How to Transfer Data from Xiaomi to Xiaomi: A Step-by-Step Guide

Buying a new smartphone always evokes mixed feelings: the joy of owning a modern gadget and a slight anxiety for the safety of accumulated over the years information. Owners of the Xiaomi ecosystem are in the most advantageous position, as the manufacturer has provided several effective ways to migrate data. The transfer process can take from 10 minutes to several hours depending on the volume of files and the method chosen.

Today’s Xiaomi smartphones, powered by MIUI shells or the new HyperOS, allow for the clone of almost everything from Wi-Fi settings to the location of icons on the desktop. The fastest way is to use the built-in Mi Mover app, which runs on a local Wi-Fi channel and does not consume Internet traffic. However, there are nuances that need to be considered to avoid losing important passwords of banking applications or correspondence history.

In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods, compare their effectiveness and help you choose the best option for your situation. Whether you are changing the Redmi Note 10 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 or just backing up, this guide will help you avoid common mistakes.

Preparing devices before data migration

Before you start the copying process, you need to make sure that both smartphones are ready to work. Charge both devices to a minimum of 60-70%, as active transmission of large amounts of data can significantly consume energy. If one of the phones turns off during the transfer, the process will have to start again, which can lead to file corruption.

Remove temporary debris and unnecessary apps on your old device, which will speed up the process and avoid transferring digital junk to the new gadget, and make sure that both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, even if you plan to use a cable connection for insurance.

Check the space available on your new smartphone. It should be more than the amount of data you're using on your old device. If you're using cloud services, make sure you have a stable network connection, preferably via a home router rather than a 4G/5G mobile.

Using the Mi Mover app for fast transfer

The most effective tool is the Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones, which allows you to transfer contacts, messages, call history, photos, music, videos, documents and even system settings, the main advantage of the method is the creation of direct connection between devices, which ensures high speed.

To get started, open the app on both devices. On the old phone, select the role of "Sender" (Old phone), and on the new one, "Receiver" (New phone). QR-You can find the code or find the device via Bluetooth, and after you connect, you'll see a list of data categories that you can transfer.

Please note that when you migrate applications, some of them (especially banking and messengers with enhanced security) may not transfer authorization inside yourself, you will have to re-enter logins and passwords in programs such as Sberbank Online or WhatsApp.

• 📱 Contacts and messages: carry over in full, including investments in MMS.
• 📸 Media files: Photos and videos retain original quality and metadata (record date).
• ⚙️ System settings: alarm clocks, wallpaper, location of widgets and passwords from Wi-Fi.
• 📦 Annexes: installed APK-files, but the data inside may require a separate backup.

Transfer via Mi Cloud and Google Account

Cloud technology allows you to be independent of physical proximity devices, and if your old phone is already unavailable or broken, but the data has been synced before, this method will be a lifesaver.

Log in to the Mi Cloud settings on your old device and make sure the sync sliders are active for contacts, notes, voice recorder and gallery. Click Sync to upload the latest changes to the server. On the new phone, just log in to the same account and the data will flow automatically.

Google Account takes care of keeping your contacts, calendar, email and installed app list. When you first set up your new smartphone, it will offer to restore data from the Google cloud. This is a standard procedure for Android, which works stable, but has limits on the amount of free storage (15 GB).

⚠️ Warning: Free space in the Mi Cloud is limited to 5 GB. If you have a lot of high-resolution photos, there may not be enough space.

It’s important to understand the difference: Mi Cloud is better at keeping shell-specific settings and system applications, while Google is versatile for all Android devices.

Local backup to the computer

The most reliable way, regardless of Internet speed or cloud volume, is to create a local copy on a PC, and you'll need a USB cable and a computer with enough free memory, which is ideal for carrying heavy video archives.

Connect your old phone to your computer and select File Transfer Mode (MTP). Copy the DCIM folders (camera photos and videos), Pictures (screenshots and images from messengers), Download and Music to your hard drive. Then plug the new phone in and copy those folders to the appropriate directories.

For system settings, use the built-in local backup function. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore. Backup system by setting a password if required. Backup file will be saved in internal memory, you also need to copy it to your PC, and then transfer it to the new phone to the same directory for recovery.

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When copying files via USB, use the original cable or high-quality analogue with support for high-speed data transfer (USB 3.0) to speed up the process several times.

Nuances of transfer of messengers and banking applications

WhatsApp and Telegram store their history differently. Telegram stores everything on the server, so just enter a phone number. WhatsApp requires you to back up to Google Drive or locally before switching to a new phone.

In WhatsApp settings on your old device, go to Chats → Chat Backup and click “Create.” On the new phone, when you install the app, you will be asked to restore your history from the cloud. Without this step, you will not see any correspondence.

Banking applications (Sber, Tinkoff, Alfa) and government services (Gosuslugi) do not tolerate session data for security reasons, you will have to re-enter the login procedure, receive an SMS code and possibly reconfigure Face. ID Or a fingerprint. SIM-card to receive confirmation codes.

⚠️ Note: Do not remove the bank or messenger app from your old phone until you have fully verified that all the features on the new device are working.

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Critical data (banks, two-factor authentication) always require manual re-authorization on a new device, automatic transfer of sessions is impossible here according to security rules.

Solving common synchronization problems

Sometimes the process can go wrong. If Mi Mover reports an error or the speed drops to zero, try turning off mobile internet on both phones, leaving only Wi-Fi. Often smartphones try to switch to the mobile network, which breaks the local connection.

If certain files are not portable, check the file system format. Some older formats may not be read by the new HyperOS shell. Also make sure that both devices have current versions of the Mi Mover app installed through the GetApps store.

If contacts are not displayed correctly (duplicate or unnamed) after transfer, go to the Contacts app, select settings and the "Joint Duplicates" function. Often the problem is that the contacts were pulled up at the same time as the contacts were connected to the same link. SIM-Maps, Google Account and Mi Account.

• 🔄 Reboot: A banal but effective method is to reboot both smartphones before starting.
• 📶 5GHz Wi-Fi: If the router supports, connect your phones to a 5GHz network for faster speeds.
• 🔋 Energy saving: Turn off the power saving mode for the transfer time so that the system does not “sleep down” the transmission process.