How to transfer data from one Xiaomi to another: all the ways of 2026

Shifting data between Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that every user faces when buying a new device or dumping an old one. Even if there are multiple options for transferring files, contacts and settings from the same manufacturer, and they are not all equally effective. For example, Xiaomi’s Mi Mover promises a painless transition, but it does not work on all models, and cloud services can limit the amount of free storage.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to transfer data between Xiaomi devices, from official tools to little-known life hacks, how to transfer not only photos and music, but also SMS, call history, Wi-Fi settings and even data from some applications, and also what hidden limitations each method has and how to get around them.

1.Official method: Mi Mover (rapid migration)

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary solution for transferring data between the brand’s devices. The app is pre-installed on all MIUI-enclosed smartphones (since version 8) and supports Wi-Fi Direct transmission, which guarantees high speed and no quality loss. The main advantage is the automatic synchronization of most system data, including:

• 📱 Contacts and call log
• 📸 Photos, video and audio files
• 📧 SMS and MMS-message
• 🔧 Settings for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Accounts
• 🎮 Data from certain games (if supported)

But Mi Mover has some nuances: First, it doesn't work on custom firmware or unlocked bootloaders; second, it's limited to 4GB of data in one session, and if you have to move more, you'll have to break it down.

How to use:

1. On both smartphones, open Settings → About Phone → Data Migration.
2. Select the role: Sender (old phone) and Recipient (new).
3. Scan it. QR-screen code from the new device old.
4. Select data types to transfer and confirm the start of the process.

⚠️ Note: If the new phone already has a Mi Account, it must be deleted before migrating, otherwise Mi Mover will block the transfer of data due to conflict accounts.

Charge both phones to at least 50%|Connect to a single Wi-Fi network (not necessarily, but speeds up the process)|Remove Mi Account on your new phone if it’s tied|Close all background applications on both devices-->

2. Cloud services: Google Drive and Mi Cloud

If Mi Mover doesn’t work for some reason, cloud storage will be the alternative. Xiaomi offers its own Mi Cloud service (5 GB for free), but it’s more convenient to use Google Drive (15 GB for free) for transferring large amounts of data. The main advantage of the cloud method is the ability to transfer data between devices of different brands and backup.

How to transfer data via Google Drive:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → System → Backup.
2. Select Backup in Google Drive and specify your account.
3. Check the data types (contacts, photos, applications) and click Create a backup.
4. On the new phone, when you first turn on, select Restore from backup and log in to the same Google account.

The Mi Cloud algorithm is similar, but there are limitations:

• 🚫 Photos and videos in their original quality take up space in the cloud (compressed versions – no).
• 🚫 Application data (e.g. game progress) is only portable if it supports synchronization with Mi Cloud.
• 🚫 When you restore on a new phone, some settings (such as wallpaper or notification sounds) may reset.

* Speed depends on the Internet tariff and the load of Google servers.

💡

If you only need to transfer contacts, export them to the.vcf file via the Contacts app (menu → Contact Management → Import / Export).

3. Local transmission: OTG cable and adapter

For transferring large files (for example, video to 4K or application backups), the most reliable way is to physically connect via an OTG cable. This method does not depend on Internet speed and allows you to transfer data up to 2 TB (the limit depends on the file system of the phone).

What you need:

• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C — USB Type-C (or adapter if on one of the Micro-USB phones).
• 📱 File Manager (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
• 🔋 Charging at least one phone by 70% (transferring large files drains the battery).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your phones with a cable. On the screen of the old device, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Open the file manager on the new phone – in the Devices section, the folder of the old smartphone will appear.
3. Copy the files you want (for example, the DCIM folder with a photo or Download with downloads).
4. Wait for the copy to be completed and safely disable the cable.

⚠️ Note: Not all cables USB-C They support data transmission, some are just for charging, and if the phone doesn't recognize the connection, try another cable or check it for compatibility with the other cable. USB 3.0.

4. Wireless transmission: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct

If you don’t have a cable at hand and you don’t want to use the cloud, you can do wireless technology. Bluetooth is suitable for transferring small files (up to 50 MB), and Wi-Fi Direct is suitable for large data packets (up to 1 GB per session).

How to transfer files over Wi-Fi Direct:

1. On both phones, activate Wi-Fi Direct in the Wi-Fi settings →
2. On the old phone, select Create a group, on the new phone, Connect to a group.
3. After the connection, open the file manager, select files and click Send → Wi-Fi Direct.

For Bluetooth, the algorithm is simpler:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both devices and pair them.
2. In the file manager, select files, click Share → Bluetooth.
3. Take the file on the second phone.

Limitations of wireless transmission:

• 🐢 Bluetooth transmits data at a speed of 1-3 Mbps (for 1 GB you will need to ~40 minutes).
• 📶 Wi-Fi Direct can cut off the connection if the phones are further than 5 meters apart.
• 🔋 Both methods severely drain the battery – it is recommended to connect the phones to charging.

Mi Mover|Google Drive / Mi Cloud|Cable OTG|Bluetooth / Wi-Fi Direct|Another option-->

5. Hidden MIUI features: backup and recovery

MIUI has a built-in Local Backup feature that allows you to create an archive of all your phone data and transfer it to another device, which is useful if you want to save system settings that are not transmitted through Mi Mover (for example, the Always On Display configuration or power saving options).

How to create a local backup copy:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Select the data for archiving (you can mark everything) and click Create backup.
3. The file will be saved in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder on internal memory.
4. Transfer this file to a new phone (e.g., via an OTG cable) and restore it through the same settings section.

Important details:

• 🔐 Backup is encrypted with a password – do not lose it, otherwise it will be impossible to restore data.
• 📦 Archive takes up a lot of space (up to 10-15 GB with a full backup).
• ⚙️ Not all settings are restored correctly (for example, data from some third-party applications may not be transferred).

💡

Local backup in MIUI is the only way to move customizations to themes, gestures, and system sounds that are not synced through the cloud.

6 Third-party applications: ShareMe, Xender and others

If the standard methods don't work, you can use third-party data applications, the most popular ones are:

• 📲 ShareMe (from Xiaomi) – supports Wi-Fi Direct transmission at speeds up to 20 Mbps.
• 📲 Xender – a cross-platform solution with a transmission function without an Internet connection.
• 📲 Send Anywhere – allows you to send files through a six-digit code (convenient for large volumes).

Advantages of third-party applications:

• ✅ There are no limits on the amount of data transferred (unlike Mi Mover).
• ✅ They work on devices with custom firmware.
• ✅ Supports transfer between Xiaomi and smartphones of other brands.

How to use ShareMe:

1. Install the app on both phones from Google Play or Mi App Store.
2. On the old phone, select Send, on the new phone, Receive.
3. Scan it. QR-code or connect via Wi-Fi Direct.
4. Select the files and confirm the transfer.

⚠️ Note: When using Xender or Send Anywhere, turn off mobile internet on both phones to avoid traffic consumption.These apps create a local network, but can sometimes switch to mobile data.

Comparative table of data transmission methods

FAQ: Frequent questions about data transfer between Xiaomi