How to transfer data from old Android to new Xiaomi smartphone: 7 proven ways

Introduction: Why Data Transfers to Xiaomi Need a Special Approach

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but the process of data transfer can turn into a headache if you do not know the nuances. Unlike other brands, Xiaomi smartphones have a unique MIUI ecosystem that offers both standard solutions (like Google Account) and proprietary tools such as the Mi Mover app. While not all methods are equally effective: some work only between Xiaomi devices, others are limited by the amount of data transferred, and others can “lose” application settings.

In this article, we’ll break down 7 working ways to migrate data, from official to alternative, and uncover hidden Mi Mover limitations that aren’t written in the instructions. You’ll learn how to save not only photos and contacts, but also SMS, call history, Wi-Fi passwords, and even game app settings.

Before you start, check two key points: the version of MIUI on the new device (the current methods work on MIUI 14/15) and free space - some methods will require up to 50% of free memory. If your new Xiaomi is not activated, skip the first launch and immediately go to the section about Mi Mover - this will save time.

1.The official way: Mi Mover by Xiaomi

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary solution for data migration between devices, pre-installed on all smartphones of the brand and supports the transfer of almost all types of data, including:

• 📱 Contacts, call history and SMS
• 📷 Photos and videos (including Google Photos albums)
• 🎵 Music and documents (except DRM-secure files)
• 📱 System settings (wallpaper, sounds, brightness)
• 🎮 Game data (only for supported titles)

However, the Mi Mover has some critical limitations that Xiaomi has been silent about:

⚠️ Note: If your old phone has custom firmware or root access, Mi Mover will not work, and the app will not port data from some Chinese apps (such as WeChat or Alipay) due to privacy restrictions.

To take advantage of the Mi Mover:

1. Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices.
2. On the new Xiaomi, select Data Portability when you first start (if your phone is already set up, download Mi Mover from Google Play).
3. On the old phone, open Mi Mover and select the role "Sender".
4. Scan it. QR-code from a new device or connect via the Wi-Fi hotspot created by the new smartphone.
5. Select data types to transfer and wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 30 minutes).

Charge both phones at least 50 times%|Make sure there is enough space on the new Xiaomi|Shut down. VPN firewalls|Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (not mobile data)-->

2.Move over Google Account: Pros and pitfalls

Sync through Google Account is a universal method that works on any Android device, including Xiaomi.

• 📇 Contacts (from the Google Contacts app)
• 📅 Calendars and reminders
• 📎 Notes (from Google Keep)
• 📷 Photos and videos (if you have autoloaded in Google Photos)
• 🔑 Passwords (from Google Password Manager)

However, there are some things that make this method not ideal:

To transfer data through Google Account:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Accounts → Google and enable sync for all the right categories.
2. Wait for the sync to complete (check in Settings → Accounts → Google → Sync).
3. On the new Xiaomi, when you first start, log in to the same Google Account and select “Recover Data”.
4. If the phone is already set up, go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Data Recovery.

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If no contacts appear after recovery, check if they are hidden in the Contacts app. Go to Settings → Contacts to display and select your Google account.

3.Transfer over OTG cable: a fast but limited method

Using an OTG cable (or USB-C to USB-C adapter) is one of the fastest ways to transfer files, but it is only suitable for media files, documents and APK. Application data, SMS and system settings can not be transferred in this way.

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ High speed (up to 480 Mbps when used) USB 3.0)
• 🔒 Security – Files are not transferred over the Internet
• 📁 Selective transfer – you can select only the necessary folders

Instructions for transfer:

1. Connect the OTG cable to the new Xiaomi.
2. Connect your old phone to a cable (you may need a MicroUSB/USB-C to USB-A adapter).
3. The new device will open Files by Google or Mi File Manager.
4. Go to section "USB-"Device" and copy the desired files to internal memory or to SD-map.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 or X-ray) POCO X5) require unlocking USB-debugging OTG. To enable it, go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times, then in Settings. → Additionally. → For developers → USB-debugging.

4. Cloud Storage: Dropbox, Yandex Drive, OneDrive

Cloud services are convenient for carrying large amounts of data (such as photo or video collections), but have speed and free volume limits.

How to move data through the cloud:

1. Install the application of the selected service on both phones.
2. On the old device, upload files to the cloud (for example, in the folder “Move to Xiaomi”).
3. On the new Xiaomi, download files from the cloud to internal memory.

To speed up the process:

• 📶 Use Wi-Fi 5 GHz instead of mobile internet.
• 🔌 Connect your phone to charge – downloading large files quickly drains the battery.
• 🕒 Download data at night when internet traffic is minimal.

5. Applications and their data portability: what works and what doesn’t

One of the most difficult aspects of migration is the preservation of these applications (game progress, messaging settings, chat history). Not all applications support portability, and there are three scenarios:

1. Cloud-synced apps (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram, Google Maps): Data is automatically restored after logging in to your account.
2. Local backup applications (e.g. SMS Backup & Restore, Titanium Backup): require manual backup and recovery.
3. Applications without portability (most banking applications, some games): data will have to be re-entered.

To port WhatsApp:

1. On your old phone, back up: Settings → Chat → Backup.
2. Copy /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases to the new Xiaomi (via OTG or cloud).
3. Install WhatsApp on your new device and restore chats from your local copy.

⚠️ Note: If you use WhatsApp Business, the local backup won’t work – you’ll need to migrate through Google Drive. To do this, update the app to the latest version before moving and create a backup in the cloud.

To transfer game data:

• 🎮 If the game supports Google Play Games or Xiaomi Game Center, sign in to your account on your new device.
• 🔄 For non-cloud-saving games (e.g. Genshin Impact), use the Export/Import feature in the game settings.
• ⚠️ Some games, for example, PUBG Mobile) link your account to your device – in this case, you will need to manually link via Facebook or Twitter.

6.Alternative methods: ADB, LAN and physical memory card

If standard methods are not suitable (for example, due to a large amount of data or lack of Internet), alternative methods can be used:

6.1. Transfer over ADB (for power users)

Android Debug Bridge Tool (ADB) It allows you to copy data directly from one device to another, and this requires a PC and a switch on. USB-debugging.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB on your PC (download Google’s Platform Tools).
2. Connect both phones to the PC and allow debugging.
3. Follow the command to copy data (e.g. contacts): adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/contacts2.db Then transfer the file to the new phone: adb push contacts2.db /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/

6.2. Transfer over the local area network (FTP or HTTP-server)

If you have a router, you can organize data transfer over the local network:

• 📡 Install an application on your old phone FTP Server (e.g. WiFi) FTP Server).
• 🌐 Connect the new Xiaomi to the same Wi-Fi network and enter the address FTP-server-to-conductor → Connect to the server.
• 📥 Copy the necessary files.

6.3. Transfer through a memory card (MicroSD)

If both phones support microSD,

1. Copy the data to a memory card on an old phone.
2. Insert the card into the new Xiaomi and transfer the files to internal memory.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Pro) do not support microSD memory expansion.

7. Post-transfer validation and optimization

After the data transfer is complete, follow a few steps to make sure everything is working correctly:

• 🔍 Check contacts: Open the Contacts app and make sure all numbers are in place. If contacts are duplicated, use the "Merge" function".
• 📸 Check media files: Open the Gallery and make sure all photos and videos are displayed. If some files don't open, check their formats (e.g. Xiaomi doesn't support them.HEIC default).
• 🎵 Check apps: Run key apps (messengers, games, banking services) and make sure the data is saved.
• 🔋 Optimize Memory: Go to Settings → Memory and clear the cache of unnecessary applications.

If something went wrong:

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If the phone is running out quickly after transfer, check the background activity of the applications in Settings → Battery → Battery Use. Often the cause is data synchronization in the cloud.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions