How to clone Xiaomi phone: 5 proven ways to transfer data

Shifting data from one Xiaomi smartphone to another is a challenge that every user faces when buying a new device. Cloning a phone allows you to save all settings, apps, photos and even call history, avoiding manually transferring each file. But how do you do it quickly and without loss?

In this article, we will look at all the current ways Xiaomi cloning, from built-in MIUI features to third-party tools, learn how to transfer data between devices of the same brand, from Android to iOS (and back), and how to avoid typical errors, paying special attention to saving accounts, app settings and personal files, which are often lost when ported incorrectly.

It's important to understand that the process of cloning depends on the version of MIUI and the model of the phone. For example, on the Redmi Note 12 and Xiaomi 13 Pro, the algorithm may differ due to different hardware and firmware versions. We will look at universal methods that work on most of the brand's devices, including older models like the Redmi 4X and new flagships.

1.Cloning through the built-in MIUI (Mi Mover) function

The most reliable way to transfer data between Xiaomi phones is to use the Mi Mover branded tool, which is pre-installed on all devices with MIUI 9 and later, supports Wi-Fi Direct transmission and does not require an Internet connection.

To begin cloning:

1. On both phones, open the Mi Mover app (you can find it in the menu or search the system).
2. On the old device, select I am the sender, on the new device, I am the receiver.
3. Scan it. QR-code from the screen of a new phone or connect manually via Wi-Fi Direct.
4. Select data types to transfer: contacts, messages, photos, apps, etc.
5. Confirm the start of the transfer and wait for the completion.

⚠️ Warning: If the new phone already has data, Mi Mover will automatically prompt you to erase it before cloning.This is an irreversible process - back up if there is important information on the device.

Charging the battery of both phones > 50%|Free space on the new device (at least 10% more data transfer volume)|Disabled. VPN firewalls|Both phones are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (if an alternative method is used)-->

The speed of the transfer depends on the amount of data, for example, transferring 30 GB of photos and applications can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, and if the process is interrupted, start over again, partially copied data will not be saved.

2. Transfer data through Google Account

If you don’t have access to Mi Mover (like clone Xiaomi to a different brand), use Google Sync, which is suitable for transferring contacts, calendars, notes and parts of apps, but doesn’t copy SMS, call history, or some system settings.

Step instructions:

• 📱 On your old phone: go to Settings → Google accounts → Sync and enable all the necessary options (contacts, calendar, Chrome, Gmail, etc.).
• ☁️ Wait for the synchronization to be completed (check in the top notification bar).
• 📱 On a new phone: When you first turn on, select Restore from Google Backup and log in under the same account.
• 🔄 Select the latest backup and confirm the recovery.

⚠️ Note: This method does not carry installed applications completely - only their data is restored (for example, progress in games, if they support cloud storage). APK-You will need to download the files from Google Play again.

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If you're transferring data to an iPhone, use Apple's Move to iOS app, which only works when your iPhone is first turned on and requires a Wi-Fi connection.

The advantage of the method is versatility. It works even if one of the phones is not from Xiaomi. The disadvantage is that not all data is transferred (for example, SMS and MIUI settings will remain on the old device).

3. Cloning through a computer (Mi PC Suite)

For users who prefer to manage the process through a PC, the official Mi PC Suite will suit, which allows you to create full backups of the phone and restore them on another device, the program is compatible with Windows (versions 7 and later) and supports most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models.

How to use Mi PC Suite:

• 🖥️ Download and install the program from the official website.
• 📱 Connect your old phone to your computer through USB-cable (turn on debugging by USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI, press 7 times on the assembly number).
• 💾 In the program, select Backup and tick the necessary data (applications, contacts, multimedia, etc.).
• 📲 Disable the old phone, connect the new one and select Restore by specifying the backup you have created.

⚠️ Note: If the new phone model is very different from the old one (e.g. Redmi 5) → Xiaomi 13 Ultra, some system settings may not recover correctly, in this case, it is recommended to transfer only personal data (photos, contacts), and install the applications again.

The advantage of this method is reliability. The backup is stored on the PC, and you can restore it at any time, minus it takes the computer and time to create a backup (for example, 64 GB of data is copied ~1.5 hours).

4. Use of third-party applications (Clone Phone, SHAREit)

If Xiaomi's built-in tools don't fit, you can use third-party apps.

• 📲 Clone Phone (from Xiaomi, but works with other brands) – transfers contacts, messages, photos and videos.
• 📱 SHAREit – transfer files over Wi-Fi without speed limit.
• ☁️ Google Files – easy to transfer large files (up to 200 MB at a time).
• 🔄 Samsung Smart Switch – if you clone Xiaomi on Samsung (and vice versa).

Let’s look at the Clone Phone example:

1. Install the app on both phones from Google Play.
2. On the old device, select Send, on the new one – Receive.
3. Connect through QR-code or manually over Wi-Fi.
4. Select data for transfer (you can specify specific folders with a photo or video).
5. Wait until the transfer is complete.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party applications, never transmit data over public Wi-Fi networks (for example, in a cafe or airport).This can lead to leakage of personal information.

Built-in tools MIUI|Google Account|Through the computer|Third-party applications (SHAREit, Clone Phone)|I can't stand it, I'm setting it up again.-->

Third-party applications have the advantage of flexibility, such as SHAREit, which allows you to selectively transfer files rather than copy everything, and some programs show ads or require a premium subscription to work properly.

5. Transfer data from Android to iPhone (and back)

Cloning between Xiaomi and iPhone has its own nuances, Apple limits the portability, so some of the data will have to be transferred manually.

If you transfer from Xiaomi to iPhone:

• 📱 Use the Move to iOS app (only available when you first turn on your iPhone).
• ☁️ Contacts, calendars and email sync through Google Account (on iPhone add it to Settings) → Passwords and accounts).
• 🎵 Move your music and photos via iTunes or cloud services (Google Photos, Dropbox).
• 📱 Apps will have to be re-installed from the App Store (transfer) APK-file-impossible).

If you transfer from iPhone to Xiaomi:

• 📱 Use Mi Mover or Clone Phone (Supports photo, video and contact transfer).
• ☁️ Sync notes and calendars via Google Account or iCloud (on Xiaomi add iCloud account to Settings) → Accounts).
• 🎵 For music, use Apple Music on Android or transfer files via iTunes.

⚠️ Note: When transferring from iPhone to Xiaomi SMS Call history is not copied – it can only be saved through paid services like iMazing or AnyTrans.

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Cloning between different OSes (Android) ↔ iOS) always check format compatibility. HEIC (iPhones will not open on Xiaomi without converting to JPEG.

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even with proven methods, users face problems. Consider typical errors and their solutions:

Another common problem is losing accounts in games and apps, for example, if you migrated PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact without being tied to Google Play or Facebook, progress could reset. Always check if your accounts are linked to cloud services before cloning.

If some features (like Always On Display or Dual Apps) don't work on the new phone after porting, chances are they aren't supported on the new model.

7. How to check that all data transferred correctly

After cloning, it's important to make sure nothing's lost.

Contacts (open the Contacts app and scroll through the list)|Messages (check history) SMS in the Communications)|Photo and video (open the Gallery and compare the number of files)|Applications (Make sure all important programs are installed)|Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings (check saved networks)|Gaming and social media accounts (autorize and check progress)-->

If something is missing, try to transfer the missing data separately.

• 📎 Contacts: export them to.vcf file via Contacts → Management → Export and import on a new phone.
• 📷 Photos: Copy through Google Photos or Mi Cloud.
• 🎮 Game progress: check the account binding in the game settings.

If the transfer was successful, but the phone started to work slower, try:

1. Clear the cache in Settings → Applications → App management → Clear the cache.
2. Disable autoloading of unnecessary applications in Settings → Battery → Autoboot.
3. Perform optimization in Security (Settings → Security → Optimization).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions