How to Transfer All Data from the Old Xiaomi to the New Phone: From Contacts to Apps

Buying a new Xiaomi smartphone is always a joyful event, but transferring data from an old device can become a headache if you don’t know the nuances. Many users lose contacts, photos or app settings due to the wrong way to migrate. Meanwhile, Xiaomi has both built-in tools (like Mi Mover) and versatile solutions through Google Account or cloud services.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods for data transfer, from official to alternative, and how to avoid common errors, such as why you should not rely only on backup in Mi Cloud if you have more than 5 GB of data, or how to properly prepare both phones so that the process goes smoothly.

If you are switching from Xiaomi to Xiaomi (for example, from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi) 13T), So Mi Mover is the fastest solution, and cross-platform portability (from Samsung, iPhone or other brands) is better with Google Drive or Samsung's Smart Switch, and if you only need to transfer photos and videos, even the usual one is good for you. USB-file-transfer.

Before you start, check out two key points:

1. Both phones should have at least 30% battery life – transferring data can take up to an hour.
2. Update MIUI to the latest version** (path: Settings → About Phone → System Update) to avoid compatibility errors.

1.The official way: Mi Mover by Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a built-in data porting app that only works between Xiaomi devices (including Redmi and POCO), and it transfers almost everything: contacts, messages, photos, videos, music, apps (including their data), Wi-Fi settings, and even MIUI themes. The main advantage is that you don’t need Internet (data is transmitted over a local Wi-Fi Direct network).

How to use Mi Mover:

1. On your new phone, when you first turn on, select Data Transfer → Mi Mover. If the phone is already configured, open the Mi Mover app manually.
2. On your old phone, run Mi Mover (if you don’t have one, download from Google Play).
3. Select a role: new phone - "Recipient", old - "Sender".
4. Scan it. QR-code from the screen of a new phone or connect through device search.
5. Select the data to transfer and confirm the start of the process.

⚠️ Note: If you have a Xiaomi model older than 2018 (e.g. Redmi 5 or Mi) A1), Mi Mover may not support the transfer of certain types of data (such as notes or call history.

Both phones are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (or Wi-Fi Direct enabled)

There is enough free space on the new phone (at least 20% more than the data takes up)

Mi Mover app updated to latest version

Battery Charging on Both Devices > 50%-->

The speed of the transfer depends on the amount of data:

• 📱 Do 5 GB — ~10-15 minute
• 📱 5-20 GB — ~30-40 minute
• 📱 More than 20 GB – better to use cable USB OTG (see section 4)

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If the Mi Mover is stuck in the connection phase, restart both phones and try again. Often the problem is solved by a change of role: make the old phone a Receiver and the new one a Sender.

2. Transfer through Google Account (universal method)

If you use Google services (Gmail, Google Photos, Google Drive), this is a good way to transfer to any Android smartphone, not just Xiaomi, the main advantage is that the data is synchronized automatically and can be restored even after a few months.

What can be transferred via Google:

• 📇 Contacts (via Google Contacts)
• 📅 Calendar and reminders
• 📷 Photos and videos (via Google Photos)
• 🎵 Music and documents (via Google Drive)
• 📱 Settings of some applications (for example, Chrome, Gmail)

⚠️ Note: Applications and their data (such as saves to games or settings messengers) are not portable via Google Account. this requires Mi Mover or manual backup (see Section 5).

Step-by-step:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Google → Backup and enable the option to Backup in Google Drive.
2. Click Create a backup now and wait until it is completed.
3. On the new phone, when you set up, select Restore Data from the backup and log in to the same Google Account.
4. Select the latest backup and confirm the recovery.

If you have a lot of photos (more than 10 GB), then free space in Google Photos may not be enough.

• Use compressed quality ("High quality" instead of "Original").
• Buy more space on Google One (from 139) ₽/month).
• Transfer the photos through USB-cable (see section 4).

3.Move over Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

Mi Cloud is a cloud storage from Xiaomi that offers 5GB for free (extra space is paid) and is convenient for backing up MIUI settings, notes, voice recorder records and data from some system applications (such as Calendar or Notes).

How to transfer data through Mi Cloud:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on sync for the desired categories (contacts, notes, photos, etc.).
3. Click Backup and create a new copy.
4. On the new phone, log in to the same Xiaomi account and recover data from the Mi Cloud.

⚠️ Note: Mi Cloud does not carry apps and their data (for example, save in games or chats in Telegram), and photos in their original quality take up a lot of space – if you have more than 5 GB, you will have to buy additional storage or use another method.

Important: If you use Mi Cloud to transfer photos, they may not be displayed in the gallery, but in the Mi Cloud/Photos folder, so that they appear in the standard gallery, move them manually or use the file manager.

Advantages of Mi Cloud:

• 🔄 Automatic synchronization (can be set to schedule).
• 🔒 Encrypting data (more secure than some third-party clouds).
• 📱 Keeps the settings. MIUI (wallpaper, sounds, display parameters).

Disadvantages:

• 💰 Only 5GB free (extra space from 99) ₽/month).
• ⚠️ Not all data is restored correctly (for example, SMS may be duplicated).
• 🌐 Requires a stable Internet connection (with a slow connection, copying will take hours).

4. Transfer through USB-cable (for large amounts of data)

If you have a lot of photos, videos or music (for example, 50)+ GB), the most reliable way - direct transmission on USB-This method works between any smartphone (including iPhone), does not require Internet connection and has no limits on the volume.

What you need:

• 🔌 USB-cable OTG (adapter USB-C → USB-A new-model).
• 📱 File Manager (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old phone to your new one USB-cable.
2. On the new phone, select File Transfer (MTP) mode in the notification bar.
3. Open the file manager and copy the folders you need: DCIM — Download photos and videos - downloaded music files - music WhatsApp/Media — messenger media

contact

.vcf

1. Open Contacts → Settings → Export / Import.
2. Select Export to the device and save the file.
3. Transfer the file to a new phone and import contacts.

⚠️ Note: When copying the WhatsApp folder (for chat transfer), you can not just copy files - you need to make a backup in the application itself (Settings) → chat → Backup copy) and then restore it to a new phone with the same number.

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ Speed (speed is limited only) USB-port 5-10 GB/min).
• 📦 There are no limits on volume (unlike cloud services).
• 🔒 Data is not transmitted over the Internet (more secure for confidential information).

Disadvantages:

• 🔌 Need a cable with support OTG (Not all cables from the kit fit).
• ⚙️ Applications and their data are not portable (files only).

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To transfer applications with data storage (e.g. games) through USB-You need root rights or third-party tools like Titanium Backup. APK-files (the applications themselves without saving).

5. Alternative ways: third-party applications and clouds

If standard methods don’t work (e.g., you have an outdated Xiaomi model or don’t have enough space in the cloud), you can use third-party apps or other cloud services.

Top.-3 alternative:

• 🌥️ Yandex Drive / Dropbox / OneDrive — upload files from your old phone to the cloud, and then download them to a new one. Suitable for photos, documents and music. Minus: volume limit (usually free) 5-15 GB).
• 📲 Send Anywhere is an application for transferring files over Wi-Fi Direct or over the Internet. You can send up to 10 GB at a time without registering.
• 🔄 Cloneit is similar to Mi Mover, but supports cross-platform portability (including iPhones), transfers contacts, messages, photos and even call history.

To transfer game saves (e.g., in Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile), use the built-in synchronization features:

• 🎮 Most games have a Google Play Games, Facebook, or your own account (e.g. miHoYo for Genshin Impact).
• 🔗 Before penos, link the game to your account and make a backup manually.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party applications for portability SMS and call history, for example, SMS Backup & Restore: Some messengers (like Viber or Telegram) may not recover media files from chats, in which case it is better to use their built-in export features.

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If you’re migrating data from your iPhone to Xiaomi, use the Move to iOS app (from Apple) or Phone Clone (from Huawei, but it works with Xiaomi), which port contacts, photos, and even some settings.

6. Transfer system settings and hidden data

Many users forget that in addition to photos and contacts, the phone stores system settings, which can also be transferred:

• 🎨 Themes and wallpapers – synced via Mi Cloud or Themes (if you use official Xiaomi themes).
• 🔔 Sound circuits and alarms – transferred via Mi Mover or Mi Cloud.
• 🔐 Fingerprints and Face ID — It is not transferred (you need to reconfigure it).
• 📶 Mobile network settings (APN) — Usually it is automatically restored, but if the internet is not working, check the settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Access points (APN).

To transfer passwords from Wi-Fi (if you don’t remember them):

1. On your old phone, install the WiFi Password Viewer app (root rights required).
2. Export the list of networks to the file and transfer it to the new phone.
3. Import networks through the same app or manually.

If you have gestures or quick access buttons set up (like double tap to unlock), you will have to configuring them again, as these settings are not synced through the cloud.

Important: Developer Mode settings (such as USB debugging enabled or modified animation) are not portable and must be manually configured on a new phone.

7.Typical mistakes and how to avoid them

Even with proven methods, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to solve them:

⚠️ Note: If you are transferring data from a phone older than 2017 (e.g. Redmi) 4X or Mi 5), then some system applications (e.g. Notes or Calendar) may not recover due to changes in the system's API Xiaomi.In this case, export the data manually (for example, notes in.txt, calendar in.ics).

Another common problem is losing saves in games, and to avoid that,

• Before the penos, link the game to your account (Google Play, Facebook, Game Center).
• Make a backup copy inside the game (if there is such a feature).
• For games with local saves (such as Minecraft), copy the games or obb folder through the USB-cable.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions