Buying a new smartphone is always a joyous event, but it is often overshadowed by the prospect of a long and tedious setup: Xiaomi ecosystem owners are better off than other brands thanks to its deeply integrated migration tools. The right approach allows you to copy all your digital baggage in minutes, preserving the folder structure and icon layout.
There are several proven methods to transfer data from Xiaomi to a new phone, and the choice of the specific method depends on the amount of information and access to the Internet. In this article, we will discuss in detail the mechanisms of the Mi Cloud service, local transfer over Wi-Fi and manual backup, so you can choose the best option for your situation.
It is important to understand that before any manipulations, you need to make sure that the battery is sufficiently charged on both devices. The process of transferring large amounts of data, especially photos and videos, can require significant energy resources, and a sudden power outage can disrupt the integrity of files.
Using Mi Account to synchronize data
The most reliable and native way for the ecosystem is to use a Mi Account, which is not just an email account, but a single control center that allows you to store contacts, messages, notes, voice recordings and even passwords from Wi-Fi networks. To start working, you need to log into your account on your old device through the Settings menu. → Mi Account.
Once you've authorized it, you'll have to choose the types of data you want to sync, and you'll need to be careful: if you're planning to use your old phone or sell it, make sure that your critical information is already in the cloud, and it can take time depending on your Internet connection speed.
On the new smartphone, the procedure is as simple as possible: when you initially set up or through the menu, log in to the same Mi Account. The system will automatically detect backups and prompt them to restore them. This is a basic level of protection that should be configured by each user.
⚠️ Warning: Free cloud storage Mi Cloud is limited to 5 GB. If you have a lot of photos in original quality, the space may not be enough and sync will stop.
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Use the “Clear Similar Photos” function in the Gallery before syncing, so as not to upload duplicates to the cloud and save space.
The key advantage of this method is that you're independent of physical proximity devices, so you can buy a new phone while your old phone is still in the service center or with another family member, and you can still recover your data, and the key is to remember your acc-un password.
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MCloud only syncs system data and media, but does not install the apps themselves again – they will have to download from GetApps or Google Play.
Local Transfers via Mi Mover
For those who want to transfer data from Xiaomi to a new phone without Internet speed limits or cloud limits, the company has developed the Mi Mover app, which creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices, providing high transfer speeds, and can be found in the Tools folder or through a search in settings.
The process starts with running the app on both smartphones, and on the old device, you choose the role of "Sender" and on the new device, "Receiver." QR-The interface of the application is intuitive and suggests selecting categories for porting.
☑️ Preparation for Mi Mover operation
You can choose to transfer contacts, messages, call logs, system settings, and multimedia files, and the Mi Mover is able to even transfer the layout of icons on the desktop and wallpaper, creating a full copy of the interface.
- 📱 High data transfer speed thanks to Wi-Fi Direct technology.
- 🔒 Local Transfer – Your Data does not leave your devices.
- 🔄 Ability to interrupt and resume transmission when connection is lost.
- 📲 Compatible with Android 4.4 and higher, allowing you to transfer data even from very old models.
It is worth noting that when you migrate applications, they are not always installed in the current version, and once you have completed the migration, it is recommended to go to the app store and update all programs to the latest versions for security and stability.
Backup to a memory card or PC
If you don't have the ability to use the cloud or direct connection, there's always the old school of local backup, built-in MIUI, which allows you to create a full system backup that's stored in internal memory, and then you can transfer that file to your computer or memory card.
To create a copy, go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore. Here you will see the option to create a new backup. The system will request a password that is highly desirable to remember, since without it it it will be impossible to restore data.
The path to the backup files:
MIUI/backup/AllBackup/Once you create the backup file, copy the AllBackup folder to your computer. On the new phone, repeat the path to the folder and paste the copied data into it, and then a Restore button will appear in the recovery menu, which will return all settings and applications.
| Method | Speed. | We need the Internet. | What's copying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Account | Medium | Yes. | Contacts, photos, SMS |
| Mi Mover | Tall. | No. | All (including annexes) |
| Local backup | Depends on the PC. | No. | Complete copy of the system |
Where's the backup password stored?
This method is ideal for those who prefer complete control over their data and do not trust third-party servers, but it requires free space on external media and a little more time to prepare.
Hand-over of multimedia and files
Sometimes, automated systems may not work properly with heavy files, such as video in resolution. 4K or RAW-In such cases, it is advisable to use the manual method of transferring through the USB-cable or file manager with network transmission support.
Connecting an old phone to a computer in file transfer mode (MTP) gives you access to the file system, and you are interested in the folders DCIM (camera photos and videos), Pictures (screenshots and images from instant messengers), Download and Music.
Just copy these folders to your computer and then transfer them to similar directories on your new smartphone. The Android system will automatically index the files and they will appear in the gallery and player. It's a "clean" method that doesn't create unnecessary system entries.
⚠️ Note: When manually copying, do not copy system folders like Android/data or MIUI If you are not sure about your actions, this can lead to conflicts of versions of applications.
For users who are actively using Google Photos, the process is even more simplified: just enable sync on the old device and wait for the download to end. On the new phone, just log into the same Google account, and the entire library will be available instantly, taking up a minimum of space on the device thanks to the “Saving Space” feature.
Solving the problems of migration
Despite the fact that processes are fine, users may encounter difficulties, often with an authorization error or a connection interruption during Mi Mover operation, which is mostly solved by restarting both devices and shutting down power saving during transmission.
Another nuance is the MIUI version, which means that if the old phone has a very old firmware version and the new phone has a newer HyperOS or MIUI 14, some settings may not apply correctly, in which case the system usually generates a compatibility report after trying to restore.
If apps don’t open after porting, try clearing their cache or reinstalling them, especially for banking apps and instant messengers that have heightened security requirements for the startup environment.
- 📶 Make sure that both phones are close to each other when using Wi-Fi Direct.
- 🔋 Turn off the Flight mode and make sure that GPS included for the correct operation of certain services.
- 🧹 Before transferring, delete temporary files and cache to speed up the process.
It's also important to remember two-factor authorization, and when you log in to a Google or Mi Account, you might be able to log in to a new device. SMS-- Check the confirmation codes. SIM-The card with the number associated with the accounts is active and is on the phone (or you can accept it). SMS otherwise).
Completion of the setup and integrity check
Once the transfer process is complete, take your time to delete data from the old device. Run a test drive of the new smartphone for a couple of days. Check if all contacts are in place, if notifications from messengers are working, if the calendar is synchronized.
Pay special attention to the biometrics settings, fingerprints and facial recognition data are never transferred between devices for security reasons. You'll have to register them again in the Settings menu. → Passwords and security.
Also check notification settings. In newer versions of Xiaomi shells, aggressive energy saving can block background processes. Go through the list of important apps and make sure they are allowed to boot and run in the background.