settings menu in the "Advanced" section. On the old phone, select the role “Sender” (Old phone), and on the new one - “Recipient” (New phone). The system will automatically prompt you to scan the QR code to establish a secure connection.
After pairing the devices, you will see a list of data categories available for transfer. You can select absolutely everything or mark only specific items, such as contacts, call log, SMS, photos, music and installed applications. The process of copying large amounts of data can take from 15 minutes to an hour depending on the memory writing speed.
An important advantage Mi Mover is the ability to transfer not only files, but also system settings, including the location of icons on the desktop and alarm settings. This allows the new smartphone to become an almost complete copy of the old one immediately after turning it on.
When transferring a large number of photos via Mi Mover, do not lock the phone screens so that the system does not interrupt the connection to save energy.
Synchronization via Google account and cloud services
If using a direct connection for some reason is impossible, synchronization via the cloud remains a classic solution. The ecosystem Google offers a reliable way to save contacts, calendar, notes and even passwords, which will automatically be transferred to the new device when you log into your account.
To activate this function on your old device, go to the menu Settings → Accounts → Google. Make sure that the switches next to the desired items (Contacts, Disk, Calendar, Photos) are activated and click the "Synchronize" button. After this, the data will be uploaded to the company’s servers.
On a new smartphone Xiaomi just enter the same login and password when setting up for the first time or add an account manually in the settings section. Contacts and calendar events will appear in the corresponding applications almost instantly after connecting to the Internet. For photos, a service is used Google Photos, which requires a separate setting for the download quality.
| Data type | Synchronization method | Recovery speed | Dependency on Internet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact | Google Account | Instant | High |
| Photo and Video | Google Photo / Mi Cloud | Slow (depending on volume) | Critical |
| Applications | Google Play Market | Medium (download from the network) | High |
| System settings | Google backup | At the first setup | Medium |
In addition to solutions from Google, owners Xiaomi can use their own cloud Mi Cloud. It is integrated deeply into the system and allows you to create full system backups, which are stored on the manufacturer's servers. However, the free space there is limited, and large archives may require a subscription.
Manual data transfer via computer
For users who prefer complete control over the process or have huge amounts of data (for example, hundreds of gigabytes of video), using a PC as an intermediary remains the most reliable option. This method does not depend on the speed of wireless modules and the stability of the Internet connection.
Connect the old smartphone to the computer using a USB cable and select file transfer mode MTP in a notification on the phone screen. Copy the necessary folders (DCIM, Download, Music, Documents) to your computer’s hard drive. Then disconnect the old device and connect the new one Xiaomi.
Move the saved files to the internal memory of the new device, respecting the directory structure. For example, it is better to place photos in a folder DCIM/Cameraso that the gallery automatically indexes them. This method is ideal for transferring “heavy” media files that take a long time to download via the cloud.
⚠️ Attention: When copying files via a computer, be sure to use original or certified cables. Cheap wires can only support charging, but not data transfer, which will lead to a connection error.
If you do not have a computer at hand, you can use a card reader and memory card microSD, provided that both smartphones support this storage format. Write the data onto the card on your old phone, then insert it into the new one and copy the files to the internal memory.
Transferring SMS messages and call logs
One of the most delicate tasks when changing a phone is saving the history of correspondence and calls. Google's standard sync often leaves SMS content unaffected, leaving this section empty on a new device. To solve this problem, it is best to turn again to the application Mi Moverthat correctly processes message databases.
If you use third-party methods, you will need specialized software. There are applications like SMS Backup & Restorethat allow you to create an XML archive of all messages and calls, save it to the cloud or to a memory card, and then restore it on a new device.
The recovery process through such utilities requires granting access rights to system functions. After installing the application on your new phone, select the backup file and start the import procedure. The system may require you to make the application the default temporary SMS handler to complete the operation.
What to do if the SMS did not arrive?
If messages are not displayed correctly after transferring or some of them are lost, try clearing the Messages app cache in your phone settings. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications → Messages → Clear → Clear cache. This will not delete your texts, but will update the app database.
Do not forget that modern instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) have their own backup mechanisms that are not related to system SMS. To transfer them, you need to create a backup inside the application itself before changing the device.
Restoring application settings and passwords
After transferring files and contacts, it is important to return to the familiar environment of use. The shell MIUI can remember many system preferences, such as display settings, notification sounds, and accessibility settings. When using a full backup via Mi Cloud, these settings are restored automatically.
The situation is different with passwords. Although the browser Chrome and Google password manager sync saved logins, many applications require you to log in again for security reasons. Banking applications, instant messengers and social networks will have to be authorized again.
To speed up this process, make sure that you have access to the phone number to which the accounts are registered, as confirmation via SMS codeis often required. Also check the operation of two-factor authentication if you use third-party code generator applications.
Complete identity of the old and new phone is achieved only with a combination of Mi Mover for files and manual authorization in critical applications.
Some specific settings, for example, the arrangement of widgets on the desktop or themes may be reset if the firmware versions on the devices are very different. In this case, you will need to manually customize the interface for yourself.
Frequent problems and ways to solve them
During the synchronization process, users may encounter a number of technical difficulties. One of the most common problems is a disconnection when using Mi Mover. This often happens because the system is trying to switch to mobile data or save energy from the Wi-Fi module.
To avoid interruptions, turn off mobile data on both phones before starting the procedure. Also add the migration application to the power saver exceptions list to prevent the OS from killing the process in the background. In the battery settings, select the "Unlimited" mode for the corresponding utility.
⚠️ Attention: The menu interface and item names may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13, 14 or HyperOS). If you do not find the specified option, use the settings search by entering a keyword.
Another problem may be incompatibility between Android versions. When upgrading from a very old version (eg Android 6) to the latest (Android 13/14), some older apps may not install automatically. In this case, you will have to download them manually from the store Play Market or search for APK files.
Why are some applications not transferred?
Android system security restrictions prohibit the transfer of data from some protected applications (banks, government services) through third-party utilities. They must be installed and configured again manually on the new device.
FAQ: Answers to popular questions
Is it possible to transfer data if the old phone is broken and the screen does not work?
If the sensor does not respond, but there is an image, try connecting a USB mouse via an OTG adapter for control. If the screen is completely black, but the phone turns on, the only chance is to remove the memory card or connect the phone to the PC, if USB debugging or trusting this computer was previously allowed.
Will information be deleted from the old phone after transferring to Xiaomi?
No, the process of syncing or copying via Mi Mover creates duplicate data on the new device. The information on your old phone remains completely safe until you decide to delete it or perform a factory reset.
How long does it take to transfer 100 GB of data?
When using Wi-Fi Direct via Mi Mover, the speed can reach 20-40 MB/s. To transfer 100GB of data, it will take approximately 1 to 2 hours. Via the cloud or Bluetooth, the process can take several hours or even days.
What to do if contacts are displayed in duplicate?
The Contacts application on Xiaomi has a built-in merge function. Go to the contacts menu, select "Tools" or "Settings" and find the "Merge duplicate contacts" option. The system will automatically offer to merge identical records.