How to transfer all data from your phone to Xiaomi Redmi: a step-by-step guide

Buying a new smartphone is always an exciting moment, but the owner inevitably faces the question of migration of digital luggage. The situation when you throw all the data from your phone to your Xiaomi Redmi phone, becomes critical, familiar to anyone who has ever changed a gadget. Modern technology allows you to make this process as painless as possible, preserving the structure of folders, passwords and even the location of icons on the desktop.

Xiaomi’s devices and Redmi’s sub-brand have powerful synchronization tools that beginners often underestimate. MIUI and HyperOS’ built-in mechanisms provide deep integration with the Android ecosystem, allowing you to clone the system in minutes. However, the choice of method depends on which operating system you are switching from: Android, iOS or even a button phone.

In this article, we will analyze all available methods in detail, evaluate their pros and cons, and also consider the nuances that are silent in the official instructions. You will learn how to save the history of correspondence in messengers and not lose important documents during the transition.

Use of the built-in Mi Mover application

The most efficient and fastest way developed specifically for the Xiaomi ecosystem is to use the native Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on all modern Redmi smartphones and allows you to transfer data over Wi-Fi Direct without consuming mobile traffic, while transferring speeds are much faster than using Bluetooth or cloud services, reaching tens of megabytes per second.

The process starts with running the app on both devices, and the new Redmi phone needs to select the Recipient role, and the old one needs to select the Sender role. QR-The devices form a secure connection when they code or enter a password, and it's important that both smartphones are in close proximity to each other, ideally lying next to each other on the table.

The interface allows you to flexibly configure which file categories to migrate, you can select only contacts and SMS, or copy everything, including heavy video files and app cache. The Mi Mover algorithm automatically adapts the folder structure to the file system of the new device.

• 📱 Supports the transfer of contacts, messages, call log and notes without loss.
• 📸 Automatically copies photos and videos to the corresponding gallery albums.
• 📦 Transfers the established APK-Application files, although the data inside them may require separate login.
• 🔒 Uses local transmission channel encryption, which guarantees data security.

⚠️ Warning: When carrying large amounts of data (over 50 GB), the phone can get noticeably warmer.This is a normal physical reaction of the processor and Wi-Fi module to high load, but it is recommended to remove the protective case for better heat sink.

Sync through Google Account and Cloud Services

The classic method, which remains relevant for any Android smartphone, including the Redmi Note and Xiaomi Poco, is to pre-save key data to the Google cloud, and then automatically upload information when you sign in to a new device, which is ideal if the old phone is already unavailable or damaged, but the data is stored in the cloud.

To be successful, you need to make sure that your old device is synced. Google's settings are Accounts → Sync. It's important to check if the checkmarks are against your contacts, calendar, Google Drive documents and photos (via Google Photos). Without this step, the data will only remain in the memory of the old gadget.

After the first activation of the new Xiaomi system will offer to restore data from the backup of Google, this process can take from 15 minutes to several hours depending on the speed of the Internet connection. Wi-Fi network in this case is a prerequisite, as mobile Internet can be unstable or charged.

It's worth noting that this method doesn't copy desktop structure and widgets as much as Mi Mover. You'll have to manually arrange icons and customize the live wallpaper again. However, for users who value a clean system installation without unnecessary "junk", this can be an advantage.

Switching from iPhone (iOS) to Xiaomi Redmi

Migration from Apple’s ecosystem to Android has long been considered a challenge, but modern Xiaomi tools have minimized these difficulties, and the main tool here is the Mi Mover app, which is available for download on the App Store, which allows you to flip contacts, photos, videos and even calendar events.

The process starts with installing the app on your iPhone, and then you start up by choosing "I'm the sender" and scanning it. QR-The code that will appear on the screen of the new Redmi. that applications (.ipa files) are technically impossible to transfer due to the closure of iOS, they will have to be re-searched and downloaded in Google Play Market.

For WhatsApp, there is a built-in function of exporting chats inside the app on the iPhone (Settings → Chats → Backup), but for porting to Android, it is better to use the “Chat Transfer” function inside WhatsApp itself on the new phone when you initially set up, scanning the code with the iPhone camera.

• 🍎 Contacts are synchronized via vCard import or directly via Mi Mover.
• 🎵 Music from iTunes will not be transferred due to the DRM-Protection, files must be copied via PC.
• 📷 Photos are transferred in original quality if the appropriate mode is selected.
• 🔐 Passwords from iCloud keychain will have to be re-entered or used by Google Password Manager.

⚠️ Note: FaceTime and iMessage do not work on Android. SIM-Maps be sure to turn off iMessage on iPhone (Settings) → Messages, otherwise you may stop receiving SMS from other Apple users to your new number.

Local transmission via cable and PC

If wireless methods raise doubts about speed or stability, there is always a time-tested version of the computer. USB-And this is especially relevant when you need to move huge amounts of data, like a video library of hundreds of gigabytes.

First, connect your old phone to your computer and select file transfer mode (MTP). Copy the required folders (DCIM, Download, Documents) to your PC hard drive. Then connect the new Redmi and transfer the data to the appropriate directories. It is important to follow the folder structure so that the gallery and file manager display the content correctly.

Folder structure for correct display:


/DCIM/Camera - for camera and video




/Music - for music tracks




/Download - for downloaded files




/Android/media for some applications

This method gives you complete control over the process. You can sort files, delete duplicates, or compress archives before downloading to a new device, but it is not suitable for transferring system settings, Wi-Fi passwords, and application icon locations.

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Use it. USB-Powered hub if you connect external hard drives to transfer data to avoid problems with the power shortage of the smartphone port.

Transfer data from button phones and old Android

Owners of push-button phones or very old smartphones (Android) 4.x Often faced with compatibility problems, in such cases the universal solution is to use SIM-Although Bluetooth speeds are low, for contacts and small files, it is the only way out without using a PC.

Contacts are easiest to keep in memory SIM-You can use the phone book menu of the old device. After installing the SIM in the new Xiaomi, you need to go to the Contacts app, select the settings and click Import from the new Xiaomi. SIM-For photos and music on older phones, there is often no full file manager, so you will have to send files over Bluetooth in packets.

If you have the option of installing apps on your old device, try searching in the store (if it still works) or downloading it. APK-File version of Mi Mover compatible with the old version of Android, which will speed up the process and avoid manual copying of each file.

• 📞 Exporting contacts via Bluetooth is the most reliable way.
• 📁 Files can be transferred through FTP-server if the old phone supports Java applications.
• 💾 Using a microSD card reader could be a bridge between generations of devices.

Problem Solving and Data Recovery

Even if all instructions are followed, there may be failures, a frequent problem is a 99% interruption or a “Not enough space” error. In the first case, you should not panic: most often the process can be resumed from the stoppage if you do not close the application completely. In the second, you need to clear the cache beforehand or delete unnecessary files on the target device.

If some apps (e.g. banking) are not working after the transfer, it is due to the security policies of Google Play Protect and the banks themselves, you will have to re-authorize and possibly go through the procedure of confirming the device via SMS or a bank call. Data inside the applications is usually stored unless you cleared them before the transfer.

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The key to successful transfer is consistency: first system and contacts, then media files, and only at the end – heavy apps and games.

In the event of complete data loss, such as a firmware failure, it is worth turning to recovery services, but only if you have previously made backups. Without a pre-created backup, it is almost impossible to recover deleted files from a modern smartphone with memory encryption, even for service center specialists.