How to Transfer Data from the Old Xiaomi to the New: A Complete Guide

The switch to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting moment, but the data transfer process shouldn't be a headache.Even if you swap the Redmi Note 12 for the Xiaomi 14 Ultra or POCO X5 on the Redmi K70, All your photos, contacts, messages and settings can be moved in minutes, and the key is to choose the right method and avoid the typical mistakes that lead to loss of information.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to migrate data between Xiaomi devices, including official tools from the manufacturer and universal solutions. MIUI, Call history, Wi-Fi passwords, even some apps, and some of the nuances that are important to consider when working with different versions. MIUI and smartphone models.

Whether you plan to use Mi Mover, Xiaomi Cloud storage, or third-party utilities like Google Drive, here you will find step-by-step instructions illustrating key points. Let’s start with device preparation, which is a stage that many people miss, and it’s a waste!

1. Preparation of devices before data transfer

Before you migrate, make sure both smartphones are ready for the procedure, neglecting the preparation can cause crashes, loss of data, or even locking your Mi Account (for cloud services).

• 🔋 Charge both devices to at least 50%. Data transfer is energy-intensive, especially when using Mi Mover over Wi-Fi Direct.
• 📶 Connect both phones to a stable Wi-Fi network. If you plan to use the cloud, check that the old device has enough traffic (or connect to the home network).
• 🗃️ Make room on your new smartphone, if it has less space than the data on the old one, the transfer will be interrupted. → Warehouse.
• 🔒 Make sure that both devices share a Xiaomi account (if you plan to sync through the cloud!

Pay special attention to the versions MIUI. If the old smartphone is installed MIUI 12, and on the new one — MIUI 14, some features of Mi Mover may not work properly, in which case it is better to use alternative methods (cloud or Google account).

⚠️ Note: If the old Xiaomi activated the function Data Protection (in Settings) → Password and security, it needs to be temporarily disabled, otherwise Mi Mover will not be able to access the files.

2. Method 1: Mi Mover is the official tool from Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a built-in data transfer application that is installed by default on all Xiaomi smartphones with a mobile phone. MIUI 9 and later, it works on Wi-Fi Direct technology, so it doesn't require an Internet connection, but both devices must be close by.

Advantages of the method:

• 🚀 High speed - up to 20 MB / s (depending on the model).
• 📁 Transfers almost all types of data: contacts, messages, photos, videos, music, settings MIUI, call-up.
• 🔒 Secure – Data is transmitted directly, without uploading to the cloud.

How to use Mi Mover:

1. On a new smartphone, when you first turn on, select Data Transfer (or find the Mi Mover app in the menu).
2. On the old device, open Mi Mover and select I sender.
3. Scan it. QR-code from a new phone or connect manually via Wi-Fi Direct.
4. Select data types to transfer (you can mark all or only the desired categories).
5. Confirm the start of the process on both devices and wait until it is completed.

⚠️ Warning: If a Connection Error message appears on the screen during transfer, check that both devices have power saving mode turned off and VPN. Also try restarting Mi Mover on both phones.

Charge both devices up to 50%+

Turn off the power saving mode

Connect to a single Wi-Fi network (if the cloud is used)

Make sure there is enough space on the new smartphone

Shut down. VPN firewalls-->

Method 2: Xiaomi Cloud – Cloud Transfer

If you can’t connect devices directly (for example, an old device broke but the data was synced to the cloud), use Xiaomi Cloud.This method is suitable for transferring contacts, notes, photos, calendar entries and some settings.

How cloud transfer works:

1. On the old device, open Settings. → Xiaomi account → Xiaomi Cloud.
2. Make sure that all the necessary data is included in the synchronization (sliders should be green).
3. Click Sync and wait for the process to be completed.
4. On the new smartphone, log in to the same Xiaomi account and enable sync in Xiaomi Cloud.

Limitations of the method:

• ☁️ Limited volume: free available only 5 GB (for photos in original quality this is not enough).
• ⏳ Long synchronization: If there is a lot of data, the process can take several hours.
• 📵 Not all types of data: messages, call history, and applications are not transferred through the cloud.

If you want to transfer photos in full resolution, but there is not enough space in the cloud, take advantage of the temporary increase in volume:

1. Go to Xiaomi Cloud → Storage management.
2. Choose to buy a place (even if you don’t plan to pay).
3. The system will offer 30 days of free trial (100GB).
4. Download all the necessary data and transfer it to the new smartphone.
5. After the transfer, cancel the subscription so that the money is not written off.

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If there are too many photos, archive them in ZIP On an old smartphone, and then upload the archive to Xiaomi Cloud as a single file.

4. Method 3: Transfer through a Google Account

If you use Google, this is going to be the most universal method, and it works on all Android devices, including Xiaomi, and allows you to migrate contacts, calendars, mail, notes (Keep), photos (Google Photos), and even some application settings.

Step-by-step:

1. On your old smartphone, open Settings → Accounts → Google.
2. Make sure that sync is enabled for all the data you need (contacts, calendar, Chrome, Google Photos, etc.).
3. Click Sync Now and wait until it is completed.
4. On the new device, when you first turn on, select Copy Data and log in to the same Google account.
5. Choose which data to restore (you can mark all or only the desired categories).

What's important to know:

• 📸 Google Photos compresses images if you have High Quality (free storage) enabled. To transfer the photo in the original resolution, select Source Quality (but it takes up space in your account).
• 📱 Apps don’t automatically migrate, but Google remembers a list of installed programs and suggests installing them again on a new device.
• 🔄 If the new smartphone already had a Google account, the data is not duplicated – they are combined with existing ones.

⚠️ Note: If the old Xiaomi used a different Google account than the new one, the data will not be transferred. First add the old account to the settings of the new smartphone and sync the data manually.

5. Method 4: Transfer over a computer (for large amounts of data)

If you have tens of gigabytes of photos, videos or music and the internet connection is unstable, the best option is to transfer over a PC. This method is also suitable if one of the devices is not turned on, but files can be extracted from it (for example, via Fastboot or via a PC). EDL-regime).

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
• 🔌 USB Type C cables (preferably original to avoid connection issues).
• 📂 Enough free space on the hard disk (at least 10% more than the data on the smartphone).

Instructions:

1. Connect your old smartphone to your computer through USB.
2. On the phone, select the file transfer mode (MTP) (if there is a request).
3. Copy all the necessary files (folders) DCIM, Downloads, Pictures, etc.) to your computer.
4. Turn off your old smartphone and connect a new one.
5. Transfer the copied files back to the new device.

To transfer contacts and messages via PC:

• 📇 Contacts: export them to.vcf via Contacts app (Management menu) → Exports).
• 💬 Messages: Use applications like SMS Backup & Restore (Saves) SMS into XML, Which can be restored on a new phone).

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Transferring over a PC is the most reliable method for large amounts of data, but it takes more time and technical skills, and it works if other methods don't work or you need to migrate files selectively.

6.Method 5: Third-Party Applications (SHAREit, Xender, Send Anywhere)

If Xiaomi's built-in tools don't fit for some reason, you can use popular file transfer applications. P2P (Device-device and often offer faster speeds than Mi Mover.

Comparison of popular applications:

• 📲 SHAREit: Up to 20MB/s, supports all file types but shows ads.
• 🔄 Xender: Simple interface, no file size restrictions, but requires a connection to a single Wi-Fi network.
• 🌐 Send Anywhere: Transfer via a unique 6-digit code, works without the Internet (via Wi-Fi Direct).
• 📎 Files by Google: Built-in file sharing (without installing additional apps).

How to transfer data to Send Anywhere:

1. Install the app on both devices (download from Play Market or APKMirror).
2. On an old smartphone, select files to send and click Send.
3. Select the transfer method: Wi-Fi Direct (without the Internet) or Through the key (if devices are on different networks).
4. On the new device, enter a 6-digit code or confirm your Wi-Fi Direct connection.
5. Wait for the transfer to be completed (progress is displayed on both screens).

⚠️ Warning: When using third-party applications, never connect to public Wi-Fi networks (cafes, airports), as this can lead to interception of transmitted data.

7. Transfer of specific data (settings) MIUI, passwords, games)

Not all data is carried by standard methods, such as theme settings. MIUI, Passwords from Wi-Fi or saved in games require a separate approach.

1. Settings MIUI (themes, wallpaper, sounds):

• 🎨 Use Xiaomi Cloud: In the synchronization settings, enable System Settings.
• 🔊 To transfer notification sounds, copy the folder /MIUI/sound_recorder PC.

Passwords from Wi-Fi:

• 📶 If both devices are on the same Google account, your passwords are automatically synced (Android 10)+).
• 🔑 For manual transfer, use the WiFi Password Viewer app (requires root) or export the file wpa_supplicant.conf (root-access).

3. Keeping in games:

• 🎮 If the game supports Google Play Games, saves sync to the cloud automatically.
• 💾 For games without cloud sync, copy the folder /Android/obb and /Android/data/[title games via PC.

4. Application data (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.):

• 💬 WhatsApp: Make a backup in Settings → chat → Backup and restore on a new device.
• 📱 Telegram: All data is synced through the cloud automatically (linked to a phone number).
• 📧 Email: Set up the same account on the new device – emails will be automatically downloaded.

8. Frequent errors and their solution

Even when you follow instructions, users have problems. TOP-5 Mistakes in data transfer between Xiaomi and how to fix them:

If none of these methods worked, try an alternative approach:

1. Make a full backup of an old smartphone through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset → Local backups.
2. Copy the backup file (.mbk) to your new smartphone.
3. Recover data through Settings → Additionally. → Recovery from backup.

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If the data transfer is interrupted by half, don't panic. Repeat the process from the same stage - most methods (except Mi Mover) support the resumption of the transmission.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions