How to Transfer Data from One Xiaomi to Another Xiaomi Redmi

Buying a new Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone is always a joyous event, but it often clouds the prospect of a long and tedious setup. The owners of the MIUI ecosystem and the new HyperOS are more fortunate than users of other brands, as the company’s engineers have provided powerful built-in tools for migration. The process of transitioning from an old device to a new one can take from 10 to 40 minutes depending on the amount of information, but the result is worth it: you get a fully working device with saved passwords, photos and correspondence history.

There are several proven ways to do this, each with its own features and advantages. The most effective and quick method is to use the regular Mi Mover app, which works at the system level and allows you to transfer even hidden settings. However, if a direct connection is impossible for some reason, you can always use the Google Drive cloud service or sync through your Mi Account. The choice of the specific path depends on the condition of your old phone and personal preferences.

In this article, we will take a closer look at all the options available, with a focus on the nuances that are often overlooked: how to properly prepare both devices, what file formats are supported during transfer, and what to do if the process is interrupted in the middle. Competent training will save you hours of time and nerves, allowing you to immediately start using a new gadget, rather than looking for missing contacts.

Preparing devices for data migration

Before you start any portable tool, you need to make sure that both smartphones are in good condition and ready for active operation. A critical parameter is the battery level: both devices must have at least 50-60% of power, since the process of transferring data, especially over Wi-Fi Direct, can significantly consume battery life. If one of the phones runs out at the most inopportune time, the procedure can result in an error or partial loss of files.

It is also necessary to free up enough space on the new device. Although modern compression algorithms work efficiently, the amount of memory occupied by the receiving phone should exceed the amount of data on the sender. It is recommended to delete unnecessary cached files in advance or temporarily move heavy video archives to the computer to speed up the process and avoid overflowing storage in real time.

⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to port data if one of the devices is power-saving mode.This feature may restrict the operation of the Wi-Fi module or the background processes of the system, which will cause the connection to break during copying.

Make sure both devices have the latest available system updates. Differences in MIUI or Android versions sometimes cause conflicts when transferring specific system settings or passwords from Wi-Fi networks. The software update often contains patches for the migration utility, so don’t ignore this step.

Check the stability of the touch screen and navigation buttons, as you will have to confirm actions on both devices almost simultaneously.If the screen of the old phone has "dead zones", this can significantly complicate the process, and then it is better to use the mouse through the phone. OTG-control-adapter.

Using the Mi Mover app for fast transfer

The most reliable and preferred way for owners of Xiaomi equipment is to use the pre-installed application Mi Mover. This tool is designed specifically for work in a bundle of devices of the same brand and allows you to transfer not only multimedia and contacts, but also desktop layout, alarm clocks, notes and even passwords from Wi-Fi. The main advantage of the method is the creation of a direct communication channel between phones, which eliminates the need for the Internet and provides high speed.

To get started, find the app in the Tools folder or search in the settings. On the new phone, select Recipient and on the old phone, Sender. QR-code that will appear on the screen of the new device, and after scanning, a secure connection will be established, and you can select the categories of data to copy.

• 📱 Contacts and Messages: Complete copy of the phone book, call history and SMS-correspondence, including attachments MMS.
• 📸 Multimedia: Photos, videos, audio recordings and voice recorder files are transferred in original quality without compression.
• ⚙️ System settings: Wi-Fi access points, alarm clocks, notes and even the location of icons on the desktop.
• 📦 Annexes: Installed APK-files are copied, but data within applications (game cache, logins) may require separate authorization.

It's important to note that Mi Mover can work not only between Xiaomi phones, but also with other Android-based devices, although the functionality can be slightly limited. In this case, when both devices belong to the same ecosystem, compatibility is maximum. The process is in the background, but the screens of the devices are better not to be turned off, so that the system does not interrupt the connection to save energy.

If you have difficulty finding an app on an older device (for example, it has been removed or hidden), you can download it from the GetApps store or the manufacturer's official website. However, on most modern Redmi and Poco models, it is built into the system by default and does not require installation.

Synchronization through Google Account and Cloud Services

An alternative and sometimes complementary method is synchronization via Google account, ideal for those who plan to switch to a smartphone of another brand in the future or want to have a backup in the cloud in case of loss of the device. When the new Xiaomi is first activated, the system will offer to restore data from the cloud if you enter the same email address.

To work effectively, you need to check the sync settings on your old phone beforehand. Go to Settings → Google → Sync and make sure the switches opposite contacts, calendar and notes are active. It’s also worth opening the Google Photos app and checking if all images are finished uploading to the cloud, as this takes the most time.

The advantage of this method is that it is versatile and independent of the physical condition of the old phone. Even if the previous device crashed or lost, you can recover key data (contacts, calendar events, notes) just by logging into your account on the new gadget. However, photos and videos in original quality can take up space in Google storage, the limit of which is limited to 15 GB for free accounts.

And don't forget your own cloud service, Mi Cloud, which, if you used on an old device, you'll automatically log in to Mi Account on a new phone, especially for users who store backups of system settings and voice recordings in the Xiaomi cloud.

Transfer of applications and their data

One of the hardest questions when changing phones is to move apps along with their data, such as game progress, messaging, and cache. Standard tools like Mi Mover can copy application installation files (APKs), but for security reasons, Android doesn’t always allow you to move internal data without special rights or backups inside the apps themselves.

For instant messengers like WhatsApp or Viber, it is critical to do a local backup or backup to the cloud before you switch. In WhatsApp settings on your old device, go to Chats → Backup Chats and click “Create a Backup.” Make sure it is saved to the Google Drive that will be used on the new phone. When you install the app on the new device, it will prompt you to restore your correspondence history.

• 🎮 Games: Progress will only be maintained if the game is linked to a Google Play Games account, Facebook or a developer's own account.
• 🏦 Banking applications: They will have to be reconfigured for security reasons. Access tokens are not portable between devices.
• 🎵 Streaming services: Spotify, YouTube Music, Netflix require re-authorization, but your playlists and history will be saved on the server.

There is also a "Second Space" function, or app cloning, which is specific to MIUI. If you've used cloned apps (like the second WhatsApp), when you transfer them over Mi Mover, they can be recreated on the new device, but that depends on the shell version. In some cases, the system will have to be reconfigured by manually creating clones.

⚠️ Note: After transferring banking apps and Google Pay (Google Wallet), re-assignment cards and identity verification may be required via the Internet. SMS Make sure you're in advance of the biometrics. SIM-The card tied to the bank is active and is on the phone.

For users who want to migrate absolutely everything, including application data, without the cloud, there is a complex method using ADB and superuser rights, but for the average user it is not recommended because of the risk of breaching the warranty and stability of the system.

Working with Multimedia Files and Gallery

Photos and videos usually take up the lion's share of smartphone memory, and porting them requires special attention. When using Mi Mover or connecting to a computer cable, files are copied in their original quality. However, if you rely on cloud services, it is worth knowing about the nuances of compression. Google Photos in "Saving Space" mode can slightly worsen the quality of images, while the "Original" mode quickly exhausts the free storage limit.

If you decide to transfer files manually through your computer, create a folder on your PC with a clear name, for example, "Backup_Old_Phone". Copy the files in there. DCIM (The main camera, Pictures (screenshots and images from apps) and Download. Once you connect your new phone, just copy those folders to the appropriate internal memory directories. 100 GB).

Hidden folders and files deserve special attention. In Android, some applications create their own folders with data at the root of internal memory. When you manually copy, it is easy to miss important configuration files or downloaded maps for the navigator. When using Mi Mover, hidden system folders are copied automatically, which is its main advantage over manual method.

After you move, the gallery on the new phone can think for a while, sorting photos and creating previews. This is normal behavior of the system, associated with the work of the media scanner. Don't panic if you don't see all the photos immediately after you turn on, give the device 10-15 minutes to index the files.

Possible problems and ways to solve them

Even with sophisticated tools, there can be disruptions, and one of the common problems is disconnecting the connection during the transfer of large files, which often happens if one of the devices goes into sleep mode or if the user starts to actively use the phone for other tasks, and to avoid this, it is better to turn off the mobile Internet during the migration and leave the phones alone.

Another common situation is incompatibility of Android versions. If you are switching from a very old device (like Android 6 or 7) to the newest Xiaomi with Android 14, some old file formats or settings may not be correctly considered a new system.

• 📉 Low speed: Make sure the devices are close together and there are no thick metal barriers between them blocking the Wi-Fi signal.
• ❌ Not enough space error: Check if the new phone's memory is filled with system files or hidden debris.
• 🔄 Process freeze: If progress is 99 percent stagnant for a long time, don't rush to interrupt the process. Often there is a final data integrity check. If it takes more than 30 minutes, restart both phones and try again, selecting only what hasn't been copied.

If neither of the automatic methods works, there is always the “old-fashioned” way – using a microSD memory card (if both phones support) or OTG-Copy everything important to the external media from the old phone, and then transfer to the new one. It takes longer, but guarantees the result in desperate situations.

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Save app shortcuts: After transferring the data, the icons may get lost. To quickly restore order, clamp the empty space on the desktop of the old phone, take a screenshot and use it as a hint when placing widgets on the new device.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Using Mi Mover is the fastest way for Xiaomi devices, but for mission-critical data (photos, documents) always back up your computer or cloud before you start any operations.