Xiaomi Cloning on Realme: How to Transfer Data Without Loss

Shifting data from an old smartphone to a new one is a challenge that every user faces when changing devices, and it is especially relevant for Xiaomi owners who have decided to switch to Realme — two brands with different shells (MIUI and Realme UI), but similar technical capabilities. Unlike cloning within the same ecosystem (for example, Samsung → Samsung), the transition between different manufacturers requires a special approach: standard tools like the Mi Mover or the Realme Clone Phone are not always compatible with each other.

In this article, we will explore all the working methods of cloning, from official utilities to manual transfer through the cloud and computer, learn how to keep contacts, SMS, photos, apps and even Wi-Fi settings without loss, and avoid common errors such as file duplication or synchronization failures, and pay special attention to the nuances of working with Mi Account and Realme ID accounts, which often become an obstacle to seamless transfer.

Why you can’t just copy data from Xiaomi to Realme

At first glance, cloning between smartphones seems like a simple task: connect both devices over a cable and ready.

• 🔄 Different Transmission Protocols: MIUI uses a proprietary backup format (.mbk) that Realme UI does not recognize.
• 🔒 Data protection: Some files (e.g. notes or call records) are linked to Mi Account and are not exported without authorization.
• 📱 Application incompatibility: System utilities (e.g. Mi Fit or Realme Link) are not automatically portable.
• ⚡ Manufacturer Restrictions: Realme blocks installation of APK from unknown sources by default, making it difficult to restore applications.

Also, even if you can migrate the data, the system settings (like navigation gestures or power saving modes) will have to be reconfigured, because the formats in MIUI and Realme UI are fundamentally different, which means that complete cloning is literally impossible, but you can get as close as possible with minimal losses.

⚠️ Warning: If your Xiaomi has enabled data encryption (Settings → Security → Encryption option), be sure to decrypt the device before the penos. Otherwise, the files will not be readable on Realme.

Method 1: Official Utilities: Mi Mover and Realme Clone Phone

The most obvious method is to use the built-in tools of both brands, but there are pitfalls: the Mi Mover (from Xiaomi) and the Realme Clone Phone are not designed to work cross-platform.

Step-by-step:

1. Xiaomi Preparation: 📱 Install Mi Mover from Google Play (if it’s not on the system). 🔌 Connect both smartphones to the same Wi-Fi network or use a direct USB- connection (requires a OTG- adapter for Realme). 🔓 Unlock Xiaomi and turn on File Transfer mode in the notification curtain.

Realme

• 📲 Open Realme Clone Phone (pre-installed in Realme UI).
• 🔄 Select the I’m New Phone option and wait for Xiaomi to discover.
• 📋 Manually select the data to be transferred (contacts, SMS, multimedia). Applications cannot be moved, you have to install them separately.

If the utilities can’t see each other, try an alternative method:

Reboot both devices|Check that Xiaomi has developer mode enabled (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — tap 7 times)|Turn it off. VPN firewalls|Use a different cable (preferably the original one from Realme)-->

Method 2: Transfer through a Google account (most reliable)

Syncing with Google services is a universal way that works regardless of the smartphone brand, and is suitable for transferring contacts, calendars, Google Keep notes, photos (Google Photos) and certain settings.

• 🚫 Not portable: SMS, call history, local files (e.g. downloads), application settings.
• 📦 Volume Limit: Only 15GB is available for free on Google Drive.
• ⏳ Synchronization time: With a large amount of data, it can take several hours.

How to transfer data:

1. On Xiaomi: 🔗 Log in to your Google Account (Settings → Accounts → Google). 🔄 Enable sync for all categories (contacts, calendar, Chrome, Google Photos). 📁 Upload photos to Google Photos (open the application → Photos → Settings → Backup).

Realme

• 📱 When you first enable, select Restore from backup and log in to the same account.
• 🔄 Wait for the sync to complete (check in Settings → Accounts → Google).
• 📲 Install the missing apps from Google Play.

⚠️ Warning: If Xiaomi used Mi Account for backup, export the data to Google first, otherwise it will be lost after Xiaomi resets.

Method 3: Manual transfer via computer (for advanced)

If you need to migrate all the data without exception (including SMS, call history, and application files), the best option is to use a computer, which takes longer, but gives you complete control over the process.

Tools required:

• 🖥️ PC Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 Two. USB-cables (preferably original).
• 📂 Programs: ADB (for backup), SMS Backup & Restore (for SMS), Titanium Backup (requires root).

Step-by-step:

1. Xiaomi Backup: 📱 Enable Debugging on USB (Settings → Phone → Version MIUI → 7 Taps → Additional → For Developers). 🖥️ Connect Xiaomi to a PC and execute the command: adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab (this will create a backup.ab file with all the data).

Realme

• 📲 Connect Realme to your PC and execute: adb restore backup.ab
• ⚠️ Important: Some applications may not recover due to differences in the architecture of MIUI and Realme UI.

To transfer SMS and call history, use the SMS Backup & Restore app:

• 📲 Install it on both smartphones.
• 📤 On Xiaomi, back up (Create a backup → select SMS/ calls).
• 📥 Transfer the file to Realme (via cloud or cable) and recover the data.

Method 4: Cloud services – fast but incomplete transfer

If you don't have access to a computer, you can use cloud storage, which is suitable for multimedia, documents and some settings, but does not guarantee the transfer of applications or system data.

The best cloning services:

How to move data through the cloud:

1. On Xiaomi: 📁 Upload all important files to the selected cloud (e.g. Google Photos for Media, Google Contacts for Address Book). 📋 Export SMS to the file (application SMS Backup & Restore → Export to XML).

Realme

• 📥 Download files from the cloud.
• 📲 Import contacts via Google Contacts or.vcf file.
• 📧 Restore SMS via SMS Backup & Restore (if exported).

💡

If you're porting photos, use Google Photos in "Original Quality" mode, which will save metadata (date of shooting, geotagged), and in "High Quality" mode, they are lost.

What you can’t handle (and how to live with it)

Even with the most thorough cloning, some data will remain on the old smartphone, and this is what you can’t transfer from Xiaomi to Realme and how to minimize losses:

• 🔐 Wi-Fi passwords: 📌 Solution: Photograph QR- network codes (in MIUI: Wi-Fi settings → Click on the network → QR- code).
• 🎮 Game data (progress, save): 📌 Solution: Link games to Google Play Games accounts or social media.
• ⚙️ System settings (gestures, themes, sounds): 📌 Solution: Take screenshots of settings (Settings → Screen → Gestures) and set up manually.
• 📱 System applications (Mi Fit, Mi Home): 📌 Solution: Install Realme analogs or third-party alternatives.

It is also worth remembering that some MIUI features are missing from Realme UI:

• 🔍 Global Search: Realme has no analogue to Search in Apps from Xiaomi.
• 📡 Dual applications: In Realme UI, this feature is called Application Cloning and works differently.

💡

Before resetting Xiaomi, make sure all data is transferred. After factory settings, it will not be possible to restore it unless backup is created in the cloud or on a PC.

Comparison of cloning methods: what to choose

Each way of transferring data has its pros and cons, and to make it easier to choose, we have compiled a comparative table:

Our advice:

• 📱 For most users, a combination of Google Account + SMS Backup & Restore + manually transfer photos over cable.
• 💻 For Advanced: Full Backup via ADB + Restore to Realme.
• ☁️ For minimalists: cloud services (if the data volume is small).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi cloning on Realme