How to transfer data from Xiaomi to the new Xiaomi: a complete guide

Replacing a smartphone with a more modern model is always an exciting process, with expectations for improvements, but also the inevitable stress of having to move information. Xiaomi ecosystem owners are in a good position, as the company has provided several effective ways to migrate. Data transfer can take from minutes to an hour, depending on the amount of accumulated files and the method chosen.

Modern devices of the brand, whether it is a budget Redmi or flagship Xiaomi series 13 or 14, are equipped with powerful tools for synchronization. IT-The key is to understand which option is right for your situation: fast Wi-Fi Direct transmission, cloud synchronization or classic backup on your PC.

In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can choose the best one, and we will look at the built-in Mi Mover app, Google account, and the nuances of transferring passwords from Wi-Fi and app settings, and the right preparation will save you from losing important contacts and photos.

Preparing the old and new device for migration

Before you start active, you need to do basic training of both gadgets, which is a critical step, ignoring which can lead to connection errors or interruption of the process halfway. Make sure that both devices are charged at least 60% of the battery, as the active operation of the communication modules and the processor is significantly energy consuming.

On an old phone, you should free up some space if the memory is full, although this is less important when you copy it directly than when you create a backup. Check the availability of space on the new device - it should be more than the amount of data you plan to transfer. It is also recommended to update the Mi Mover app to the latest version through the GetApps store or Google Play.

It is important to determine the type of information being transferred in advance, and not all applications can be ported correctly with their data, especially banking and encrypted messengers, often requiring separate logins or local backups within the application itself.

Connection stability is key to success. If you plan to use wireless, make sure there are no powerful sources of interference around, although Wi-Fi Direct technology usually operates in its own frequency range. A wired method will require a quality cable that supports data transfer, not just charging.

Using the Mi Mover app for fast transfer

The most efficient and fastest way, developed specifically for the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem, is to use Mi Mover, a tool that allows data to be transmitted directly between devices without using the Internet, creating a secure communication channel, and transfer speeds can reach tens of megabytes per second, which is much faster than standard Bluetooth.

The process starts with running the app on both smartphones, and you have to select the Recipient role on the new device, and then the phone creates a Wi-Fi hotspot. On the old gadget, you select the Sender role and scan it. QR-code displayed on the screen of a new phone, or connect to the created network manually.

Once the connection is established, the system will suggest selecting data categories to transfer, so you can copy contacts, messages, call logs, system settings, images, videos, music, and even the applications themselves, and it's important to note that some applications may not migrate for security reasons and will have to be reconfigured.

• 📲 Run Mi Mover on both devices via menu or search.
• 🔗 On the new phone, click “I am the recipient” and on the old one, “I am the sender».
• 📷 Scan it. QR-device-coupling.
• ✅ Select files and click “Send” to start the migration.

Transfer time is directly dependent on the amount of data. If you're transferring more than 100 GB of information, it can take a considerable amount of time. At this point, the screens may go out, but you shouldn't interrupt the connection. Modern versions of MIUI are able to restore transmission after short-term communication breaks.

Sync with Mi Cloud and Google account

An alternative and highly reliable method is to use cloud services, and integration with Google Drive and its own Mi Cloud allows you to save critical data online and automatically upload it to a new device when you sign in, which is ideal if your old phone is already sold or unavailable, but you have a fresh backup.

To work with Google, you need to go to the settings of the old phone, select the Accounts and Sync section and make sure that all the necessary switches are active. Contacts, calendar, notes and application data are stored in the profile. When you first set up the new Xiaomi, you just need to enter the same email address, and the system will prompt you to restore data from the last restore point.

Mi Cloud offers similar functionality, but with deeper integration into the shell, where you can save the setting of icons on the desktop, alarm settings, blacklist and even passwords from Wi-Fi networks. Free storage is limited to 5 GB, but for text data and settings, this is usually enough.

A significant advantage of the cloud method is independence from the physical state of the old device. Even if the screen is broken and the touchscreen is not working, but the phone is turned on and has access to the network, you can initiate backup remotely or through the web interface, if the corresponding option was enabled earlier.

Local backup to the computer

For users who don’t trust cloud storage or have a huge amount of multimedia content, local backup on a PC is a good option, allowing you to create a full copy of the system or individual memory partitions. This will require a USB cable and an installed Mi PC Suite (for older versions of Android) or a standard Windows/macOS Explorer.

In modern versions of MIUI, the easiest way to use the built-in Backup and Restore feature is to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore. By choosing the Computer, the phone will suggest connecting to the PC. Once confirmed on the smartphone screen, a special folder will be created in the device’s memory that can be read from the computer.

The good thing about this is that you get physical control of your data, so you can copy the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder to your hard drive, and if you need to restore it to a new device, you'll have to put it in a similar directory and start the recovery process through the settings menu.

⚠️ Note: When copying to your computer, make sure that you copy not only media files, but also hidden system folders with application backups, if this option is selected.

The speed of copying via USB 3.0 is much faster than over the air, making this method preferable for transferring video archives in 4K resolution. However, the system settings and Wi-Fi passwords are more difficult to copy than through the cloud or Mi Mover.

Transfer of messages, contacts and messengers

While contacts and SMS are typically transferred smoothly through standard synchronization tools, messengers like WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber are not, and these apps store their correspondence history in their databases, which require separate export or synchronization within the application itself.

WhatsApp needs to go to chat settings on your old phone and back up to Google Drive. When you install the app, the new phone will be asked to restore your history from the cloud. Without this step, you will only get an account, but without the old messages. Similarly, Viber requires you to create a backup before you move.

Banking applications and government services (e.g., government services) do not transfer session data for security purposes, but you have to re-enter logins, passwords and pass identification via SMS or biometrics on a new device, which is normal security behavior.

Remember that two-factor authentication may require access to an old number or device to confirm your sign-in, so don’t rush to sell or reset your old phone before you fully configure all critical services on the new one.

💡

Save two-factor authentication recovery codes in a secure location or password manager before changing your device to ensure you don’t lose access to your accounts.

Frequent problems and ways to solve them

Despite the fact that processes are fine, there are sometimes failures. One of the common problems is the interruption of the connection when using the Mi Mover. This often happens if one of the devices goes into power saving mode or the screen goes out. It is recommended that during the data transfer, you set the "Do not turn off" option in the screen settings and turn off the energy saving mode.

Another problem is the incompatibility of Android versions, when you switch from a very old version (like Android). 8) on a new one. 13/14) Some old apps may not be installed or launched, in which case Mi Mover may skip them or install an incompatible version. APK-analogue.

⚠️ Warning: If the new phone is slow or has an interface failure after transferring data, try restarting the device. In rare cases, cleaning the cache of system services helps, but a complete reset of a new phone is extremely rarely required.

Users also face the fact that the new device does not display some application icons, which is due to the fact that the new Xiaomi models have changed the structure of the desktop or Launcher, just go to the theme or desktop settings and return the classic look of the menu if the new one is not familiar to you.

💡

The most common cause of portability errors is unstable connection or aggressive energy saving. Keep screens on and devices close together.

Completion of the setup and integrity check

Once the copying process is complete and the progress bar is 100%, don't immediately delete the data from the old phone. Do a thorough review of the new device. Open the gallery and check if all the albums are in place, especially hidden folders. scroll through the contact list to make sure that the names and photos of subscribers are correctly selected.

Be sure to check the work NFC-The cards will have to be added again to Google Wallet or Mi Pay, as security tokens are not transferred between devices to protect finances.

Make sure all apps are updated through the store. Often, after transferring to a new device, there are versions of programs that were current when the old phone was created and they need an update to work correctly with the new version of the operating system.

• 📸 Check out a few random photos and videos for artifacts.
• 📞 Make a test call and send an SMS.
• 🔐 Log in to the bank application and check the balance.
• 🎵 Turn on music to check the work of speakers and files.

Only when you make sure that the new gadget is fully functional can you start cleaning the old one, and the right approach to “how to transfer data from xiaomi to the new xiaomi” ensures that you enjoy the purchase, not a headache with the setup.