Moving to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but transferring data from an old device can become a real headache if you donโt know the proven ways. Even between devices of the same brand, the process of transferring files, contacts and settings has nuances: a couple of clicks is enough, and in some cases, you will need to pre-prepared both phones.
In this article, we will look at all the current methods of data migration between Xiaomi smartphones โ from the standard Mi Mover tool to cloud services and manual transfer via the computer, you will learn what method is suitable for transferring contacts, photos, videos, messages, applications and even game saves, as well as how to avoid typical errors that can cause data to be lost or damaged.
We will pay special attention to the hidden limitations of the Mi Mover, which the manufacturer does not advertise: for example, why some Redmi models can not communicate with the flagship Xiaomi 13/14 through this tool, and what to do in such cases. All instructions are tested on the firmware MIUI 14/15 and are relevant for devices 2020-2026 release.
1. Mi Mover: The Official Way From Xiaomi
Mi Mover is a built-in data application that Xiaomi positions as the main migration tool, pre-installed on all smartphones of the brand (except the oldest models on MIUI 10 and below) and allows you to transfer:
- ๐ Contacts and call log
- ๐ธ Photos and videos (including Google Photos albums)
- ๐ฌ Communications (SMS/MMS, but not messengers)
- ๐ Documents and downloads
- ๐ฎ Some game saves (not all games are supported)
To use the Mi Mover, both phones must have Wi-Fi Direct enabled and enough free space (at least 20% of the data transferred on the new device), which takes 10 to 60 minutes depending on the file size.
Charge both phones at least 50% |
Update MIUI to the latest version|
Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network|
Disable VPNs and firewalls |
Free up space on a new smartphone
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Step-by-step:
- On the new smartphone, when you first turn on, select Data Portability (or find Mi Mover in the Settings โ Additional menu).
- On the old phone, open Mi Mover and select the role of โSenderโ.
- Scan it. QR-code from the screen of the new device or connect via Wi-Fi Direct.
- Select data types to transfer (you can mark everything or select selectively).
- Confirm the start of the transfer and wait until the completion (do not interrupt the process!).
โ ๏ธ Note: If the old phone has a firmware installed MIUI 12 and below, and on the new one โ MIUI 14+, Mi Mover may not see the device, in which case use alternative methods (see section 3).
Why doesn't Mi Mover see the second phone?
2. Cloud Transfer via Mi Cloud
If Mi Mover refuses to work or you want to transfer data in advance (for example, before selling an old phone), use Mi Cloud, Xiaomiโs proprietary cloud storage.
- ๐ Contacts and calendars (synchronization with your Mi Account)
- ๐ท Photos and videos (up to 5 GB free, then - paid subscription)
- ๐ Notes and Records from Mi Notes
- ๐ System settings (wallpaper, themes, shortcuts)
Important: Mi Cloud does not carry messages, apps, or game saves, and additional tools will be required (see sections 4 and 5).
How to transfer data through Mi Cloud:
- On your old phone, open Settings โ Mi โ Mi Cloud account.
- Turn on sync for the desired categories (contacts, photos, etc.) and wait for the download to be completed.
- On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account and enable sync in Mi Cloud.
- Wait until the data is downloaded to the new device (can take anywhere from a few minutes to hours).
| Method | Speed. | Data volume | Internet is required | Supported data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | โก Quickly (Wi-Fi Direct) | Unlimited* | โ No. | Contacts, photos, messages, applications** |
| Mi Cloud | ๐ข Slowly (depending on internet speed) | Up to 5GB (free) | โ Yes. | Contacts, photos, notes, settings |
| Google Account | ๐ข Middle-Average | 15GB (free) | โ Yes. | Contacts, calendars, photos (Google Photos) |
| Computer (USB) | โก Quickly. | Unlimitedly | โ No. | Any files (except applications) |
Mi Mover can limit the amount of transmission on some models (for example, up to 100 GB per session).
** Only transferred APK-Application files, data inside them (for example, logins) โ no.
Mi Mover (Wi-Fi Direct)|
Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud) |
Google Account|
Through the computer (USB) |
Another way.
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3. Move through Google Account (for contacts, photos and calendars)
If youโre a Google user, most of your data can be transferred via your Gmail account, which works across devices from different brands, but has limitations:
- โ Contacts, calendars and tasks are synchronized automatically.
- โ Photos and videos can be transferred via Google Photos (15 GB free).
- โ Not tolerated: SMS, applications, game saves, system settings.
Instructions:
- On your old phone, open Settings โ Accounts โ Google.
- Make sure that sync is enabled for Contacts, Calendar and Google Photos.
- On the new phone, add the same Google account and enable sync.
- For photos: Open Google Photos on your new device and wait for the media files to download.
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The main advantage of this method is that you do not need to connect the phones to each other, the disadvantage is the limitation on volume (15 GB at a free tariff) and the lack of support for certain types of data.
4. Manual transfer via computer (for large amounts of data)
If you need to move tens of gigabytes of photos, videos or documents, the most reliable way is to connect both phones to your computer and copy files manually, which takes longer, but guarantees 100% control over the process and no data loss.
What you need:
- ๐ฅ๏ธ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux
- ๐ Two. USB-cables (preferably original)
- ๐ Enough free space on the PC (or external disk)
Step-by-step:
- Connect your old phone to your computer in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
- Copy the folders you need (DCIM for photos, Downloads for downloads, etc.) to your PC hard drive.
- Turn off the old phone and connect the new one.
- Transfer the copied files to the corresponding folders on the new device.
โ ๏ธ Note: When copying photos and videos, keep the original folder structure (e.g, DCIM โ Otherwise, the gallery on the new phone may not recognize the media files.
To speed up the process, you can use management programs:
- ๐ช Windows: Xiaomi PC Suite (official software) or Total Commander.
- ๐ macOS: Android File Transfer (requires permission to access files).
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5. Transfer of applications and game saves
One of the most difficult aspects of migration is the transfer of installed applications and their data (for example, progress in games, setting up messengers), which Xiaomiโs standard tools can not cope with, so you will have to use third-party solutions.
Methods of transferring applications:
- ๐ฑ APK-files: APK Extractor (from Google Play) can remove installed apps from an old phone and install them on a new one.
- ๐ฅ๏ธ Titanium Backup (root): If there is root access on an old phone, this app allows you to create a full backup of data applications.
- โ๏ธ Cloud services: Some apps (such as WhatsApp, Telegram) support backup to the cloud. Use Google Play Games or Xiaomi Game Center for games.
Instructions for transferring game saves:
- Open the game on your old phone and find the โSynchronizationโ or โCloud Savingโ option in the settings.
- Link the game to your Google Play, Facebook or Mi Account.
- On the new phone, install the game, log in to the same account and download saves.
For popular games (e.g. Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile), the sync process is described on official websites. If the game does not support cloud-based saves, try copying the data folder (Android โ data โ [game name]) through your computer (root required).
6.SMS portability and call history
Messages and call logs are some of the most device-bound data, and Mi Mover only transfers them between phones to MIUI 12+, and Mi Cloud and Google Account don't support these types of data.
Method 1: SMS Backup and Restore
- ๐ฒ Install the app on both phones.
- ๐ค On your old phone, back up (you can save it to Google Drive or a memory card).
- ๐ฅ On the new phone, restore data from the backup.
Method 2: Export via MIUI (SMS only)
- Open the Messages app on your old phone.
- Press. โฎ โ Settings โ Backup.
- Export SMS to.xml file to memory card.
- Transfer the file to a new phone and import messages.
โ ๏ธ Attention: When transferring SMS The.xml file loses the link to the contacts (messages will show up as phone numbers). To avoid this, move the contacts first, and then move them. SMS.
7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them
Even when using official tools, users face problems when transferring data.-5 mistakes and their solutions:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover doesn't see the second phone | Different versions of MIUI or Wi-Fi Direct disabled | Update your firmware or use the cloud |
| Photos moved but not displayed in the gallery | Folder structure not saved (DCIM/Camera) | Move files to the correct folders manually |
| Applications moved but not opened | Incompatibility of Android or MIUI versions | Update apps through Google Play |
| Mi Cloud does not sync contacts | Contacts are linked to Google, not Mi Account | Export contacts to.vcf and import them manually |
| Data transmission is interrupted by 99% | Lack of space on a new phone or battery drain | Free up space and connect charging. |
Additional advice:
- ๐ Always start carrying when charging both phones (even if the battery is 100%).
- ๐ถ Turn it off. VPN Power saving modes โ they can block data transmission.
- ๐๏ธ Before transferring, clear the cache on both devices (Settings) โ Warehouse โ Clear the cache).