How to sync Xiaomi devices: cloud, accounts and data transfer

Synchronizing Xiaomi devices is not just a convenient feature, but a necessary tool for smooth work with the brand ecosystem. Without the right setup, you risk losing contacts, photos, notes and even smartphone settings when changing your gadget. How exactly does synchronization work on Redmi, POCO And why sometimes data isn't automatically updated?

In this article, we’ll look at all the synchronization methods, from basic Mi Account binding to hidden data transfer functions between phones, tablets, and smartwatches. You’ll learn how to avoid errors (such as when photos are duplicated in the cloud), what settings affect synchronization speed, and what to do if a device “does not see” other gadgets on the same network. And for owners of several Xiaomi devices, we have prepared a unique table for the compatibility of synchronization functions between different models.

1.What is synchronization in the Xiaomi ecosystem and why you need it

Synchronization in Xiaomi devices is an automated process of exchanging data between your gadgets via cloud services or a local network.

• 📱 Contacts and Messages – Backup to Mi Cloud or Google Servers.
• 📷 Photo and video – automatically upload to the cloud with the ability to view on any device.
• ⚙️ System settings – themes, wallpaper, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings.
• 🔄 Transfer files between devices without cables (via Mi Share or Nearby Share).
• 📊 Health data – steps, pulse and activity with Mi Band or Xiaomi Watch.

The main advantage of synchronization is that you seamlessly transition between devices, for example, you started reading an article on a Redmi Note 12 smartphone and continued on a Xiaomi Pad 6 tablet from the same place, or automatically got all the contacts on a new phone after you logged in to Mi Account. Without synchronization, you would have to manually transfer every file or setting.

⚠️ Attention: If you are using POCO-devices with global firmware, some features of the Mi Cloud may be limited. SMS Available only in Chinese and European versions MIUI.

But synchronization doesn't just work in the background, it can be customized to your own tasks.

• 🔒 Selective synchronization – only include the desired data types (e.g., only contacts and notes).
• 📡 Local sync – file sharing without cloud via Mi Share (works even without the Internet).
• ⏳ Schedule – upload photos to the cloud only over Wi-Fi or at night.

2. synchronization methods: Mi Account vs Google vs Local Area Network

Xiaomi devices have three main sync channels, each with its own pros and cons:

Which way to choose? It depends on your tasks.

• 🔄 For system backup (e.g., before resetting your phone) – only Mi Account.
• 🌍 For cross-platform synchronization (if you don’t have one)-Xiaomi devices - Google Account.
• 📲 For fast file transfer between two smartphones Xiaomi – Mi Share.

⚠️ Note: If you use both clouds (Mi Cloud and Google) at the same time, there may be duplicate contact conflicts. To avoid this, in the sync settings, disable duplicate data types in one of the accounts.

Example: If you sync contacts through Mi Account, turn off the Contacts option in Google settings, otherwise, when you edit a number on your phone, it may duplicate or disappear.

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Before selling or transferring the device, be sure to turn off sync with Mi Account in Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account → Delete your account or the new owner will have access to your data!

3. Step-by-step set up synchronization via Mi Account

To enable sync through your official Xiaomi account, follow the following steps:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Account.
2. If you are not already logged in, click Log in and enter your account details (or register a new one).
3. After logging in, go to the Synchronization section and activate the switches opposite the desired data types: 📇 Contacts – Backup and synchronization of the phone book. 💬 SMS — Message history (not available on all firmware). 📝 Notes - synchronization of records from the application "Notes". 🎨 Topics - Preserving established themes and wallpapers. ⚙️ System settings – backup of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.

Click on Sync Now to start the process manually.

For automatic synchronization:

1. Back to Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Mi Account.
2. Activate the option "Autosynchronization of data".
3. In the "Sync settings" section, select when to start the process:

If the synchronization is not working:

• 🔄 Check your internet connection (synchronization requires a stable connection).
• 🔒 Make sure that the device does not have any limitations on the Mi Cloud in the battery settings (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing consumption → All applications → Mi Cloud).
• 📱 Update. MIUI up to the latest version (in old firmware, synchronization bugs are possible).

4.Sync with Google: How to Avoid Conflicts with Mi Cloud

Many Xiaomi users use both Mi Account and Google Account at the same time, which is convenient but can cause data duplication, such as the same contact being displayed twice, from Mi Cloud and from Google Contacts.

To set up sync with Google without conflict:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Select your account (or add a new one).
3. Enable synchronization only for data that is not duplicated in Mi Cloud: ✅ Gmail – only if you use it. ✅ Google Photos – if you don’t use autoboot in Mi Cloud. ❌ Contacts – Disable if they are already synced through Mi Account.

Press "More" → Synchronize Now to start the process.

To manage duplicate contacts:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Click on three dots in the upper right corner → Contact management → Combine duplicates.
3. Select contacts to join (the system will automatically find possible duplicates).

⚠️ Note: If you delete your Google account from your phone, all data synced through it (such as Chrome bookmarks or Keep notes) will be deleted from your device. However, it will remain in the Google cloud and will be restored when you re-authorize.

For owners. POCO-There's a caveat to the fact that some of the features of Mi Cloud can be disabled, in which case Google Account becomes the main sync tool. To check the options available, go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI. If the firmware name has the word "Global", restrictions are likely.

5. Local sync: Mi Share and Nearby Share

If you need to transfer files quickly between two Xiaomi devices (or even with devices from other brands), use Mi Share or Nearby Share.These technologies work over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct without requiring an Internet connection.

How to turn on Mi Share:

1. Open Settings → Connection and Sharing → Mi Share.
2. Activate the Mi Share switch.
3. Set up the visibility of the device:

Select the device name (the default smartphone model is used).

To transfer files:

1. Open the "Gallery" or "Files" and select the desired items.
2. Press "Share" →"Mi Share".
3. Select the target device from the list.
4. On the second device, confirm the receipt of files.

Nearby Share (from Google) works similarly, but supports more devices, including smartphones from other brands.

1. Open Settings → Google → Devices and Sharing → Nearby Share.
2. Activate the function and select visibility mode.
3. To transfer files, use the option "Share" →"Nearby Share in any app.

⚠️ Note: When transferring large files (e.g. video to the 4K) via Mi Share, make sure that both devices have enough free space.If the receiving smartphone has little memory, the file may not be saved or may be fragmented.

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For maximum transmission speed, turn off the power saving mode on both devices and make sure that the distance between them does not exceed 5 meters.

6. Synchronization with Xiaomi smart devices (watches, bracelets, speakers)

Xiaomi’s ecosystem includes not only smartphones, but also smartwatches (Mi Watch), fitness bracelets (Mi Band), speakers (Mi Smart Speaker) and other gadgets, all of which can be synchronized with the phone through the Mi Fit or Xiaomi Home app.

For synchronization Mi Band or Xiaomi Watch:

1. Install the Mi Fit app from Google Play or AppGallery.
2. Sign up or sign in to your Mi Account.
3. Click "Add device" and select your watch/bracelet model.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen to pair via Bluetooth.
5. After connecting, enable data synchronization:

For smart speakers (Mi Smart Speaker) and other smart home devices:

1. Install the Xiaomi Home app (or Mi Home for older versions).
2. Add the device through "Add" → Select a category (for example, "Smart Home").
3. Connect a speaker or other gadget to the same Wi-Fi network as the phone.
4. In the device settings, enable the option "Synchronize with Mi Account".

For a deep diagnosis:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI and click 5 times on "Kernel Version" to turn on Developer Mode.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the option "Mi Cloud Logs" and turn it on.
4. Try synchronizing the data again and check the logs for errors.

⚠️ Note: If you use custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), Mi Cloud features may not work properly or at all. In this case, use Google Account or third-party services like Nextcloud to sync.

8. Alternative synchronization methods

If standard methods don’t suit you, consider alternatives:

• ☁️ Third-party cloud services:
• 🔄 Synchronization applications:
• 🖥️ Local solutions:

For data transfer between Xiaomi and iPhone:

• Use AirDrop (if Xiaomi has firmware that supports this feature, for example, MIUI EU).
• Install Send Anywhere, a cross-platform application for transferring files by link or QR-code.
• To transfer contacts, export them to the.vcf file on Xiaomi and import them to the iPhone via iCloud.

If you need to sync notes between Xiaomi and other devices, consider:

• 📝 Google Keep is a simple and convenient service with support for reminders.
• 📒 Evernote or Notion – for complex notes with formatting.
• 🔗 Simplenote – Minimalist solution with Markdown support.

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For maximum compatibility, use Google services (Contacts, Calendar, Drive) – they work on any device, including iOS and Windows.

FAQ: Frequent questions about synchronization Xiaomi