Buying a new smartphone from Xiaomi, whether it’s the flagship Xiaomi 14 Pro or the budget Redmi, is always accompanied by a pleasant excitement, but also the inevitable question of data migration. Owners of the Mi Account ecosystem are in a favorable position, as the system offers several native tools for seamless transition. The process of cloning information has become much easier with the release of MIUI 14 and HyperOS, but requires attention to detail, so as not to lose important chats or photos.
Before you start taking action, you need to figure out which method is right for your situation: you can use cloud services, local copying over Wi-Fi or even a wired connection. It is critical to make sure that the charge of both devices is at least 60-70% before starting any operations, since the process can take from 30 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of data. Unforeseen power out during writing system files can lead to software errors.
In this article, we'll look at all the ways you can do it, from the built-in Mi Mover app to manually transferring it over your computer, and learn how to save desktop icons, Wi-Fi passwords, and even open browser tabs.
Preparing the old and new device for migration
Successful data porting is 90% dependent on proper preparation. First of all, you need to check the version of the operating system on both devices. It is desirable that the new smartphone has the current version of MIUI or HyperOS installed. Go to Settings → About the phone and check for updates. If the OS versions are radically different (for example, moving from Android 11 to Android 14), some settings may not apply automatically.
The second important step is clearing the place and checking the accounts. Make sure you remember the password from your Mi Account and Google Account. These are the two keys that open up backups of contacts, calendar and notes. It is also recommended to delete temporary files and app cache on the old device to speed up the transfer process.
⚠️ Note: If you are using two-factor authentication for Google or Mi Account, make sure that you are using two-factor authentication. SIM-number-card SMS The new device may require confirmation codes.
Be sure to check the list of installed applications. Some banking applications or corporate customers may block the installation of backups or require re-authorization with reference to the device, in such cases, it is better to unplug the old device in the bank security settings.
Using the Mi Mover application for wireless transfer
The most popular and convenient way to clone a smartphone is to use the Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on all modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices. If for some reason it is not available, the application can be downloaded for free from GetApps or Google Play, the main advantage of the method is the high speed of data transfer over a direct Wi-Fi channel without using the Internet.
To start the process, open the app on both phones. On the old device, select the role of "Sender" (Old phone), and on the new one, "Receiver" (New phone), the system will create a temporary access point. You will need to scan. QR-code that appears on the screen of a new smartphone, the camera of the old device.
Once the connection is established, the system will suggest selecting data categories to copy. The Mi Mover algorithm allows you to flexibly customize the selection:
- 📱 System data: contacts, messages (SMS/MMS), Call log, alarm settings and system preferences.
- 📷 Multimedia: photos, videos, audio recordings and files in download folders.
- 📲 Applications: list of installed programs and, in some cases, their data (depending on the Android version and application access rights).
- 🎨 Design: wallpaper, themes, fonts and layout of the desktop.
It’s important to understand that app porting doesn’t work perfectly for all programs: Heavy games or applications with complex data structures can be copied but require re-entry, and messengers like WhatsApp and Telegram have built-in backup mechanisms that are often more reliable than the system ones.
☑️ Checklist before Mi Mover launch
Sync with Mi Cloud and Google Account
Cloud technology is the foundation of Xiaomi's ecosystem, and if you've used sync before, it takes minutes to set up a new device. When you first turn on a new smartphone, log in to your Mi Account. It automatically prompts you to recover data from the cloud.
What works best through Mi Cloud? First of all, it is the gallery (if photo sync is enabled), contacts, notes, voice recorder and calendar. Also saves passwords from Wi-Fi networks and blacklist of locked numbers. To activate, go to Settings → Mi Account → Cloud and make sure that the sliders opposite the desired points are active.
Google Account takes over the other part of the task: It restores the list of installed apps from the Play Market, Chrome browser history, saved passwords and Google Fit data. When you initially set up Android, just type in the Google login and password, and the phone will start quietly loading content in the background.
| Type of data | Mi Cloud | Google Account | Locally (PC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Yes (automatically) | Yes (automatically) | Yes (file.vcf) |
| Photos and videos | Yes (5GB free) | Yes (15GB free) | Yeah (copying folders) |
| Notes | Yes. | No (without third-party apps) | Yeah (through MIUI backup) |
| Screen layout | Yes. | No. | Yes. |
| Wi-Fi passwords | Yes. | Yes (via Google) | No. |
It is worth noting that free space in the Mi Cloud is only 5 GB. If you have a lot of photos, this may not be enough, in this case it makes sense to subscribe or use Google Photos for media files, and in Mi Cloud only sync contacts and notes.
What to do if the synchronization is suspended?
Data transfer via computer and cable
For users who have hundreds of gigabytes of data, wireless methods can be too slow, and in this case, the good old-fashioned method of connecting to a PC remains the most reliable. USB-cable and computer with enough free space.
Connect your old phone to your computer and select file transfer mode (MTP). Copy the DCIM (camera photos and videos), Pictures (screenshots and images from messengers), Download and Music folders into a separate folder on your hard drive.
However, this method won’t take over the application settings or correspondence history. To create a full local copy of the system, you can use the Backup function in the MIUI/HyperOS settings. Path: Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore. The backup file you create can be transferred to a new phone and deployed.
⚠️ Attention: Local backup via phone settings does not include folder contents DCIM Photos and videos must be copied separately through the Explorer, otherwise you risk losing your most valuable archive.
An alternative option for advanced users is to use the Mi PC Suite (official or modified version), which allows you to take full images of the system, but on new versions of Android this functionality is often limited for security reasons.
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Use the cable. USB 3.0 or higher and connect devices directly to ports on the motherboard (back of the system unit), not through USB-This will provide the maximum speed of transferring large files.
Nuances of transfer of messengers and banking applications
WhatsApp, Viber and Telegram store their correspondence history locally or in their clouds, ignoring common system backups. WhatsApp on Android has a built-in feature: Settings → Chats → Backup Chats. Create a copy on Google Drive before you switch. When you install WhatsApp on a new phone and enter the same number, the application will offer to restore the history.
Telegram works differently. All the correspondence history is stored on the messenger servers. You just install the application and enter the phone number, all the chats (except secret ones) will be downloaded automatically. Secret chats are tied to the device and cannot be transferred.
Banking applications (SberBank, Tinkoff, etc.) and government services (Public Services) require increased security, and they almost always require:
- 🔐 Confirmations through SMS.
- 📞 Calling the bank or confirming in the application on the old device.
- 👤 Biometrics or PIN-code entry of the card.
Some banking apps may require an upgrade or reinstallation if the Android version on the new phone is substantially newer.Make sure you have access to the phone number beforehand, as no one can get a phone number. SMS-Recovering access to finance will be difficult.
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Messengers and banks are the most vulnerable part of migration.Always make a manual backup of WhatsApp chats and make sure that you have a good time. SIM-Card is active to receive confirmation codes.
Completion of setup and optimization of the new smartphone
Once the data is moved, the work doesn't end. The new phone can run slower in the first hours because of background file indexing and app updates. Let the device lie on charge with Wi-Fi on for at least 1-2 hours.
Check alarms, recalls and notifications. Sometimes when you move the audio settings, profiles may be lost. Go to Settings → Sound and vibration and make sure the volume is set correctly. Also check NFC and contactless payment by adding the cards back to Google Pay or Mi Pay (if available in your area).
If you have specific system modifications or launchers installed on your old phone, you will have to reconfigure them on the new device. The standard MIUI/HyperOS launcher may behave differently than the custom one you are used to.
So in conclusion, don't rush to rent out or sell your old device right away. Use your new phone for a couple of days in combat mode. If you make sure that all contacts are in place, the photos are open and the banks are working, then you can start completely resetting the old gadget.