Buying a new Xiaomi smartphone is always a pleasant event, but the user inevitably faces the question of migrating data from the old device. Modern smartphones contain gigabytes of information: contacts, correspondence in messengers, photos, passwords and system settings. The process of cloning information between devices of the same brand, for example, between the Redmi Note 10 and Xiaomi 13, is as simplified as possible by developers thanks to a single shell MIUI or HyperOS.
Unlike the transition between different ecosystems, it doesn’t require third-party software or complex manipulation of cloud storage.Mi Mover’s built-in tool allows you to create an exact replica of an old phone on a new one in minutes. It’s important to properly prepare both gadgets and follow the algorithm to avoid losing important files or crashing applications.
Before starting the procedure, you need to make sure that both devices are charged at least 60%, since active data transfer can quickly consume energy. It is also worth checking that the receiving device has enough free memory space to accommodate all the files. Ignoring these basic requirements can lead to interruption of the process in the middle, which will require repeating the entire operation.
Preparing devices for data migration
The first step is to get both smartphones ready physically and software-wired, and make sure both devices have Wi-Fi enabled, even if you don’t plan on connecting to the router. The Mi Mover app uses direct Wi-Fi connection between gadgets to create a high-speed local network, which is much faster than transfer via Bluetooth or other devices. USB-cable.
Both devices must have an up-to-date Mi Account installed, which is necessary to synchronize some of the system settings and passwords that are stored in the cloud. If your old phone has two-factor authorization enabled, make sure you have access to your phone number or backup codes.
⚠️ Note: Do not connect devices to your computer through USB during the Mi Mover setup, as this can block data transmission over the local network.
While Mi Mover is backward compatible, working between versions of Android with a wide difference (such as Android 9 and Android 14) sometimes requires additional time to convert application databases.
Use of the built-in Mi Mover application
The main tool for the transfer is the system application Mi Mover (Migration), which is preinstalled on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, you can find it in the Tools folder or search the settings menu. On the new phone, the system will suggest starting the migration when you first turn on, but you can also do it manually through the settings.
Run the app on both devices. On the old phone, you need to select the role of "Sender" (I send), and on the new one, "Receiver" (I accept). QR-And that's a code that's going to be displayed on the screen of the new device, and that's going to connect the gadgets together.
- 📱 On your old phone, click the “Send” button and wait for the device to be searched.
- 📲 On the new device, select the Android data type and confirm the creation of the access point.
- 🔗 After the scan. QR-The code will begin to establish a secure connection.
The interface is intuitive and categorized, and you can choose specific types of data to transfer: images, music, videos, documents, contacts, messages, and even system settings. You don't have to choose everything if the new phone has little memory, you'd better filter the extra.
Selection of data types for transfer
The Mi Mover data selection screen allows you to manage content flexibly. It automatically counts the amount of information you select. When you move from Xiaomi to Xiaomi, you have unique options that are not available when migrating from other brands, such as moving icons on your desktop and wallpaper.
Special attention should be paid to the section "Applications", the system will suggest to move APK-However, data inside applications (logins, game cache, correspondence) may not be automatically transferred to all programs for security reasons. For instant messengers like WhatsApp or Telegram, it is better to use their built-in backup functions.
| Type of data | Transfer speed | nuance |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts and SMS | Instantly. | Transferred completely with the whole history |
| Photos and videos | Tall. | Depends on the gallery size and Wi-Fi speed |
| Annexes | Medium | Re-authorization is required in most services |
| System settings | Quickly. | Includes Wi-Fi passwords and alarm clocks |
If you use Google Photos or Mi Cloud, you don't have to move the gallery manually at all, just log in to your account on your new device, and the photos will be automatically uploaded, saving time and battery life.
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Before transferring, clear the gallery of screenshots and memes – they take up space, but are rarely needed on a new device.
Transfer data via Mi Cloud and Google Account
The alternative to direct connectivity is cloud synchronization, which is ideal if an old phone is already sold, lost or broken, but it has been synchronized, and requires a stable Internet connection and sufficient cloud storage.
Log in to Mi Account settings on your new device. Go to Sync and turn on the items you want: Contacts, Notes, Recorder, Calendar. Data will start loading in the background. This is a reliable way to save important text information.
Google Account takes over the preservation of contacts, calendar events and the list of installed applications. When you first set up a new Xiaomi, you just need to enter Google’s username and password so that the phone itself offers to restore a backup. However, heavy files and MIUI settings are not transferred through Google.
⚠️ Note: When recovering from the Google cloud, apps will download from the Play Market again, which can take a long time with a slow Internet connection.
Using the cloud also allows you to recover files that have been deleted accidentally, such as the Mi Cloud or Google Photos Recycle Bin, which stores deleted items for up to 30 days, an important aspect of data security that users often forget about.
What to do if the synchronization is suspended?
Features of transferring WhatsApp and Viber
Messengers require a separate approach, as their databases are often protected and not copied by standard system tools. WhatsApp on Android has an official backup method on Google Drive. On an old phone, open WhatsApp, go to Settings → Chats → Backup and click Backup.
Once WhatsApp is installed on the new phone and the number is confirmed, the system will suggest that you retrieve your Google Drive history. It's important to use the same Google account. The process can take time depending on the size of the database.
- 📞 Make sure the phone number matches on both devices.
- 💾 Check for the latest backup in the cloud before resetting your old phone.
- 🔐 For Viber, the procedure is similar: Settings → Account → Backup of Viber.
There is also the possibility of local WhatsApp portability when using Mi Mover, if you select the appropriate option in the list of applications. However, the method with Google Drive is considered more stable and less likely to lead to errors in the integrity of the database.
☑️ Checklist before resetting an old phone
Solving Mistakes and Problems in Migration
The transfer process can be technically challenging, with users experiencing a “failed to connect” error or a 50-70% interruption, often associated with energy saving, and Android can aggressively limit the background activity of the Wi-Fi module to save charge.
To avoid disconnection, it is recommended to turn off the power saving mode on both devices, and it is also worth noting that the system should turn off Wi-Fi in sleep mode. If the transmission is interrupted, do not panic. Just restart the Mi Mover app on both phones and start the process again.
Sometimes there is a problem with duplicate contacts. After migrating, check the phone book. If contacts are duplicated, use the "Joint Duplicate" function in the Contacts app or through the Google Contacts web interface. This is a standard situation when mixing data from different sources.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to interrupt the process of writing data by forced reboot if the progress indicator is dead. 10-15 The system can be busy processing large files.
In rare cases, some system applications may not work properly after transfer, in which case it helps to clear the cache of a particular application or reinstall it, while user data is usually stored if it was successfully copied.
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The fastest and most reliable way to transfer is to connect directly via Mi Mover over Wi-Fi Direct, not via the cloud or Bluetooth.
Completion of the process and initial setup
Once the copy is successfully completed, the new phone will suggest a reboot or immediately begin indexing files, at which time the device can heat up and run slowly, which is normal, the system puts the file system in order, creates thumbnails for the gallery and optimizes databases.
Check the basics: call someone, open a gallery, run a heavy app, make sure all Wi-Fi passwords are saved and alarms are set correctly, and only after a full check can you start resetting the old device.
To fully upgrade to a new device, it is recommended to log out of Mi Account and Google on your old phone, and then make a full reset to factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset).