How to transfer data from one phone to another Xiaomi: the complete guide

Changing a smartphone is always an exciting moment, coupled not only with the joy of owning a new gadget, but also with the need to transfer a huge amount of personal information. Owners of the Xiaomi ecosystem in this regard are more fortunate than users of many other brands, as the company has developed its own tools that allow you to clone the device in just a few touches. The process of data migration has become much easier with the release of updated versions of the HyperOS shell and current versions of MIUI, but many users still face difficulties when trying to transfer the history of correspondence or configuration of applications.

There are several proven synchronization methods, each with its own advantages depending on the amount of information transferred and the speed of the Internet connection. You can use the built-in Mi Mover application, Mi Cloud services or the classic method of backing up through a Google account. It is important to understand that both devices require sufficient battery power and a stable connection, whether it is a Wi-Fi network or a direct Wi-Fi Direct connection.

In this article, we will discuss each of the available methods in detail, paying special attention to the nuances of data transfer between smartphones with different versions of the operating system. We will look at how to avoid common errors, what to do if the process hangs on a certain percentage, and how to properly prepare both devices for the procedure. Whether you are changing the old Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 15 or just want to create a full copy of the data, these instructions will help you save all the important files and settings.

Preparing devices for data migration

Before you start directly transferring files, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps that ensure the stability of the process. First of all, check the battery level on both smartphones: it should be at least 50-60%, and ideally the device is better connected to power sources. Interrupting the procedure due to battery discharge can lead to file damage or corruption of system databases, which will require complex recovery.

Make sure both devices have Wi-Fi and geolocation enabled. Even if you don’t plan to use the internet to transfer data over the cloud, Xiaomi system services often use Wi-Fi Direct to create a local network between phones. It’s also recommended to free up enough space on the new device: the amount of free memory should exceed the size of the data you plan to transfer from your old phone.

⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to interrupt the data transfer process by closing applications or turning the screen off in sleep mode. Set the time to go to sleep in the screen settings to the value of “Never” or as much as possible so that the system does not break the connection while copying gigabytes of information.

Check for updates to system applications, especially Mi Mover and Google Play Services components. Often compatibility issues are caused by outdated versions of software on one of your devices. Go to the app store and update all available components before starting the procedure.

Using the Mi Mover app for quick transfer

The most efficient and quickest way to transfer data from one phone to another Xiaomi is to use the Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on most of the brand’s devices and allows you to transfer contacts, messages, call history, photos, videos, music, documents and even settings of some applications without using Internet traffic.

To get started, open the Mi Mover app on both smartphones. It's usually in the Tools or Services folder. If you don't find it, just search for the settings or download the latest version from GetApps. On the old device, select the role of Sender and on the new one, Receiver. QR-code or connect to a created Wi-Fi network.

Once you have a connection, which usually takes a few seconds, a list of data categories available for transfer will appear on the screen of the new phone, you can select all items at once or manually mark only the ones you need, for example, if you do not want to copy heavy video files. The copying process is fast, but the completion time depends on the total amount of data selected.

• 📲 Contacts and Messages: Instantly Transfer the Entire Phone Book and History SMS/MMS correspondence.
• 📸 Multimedia: Copying photo albums, videos and audio tracks in original quality.
• ⚙️ System settings: Transfer of Wi-Fi network settings, alarm clocks, desktop design and icon layout.
• 📱 Annexes: Installation APK-Program files to a new device (data within applications may require separate synchronization).

Sync with Mi Cloud and Xiaomi account

The Mi Cloud cloud service is a convenient way to save important data on the Internet and automatically upload it to a new device, ideal for those who regularly use a Xiaomi account and want to have an up-to-date backup in case of loss or breakdown of the phone.

On your old smartphone, go to your Mi Account settings and select "Mi Cloud" section, and here you'll see a list of data that you can sync: contacts, messages, notes, voice recorder, system settings and gallery. Activate the switches for the right categories and click "Sync." Wait until the process is completed, make sure that the status has changed to "Synced."

On the new device, log in to the same Mi Account. The system will automatically prompt you to recover data from the cloud. You can choose full restoration or selective download. Mi Cloud cloud storage provides 5GB of free space, which is enough for contacts, messages and settings, but may not be enough for photos and videos, so for media files it is better to use other methods or expand the tariff plan.

💡

Using Mi Cloud is the best way to keep your contacts and settings safe, but it’s more efficient to use local methods or PCs to transfer heavy files (video, games).

Backup through Google Account

Google’s ecosystem is the foundation of any Android operating system, and it’s not worth ignoring its capabilities when changing phones, and it’s especially effective for transferring contacts, calendar events, passwords saved in Google Password Manager, and lists of installed applications. When you first set up a new smartphone, Xiaomi will offer to restore data from your account.

To make sure all data is saved, open Settings → Google → Backup on your old device. Here you will see the date of the last copy and the list of applications whose data will be saved. Click Start Copy to create a current status shot. It is important to note that this method does not copy files from internal memory (photos, music, documents), for them the service Google One or Google Photos.

When you log in to your account on a new phone, the recovery process can take a long time, especially if you have a lot of apps installed.The phone will consistently download them from the Play Market. Make sure that at this point the device is connected to the Wi-Fi network so that you do not exhaust the limit of mobile traffic.

Local backup and port over PC

For users who prefer full control over their data or do not have access to fast Internet, there is a method of local backup. the built-in feature of Xiaomi system allows you to create a complete image of the system, including application data, on an internal drive or on the internal drive. SD-This file can then be transferred to a new phone.

To create a copy, go on the Settings path → The phone. → Backup and restore. Select "Mobile Device" and mark the data to be saved. Once the process is complete, the backup file (usually located in the folder) MIUI/backup/AllBackup) You need to copy to your computer or directly to your new phone. USB-You need to do the reverse recovery from that file on the new device.

Alternatively, you can use your computer as an intermediary, connect your old phone to your PC in file transfer mode (MTP), copy the DCIM (photo and video), Download, Documents and other important directories to your computer's hard drive, then connect your new phone and transfer the files to the appropriate folders, which is the most reliable method for large multimedia archives.

⚠️ Note: When recovering from a local backup, the versions of the operating system on the old and new phone should be as close as possible. Attempting to restore a backup from Android 13 to a device with Android 14 (or vice versa) can lead to errors or malfunction of some applications.

Transfer data messengers: WhatsApp and Telegram

The transfer of correspondence in messengers deserves special attention, since they often contain critical information. Unlike contacts, the history of WhatsApp and Telegram chats is not always transferred automatically with general synchronization of the system. For Telegram, the situation is simpler: all messages are stored on the server, it is enough just to log in to a new device, and all chats will appear automatically.

Things are more complicated with WhatsApp. Before you switch to a new phone, make sure to back up in the app settings (Settings → Chats → Chat Backup). Choose saving to Google Drive or locally. When you install WhatsApp on a new device, the app will find the backup and prompt you to restore it. If you use Mi Mover, it can also port WhatsApp data, but having a cloud copy is a reliable insurance.

In some cases, especially when changing the account region or app version, you may need to manually transfer the WhatsApp or Android/media/com.whatsapp folder through the file manager. Make sure the folder structure on the new device matches the one on the old one, otherwise the application will not see the media files.

💡

Tip: For WhatsApp, enable two-factor authentication before porting, which will protect your account from unauthorized access in the event that the SIM card is temporarily on another device or there are delays from the device. SMS-code.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)