How to transfer data from Xiaomi to Xiaomi: a complete guide to migration

Buying a new smartphone is always a joyous event, but often overshadowed by the prospect of a long and tedious setup. The owner has just unpacked the device and now faces the fact that you need to somehow recycle all the information you've accumulated over the years. Fortunately, the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem offers a lot of built-in tools to make it as easy and fast as possible. You don't need to be a technician to successfully complete the migration.

There are several proven methods, each with its own advantages depending on the amount of information and the condition of the old device: you can use the branded Mi Mover app, Google cloud services or Mi Cloud, as well as classic Bluetooth or Mi Drop for fast transfer of individual files. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the ways that you can choose the most suitable for your situation.

Before starting the procedure, it is important to understand that some methods require a stable connection to Wi-Fi, while others work through a local network created by the phones themselves. We will look at the nuances of each approach, possible errors and ways to fix them, which will avoid losing important contacts or photos.

Don't neglect the preparatory phase, as the proper organization of the process will save you hours of time, make sure that both devices are at least 60 percent charged to avoid a sudden shutdown in the middle of an important operation, and check for free space on the new gadget.

Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration

The most effective and recommended way to transfer data between devices of the same brand is using the Mi Mover utility.This tool is pre-installed on most Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones, which eliminates the need to download additional software. The application allows you to transfer contacts, messages, call history, photos, music, videos, installed applications and even system settings as they were on the old phone.

You start the process from a new device, you have to open the application, accept the user agreement, and select the "I am the recipient" role, and then the old phone also starts Mi Mover, but you select the "I am the sender" option. The devices will find each other, and you will only have to scan. QR-code or confirm connection via confirmation code, transfer speeds can reach tens of megabytes per second, which is much faster than standard Bluetooth.

It is important to note that when transferring applications, the installation files themselves are copied, but authorization inside them can fly for security reasons. This is normal for any Android operating system. banking applications and messengers with two-factor authentication will require re-entry.

⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the transmission process or turn off smartphone screens until the operation is complete. Interrupting during the copying phase of large files can damage the data archive.

While Mi Mover is trying to preserve the history of WhatsApp and Viber, for a 100% guarantee, it is better to use the built-in backup functions inside the apps themselves before migrating.

Once the copy is complete, the system will suggest a reboot, a necessary step to apply all system settings and index files correctly.

Sync through Google Account and Cloud Services

If you don't have a direct connection on hand, or if you're planning to migrate in multiple stages, cloud sync is the perfect solution. Google's ecosystem allows you to save contacts, calendar, notes and passwords in the cloud that automatically pull up to your new smartphone immediately after you enter your username and password. This is a basic level that every Android user should have set up.

For deeper sync, including photos and videos, use Google Photos. Turn on Autoboot and Sync on your old device and wait until the process is over. On the new phone, just log in to the same account, and your entire library will be available in full resolution or in space saving mode.

Owners of Xiaomi devices have the added advantage of a Mi Account, which allows you to transfer not only standard data, but also specific theme settings, the location of icons on the desktop, alarm clocks and even drafts of the recorder, which makes it feel like you haven’t changed the phone, but just updated it.

It's worth remembering the limits of free storage. Google gives 15GB, which is shared between mail, disk and photo. If you have a lot of data, you may need to temporarily expand storage or transfer files in parts.

Using the cloud ensures that even in the event of loss or breakdown of a physical device, your information will remain safe and will be accessible from any other gadget.

Transfer files via Mi Drop and Bluetooth

When it comes to transferring individual heavy files, such as video to 4K or document archives, Mi Drop (often integrated into Explorer or as a separate Send feature) is the most rational choice. This technology uses Wi-Fi Direct, which allows you to achieve transfer speeds of up to 20-30 MB / s, which is several times faster than classic Bluetooth.

To get started, both devices need to turn on Bluetooth and GPS, because they're used to find devices nearby. Unlike Mi Mover, which copies everything at once, Mi Drop allows you to selectively send files, you just pick the right photos or folders, click "Send" and select the recipient from the list of available devices.

Classic Bluetooth is also not gone, and can be useful for small contacts or links if other methods are not available for some reason, but it is categorically not suitable for transferring gigabytes of data due to its low speed and high power consumption.

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Use Mi Drop to quickly transfer large video files between phones without compressing quality, which often happens in instant messengers.

The advantage of this method is that there is no need for an Internet connection, all data is transmitted directly between devices over a secure channel, which is important for sensitive information.

Backup to the computer and local recovery

For users who prefer full control of their data or do not have fast Internet, the method of creating a local backup is relevant. The built-in archiving tool in MIUI allows you to create a full cast of the system, which can then be transferred to a computer and deployed on a new device.

To create a backup, go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore. Here you can choose what to save: system data, applications or multimedia. Once you create the archive, it is stored in internal memory. To transfer to your PC, connect your phone with a cable and copy the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder to your hard drive.

On a new phone, the procedure is reversed: you first need to create an empty backup (at least one) to form a folder structure, then replace the files on your computer and start recovery. This may seem complicated, but this is the only way to migrate data without loss of quality and without depending on cloud limits.

⚠️ Note: When recovering from a local copy on a new version of Android or MIUI Some system settings may not apply due to changes in the structure of the operating system files.

This method also allows you to store “historic” copies of data on an external hard drive, creating a long-term archive of information over the years.

Transfer of data messengers: WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber

Messengers deserve special attention, as they store correspondence in their databases, which are not always correctly transferred by common methods. For Telegram, the situation is the simplest: all data is stored on the server, just enter a phone number, and all chats (except secret ones) will appear automatically.

WhatsApp and Viber are more complicated, and it's critical to back up the app right inside the app before you change your phone. In WhatsApp settings, select Chats → Chat Backup → Backup. Make sure you've created a copy in Google Drive.

When you first start WhatsApp on your new phone, the app will detect the backup in the cloud and suggest that you restore it, and if you skip that point when you first set up, it will be extremely difficult to restore the correspondence without completely reinstalling the application.

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The main rule for instant messengers is to always back up inside the app itself before resetting or replacing your phone, and don’t rely on the overall system synchronization alone.

For Viber, the principle is similar: create a backup in the settings (Settings → Account → Backup Viber), and then restore it when you log in to your account on a new device.

Solving problems and errors during transfer

Even with automated tools, errors can occur, and one of the most common is "Not enough space" or "connection error." If Mi Mover can't see the device, try turning off mobile Internet on both phones, leaving only Wi-Fi. Sometimes it helps to temporarily shut down a VPN or antivirus, which can block local data transmission.

If the process is stuck at a certain percentage (e.g. 99%), don't rush to interrupt it immediately. Often the system just completes indexing of small files. If the wait is longer than 15-20 minutes, then you can try restarting both devices and starting over again, selecting only those categories of data that have not been copied.

Password problems from Wi-Fi networks are also solvable. If they don't move automatically, you can generate a password. QR-The current Wi-Fi network code on the old phone (via Wi-Fi settings) and scan it with the new device through the camera.

⚠️ Note: After transferring data, banking applications may require re-binding the device, which is a security mechanism, not a port error.

In rare cases, when nothing works, the “clean” method remains: manually copy the DCIM folders (photo) and Download via a USB-USB cable or card reader, and export the contacts to a.vcf file and import it on a new phone.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)