How to transfer data from one Xiaomi to another: all the ways

Buying a new smartphone from Xiaomi is always a pleasant event, but one that is often overshadowed by the prospect of a lengthy customization process. Owners of the brand’s devices are in a privileged position, as the MIUI ecosystem (and now HyperOS) offers built-in, powerful migration tools.

Modern methods allow you to clone the contents of an old device almost completely, including folder structure, Wi-Fi passwords and even the location of icons on the desktop, the main thing is to choose the method that best suits your particular situation: whether the operating system changes, whether there is access to the cloud or only heavy media files need to be transferred.

In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at Mi Mover’s native app, which is the gold standard for moving, and look at alternatives through your Google account and local backups. Understanding the nuances of each way will help you avoid common mistakes like missing messages or failing bank apps.

Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration

The most efficient and quick way to transfer data from one Xiaomi to another is to use the Mi Mover application, which is designed specifically for use in the MIUI environment and allows you to transfer information over a direct Wi-Fi connection without consuming mobile traffic and providing high speed transfer of even large volumes of files.

To get started, make sure both smartphones are at least 50% charged and are next to each other. On the new device, run the app from the menu or through Settings. → The phone. → Mi Mover, select Receiver and create an access point. On the old phone, select Sender, scan. QR-code or connect to the created Wi-Fi network manually.

⚠️ Warning: During the transfer process, do not turn off smartphone screens or leave the Mi Mover app. Interrupting the connection during the copying phase of system settings can lead to incorrect operation of the new device, requiring a complete reset.

The interface allows you to manage what you want to transfer flexibly, you can select only contacts and call history, or you can clone the entire data set, including photos, videos and installed data. APK-The system will automatically filter out system debris, transferring only useful user data.

Once categories are selected, the copying process will begin, depending on the amount of data and the version of Wi-Fi modules in smartphones, and for devices with Wi-Fi 6 support, the process will be almost imperceptible, whereas on older models, transferring hundreds of gigabytes can take considerable time.

Sync through Google Account and Cloud Services

If a direct connection is not possible for some reason or you are planning a gradual transition, the ideal solution is to use cloud infrastructure.The Android ecosystem on which the Xiaomi shell is built is deeply integrated with Google services, making this method versatile and reliable for basic data.

To activate sync, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google. Here you need to make sure that the sliders opposite Contacts, Calendar, Notes and Chrome are active. After clicking Sync, all selected data will be uploaded to the servers of the corporation.

• 📞 Contacts: saved instantly and accessible from any device after login.
• 📸 Photos and Videos: Google Photos automatically backs up media files in original or compressed quality.
• 📝 Notes and Calendar: Moved through standard Google Keep and Calendar apps without losing structure.
• 🔑 Passwords: Google Password Manager will save access to sites and apps, making it easier to sign in on a new device.

Xiaomi’s own Mi Cloud, which allows you to create full backups of the system, including desktop settings and system settings that Google does not save, is worth special attention. To activate, go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud and start creating a backup.

When you first set up a new smartphone, Xiaomi just enter the same Google account and the phone will offer to restore data from the last saved copy, which takes longer than the Mi Mover, since it requires downloading data from the Internet, but guarantees the safety of information even in the event of loss of both physical devices.

Local backup and transfer over cable

For users who prefer to keep data under full control or do not have access to fast Internet, there is a local backup method.The built-in MIUI backup feature allows you to create a complete image of the system, which can then be transferred to a new phone via a computer or memory card.

The process starts by creating a copy on an old device. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore → Mobile Device. Here you can choose what to save: system settings, calls, messages, applications and their data. Once completed, a file is created in.bak format.

To transfer the file to a new phone, connect the old phone to your computer, find the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder and copy the contents of the file, then connect the new phone and paste the files into a similar directory, and the new device will have a Recover button in the recovery menu.

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Using a USB-C to USB-C cable to directly connect two modern Xiaomi smartphones to a computer or to each other (if OTG is supported), this will significantly speed up the transfer of heavy backup files compared to wireless methods.

This method is especially useful for transferring data from applications that do not store information in the cloud, such as progress in games without an account or messenger cache, but it is worth remembering that the firmware versions on both devices should be similar to avoid conflicts when restoring system settings.

Transfer of multimedia and heavy files

When it comes to gigabytes of photos, music and video, contact synchronization techniques are becoming ineffective, and file system tools are coming to the fore. Xiaomi’s File Manager built-in features a handy “Data Transfer” feature that works similarly to Mi Mover, but specializes in media.

You can also use Wi-Fi sharing in the conductor to transmit large amounts of data. QR-If you scan the code on another device (or computer through a browser), you can access the file system of your smartphone, and you can download the entire contents of the folder. DCIM without installing additional software.

• 🎵 Music: It is best to manually transfer through the Music folder, as track metadata may not sync through cloud services.
• 🎬 Video: Heavy 4K rollers are more convenient to copy over a cable or through a local network, so as not to compress the quality.
• 📂 Documents: Files from the Download folder are often lost when reset, so they need to be copied separately.

If you use a microSD card, the process is simplified to a rudimentary level: just remove the card from an old phone, paste it into a new (or adapter) and move the files through the Files menu. Xiaomi automatically recognizes the media files and offers to sort them by type.

Remember to check file integrity after transfer. Sometimes when the connection breaks, large video files can be corrupted and you can't play them back. Always do a random check of multiple files right after you copy.

Nuances of application and banking data portability

The hardest part of migration is not files, but data inside apps. If contacts and photos are easily portable, banking apps, messengers and authenticators are not the same for security reasons. Two-factor authentication and device binding require manual intervention.

Banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff, etc.) will require re-authorization when installed on a new device, often with an SMS or call sent. In some cases, if you transfer data through a full backup system, the application may “think” that it is the same phone, but most often you will have to reconfigure the biometrics (FaceID or fingerprint).

⚠️ Warning: Never remove the Google Authenticator or Yandex.Key app from your old phone until you have fully configured the code transfer to your new one! Use the account export function within these apps (usually via the app). QR-code, otherwise you risk losing access to your accounts forever.

Messengers like WhatsApp and Telegram have built-in backup mechanisms. WhatsApp is critical to back up Google Drive (on Android) or iCloud (on iOS) before transferring, and then agree to restore when you first install it on a new phone. Local WhatsApp copies may not migrate correctly when you change the structure of your Android folders.

DRM-enabled apps (licensed movies, music) may require you to re-activate your device. If you use paid subscriptions, make sure you sign in to the same app store account, otherwise the content purchased may become unavailable.

Completion of setup and optimization of the new smartphone

Once the data is successfully transmitted, take the time to rent or sell your old phone. Take the time to check the new device. Go through the main sections: contacts on the spot? Gallery photos? Do notifications from messengers work? Often, photos sync continues in the background for a while.

For modern lithium polymer batteries in Xiaomi, this is not as critical as it used to be, but a full discharge and charge cycle will help the system to more accurately display the percentage of charge. It is also worth checking the system updates along the way Settings → About Phone → MIUI version, since the new phone could have been in storage for a long time.

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The full migration cycle is considered complete only after successful authorization in all mission-critical applications (banks, mail, instant messengers) and verification of the integrity of personal files.

Now that your new Xiaomi is fully customized, you can personalize themes, widgets and gesture settings – all of which will make using your smartphone truly comfortable. If you don’t need your old phone anymore, remember to do a full reset to your factory settings (Wipe data) to protect your personal information.