Transferring data from the old Xiaomi to the new Android: the full guide 2026

The transition to a new smartphone is always exciting, especially when it comes to changing the ecosystem from the old Xiaomi to a device of another brand (such as Samsung, Google Pixel or Realme), the main task is to save all the important data: contacts, photos, messages and even app settings. Fortunately, Android offers several reliable ways to migrate, and Xiaomi makes it even easier with built-in tools.

But there are nuances: for example, not all data can be transferred automatically: some applications (for example, banking or messengers with encryption) require manual configuration, MIUI 14 on Xiaomi and pure Android 14 on Pixel can handle backups in different ways. In this article, we will analyze all the steps from preparing the old phone to finalizing the new one so that the transition is smooth.

1. Preparing the old Xiaomi: Data backup

The first and most important step is to create a full backup on your old device. Xiaomi offers several built-in tools for this, but not all of them are equally effective. → The phone. → Backups save data to internal memory or MicroSD, but not all applications support this method.

A more versatile way is to use the Mi Cloud, which syncs contacts, notes, photos (if you have an option), and some system settings. SMS, Call history and third-party app data – additional tools will be needed.

• 📱 Local Copy: Save System Settings, SMS, Call history, but not all applications.The file takes up a lot of space (up to several gigabytes).
• ☁️ Mi Cloud: Syncs contacts, photos (if enabled), Mi Notes notes, but does not transfer data from third-party messengers.
• 🔄 Google Account: The most reliable way to contact, calendar, and part of your apps (e.g. Google Photos or Keep).
• 📂 Manual export: You can use Google Drive, Yandex Drive or physical cable transfer for photos, videos and documents.

If you plan to transfer data to a device of another brand (not Xiaomi), it is better to combine methods, for example, sync contacts through Google Account, photos through Google Photos, and SMS and call history exported using third-party applications such as SMS Backup & Restore.

⚠️ Note: If the old Xiaomi has bootloader lock enabled, some backup methods (e.g., through the ADB) Check the lock status in Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Tap 7 times to unlock the developer mode).

Synchronization with Google: the basis for data transfer

The most reliable way to transfer most of your data is to use a Google account, which automatically syncs your contacts, calendars, emails, notes (Google Keep), as well as photos and videos (if you have autoloaded in Google Photos), but many Xiaomi users are faced with the problem of defaulting devices sync to Mi Cloud, not Google.

To avoid losses, follow the following steps on the old Xiaomi:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Select your account and enable sync for all items (contacts, calendar, Google Fit, Drive, etc.).
3. Launch Google Photos and enable autoload (in the app settings).
4. Check that all contacts are duplicated in Google Contacts (open contacts.google.com in your browser).

If the contacts are only stored in Mi Cloud, they can be exported manually:

1. Open Contacts on Xiaomi.
2. Press three dots (menu) → Contact management → Imports/exports → Export to file.
3. Save the file in.vcf format to internal memory or Google Drive.

Important: Some data (such as WhatsApp or Telegram messages) are not synced through Google, and will require separate backups inside the apps themselves.

3. Transfer of photos, videos and documents

Multimedia files are usually the largest block of data, and there are a few options.

For maximum speed, we recommend using physical transfer:

1. Connect your new smartphone to the old Xiaomi with the help of USB-OTG adapter USB-C to USB-C.
2. On your old phone, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. Copy the folders. DCIM (Photos and videos, Downloads and Documents on your new phone.

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If you have a lot of photos, pre-sort them by years or events in folders on Xiaomi.

For Google Photo users, there is a nuance: if you previously uploaded a photo in High quality (with compression), the originals may not be saved. → Settings → Storage management.

4. Transfer of applications and their data

You can migrate the apps themselves (.apk files) from Xiaomi to another Android, but that doesn’t guarantee that they’re up and running, because many programs are tied to the processor architecture (like MediaTek vs Snapdragon) or the Android version, and a more reliable way is to restore the application data after they’re re-installed.

Here's how to do it:

• 📲 List of applications: Save the list of installed programs using App List Backup (available on Google Play.
• 🔄 Data backup: For individual applications (e.g., progress games) use ADB Backup or built-in reservation features (e.g. WhatsApp: Settings) → chat → Backup copy).
• ☁️ Cloud services: Many apps (like Spotify, Netflix) sync data through your account. Sign in on your new phone and everything will be restored.

To transfer SMS and call history, use the SMS Backup & Restore app:

1. Install it on the old Xiaomi from Google Play.
2. Create a backup and save the file to Google Drive or internal memory.
3. Install the same app on your new phone and restore the data (Restore).

⚠️ Note: Some banking applications (such as SberBank Online or Tinkoff) block new devices after transfer, in which case you will have to remove the application on the old phone and install it again on the new one, after logging in.

Keep a list of installed programs|Make backup copies of critical applications (messengers, games)|Check if the new device supports the architecture of old applications (ARM/x86)|Untie your old phone from your bank app accounts (if necessary)|Make sure that the new phone has enough space to install all the programs.-->

5. Set up a new Android smartphone

Once all the data is ready, you can start setting up a new device, a process that is slightly different depending on the brand (e.g. Samsung has its Smart Switch and Google Pixel has its built-in portability wizard), but the overall scheme is the same:

1. Turn on your new phone and select a language, connect to Wi-Fi.
2. At the Data Copy stage, select C option of another Android device.
3. Connect your old Xiaomi phone to your new phone using cable (or Wi-Fi Direct if supported).
4. Choose which data to transfer (contacts, messages, photos, etc.).
5. Wait for the process to be completed and complete the setup.

If the new phone doesn’t offer a built-in portability wizard (like some Nokia or Motorola models), use the Google One app:

1. Install Google One on both phones.
2. On the old Xiaomi, select Backup → Set up copying.
3. On the new phone, log in to the same Google account and recover the data.

After transferring the data, do not forget:

• 🔒 Set up a screen lock (print, pattern lock or PIN).
• 📶 Activate the mobile network (insert) SIM-map or set up eSIM).
• 🔋 Optimize the battery (turn off unnecessary background processes in Settings) → Battery).
• 🛡️ Update the software (check for updates in Settings) → System system → Update of the PO).

6.Transfer specific Xiaomi data: topics, notes, health

Xiaomi has a number of exclusive features that are not carried over in standard ways, such as:

• 🎨 Topics and wallpaper: Save your favorite themes manually (long tap on the desktop) → In Mi Cloud, theme is not synced.
• 📝 Mi Notes: Export them to.txt or.zip via Settings → Exports in the annex itself.

To transfer health data (steps, pulse, sleep) from Mi Band or Xiaomi Wear:

1. Open the Zepp Life app (formerly Mi Fit).
2. Go to Profile → Settings → Export data.
3. Save the file and import it to a new app (like Google Fit).

If you have used dual applications (Dual Apps function in the app) MIUI), They will have to be reconfigured on a new phone, and not all manufacturers support this feature (for example, the Pixel does not have it).

7. Post-transfer validation and optimization

After the migration is completed, be sure to check:

• 📞 Contacts: Open Google Contacts and make sure all numbers are in place (especially check groups and tags).
• 📷 Photos: Make sure all albums are moved (sometimes screenshots or uploaded pictures are missing).
• 💬 Messages: Check the history SMS chats in instant messengers (for example, WhatsApp may require re-authorization).
• 🎵 Music and downloads: Make sure all audio files and documents are in place (sometimes file paths change).

If something is lost, use the backups:

• For contacts, import a.vcf file through Google Contacts.
• For a photo, check the folder. DCIM on internal memory or in the cloud.
• For applications, recover data from SMS Backup & Restore or Swift Backup.

We also recommend:

• 🧹 Clear cache on new phone (Settings) → Warehouse → Cache data).
• 🔄 Update all apps on Google Play.
• 🔋 Calibrate the battery (discharge the phone to 0% and charge to 100% without interruptions).

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Even if the transfer is successful, in the early days, use both phones in parallel, which will help to quickly recover lost data.

8. Solving typical transfer problems

When migrating from the old Xiaomi to the new Android, users often face the following problems:

If the performance of the new phone has dropped after the transfer, check:

• 🔍 Background Processes: Open Settings → Battery. → Use the battery and disable unnecessary applications.
• 🗑️ Garbage files: Clear the cache in Settings → Warehouse.
• 🔄 Updates: Install the latest security patches.

If you're switching from Xiaomi to iPhone, it's going to be a bit more complicated, and if you use Apple's Move to iOS app, but remember that it only transfers basic data (contacts, photos, emails), and you have to reconfigure the apps and their data.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data portability with Xiaomi