How to quickly and safely transfer data from the old Xiaomi to the new Redmi

Why Data Transfers Between Xiaomi and Redmi Need a Special Approach

Moving from one Xiaomi smartphone to another — whether it’s upgrading to Xiaomi’s flagship 14 or buying a budget Redmi Note 13 — is always fraught with the question: how to save all the important data? Contacts, photos, WhatsApp messages, Wi-Fi passwords and even desktop settings — all of this can be lost if you do the wrong thing. The main problem is that even within the MIUI ecosystem, different models (especially old and new) can use different versions of firmware, backup formats, and even transfer protocols.

In this article, we will discuss 5 Proven ways to transfer data between Xiaomi and Redmi devices, including official tools (Mi Mover, Xiaomi Cloud), alternative methods (via Google Account or Google Account) PC) And solutions for specific cases, like when one of the phones is locked or not turning on. MIUI 12/13 and MIUI 14/15, There are often errors in direct transmission.

Before you get started, make sure both devices are at least 50% charged – critical for cable or long-term synchronization methods. Also check the free space on the new Redmi: it can take up to 10-15GB to fully copy data from the old Xiaomi.

Method 1: Mi Mover is the official direct transmission tool

Mi Mover is an MIUI-built application designed specifically for data migration between Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices. It supports transferring almost everything from contacts and SMS to call history, photos, videos, music, documents and even some system settings. The main advantage is that you do not need Internet (data is transmitted over a local Wi-Fi Direct network) and maintains the folder structure.

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

• 📱 On the old Xiaomi, open Settings → The phone. → Data Transfer (Mi Mover).
• 🔄 On the new Redmi, run the same app and select “I’m a new user».
• 📶 Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network (or use the hotspot on your old phone).
• 🔗 On the old phone, select data to transfer (you can mark everything or select individual categories).
• ⏳ Wait for the process to be completed (time depends on the amount of data – from 5 minutes to 1 hour).

Important: Mi Mover only works between devices on MIUI 9 and newer. If the older Xiaomi is running an older version, update the firmware first through Settings → System Update. Also note that some applications (such as WhatsApp or banking programs) are not portable - they will have to be configured separately.

Charging both phones >50%|Same version MIUI (or compatible)|Free space on the new Redmi >10GB|Disabled. VPN firewalls|Wi-Fi stability tested-->

Up to 5GB|5-15 GB|15-30 GB|More than 30GB-->

Method 2: Xiaomi Cloud – Backup and Recovery

If direct transfer via Mi Mover is not possible (for example, due to different versions of MIUI or hardware limitations), use Xiaomi Cloud, cloud storage from the manufacturer. This method is suitable for partial transfer (contacts, notes, photos, calendar recordings) and requires an Internet connection. The main advantage is that you can recover data even if the old phone is lost or broken (provided that the backup was created in advance).

Step instructions:

1. On the old Xiaomi go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on synchronization for the desired categories (be sure to check Contacts, Gallery, Notes).
3. Click Backup and create a full copy (this can take anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours depending on internet speed).
4. On the new Redmi, log in to the same Xiaomi account and recover data from the cloud (Settings → Mi Cloud → Restore).

Important! Xiaomi Cloud’s free account provides only 5 GB of space. If you have more data, you either have to pay for an expansion (from 100 rubles / month for 50 GB), or use alternative methods. Also note that WhatsApp and other messengers are not reserved in the Mi Cloud – they need a separate backup.

Method 3: Transfer through Google Account (for contacts, calendar and email)

If you use Google services (Gmail, Calendar, Contacts), the easiest way to transfer is to sync through Google Account, which is universal and works even between devices of different brands, the main advantage is automatic update: all changes on the old phone will be reflected on the new one in real time.

How to set up:

• 🔄 On the old Xiaomi, open Settings → Accounts. → Google and enable sync for Contacts, Calendar and Gmail.
• 📱 On the new Redmi, add the same Google account when you first enable or through settings.
• ⚙️ Wait for the synchronization to be completed (usually takes 1-2 minutes).

⚠️ Note: This method does not tolerate photos, videos, messages or applications. For multimedia, use Google Photos (automatic download), and for applications, manual installation from Google Play.

To transfer photos and videos through Google Photos:

1. On your old phone, install the Google Photos app (if not installed).
2. Enable automatic download (Settings → Backup and Synchronization).
3. On the new Redmi, log in to the same Google account and wait for the synchronization of media files.

Restriction: Free storage of Google Photos from June 2021 is 15 GB (together with Gmail and Google Drive).If you have more data, you will either have to pay for the expansion (from 139 rubles / month for 100 GB), or use other methods.

Method 4: Transfer over a computer (for large amounts of data)

If you have tens of gigabytes of photos, videos or documents and your Internet connection is unstable, transferring over a PC (Windows, Mac or Linux) is also a good option if one of your phones is not switched on or locked (provided that USB debugging has been enabled before).

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with USB-port.
• 🔌 USB Type C C Cable (or MicroUSB, depending on the model).
• 📁 Enough free space on the hard drive (at least 50 GB is recommended).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the old Xiaomi to your computer via cable. From the phone's notification menu, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Copy all the files you need (DCIM, Downloads, Pictures, etc.) to your PC hard drive.
3. Disable the old phone, connect the new Redmi and transfer the files back.
4. To transfer contacts, export them to the.vcf file via the Contacts app on the old phone, and then import them on the new one.

⚠️ Note: If old Xiaomi has storage encryption enabled (MIUI 12+), The computer may not see the files, and in that case, you'll have to decrypt the device first through Settings. → Security → Encryption.

To port applications and their data (such as saving in games), use programs like Helium or Titanium Backup (root rights are required). However, newer versions of MIUI make it difficult to get root, so it is easier to reinstall applications manually and log in to them under the same account.

1. Change the cable (use the original from Xiaomi).

2. Install Mi PC Suite drivers ([link to official website](https://pcsuite.mi.com/)).

3. Reboot both devices.

4. Try another. USB-port (preferably) USB 3.0).-->

Method 5: Alternative methods (for specific cases)

Sometimes standard methods don't work because of hardware limitations or firmware features, and consider the custom solutions for complex situations:

1.Move from a blocked or broken Xiaomi

If the old phone doesn't turn on, but the screen responds to touch:

• 🔧 Connect it to the PC and try to retrieve the data through ADB (Included debugging is required USB).
• 🔄 If debugging is disabled, use Recovery Mode to create a backup on the SD-card (if supported).

2. Transfer WhatsApp and other messengers

WhatsApp is not ported via Mi Mover or Xiaomi Cloud to save the correspondence:

1. On your old phone, back up your WhatsApp → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup copy.
2. Copy the backup file (/sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases/msgstore.db.crypt14) to your PC.
3. Install WhatsApp on the new Redmi, confirm the number and restore chats from the local copy.

3. Transfer between devices with different MIUI regions

If the old Xiaomi is on Chinese firmware and the new Redmi is on global, there may be compatibility issues.

• 🌍 Use a Google Account or PC transferable.
• 🔄 Refuse your old phone to the global version MIUI (Risky, requires unlocking the loader).

1. Contacts and calendars through Google Account.

2 Photos and videos – via PC or Google Photos.

3. Apps are manually installed from Google Play.

4. Messages and calls - through SMS Backup & Restore (Play Market App).-->

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even when following instructions, users often encounter problems.-5 errors and ways of solving them:

1. Mi Mover Connection Error: Make sure both phones are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (not mobile data!).If an access point is used, turn off traffic savings in the settings.
2. Lack of space in Xiaomi Cloud: Clear unnecessary backups in Settings → Mi Cloud → Storage Management or buy extra space.
3. Photos in Google Photos are loaded in low quality: Check the settings in the app (Settings → Backup and Sync → Download quality).
4. Applications are not restored: Mi Mover only transfers the list of applications, not their data. Data recovery requires root rights or backup through Titanium Backup.
5. Failure to transfer over PC: Use the original cable and USB 3.0 port. If files are not copied, try another file manager (e.g. Total Commander).

⚠️ Note: If you migrate data from Xiaomi to Redmi with different processors (for example, from Snapdragon to Mediatek), some applications may not work. This is due to architectural differences.

If after the transfer on the new Redmi appeared lags or overheating, check:

• 📱 Have unnecessary background processes been transferred (clear to Settings) → Annexes → Auto-start).
• 🔋 Is there a memory (free up space in the settings) → Warehouse).
• 🔄 Do not conflict with the old settings with the new firmware (do reset to factory in Settings) → Additionally. → Reset, but only after checking all data!).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions