How to clone Xiaomi phone: 3 proven ways to transfer data

Introduction: why you need to clone a Xiaomi smartphone

Transferring data from an old Xiaomi phone to a new one is a challenge that every user faces when upgrading a device: “cloning” means completely copying contacts, messages, photos, apps, and even system settings, eliminating the need to configure a new gadget from scratch and ensuring that no important file is lost.

The manufacturer offers several official ways to migrate data, but not all of them are equally effective. For example, Mi Cloud is limited to free storage (5 GB), and local backup may not carry some system settings. In this article, we will discuss all current methods, including hidden MIUI functions and third-party tools that will help make the process as fast and error-free as possible.

We will pay special attention to the nuances: what to do if a new phone is on a different version of MIUI, how to transfer data from Redmi to POCO, and why sometimes during cloning Wi-Fi passwords are lost, these details are often overlooked even in official guides.

Method 1: Cloning through Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud Storage)

The easiest and recommended method is to use Mi Cloud, which is suitable for transferring data between any Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO devices, if they are linked to a single Mi Account, the main advantage is the ability to recover data even after resetting.

However, the method has limitations:

• 📱 Free storage – only 5GB (for a full backup is usually not enough).
• ⏳ Download/upload speed depends on the Internet connection.
• 🔄 Not all system settings are portable (for example, desktop layout).

To clone your phone through Mi Cloud, follow the steps:

1. On your old phone: Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Device Backup → Select the data to copy (contacts, messages, notes, photos) and click Create a backup.
2. On a new phone: when you first turn on, select Restore from backup or go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Restore from your device.
3. Select the latest backup and confirm the recovery.

Make sure that both phones have the same version MIUI|Connect both devices to Wi-Fi|Charge your phones at least 50 times%|Free up space in the Mi Cloud (if necessary)-->

⚠️ Note: If you use two-factor authentication in Mi Account, temporarily disable it before restoring it, otherwise the system may block access to the backup, treating the sign-in from the new device as suspicious activity.

Method 2: Local cloning via Mi Mover (without the Internet)

For users who don’t have a stable Internet or little space in the Mi Cloud, Xiaomi has developed Mi Mover, an app that allows you to transfer data directly over Wi-Fi between two phones without intermediaries, the main advantage is the speed (up to 10 GB / min) and no volume restrictions.

Mi Mover copies:

• 📞 Contacts, call log, SMS/MMS.
• 📷 Photos and videos (including Google Photos albums, if saved locally).
• 🎵 Music, documents, downloads.
• 📱 Installed applications (without data, only APK-file).

Instructions for using Mi Mover:

1. Install the app on both phones (available from the Mi App Store or Google Play).
2. On the old phone, choose I am the sender, on the new phone, I am the receiver.
3. Scan it. QR-The code from the screen of the new phone is old (or enter) PIN-manually).
4. Select the data to transfer and confirm the start of the process.

⚠️ Note: If a newer version is installed on the new phone MIUI, Mi Mover may refuse to port some system files, in which case, first update the firmware on the old device through Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system.

Method 3: Cloning through third-party programs (for advanced users)

Xiaomi’s official methods don’t always handle all data transfers, such as:

• 🎮 Progress in games (unless linked to a Google Play account).
• 📂 Application cache files (such as offline maps in Google Maps).
• 🔐 Application passwords (if you don’t use Smart Lock).

Third-party tools can be used for full cloning:

1. Titanium Backup (requires root rights) – copies applications along with data and settings.
2. Clone App – duplicates applications (useful for creating a second copy of the messenger).
3. Swift Backup is a rootless Titanium alternative (but with limitations).

Examples of Titanium Backup:

1. Install the application and provide root access.


2. Select "Backup/Restore".




3. tick the desired applications and click "Perform action → Backup".




4. Transfer the backup file to a new phone (e.g., via USB- cable).




5. On the new phone, recover data via the same Titanium Backup.

adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f C:\backup.ab

This will create a full backup that can then be restored on the new device by the adb restore command. C:\backup.ab.-->

⚠️ Note: When using Titanium Backup or ADB Backup on phones with MIUI 14+ may trigger protection MIUI Optimization, which blocks backup of system applications. To disable it, run it in ADB: adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1

Comparison of cloning methods: what to choose?

Each method has its pros and cons. Below the table will help you determine which option is right for you:

Important: If you transfer data from Xiaomi to a device of another brand (such as Samsung or iPhone), the official methods of Mi Cloud and Mi Mover will not work. In this case, use Google Account (for contacts and calendar) or third-party programs like ShareMe (formerly Mi Drop).

Common Cloning Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even when following instructions, users face problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

• 🔌 Phone does not connect to Mi Mover: Check that both devices are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled. If the problem persists, restart the phones and try connecting via the phone. QR-code PIN.
• 📱 No apps: Mi Mover only copies APK-Files, but not application data. Use Titanium Backup or Swift Backup for full portability.
• 🔒 Requests password from Mi Account when you recover: If you forget your password, restore it through the official website. If your account is blocked, contact Xiaomi with proof of ownership of the device (check or check) IMEI).

⚠️ Note: If a Mi Cloud cloning error occurs, “Can’t restore backup,” check if the region matches (MIUI Global vs MIUI China on both phones: Is there enough space on the new device (free up at least 10% of memory) Is the backup expired (stored for 30 days).

Xiaomi phones of different series (Redmi, POCO, Black Shark)

Users often ask: can you transfer data from the Redmi Note 10 to the POCO F5 or from the Mi 11 to the Black Shark 5?

• 📲 Between Redmi and POCO: These brands work for MIUI, So Mi Mover and Mi Cloud will work without problems, except if one of the devices is custom firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu).
• 🎮 Xiaomi on Black Shark: Black Shark is using a modified version MIUI (JoyUI: Use Mi Cloud or Google Account to transfer data, as Mi Mover may not recognize your device.
• 🔄 From the Chinese version (CN) Global: Due to differences in firmware, some system settings will not be transferred. It is recommended to back up only personal data (photos, contacts), and install applications again.

If you are transferring data to a device with a different version of Android (for example, from the old Redmi 5 to the new Xiaomi 14), consider:

• Apps that require an older version of Android may not work.
• Some settings (such as control gestures) may be reset.

💡

When cloning between Xiaomi series, always check firmware compatibility. If MIUI versions differ by more than 2 generations (e.g. MIUI 12 → MIUI 14), use Mi Cloud instead of Mi Mover to minimize errors.

What to do after cloning: check and set up a new phone

Transferring data is only half the battle, and after cloning, follow these steps to make the new phone work properly.

1. Check accounts: Go to Settings → Accounts and make sure all services (Google, Mi Account, Social Networking) are connected. If some apps are not logged in automatically, log in manually.
2. Update apps: Open Google Play or Mi App Store and update all apps, especially for banking apps and instant messengers that can block work on new firmware.
3. Set up notifications: In Settings → Notifications, check that important apps (like WhatsApp or Mail) are not blocked by the system.
4. Optimize the battery: After transferring the data, the system may miscalibrate the battery consumption. Reset the statistics to Settings → Battery → Battery status → Reset.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone is slowing down after cloning, check Settings → Memory. → Memory analysis. Often the cause of lags is duplicate files (for example, photos copied from both Mi Cloud and Mi Mover.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi Cloning