How to transfer data from your Google account to your new Xiaomi phone: 5 proven ways

Why migrating data from Google to Xiaomi can be a challenge

Xiaomi’s new smartphone is always a joy of updating, but it’s also a data port headache. Even if you’ve been using Google services for years, migrating to a device with MIUI isn’t always smooth. The main problem is the ecosystem differences: Google’s Android and Xiaomi’s customized MIUI shell have different approaches to synchronization.

Many users find that after logging into a Google account on the new Redmi, POCO or Xiaomi 14, data is not automatically uploaded, which may be due to disabled sync settings, an outdated version of Google Play Services, or even regional restrictions (for example, in China, some Google services are blocked), in this article we will analyze all the current methods of transfer, from standard to little-known.

We will focus on synchronizing contacts through MIUI-Google account is often overlooked, although it works more consistently on new Xiaomi models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T Pro or Redmi Note 12 Pro+). Also, let’s look at how to avoid common errors like “Synchronization is stopped” or “Impossible to connect to the server".

Method 1: Automatic synchronization through Google account

The most obvious and quick method is to use Google's built-in sync, which is good if you're setting your phone from scratch or after a reset. Importantly, this only works when you first turn on the device. If Xiaomi is already set up, move to manual sync.

Instructions for new phones:

• 📱 Turn on your smartphone and select a language. In the "Data Copy" phase, tap to copy data from your old device.
• 🔄 Select Google (not "Mi Cloud"!) Enter your Google account login and password.
• ☑️ Check the data types for transfer: Contacts, Calendar, Gmail, Photos (from Google Photos), Notes (from Keep).
• ⚡ Wait until the process is complete (it can take up to 30 minutes depending on the amount of data).

If there is an error at this stage that failed to synchronize, check:

• 🌐 Internet connection (better to use Wi-Fi than mobile data).
• 🔄 Google Play Services Update in Play Store.
• 📅 Time and date on the phone (must match the actual time).

Method 2: Manual synchronization through settings

If the phone is already configured but the data hasn’t loaded, turn on manual sync.This method works on all Xiaomi models with MIUI 12 and newer (including the POCO F5 and Xiaomi 12 Lite).

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Tap on your Google account (if not, add through Add Account).
3. Select Account Sync and activate sliders opposite the desired data: 📇 Contacts - for the phone book. 📅 Calendar - for events. 🖼️ Disk – for files from Google Drive. 📝 Keep - for notes.

More. → Synchronize now

Make sure your phone is connected to Wi-Fi|Check the free space on the phone (minimum 1 GB)|Update Google Play Services in the Play Store|Shut down. VPN (can block synchronization)|Restart your phone before starting-->

If the data does not appear after these actions, check:

• 🔒 Two-factor authentication in a Google account (may require confirmation).
• 📱 Version MIUI (Some firmware for China Google services are disabled by default).
• 🚫 Traffic Savings Settings in Settings → Connections → Data usage (can block background synchronization).

Method 3: Move over MI Cloud (Google alternative)

If Google services are unstable (like in China or custom firmware), use Xiaomi’s MI Cloud, which is integrated into MIUI and often syncs faster.

How to transfer contacts and notes through MI Cloud:

1. On your old phone: Open Settings → About Phone → MIUI Cloud. Log in to your Mi Account (create if not). Activate synchronization of Contacts, Notes, Calendar.

Xiaomi

• Sign in to the same Mi Account when setting up.
• Enable synchronization in Settings → MIUI Cloud.
• Wait for the download to complete (the data will appear in the standard Contacts and Notes apps).

💡

If you use both Google and MI Cloud at the same time, disable the synchronization of contacts in one of the services to avoid duplication of records, for example, leave contacts only in MI Cloud, and leave a calendar in Google.

Method 4: Porting Photos and Videos to Google Photos

Photos and videos take up the most space, so porting them requires separate attention. Google Photos offers two storage options:

• 🖼️ High quality (free, but compressed to 16 MP for photos).
• 📸 Original quality (no compression, but takes up space in Google Drive).

How to transfer media files:

1. On your old phone: Install Google Photos from Play Store. Sign in to your account and enable Backup and Sync. Wait for all files to download (check in the web version of photos.google.com).

Xiaomi

• Set up Google Photos and log in to the same account.
• Open the application settings and enable Autoboot.
• Files will start to download in the background (can be accelerated via Settings → Storage Management).

If the photo is not uploaded:

• 📶 Check the mobile traffic restrictions (Google Photos has Wi-Fi Only option).
• 🔋 Make sure there is enough charge on the phone (background boot stops when the battery level is low).
• 📁 Check if the folders are hidden in Settings → Device folders.

💡

Google Photos automatically groups similar photos and suggests removing duplicates. Don't agree to be deleted until full sync is complete - some files may not yet be downloaded to a new phone!

Method 5: Use ShareMe (Mi Mover)

If you don't have access to the Internet or Google services are blocked, use ShareMe, a proprietary application (formerly Mi Mover), which runs on Wi-Fi Direct and does not require a connection to the network.

• 📱 Contacts, SMS, call-book.
• 📸 Photos, videos, music.
• 📁 Documents and APK-file.
• 🎮 Preservation of certain games (e.g, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact).

Instructions:

1. On both phones, install ShareMe (available in the Play Store or App Gallery).
2. On the old phone, select Send, on the new phone, Receive.
3. Scan it. QR-Connection code (or select device manually).
4. Select data types to transfer and confirm the transfer.

⚠️ Note: ShareMe does not transfer data from a Google account (e.g., mail or calendar), and when transferring a large volume (more than 10 GB), the connection may be interrupted, in which case break the data into parts or use the data. USB-cable.

Solving Typical Problems in Data Transfer

Even with the right setup, synchronization can fail, and let's look at the most common errors and their solutions.

Problem 1: “Sync is stopped” in your Google account.

• 🔄 Restart your phone and check your internet connection.
• 📱 Delete and add a Google account again.
• 🔧 Reset your Google Play Services settings (Settings) → Annexes → Google Play Services → Warehouse → Drop it).

Problem 2: Contacts are duplicated after the transfer.

• 📇 Open the Contacts app → Contact management → Combine duplicates.
• 🔍 Check if your contacts are synced from Google and MI Cloud.
• 🗑️ Remove unnecessary accounts in Settings → Accounts.

Problem 3: Google Photos don’t load on the new Xiaomi.

• 🖼️ Check if Traffic Savings mode is enabled in Google Photos settings.
• 📂 Make sure that the photo folders are not excluded from synchronization (Settings) → Device folders).
• 🔄 Update the Google Photos app to the latest version.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi phones for the Chinese market (marked) CN In the model, Google services can be disabled by default, and activation requires unlocking the bootloader and installing global firmware!

FAQ: Frequent questions about data portability to Xiaomi