How to transfer data from Xiaomi to the new Xiaomi with all settings

Buying a new smartphone from Xiaomi is always a joyful event, opening access to more powerful hardware and new features MIUI or HyperOS. However, the owner immediately faces a serious task: how to quickly and painlessly transfer all the accumulated data, photos, contacts and, most importantly, settings from the old device to the new. The modern Mi Account ecosystem offers several effective ways of migration, but the choice of a specific method depends on the amount of information and the state of the old gadget.

In this article, we’ll take a look at all the tools available, including the native Mi Mover app, cloud sync, and manual system settings. The right approach will allow you to start using the new device right away without spending hours reinstalling apps and recovering passwords from Wi-Fi networks. It’s important to understand that the transfer process requires both devices to be prepared to avoid errors in the middle of the procedure.

Before you start the action, you need to make sure that both smartphones are ready. Charge both Xiaomi devices to at least 80%, as the process can take a long time and require significant energy. Also check that both devices are Wi-Fi module and Bluetooth enabled, and the old phone has free space for temporary data caching if you plan to use intermediate clipboards.

Preparation of devices and backup

The initial stage of any migration is to carefully prepare the starting point. Even if you use automatic tools, having a fresh backup on your local storage or in the cloud is an insurance against unforeseen failures. Owners of older models should check the integrity of the file system, as damaged sectors can cause the copying process to freeze.

Sign in to a single Mi Account on both devices in advance, a key point for those who want to sync not only media, but also system settings such as icon location, alarm clocks and passwords from Wi-Fi. Without a single account, many settings will have to be manually configured, negating the benefits of automation.

Check the operating system version on both devices. It is desirable that the old and new smartphones have the current versions of MIUI or HyperOS. The difference in the Android versions can lead to incompatibility of some system files or application settings. Updating the software before the procedure is a simple step that is often ignored, but it significantly improves the stability of work after the transfer.

• 📱 Make sure that both devices are debugging mode on USB (Optional, for advanced users).
• 🔋 Connect your smartphones to a power source or make sure the battery is high.
• 📶 Check the stability of your Wi-Fi connection if you plan to cloud sync.

⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the process of creating a local backup, even if it seems to be suspended. Interruption can damage the data archive and it will have to be recreated.

Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration

The most effective and recommended way by the manufacturer is to use the built-in Mi Mover tool, which is pre-installed on all modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones. Its main advantage is to create a direct communication channel between devices, which allows you to transfer data at high speeds without consuming mobile network traffic or Internet channels.

To start the process, open the application on both devices. On the new smartphone, select Recipient and on the old one, Sender. QR-code or connect through device search, and once you've established the connection, you'll see a data selection interface where you can flexibly configure what you want to migrate.

Mi Mover’s algorithm allows not only user files but also applications to be transferred along with their data (in most cases), which means that once the process is complete, you won’t have to log in to social networks or configure games, but it’s worth considering that data from banking applications and some secure messengers may require separate authorization for security purposes.

The speed of transmission depends on the amount of data and the quality of the wireless module. When transferring large volumes of photos and video in 4K resolution, the process can take from 30 minutes to several hours, during which time it is recommended not to move far from the devices and not to run heavy tasks on them, so as not to put a strain on the processor.

Sync with Mi Cloud and Google Account

An alternative to direct connectivity is cloud synchronization, which is ideal for those who have used Mi Cloud services regularly, and the good thing about this is that data is stored remotely and is not dependent on the physical condition of the old phone, so if the old phone is already sold or broken, recovery from the cloud becomes the only option.

To activate this method, go to your account settings and select Settings → Mi Account → Sync Mi Cloud. Here you can configure in detail what data will be uploaded to the cloud: contacts, messages, notes, voice recorder and gallery. Once you turn on sync on the new device and log in to the same akka aunt, the data will automatically start to pull up in the background.

The first time you set up a new Xiaomi account, it will prompt you to log in to your Google account, which will instantly restore your contact list, calendar events, mail and, importantly, the list of installed applications. Although the applications themselves will have to be downloaded from the Play Market, their list and folder structure on the desktop are often saved.

Transferring messages, calls and system settings

One of the most painful topics for users is the transfer of the history of correspondence in messengers and call logs. MIUI It allows you to keep a history of challenges and SMS-messaging, but messengers like WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber require separate actions, and these apps store data in secure containers, and simply transferring files may not work.

WhatsApp needs to use the built-in backup function inside the app itself before switching to a new phone. Create a copy of the chats on Google Drive or locally, and then when you install WhatsApp on a new device, select recovery from copy. Without this step, the history of the correspondence will be lost, even if all other data is transferred successfully.

System settings such as alarm clocks, design themes, fonts and interface settings are best transferred through a full backup to Mi Mover or Mi Cloud. When using a local backup through the recovery menu (Settings → About Phone → Reservation and Restore), you can create a full cast of the system, which is especially true for users who have been setting up their desktop for a long time and are accustomed to certain system behavior.

• 💬 Call history is automatically transferred when you select the appropriate item in Mi Mover.
• 🔔 Alarms and reminders are only saved when fully synchronized with the Mi Account.
• 🎨 Themes and wallpapers are restored through the “Themes” app after logging into the account.

⚠️ Note: When transferring messenger data, make sure you remember your phone number and have access to the phone. SIM-You can't reset your account on a new device without a code.

Working with photo, video and multimedia files

Multimedia content typically takes up the lion's share of a smartphone's memory. File integrity is critical when carrying thousands of photos and hours of video. Mi Mover's application uses checksum algorithms to check check the amount of data it sends to ensure there are no broken frames or damaged archives.

If you use a Google Photo Gallery or Mi Cloud, the process is simplified to a minimum: just log in to your account on a new device. However, keep in mind the compression of quality in the free rates of cloud storage. For professional photographers or lovers of original quality, it is better to use a direct transfer via Mi Mover or copying the DCIM folder to your computer and back.

The files placed in the Hidden Album in the Xiaomi Gallery are not automatically transferred by standard means for security reasons, but must be removed from the hidden storage before migrating, transferred in the usual way, and then, if necessary, hidden again on a new device.

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Before transferring, delete duplicate photos and screenshots you no longer need, which will reduce migration time and free up space on your new smartphone.

Once the transfer is complete, it is recommended to open the gallery and give the system a few minutes to index new media files, at which time thumbnails may not be displayed correctly or missing, but this is a temporary phenomenon associated with the restructuring of the media content database.

Solving problems and errors during transfer

Despite the fact that processes are fine, users can encounter errors. One common problem is a connection break when using the Mi Mover. This often happens if one device goes into power saving mode or the screen goes out. To avoid this, temporarily turn off the screen autolock and energy saving mode on both smartphones.

Another problem is the incompatibility of Android versions: If you move from a very old device (like Android 6) to the latest flagship (Android 14), some old file formats or system settings may not be interpreted correctly, in which case the system usually suggests skipping incompatible elements, but it is better to check important documents manually after completion.

If the process is stuck at a certain percentage (e.g. 99%), don't rush to interrupt it with a return button. Often at this point, the database is finalized or the archive integrity is checked. Wait 10-15 minutes. If progress hasn't moved, try restarting both devices and starting the process anew, selecting only the categories of data that have failed.

⚠️ Warning: Never attempt to unclose or edit local backup (.bak) files on your computer manually.This will disrupt the archive structure and restore will become impossible.

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The most common cause of errors is an unstable Wi-Fi Direct connection. Make sure there are no powerful sources of interference nearby, and keep the devices close together.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)