How to quickly and securely transfer data from one Xiaomi phone to another

Introduction: Why data transfers between Xiaomi require a special approach

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but transferring data from an old device can turn into a real headache if you do not know the nuances. Unlike the iPhone, where the Apple ecosystem offers a single tool Quick Start, Xiaomi owners have several ways at once – from the Mi Mover brand solution to universal protocols like Wi-Fi Direct or FTP.

The main problem is that not all methods are equally effective. For example, Bluetooth is suitable for transferring a couple of photos, but it will be a nightmare if you need to transfer 50 GB of video. And cloud services like Mi Cloud or Google Drive can limit speed or require a paid subscription. In this article, we will discuss 7 working methods with regard to their speed, security and limitations, so you choose the best option for your task.

1. Mi Mover – Official Solution from Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a built-in data migration application that Xiaomi is developing specifically for its devices, which supports the transfer of contacts, messages, photos, videos, applications and even system settings (including wallpaper and sound schemes), the main advantage is that there is no need for the Internet: data is transmitted directly over Wi-Fi Direct.

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Install the Mi Mover app on both phones (if it's not in firmware) from the Mi App Store or Google Play.
• 🔄 On the old phone, select Send data, on the new phone, Receive data.
• 📶 Connect to one Wi-Fi Direct network (password will appear on the screen of the new device).
• 📁 Select data types for transfer and confirm the start of transfer.

The transmission speed varies depending on the model of the phone, but on average it is 10-15 MB / s. For example, 20 GB of data will be transferred in about 20-30 minutes.

Important: If your old phone has custom firmware installed (like LineageOS), Mi Mover may not work, and then use alternative methods.

2. Transmission via OTG cable: maximum speed

If you need to move tens of gigabytes of data (like a photo collection or 4K video), the fastest way is to use an OTG cable (or USB-C to USB-C adapter for new Xiaomi models), with transfer speeds of 40–60 MB/s (depending on the USB version).

You'll need:

• 🔌 Cable OTG (Or adapter for Xiaomi 12/13/14 series).
• 📱 Old phone in file transfer mode (MTP).
• 📂 File Manager (e.g., built-in Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).

Instructions:

1. Connect your old phone to your new one OTG-cable.
2. On your old phone, in the notification curtain, select File Transfer Mode (not Charge!).
3. Open the file manager on your new phone – the old phone will appear as a removable drive.
4. Copy the folders you want (DCIM, Downloads, WhatsApp, etc.) to your new phone.

Is the new phone formatted (if so, the data will be erased)?

Is there enough space on the new device?

Does the cable support data transfer (some cheap OTGs only work on charging)?

Battery optimizers are turned off (they can interrupt the transmission)?-->

Warning: If your old phone has data encryption enabled (e.g., Xiaomi with MIUI 12+), you may need to enter a password when you connect.

3. Wi-Fi Direct: Wireless transmission without internet

Wi-Fi Direct is a technology that allows two devices to communicate directly, without a router, and is faster than Bluetooth (up to 10-20 MB/s), and does not require mobile traffic, and is suitable for transferring photos, documents and small videos.

How to turn on Wi-Fi Direct on Xiaomi:

1. Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Wi-Fi.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select Wi-Fi Direct.
3. On both phones, activate device search and connect to each other.
4. Use a file manager (such as Mi File Manager) to transfer files.

Disadvantages of the method:

• ⚠️ Not all Xiaomi models support Wi-Fi Direct (e.g., Redmi). 9A he may not be).
• ⚠️ The connection may be interrupted if the phones are far apart (more than 5-7 meters).
• ⚠️ Some files (for example, APK) They can be blocked by the security system. MIUI.

💡

If Wi-Fi Direct isn't on, try restarting both phones or turning on flight mode for 10 seconds, then turning it off. This often solves detection problems.

4. Cloud services: Mi Cloud vs Google Drive

If you have slow internet or don't have an OTG cable, you can upload the data to the cloud and then download it to a new phone. Xiaomi offers two main options: Mi Cloud (5GB for free) and Google Drive (15GB for free).

Comparison of services:

Instructions for Mi Cloud:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on synchronization for the desired data (contacts, photos, notes).
3. On the new phone, log in to the same Xiaomi account and wait for the sync to complete.

Note: If you use Google Drive, please note that Xiaomi does not sync SMS and call logs with Google by default. This will require a third-party application, such as SMS Backup & Restore.

5. Bluetooth: When speed is not important

Bluetooth is the most versatile but also the slowest method (speeds 1-3 MB/s), it is suitable for transferring multiple photos, contacts or small documents, and for large files, you should choose another method.

How to transfer files over Bluetooth:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both phones (Settings → Connections → Bluetooth).
2. Make the devices visible to everyone (Visibility or Detection option).
3. On an old phone, select files in the gallery or file manager, tap Share → Bluetooth.
4. Select a new phone from the list and confirm the file acceptance.

Limitations:

• 🐢 Transmission speed drops when signal is weak or interference is.
• 📵 Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Poco) F3) Limit the file size to 100 MB.
• 🔋 Bluetooth consumes a battery (up to 15-20% per hour of active transmission).

💡

Bluetooth is convenient for transferring contacts (vCard) or a pair of photos, but is not suitable for video or application backups.

6. FTP-server: for advanced users

If you need to transfer data between Xiaomi and a computer or other phone over a local network, you can deploy it. FTP-It's a server right on your smartphone, and it allows you to manage files through any device. FTP-customer (e.g. FileZilla or ES Conductor).

Instructions:

1. Install an FTP Server application (such as WiFi FTP Server from Google Play).
2. Start the server and write down the address (e.g. ftp://192.168.1.100:2221).
3. On the second device, connect to this address through FTP-client.
4. Copy the files you want.

Advantages:

• 🚀 Speed is limited only by your local network (up to 100 MB/s when connected to a 5 GHz router).
• 🔧 You can transfer files between Xiaomi and iPhone, Mac or Windows.
• 📂 Large files are supported (such as disk images or backups).

Note: Do not use FTP to transfer sensitive data (such as document scans) without encryption, preferably enable SFTP or use a VPN.

7 Computer Transmission: Reliable, but Long

If you have a computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux), you can use it as a data intermediary, and this method is suitable if:

• 🖥️ You don't have a cable. OTG, but USB-cable.
• 📁 You need to sort files before the perenosom.
• 🔄 You need to create a backup before resetting your old phone.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old phone to your computer in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Copy all the necessary folders (DCIM, WhatsApp, Downloads, etc.) to the hard drive.
3. Turn off the old phone and connect the new one.
4. Transfer files from your computer to the new Xiaomi.

Tips for speeding up the process:

• 🔌 Use the port. USB 3.0 (blue connector) for maximum speed.
• 🗃️ Archive the folders in ZIP before copying (saving time).
• 🛡️ Check files for viruses before perenosom (for example, through Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions