Transfer data from the old Xiaomi phone to the new: the full guide 2026

Moving to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but data porting often becomes a headache. Contacts, photos, messages, apps, and even screen settings all need to be saved to keep things from scratch. Fortunately, Xiaomi has several built-in migration tools, as well as universal methods that work on any device. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to transfer data, taking into account the features of MIUI firmware and nuances for Redmi models, POCO and the flagship Xiaomi 13/14 series.

Many users make critical mistakes, such as forgetting to check the available space in the cloud before syncing or interrupting cable transmission due to a dead battery. We will describe each step in detail to avoid data loss. And if you have a phone on Android 9 or older, pay attention to the compatibility section: not all methods work on outdated versions of MIUI.

The quickest way to do this is to use Mi Mover, a proprietary service built into MIUI 12+, but it requires both phones at hand. If the old device is already handed over or lost, backup to Mi Cloud or manual transfer via computer will help. Choose the method based on your situation - below are the detailed instructions for each case.

1.Preparation for transfer: what to do before the beginning

Before you start migrating, follow the mandatory steps on both devices, which will prevent crashes and data loss:

✅ Check the version. MIUI On both phones. Go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI. If the old smartphone version is lower MIUI 10, some methods (e.g. Mi Mover) may not work. In this case, use a cloud or computer.

✅ Free up space on your new phone. Transferring 50GB of photo to a device with 16GB of free space will cause an error. → Memory and if necessary, delete unnecessary files or transfer them to a memory card.

✅ Charge both phones to at least 50%. Transmission interruption due to battery drain can damage files, especially when using cable. For fast-charging models (Xiaomi 12 Pro, Redmi Note 12 Turbo) 30% is enough, but it is better to be safe.

Checked version of MIUI on both phones

Freed up enough space on the new device

Battery charged ≥50%

VPN and energy saving modes are disabled

Download the latest updates for MIUI-->

⚠️ Note: If the old phone has data encryption enabled (Settings) → Lockdown and protection → Encryption, some methods (e.g., cable transmission) may not work. In this case, use Mi Cloud or computer.

Also turn off VPNs and power saving modes – they can block data transfer. On POCO models, check the settings in Settings → Battery → Power modes.

2. Method 1: Mi Mover is the official tool of Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a built-in migration app available on all Xiaomi phones with MIUI 9 and higher.

• 📱 Contacts, messages and call log
• 📷 Photos and videos (including Google Photos albums)
• 🎵 Audio files and notes
• ⚙️ System settings (wallpaper, brightness, sound profiles)
• 📱 Installed applications (without data, only APK)

How to use Mi Mover:

1. On the new phone, when you first turn on, select Data Portability. If the phone is already configured, open Settings → About Phone → Mi Mover.
2. On your old phone, open Settings → Additional → Data Transfer.
3. Select a role: new phone - "Recipient", old - "Sender".
4. Connect to a single Wi-Fi network or create an access point on an old phone.
5. Scan it. QR-code on a new phone from an old one.
6. Select the data to transfer and wait for completion.

⚠️ Attention: If you have POCO F3 or Redmi Note 10 Pro with custom firmware, Mi Mover may not recognize the device. In this case, use the method with a computer (section 4).

Mi Mover does not transfer data from some applications (such as WhatsApp, Viber or banking applications) and will require separate backups (see Section 5).

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If the Mi Mover is stuck in the connection phase, restart both phones and try again, often solved by changing Wi-Fi to 5GHz (if supported).

Method 3: Transfer over Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

If you don't have physical access to your old phone or it's broken, Mi Cloud is the only way to recover data.This method is also suitable for backing up before selling the phone.

How to transfer data through Mi Cloud:

1. On your old phone: Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud. Enable sync for the data you want (contacts, notes, photos). Click Backup and create a new copy.
2. On your new phone: Log in to the same Xiaomi account. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Restore. Select the latest backup and wait until it is completed.

📌 Limitations of Mi Cloud:

• 🔳 Free available only 5 GB (for photos in original quality this is not enough).
• 🔳 Not all data is restored (for example, SMS may not be transferred).
• 🔳 Speed depends on the Internet connection (on a slow basis). 3G recovery will take hours).

⚠️ Warning: If you are selling an old phone, be sure to log out of your Mi Cloud account (Settings) → Xiaomi account → Exit) and reset to factory settings, otherwise the new owner will have access to your data!

Method 3: Transfer over a computer (for large volumes)

If you have tens of gigabytes of photos, videos, or music, computer transmission is the most reliable method, and it works even if the phones on different versions of MIUI or one of them does not turn on (but is defined as a drive).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old phone to your computer through USB-cable.
2. Select the "File Transfer" mode (the notification will appear on the phone).
3. Copy the right folders: DCIM — Downloads photos and videos - Pictures downloads - screenshots WhatsApp/Media — messenger

new phone

🔹 For the transfer of contacts and SMS:

• Use the Mi PC Suite (official software from Xiaomi).
• Install it from pcsuite.mi.com.
• Connect your old phone and make a backup ("Backup").
• Connect a new phone and restore the data ("Restore").

⚠️ Note: When copying through a computer, do not change the folder structure, for example, if you transfer a photo from the computer. DCIM/Camera In the root of memory, the Xiaomi gallery may not see them.

5. Method 4: Transfer over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct

If you don't have a cable or a computer, you can use wireless transmission, which is suitable for small files (contacts, multiple photos), but is ineffective for large volumes.

Instructions for Bluetooth:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both phones (Settings → Connections → Bluetooth).
2. Connect devices (on a new phone, select the old one from the list and confirm the code).
3. On an old phone, select files (such as in Gallery or Contacts) and click "Send via Bluetooth".
4. Take the files on the new phone.

🔹 For Wi-Fi Direct:

• Activate Wi-Fi Direct on both phones (Settings → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct).
• Connect the devices to each other.
• Use a file manager (such as Mi File Manager) to transfer.

⚠️ Note: Bluetooth has a file size limit (usually up to 100MB.

Mi Mover (Official Tool of Xiaomi)

Mi Cloud (cloud)

Cable + computer

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Direct

Another method-->

6. Method 5: Transfer data from applications (WhatsApp, Viber, games)

Many applications (messaging apps, games, banking services) are not portable by standard methods; they need separate backups.

How to move WhatsApp:

1. On your old phone, open WhatsApp. → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup copy.
2. Create a backup to Google Drive (Google account required).
3. Install WhatsApp on your new phone and sign in to the same account.
4. Restore chats from backup when you first start.

🔹 For Viber:

• Go to Settings → Account → Backup.
• Save a copy to Google Drive or to a memory card.
• On the new phone, install Viber and restore the data.

🔹 For games and other applications:

• 🎮 Use Google Play Games to save progress (if the game supports cloud-based saves).
• 🔄 For applications with local data (for example, 1Password, Evernote: Check your export/import settings.

⚠️ Note: If you use two-factor authentication in banking applications, transferring to a new phone may require re-assignment. check in advance how to restore access (usually via a new phone). SMS or).

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when following instructions, users face problems.-5 mistakes and their solutions:

🔴 Mistake 1: Mi Mover can't see an old phone.

• 📌 Solution: Check that both phones are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (not mobile data). If you use an access point, turn it on on the new phone.

🔴 Error 2: Transfer over the cable is interrupted.

• 📌 Solution: Use the original Xiaomi cable (cheap cables often don't support data transfer) and disable Battery Optimization for the Mi Mover app.

🔴 Error 3: Gallery photos are not displayed after transfer.

• 📌 Solution: Reboot your phone and wait for Mi Gallery to scan the files. If it doesn't work, make sure the files are copied to the correct folders (DCIM/Camera).

🔴 Mistake 4: Mi Cloud is not regenerating SMS.

• 📌 Decision: SMS sync only if the old phone has enabled the option "Backup" SMS" In Settings → System system → Backup. If you don't, use Mi. PC Suite.

🔴 Error 5: Applications are not restored.

• 📌 The solution: Mi Mover only tolerates APK-Data recovery requires root rights or separate backups (see Section 5).

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If neither method works, try resetting the network settings on both phones (Settings → Wi-Fi → Additional → Network Reset).

8. FAQ: Answers to frequent questions