Buying a new Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone is always a joy, but the joy can be overshadowed by the need to transfer accumulated information: you will have to go through hundreds of contacts, recover the history of correspondence and find a way to transfer gigabytes of photos without losing any important frame. Fortunately, the Chinese manufacturer’s ecosystem offers powerful built-in tools that make this process as simple and fast as possible.
Unlike many other brands, MIUI shell-based devices or the new HyperOS have a deeply integrated utility for data migration. You don't have to search for third-party apps or connect your phone to your computer through complex cables unless you urgently need it. The entire procedure takes 10 to 40 minutes depending on the size of the archive and the speed of the wireless connection.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available cloning methods, focusing on the native Mi Mover app. We will look at the nuances of transferring Wi-Fi passwords, desktop layouts and even authorization data in some applications. Proper preparation of both devices is the key to success, so do not rush to start the process immediately, but carefully study the next steps.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before you start the copying process, you need to make sure that both smartphones are in good condition and ready for intensive work. First of all, check the battery level on the old and new device. It is recommended that both devices have at least 50-60% charge, since active data transfer over Wi-Fi Direct is significantly energy consuming.
It’s also worth freeing up space on your host device. While modern Redmi and Poco often have large amounts of internal memory, it’s best to make sure there’s enough free space for all your photos, videos, and apps. If you’re planning to carry hundreds of gigabytes of media, it might make sense to pre-clean the cache or delete unnecessary files.
☑️ Ready for transfer
An important step is to update the system software on both devices. Xiaomi developers are constantly improving the data protocols, and using the current version of MIUI ensures that there are no compatibility errors. Go to Settings → About the phone and check for updates. If the operating system versions on devices are too different (for example, Android 10 and Android 14), it may be difficult to migrate some system settings.
Using the Mi Mover app for fast transfer
The most efficient and quickest way to transfer is to use the Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on the brand’s modern smartphones and allows data to be transmitted without using the Internet, creating a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices, while transfer speeds can reach 20-40 MB / s, which is much faster than Bluetooth.
To get started, open the app on both devices. On the old phone, select the role of "Sender" (Old phone), and on the new one, "Receiver" (New phone). QR-code or connect to the access point you created manually, and once you have established the connection, you will see a list of data categories that are available for copying.
⚠️ Warning: During the transfer process, do not turn off device screens or switch to other applications. Breaking the connection may cause damage to the archive or the need to start the process again.
You can choose from specific types of data: contacts, messages, call logs, notes, voice recorder, as well as installed applications. Mi Mover does not transfer authorization data inside banking applications and some messengers for security reasons. These will require separate login. It is also worth noting that the portable applications will be installed in the background, and their shortcuts will appear on the desktop only after the download is completed.
Transfer via Mi Cloud and Google account
An alternative and very reliable method is cloud sync. If you have stable Wi-Fi, using Mi Cloud allows you to back up your settings, contacts and even desktop layouts, which is convenient because the data is linked to your account and can be restored to any Xiaomi device at any time.
To activate this feature, go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud. Here you can see what data is already synced. Click on Sync to make sure all recent changes are saved on the server. On the new phone, just log in to the same account, and the system will prompt you to restore data from the last backup.
In parallel, Google’s account is responsible for saving contacts, calendar events and, importantly, Google Play purchase history. When you first turn on a new smartphone, Android will offer to restore data from the Google cloud, which will automatically tighten the list of previously installed applications, even if they were removed from the old device.
What to do if the Mi Cloud is full?
Features of transferring multimedia and files
Photos and videos usually take up the lion's share of smartphone memory. With Mi Mover, these files are copied in their original quality without compression. However, if you have a few thousand images, the process can take considerable time.
Connect your old phone to your PC in file transfer mode (MTP). Copy the DCIM (camera), Pictures (screenshots and images from apps) and Download folders to your hard drive. Then plug the new phone in and move the files to the appropriate directories. This is a good method for immediately auditing and clearing the gallery of unnecessary garbage.
Another nuance is hidden albums and secure folders, files that are in Second Space or hidden through a standard gallery may not be automatically copied, but must be made visible beforehand or moved to a shared folder before migrating, otherwise you risk losing access to photos after changing your device.
💡
Use a USB-C to USB-C cable to transfer files directly between phones without a computer, as long as both devices support this standard.
Comparison of data copying methods
The choice of method depends on your priorities: speed, convenience or a full copy of the system. Below is a table that will help determine the way you migrate in your situation.
| Method | Speed. | We need the Internet. | What's transferable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Tall. | No. | Everything (except bank passwords) |
| Mi Cloud | Medium | Yes. | Settings, contacts, SMS |
| Google Account | Low. | Yes. | Contacts, applications, calendar |
| PC (Cable) | Very high. | No. | Files only (photos, videos, documents) |
As you can see from the table, Mi Mover is the most versatile solution for Xiaomi owners: it doesn't depend on the speed of your home provider and allows you to migrate even the folder structure. Cloud methods are good as an add-on for contact insurance and notes, but they won't make a full-fledged replacement phone without the subsequent pumping of tens of gigabytes of applications.
Possible problems and solutions
The process of data transfer can be technically difficult: often users are faced with a situation where the process is suspended at a certain percentage or applications do not open after the migration, this may be due to a lack of RAM on the old device during the data packaging.
If the transmission is interrupted, don't panic. Check if one of the devices is power-saving, which can limit the Wi-Fi module. VPN-connections and antiviruses that can block local data packets between devices.
⚠️ Note: If the banking applications are not working after the transfer, this is normal. Due to a change in the device or reset of security keys, you will need to re-assign the card or log in through the device. SMS-Data inside applications (balance, history) is stored on bank servers, not on the phone.
In rare cases, you may not be able to put widgets on your desktop, because there are different versions of the launcher on different Redmi models, and it's easier to set up a new phone manually, but you'll get a clean system without old garbage. NFC-Fingerprints and tags – often have to be reconfigured for security reasons.
💡
The most reliable scenario is a combination of methods: Mi Mover for apps and photos, and synchronization of Mi Cloud for contacts and system settings.