How to Transfer All Data from Xiaomi to the New Redmi

Buying a new smartphone is always a welcome experience, especially when it comes to switching to a more powerful Redmi or Xiaomi flagship. However, the owner inevitably faces the issue of migration of user information: contacts, photos, correspondence history and installed applications make up a digital life that can not be simply thrown away. Fortunately, the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem offers powerful built-in tools that allow you to clone an old phone to a new one in minutes without losing a single byte.

The process of transferring data from Xiaomi to Xiaomi or Redmi to Redmi has become as automated as possible. You do not need to be an IT expert to perform this procedure, since the developers have provided an intuitive interface for users of all levels, the main thing is to prepare both devices in advance, charge their batteries and make sure that the connection is stable, so that you do not interrupt the transfer of large files.

In this guide, we will take a look at all the migration options available, with a focus on Mi Mover, the gold standard for the brand’s devices, and look at the nuances of porting system settings, Wi-Fi passwords, and even home screen layouts to make the new gadget a complete copy of the old one from the first moment of inclusion.

Preparation of devices before the migration

Before you start the copying process, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps that guarantee the success of the operation. First of all, check the battery level on both smartphones: it is recommended that both devices have at least 50-60% of energy, as active operation of communication modules and writing data to the disk can quickly consume battery life.

You should also make room on the receiving device if you already have some data on it. Although the phone is usually empty when you first set up, having free space is critical to properly record archives. Make sure that both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on, even if you're going to be on a direct channel, these protocols are used to shake hands and detect devices.

⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to interrupt the transfer process or switch between applications during migration, this can cause database files to be damaged and the system to malfunction after restarting.

An important step is to update the software. If you have Settings Updates available on your old or new phone → About Phone → MIUI version, you should install them before you start porting, this will ensure compatibility of backup formats and prevent errors associated with variations in the operating system versions.

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Before you start the transfer, remove unused heavy apps and cache from both devices to speed up the process and avoid transferring digital debris.

Using the Mi Mover app for full cloning

The main tool for migration is the pre-installed Mi Mover app, which is built into the default system on all modern smartphones of the brand. To start, go to the Settings menu → About Phone → Mi Mover or find the app icon in the Tools folder on the desktop.

The interface is very simple and clear. On the new phone, select the Receiver role and on the old phone, the Old phone, and then the devices create a Wi-Fi Direct hotspot, and you need to scan. QR-code or enter a password to pair, the connection speed in this mode is much faster than when transmitted through a conventional router.

• 📱 Select the data type: contacts, messages, call log, system settings.
• 📸 Specify multimedia: photos, videos, audio files and documents.
• 📲 Mark the applications: list of installed programs and their data (if supported).
• 🔒 Check security settings: Wi-Fi passwords and alarm clocks.

After selecting categories, click the "Send" button, which can take anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours, depending on the amount of information you have, and the progress bar will show you the status, and if you have an error on a particular file, the system will skip it and continue working, which is an important advantage over manual copying.

Sync with Mi Cloud and Google Account

An alternative and reliable way is cloud sync, ideal if you don't have a cable on hand or want to move data in advance, before you physically get a new device. Mi Cloud allows you to store backups of the system, and Google Drive takes over contacts and a calendar.

To activate sync on your old phone, go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud. Here you can choose what data to upload to the cloud. Please note that free storage is limited to 5 GB, so large amounts of photos and videos may require tariff expansion or selective synchronization.

On the new device, just log in to the same account, and the data will start to load automatically when you have the Internet, which is the most lazy, but effective way, which requires minimal user intervention in the setup process.

Transferring Multimedia through Computer and Cable

For users who prefer full control of files, or with a huge amount of data (hundreds of gigabytes), the best solution is to use a PC, which allows you to create an exact physical copy of the contents of the internal memory and SD memory card.

Connect your old smartphone to your computer through USB-cable by selecting the "File Transfer" mode in the notification» (MTP). Copy the folders. DCIM (Photos and video from the camera, Pictures (screenshots and images from messengers), Download and Music to the hard drive. Then connect the new phone and transfer the data to the appropriate directories.

Pay special attention to hidden folders, where data is stored messengers, such as WhatsApp or Viber. Their path structure may differ on different versions of Android, so after transferring to a new phone, applications may require reconfiguration of paths to media files.

⚠️ Note: When copying through a computer, do not remove the abruptly cable (sharp). Always use the "Safe Device Removal" command in the computer's operating system to avoid corruption of the file system.

Nuances of data transfer messengers

Messengers deserve special attention, as they often store correspondence in local databases that are not fully synchronized with the cloud without special configuration. WhatsApp needs to back up through Google Drive inside the settings of the application itself: Settings → Chats → Backup chats.

When you first run WhatsApp on the new Redmi, the app will automatically detect the presence of a backup in the cloud and prompt you to restore your message history. It is important to use the same phone number and the same Google account as on the old device. Telegram and Viber process is similar, but Telegram stores the entire history on the server, so just log in.

• 💬 WhatsApp: Requires manual backup activation on Google Drive/iCloud.
• 📞 Viber: Save backup in Viber Backup (Google Drive).
• ✈️ Telegram: All history is stored in the cloud, no transfer required.
• 💬 Signal: Requires local backup and manually ported.

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Messengers are not automatically transferred through Mi Mover along with the correspondence history – be sure to back up each application separately!

Solving problems and errors during transfer

Despite the fact that processes are fine, there can be some disruptions, and users often face a situation where the new phone “can’t see” the old one, in which case rebooting both devices and re-energizing Bluetooth and Wi-Fi modules will help, and it’s also worth checking whether one phone is running Traffic Saving or aggressive energy saving, which blocks the background transmission.

If the process is stuck on a certain percentage, try deselecting data types that you don’t plan to migrate right now, such as system settings or rare file formats. Break migration into stages: first contacts and photos, then applications.

In rare cases, especially when switching between very different versions of Android (for example, from Android 9 to Android 13), some old apps may not install automatically.