How to clone Xiaomi phone to another Xiaomi: the full guide 2026

Transferring data between Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that every user faces when buying a new device. Unlike brands like Apple or Samsung, where data migration is automated, owners of Redmi, POCO or Mi are often lost in the variety of cloning methods. Official tools (such as Mi Mover) work unstable, and manual transfer through the cloud or cable requires knowledge of nuances. This article will examine all the current methods of 2026, from standard MIUI functions to advanced solutions using ADB and third-party utilities.

The main problem with cloning is that you don't fully migrate settings, even if you copy apps and files, personalize the interface (wallpaper, widgets, gestures), get lost in some programs (such as Xiaomi Home for the smart home), or save in games, and we tested each method on devices from Redmi Note 12 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra, and found out which methods guarantee 100% clone identity and where you have to be content with partial results.

Important: the cloning procedure differs depending on the version of MIUI (for example, in MIUI 14 and later, the Mi Mover algorithm is changed) and the phone model. If your Xiaomi is released before 2020, some methods may not work, we will warn about this separately.

1. Official method: Mi Mover (wireless transfer)

Mi Mover is a built-in solution from Xiaomi for migrating data between devices to MIUI. It works on the principle of point-to-point via Wi-Fi Direct, without requiring an Internet connection. This method is suitable for most users, but has limitations: not all applications are ported correctly (especially if they use their own authorization mechanisms), and the system settings are copied selectively.

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

• 📱 On your old phone: Open Settings → The phone. → Backup and reset → Data Transfer (Mi Mover).
• 🆕 On a new phone: When you first turn on, select “Transfer Data from Another Device” or find the same path in the settings.
• 🔗 Confirm the connection on both devices, wait for the scan QR-code (if required).
• ✅ Select data categories for transfer: contacts, messages, photos, applications, etc.

The speed of transfer depends on the amount of data, for example, 64 GB of information (including applications) are copied for about 40-60 minutes.

Charging both phones > 50%|Shut down. VPN mobile data|Make sure there is enough memory on your new phone|Do not interrupt the process until it is completed-->

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 13 and older Mi Mover may not port data to some system applications (e.g. Mi Fit or Xiaomi Cloud), in which case you will need separate authorization in these services after cloning.

2. Cloning through Xiaomi Cloud (cloud backup)

Cloud backup is an alternative to Mi Mover if wireless portability is not available (e.g. due to incompatibility of MIUI versions), the method requires a Xiaomi account and a stable Internet connection. The advantage is that the data is stored in the cloud and can be restored to multiple devices.

Instructions for creating a backup:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup of the device.
2. Select categories to save (contacts, notes, SMS, system settings, application data).
3. Click on “Create a backup” and wait until it is completed (time depends on internet speed).
4. On the new phone, log in to the same Xiaomi account and restore data from the cloud in the same menu.

Important: Some applications (such as WhatsApp or banking programs) are not backed up in the Mi Cloud, their data will have to be transferred separately (see section 5).

• 🎵 Locally downloaded music (if not in the Music folder).
• 📁 Files in the root memory directory (for example, downloads from the browser).
• 🔧 Developer settings and some system parameters.

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If you have slow internet, backup your Mi Cloud at night by plugging your phone into charging, which can take hours with a lot of data.

3. Cloning via OTG cable (for older models)

If your Xiaomi is released before 2019 (like the Redmi Note 7 or Mi 8), wireless methods may not work due to an outdated version. MIUI. This will help to connect directly through OTG-cable, the method requires:

• 🔌 OTG-Adapter (Type-C or Micro-USB depending on the model).
• 📂 File Manager (e.g. built-in Explore or Solid Explorer).
• ⚡ Charge of both phones at least 70% (process can take 1-2 hours).

Algorithm of action:

1. Connect your old phone to your new one OTG-Adapter. The new device will have a connection notification. USB-storage.
2. Open the file manager and copy the folders you need (DCIM for photos, Download for downloads, Android/data for some applications).
3. Contacts and SMS export manually: for contacts, use export to.vcf (Contacts → Settings → Export), for SMS applications like SMS Backup & Restore.

⚠️ Note: When copying a folder Android/data Some applications (such as games) may not recognize saves due to altered paths, in which case you will need to manually configure access permissions through the user interface. ADB (see section 6).

4. Use of third-party applications (Titanium Backup, Swift Backup)

Full cloning (including system settings and all application data) requires root rights and specialized utilities.

• 🛠️ Titanium Backup supports backup applications, data, and even the core of the system. MIUI, but requires root rights.
• 🔄 Swift Backup – a more modern alternative with support for cloud storage.
• 📦 App Cloner – allows you to duplicate applications with settings (without root, but not all programs are supported).

Instructions for Titanium Backup:

1. Install the application and provide root access.


2. Click "Backup/Restore".




3. Select "Backage Action" → "Backup all user applications + system data".




4. Upon completion, transfer the backup to the new phone (via cloud or OTG).




5. On the new device, restore data through the same Titanium Backup.

Warning: Do not restore system applications (com.android.*) to the new version MIUI — This can cause bootloop (locking on the boot). Also avoid transferring data from applications tied to the bootloop. IMEI (For example, banking programs).

5. data transfer of specific applications (WhatsApp, Telegram, games)

Some programs (messaging apps, games, banking services) are not portable by standard methods, and require customized solutions:

• 💬 WhatsApp: Use the built-in backup in Google Drive (Settings) → chat → Backup. Important: phone number must be the same!
• 📱 Telegram: Data is stored in the cloud, but media files can be copied manually from a folder /Telegram/Telegram Images.
• 🎮 Games (Genshin Impact, PUBG): To transfer saves, use the account binding (Google Play, Facebook, Mi Account).
• 🏦 Banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff): Reinstall from scratch – data transfer is prohibited for security reasons.

For WhatsApp on phones without Google services (for example, Xiaomi for the Chinese market), use a local backup:

1. Copy /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases folder to your new phone.
2. Rename the file msgstore.db.crypt14 to msgstore.db.crypt12 (if you need compatibility with the older version).
3. Install WhatsApp on your new phone and restore data when you first start up.

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For instant messengers and games, always use official backup methods (account binding or cloud) Manually copying files can lead to data loss or account lock.

Advanced Method: Cloning through ADB (for power users)

If you want a completely identical device (including system settings, access rights, and hidden files), use ADB (Android Debug Bridge).The method requires a PC, command line knowledge, and an unlocked bootloader (on some Xiaomi models, this violates the warranty!).

The main teams for the backup:

# Connecting the device


adb devices




Creating a backup of all applications and data



adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab




Recovery on a new phone



adb restore backup.ab

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Data protected by Android Keystore (such as Wi-Fi passwords) is not copied).
• ❌ On the new versions MIUI (MIUI 14+) need to be switched off MIUI Optimization in the Developer Settings.
• ⚠️ Restore to a device with another version MIUI may cause errors.

⚠️ Attention: When in use ADB For cloning, do not restore system applications (com.miui., com.android.) to a new firmware!

7. Verification of the result of cloning and elimination of errors

After transferring the data, be sure to check:

• 📞 Contacts and calls: Open the Contacts app and make sure all numbers are in place.
• 📸 Media: Make sure that photos and videos open in the gallery (sometimes the paths to the files get confused).
• ⚙️ System settings: Check wallpaper, sound circuits, display settings.
• 🎮 Applications: Run several programs and games to make sure the data is safe.

Typical problems and their solutions:

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If the phone is slowing down after cloning, clear the cache to Settings → Memory → Cleanup. Also, turning off animation in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times to unlock).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi cloning