Transferring data to Xiaomi via Google Account: A complete guide with nuances

Why to move data over Google and when it’s convenient

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, especially when it comes to saving important data. Using a Google account to transfer information is one of the most reliable and versatile ways that works on all devices with Android 5.0 and later. Unlike proprietary solutions (for example, Xiaomi’s Mi Mover), syncing through Google is not tied to a specific brand of phone, which makes it an ideal choice if you switch from Samsung, Huawei or even iPhone (with some reservations).

The main advantage of the method is that it automatically recovers most data immediately after the first activation of the new Xiaomi, without having to connect cables or use third-party applications. However, there are limitations: not all types of files are synced through Google. For example, SMS, call logs and some application settings may not be migrated. In this article, we will discuss how to make the most of your Google account for migration, what data can be transferred and what you will have to save manually.

What data can be transferred through a Google account

Google offers synchronization of several key data categories, and the full list depends on the version of Android on the old and new device, as well as the account settings.

• 📇 Contacts – including profile photos and additional fields (addresses, birthdays).
• 📅 Calendars and Events from Google Calendar.
• 📎 Notes from Google Keep (if you used this app).
• 📁 Photos and videos from Google Photos (subject to the enabled autoload).
• 📱 Applications – list of installed programs (but not their data!).
• 🔑 Passwords from Google Password Manager.
• 📍 Device settings – wallpaper, language, date/time, some network settings.

Here's what won't automatically transfer:

• 💬 SMS and MMS — They need a separate backup (for example, through a SMS Backup & Restore).
• 📞 Call log – not synced by Google by default.
• 🎮 Game data – game progress is only saved if it supports Google Play Games.
• 📂 Local files (documents, music) – you will have to copy them manually.

Preparing an old phone for data transfer

Before you start the transfer, you need to make sure that all the important data is uploaded to your Google account, which is often missed, which causes some information to be lost.

To enable synchronization:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Select your account and make sure that all switches (Contacts, Calendar, Drive, etc.) are active.
3. For Google Photos, separately check the autoload settings: Google Photos → Photos → Settings → Backup and Sync.

If your phone has apps that aren’t synced to Google (like WhatsApp or Telegram), back them up separately. For WhatsApp, this is done via Settings → Chat → Backup.

⚠️ Note: If you are using an old phone MIUI Related to Mi Account, untie the device in Settings → Xiaomi account → Security: Otherwise, after the reset, you may need to confirm your old account.

Step-by-step: transfer data to the new Xiaomi

Now, to the process itself, it's important to follow the instructions consistently to avoid synchronization errors.

Step 1: First Including the New Xiaomi

When you first start your smartphone, the system will prompt you to recover data.

1. Copy the data → From cloud storage.
2. Enter the login and password from the same Google account used on the old phone.
3. Choose which data to restore (you can mark everything or select individual categories).

Step 2: Manual synchronization (if data is not loaded)

If after recovery part of the data is missing:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Click on your account and enable sync for the desired categories.
3. For Google Photos, open the app and wait for the download to complete.

Step 3: Restore applications

The list of applications will be restored automatically, but the programs themselves will not be installed.

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Click on the profile icon → Apps and Devices Management → Installed → Not installed.
3. Select the desired applications and click Install.

Some applications (such as banking) may require re-authorization.

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If you have duplicate contacts after you restore them, open Google Contacts on the web (contacts.google.com) and use the Find and Combine Duplicates tool.

Table: What is carried through Google and what is not

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even with the right timing setup, there can be errors.

1. Data is not restored after logging into the account

Reason: The new phone is out of sync or not enough space on Google Drive.

Decision:

• Check your free space on drive.google.com.
• Enable manual sync: Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync.
• Reboot your phone and try again.

2. Photos are not uploaded to Google Photos

Reason: Autoboot or weak internet is disabled.

Decision:

• Open Google Photos → Photos → Settings → Backup and Sync.
• Choose High Quality (free) or Original Quality (takes up space on the Drive).
• Connect to Wi-Fi and wait for the download to complete.

3.Apps are not restored

Reason: On the new phone, another Google account region or app has been removed from the Play Store.

Decision:

• Check your account region: pay.google.com → Settings → Country/region.
• If the application is not available, download its APK from a trusted source (e.g., APKMirror).

⚠️ Note: If the new Xiaomi has a global firmware installed (MIUI Global, and the old phone was with a Chinese version (MIUI China, some system applications (such as Mi Video or Mi Music) may not recover.

Alternative ways to transfer data to Xiaomi

If syncing through Google is not suitable for some reason, consider other methods:

• 🔄 Mi Mover (from Xiaomi) is the official application for wireless data transfer between Xiaomi devices.It works even without the Internet, but requires installation on both phones.
• 📱 Cable OTG + Adapter – Connect your old phone to your new phone USB-Cable and copy files manually (requires an adapter) USB-C to USB-A modern Xiaomi).
• ☁️ Cloud Services – Upload data to Yandex.Disk, Dropbox or OneDrive, and then download to your new phone.
• 🖥️ Computer as a middleman – copy files from your old phone to your PC and then to your new Xiaomi.

Each method has pros and cons, like Mi Mover is faster but doesn't carry data from some third-party applications, and cloud services require a stable Internet, depending on your priorities: speed, data volume or convenience.

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Google account is the most versatile way to transfer, but for a full migration (including SMS, call log and application files), it is better to combine it with other methods, such as Mi Mover or manual copying.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions