Replacing an old smartphone with a new gadget from Xiaomi or Redmi is always an exciting moment, which clouds the thought of the need to transfer accumulated over the years gigabytes of information. Fortunately, the Android ecosystem has long since grown into a chaotic phase of copying files through cable, offering users powerful built-in tools and specialized utilities. You no longer need to be a technician to activate a new device and see on its screen all your usual applications, photos and contacts.
The process of migrating data from Android to Android on Xiaomi devices is as automated as possible, but requires attention to detail during the preparatory stage. Incorrect sequence of actions or interruption of the connection can lead to the fact that some information will be lost or transferred incorrectly. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available methods, from using the proprietary Mi Mover application to cloud services, so you can choose the most suitable for your situation.
Before you start, make sure that both the old and the new have sufficient battery power, preferably at least one. 50-60%. It is also critical to have a stable connection to a Wi-Fi network if you plan to use cloud methods or fast data transmission over a wireless channel. USB-cable may only be required in rare cases or to be charged during a long process.
Preparation of devices for the migration procedure
The success of the operation depends on 90% of the correct preparation of both smartphones. On the new Xiaomi or Redmi device, the initial setup wizard will start when you first turn on, which will prompt you to copy the data. If you have already set up the phone as new, you will have to reset the settings to the factory or use the application to transfer to an already working system. On the old phone, you need to vacate space if the storage is full, and make sure that the operating system is updated to the latest available version.
Special attention should be paid to the Google Account, which is a key element of the Android ecosystem that syncs contacts, calendar events, notes and passwords. Go to the settings of the old device, select the Accounts section and check that sync for all important services is enabled and successfully performed right before the transfer begins. Sometimes the system can "hang" during the sync stage, and it is better to start this process manually.
If you plan to transfer large-volume multimedia files, such as videos to 4K or RAW-Check the free space on the new device. Android file system on the new device. MIUI HyperOS may require additional space for temporary files during application installation and media indexing.
⚠️ Warning: Do not start the transfer process if one of the devices is in power saving mode. This can cause the Wi-Fi Direct connection to break at the most inopportune time, which will interrupt the data transfer and require restarting the process.
Using the Mi Mover app for fast transfer
The most efficient and quick way to transfer information between Xiaomi phones and other Android devices is the proprietary utility Mi Mover. This tool is designed specifically for work in the MIUI and HyperOS environment, providing high speed data transfer over a local Wi-Fi channel without using Internet traffic. The application can copy not only multimedia and documents, but also system settings, alarm clocks, voice recorders and even the location of icons on the desktop.
To get started, install the Mi Mover app on both devices. On new Xiaomi smartphones, it is often pre-installed in the Tools folder. Run the program on both phones. Select the role of "Receiver" on the new device and "Sender" on the old one. The app will create a secure Wi-Fi hotspot that the old phone will need to connect to. QR-Entering or entering a password will start the process of selecting data.
The interface allows you to flexibly configure what you want to migrate, and you can choose between categories such as Images, Videos, Contacts, Messages or Applications, and it is important to note that banking applications and some secure programs may not be ported along with the login data for security reasons, but will have to be reauthorized.
- 📲 Local Transfer: Data is transferred directly between devices, which guarantees high speed and privacy, as information does not pass through third-party servers.
- 🔄 Cross-platform: Mi Mover works not only between Xiaomi, but also allows you to receive data from any Android phones version 4.4 and higher, as well as with iOS.
- ⚙️ Structure preservation: The utility tries to save folders and file structure, making it easier to find the right documents after moving.
☑️ Check before launching the Mi Mover
During the transfer, the screens of the devices can go out to save energy, but do not block them completely if the application requires constant confirmation. The speed of copying depends on the number of files and their size: thousands of small photos can be copied longer than one large video file. Once the process is completed, the new phone will offer to reboot to apply all changes and correctly index files.
⚠️ Note: If you receive a notification during the transfer that the storage is full, stop the process immediately. Attempting to write data to a crowded disk can damage the file system and lose already copied files.
Synchronization through Google Account and Cloud Services
An alternative and often more reliable way is to use the capabilities of Android itself. When you first set up a new Xiaomi or Redmi, the system will prompt you to sign in to your Google account. If you agree, the phone will automatically start downloading the list of apps that were installed on the old device, as well as restore contacts, call history and the phone will be able to download the list of apps that were installed on the old device. SMS-messages if they have been synchronized.
For photos and videos, Google Photos is the best service to use. Make sure your old phone has Autoupload and Sync enabled. Once all the media files are displayed in the cloud, just log in to the same account on the new device and all your pictures will appear in the gallery. This takes time depending on the Internet speed, but ensures that the data is safe even in the event of a physical breakdown of any of the phones.
The table below will help you compare the main backup methods available to Android users:
| Method | Speed. | Internet dependency | What's transferable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | High (Wi-Fi Direct) | Not required | Everything (files, settings, applications) |
| Google Account | Medium | Required. | Contacts, applications, SMS, calendar |
| Google Photo | Low/Mediocre | Required. | Photos and videos only |
| Mi Cloud | Medium | Required. | System settings, notes, dictaphone |
Using Xiaomi Cloud (or Mi Cloud) is also a great addition. By logging into your Mi Account on a new device, you can instantly restore system settings, voice recorders, notes and screenshots, which is especially convenient if you are switching from another Xiaomi or Redmi, as it allows you to recreate an exact copy of the software environment.
Manual transfer of multimedia and documents
Sometimes automatic systems may not work properly or miss certain types of files, such as hidden folders or documents in non-standard formats. In such cases, the classic method of manual copying comes to the rescue. Connect the old phone to the computer through a computer. USB-cable by selecting the mode "File Transfer" in the notification menu" (MTP). Copy the required folders (DCIM, Pictures, Download, Documents on your PC hard drive.
Then connect the new Xiaomi or Redmi to your computer and transfer the data to the appropriate internal memory directories. Android folder structure is standardized, so photos are better put in /DCIM/Camera, and downloads are better placed in /Download. After the new device is rebooted, the system media scanner will find new files and add them to the gallery.
What to do if your computer can’t see your phone?
For users who prefer wireless solutions without installing special applications from Xiaomi, there are third-party file managers with support FTP or SMB. You can start it. FTP-A server on one phone and connect to it from another via any file manager that supports the network, which allows you to flip files directly, bypassing the computer, although the speed may be lower than that of the Mi Mover.
- 💾 Integrity Control: When you manually copy, you can visually see the amount of data transferred and make sure that no file is lost.
- 📂 Sorting flexibility: You can sort files immediately on your computer by removing debris before downloading to a new smartphone.
- 🔌 OS Independence: This method works even if the phones are running heavily modified or outdated versions of Android.
Transfer of WhatsApp messages and messengers
Special attention should be paid to transferring correspondence in messengers, as they are often stored locally or in specific clouds. WhatsApp on Android has a built-in backup function on Google Drive. On the old phone, go to Settings → Chats → Backup Chats and click Backup. Make sure you use the same Google account that will be on the new phone.
When you install WhatsApp on a new Xiaomi or Redmi, the app will automatically detect a backup on Google Drive and offer to restore the message history. Important: recovery is possible only from Android to Android. Switching from iOS to Android or vice versa requires the use of special adapter cables or paid third-party snails during the initial setup of the phone.
Telegram and Viber are simpler: they store their history in the cloud, just enter the phone number and confirmation code, and all chats (except secret ones in Telegram) will be automatically downloaded, but the files stored in the device’s memory are better checked beforehand.
⚠️ WARNING: Two-factor authentication on WhatsApp may request the PIN you set earlier.If you forget this code, backup recovery may be blocked for 7 days.
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Before removing the WhatsApp app from your old phone, make sure that the backup in Google Drive is fully completed and displays the current date and time.
Typical errors and their solution
Despite the simplicity of modern methods, users often face technical problems, one of the most common is the “Not enough space” error, even when there is free space, which is due to the fact that the file system requires contiguous space for temporary unpacking files. Solution: free up another 10-15% of the memory beyond the amount of data transferred.
Another problem is the “dependence” of the process on 99%. This often happens when you're transferring large numbers of small files or when you're using a weak Wi-Fi signal, so you don't have to panic and turn off your phones. 10-15 If you haven't made any progress, stop the process and try to move the data in parts: first the photo, then the app.
Xiaomi users may also encounter an aggressive MIUI energy saving system that kills background transmission processes, and it is recommended to temporarily disable battery optimization for the Mi Mover app or Google Services in the battery settings.
- 🚫 Communication interruption: If the phones have separated too far from each other when transmitted over Wi-Fi Direct, the connection will break.
- 🔐 Screen lock: Some versions of Android stop data transfer if the screen goes out. Increase the time to turn off the screen in display settings.
- 📱 Version incompatibility: When ported from very old Android (versions) 4-5) new Android 13-14 Some system settings may not apply due to changes in the OS architecture.
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The key to successful transfer is to take your time, so give the system time to index files after the migration before you start working actively with the new phone.