How to quickly and safely transfer data to the new Xiaomi smartphone

Moving to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but the prospect of transferring all the data from an old device can seem tedious. Contacts, photos, messages, apps, and even screen settings all want to be saved without loss. Fortunately, Xiaomi owners have several reliable ways to migrate, from built-in tools to universal solutions.

In this article, we will analyze 7 proven methods of data transfer, compare them in speed, security and convenience, and give tips on how to avoid typical errors. For example, did you know that when using Mi Mover over Wi-Fi Direct, transfer speeds can reach 50 MB / s, and cloud transfer through the Mi Cloud is limited to 5 GB of free space? Or that some Xiaomi models (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro +) support direct transfer via an OTG cable without additional adapters?

Whether you’re switching from an iPhone, another Android device, or even an old Xiaomi, you’ll find the best solution here, and if you’re interested in privacy, we’ll show you how to move data without downloading to the cloud and without third-party services.

1.Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s official tool for quick migration

Mi Mover is a proprietary application from Xiaomi, preinstalled on all smartphones with MIUI 9 and later.It allows you to transfer almost all data without an Internet connection using direct transmission over Wi-Fi or cable, the main advantage is the preservation of folder structure and even some system settings (for example, wallpaper or power saving mode).

The transmission speed depends on the chosen method:

• 📶 Wi-Fi Direct: Up to 50MB/s (recommended for large data volumes)
• 🔌 Cable OTG: Up to 480 Mbps (requires an adapter for some models)
• ☁️ Through Mi Cloud: limited by Internet speed (no more than 10 MB/s)

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

1. On the new Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select Data Transfer in the settings menu.
2. On your old phone, open Mi Mover (download from Google Play if it isn’t).
3. Select the device role: new phone - Receiver, old - Sender.
4. Connect to a single Wi-Fi network or use an OTG cable.
5. Select data types to transfer and confirm the transfer.

⚠️ Note: If the old phone is installed MIUI older than version 10, some data (such as notes or call history) may not be transferred.

Charge both phones at least 50 times%|Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (if using wireless method)|Free up space on a new phone (at least 10% of the data transfer volume)|Shut down. VPN firewalls|Make sure that both devices have the same version MIUI (or differs from no more than 2 versions)-->

2.Move over Mi Cloud: Xiaomi Cloud Storage

Mi Cloud is a cloud service from Xiaomi that offers 5GB of free space (with the option to expand to 200GB for a fee), a method handy if you don't have physical access to an old phone or want to back up before selling the device.

What can be transferred through Mi Cloud:

• 📞 Contacts, call log and SMS
• 📸 Photos and videos (in original resolution or compressed)
• 📝 Notes, calendar and reminders
• ⚙️ System settings (Wi-Fi passwords, wallpaper, sound profiles)
• 🎮 Data from certain games (if supported)

Instructions for transfer:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Enable synchronization for the desired data categories.
3. Wait until the download is complete (time depends on the speed of the Internet).
4. On the new Xiaomi, log in to the same Mi Account and enable sync.

⚠️ Note: If you are porting data from your iPhone, first export contacts to iCloud, then import them to Mi Cloud via the web version (i.mi.com).Photos can be uploaded to Google Photos and then downloaded to the new Xiaomi.

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If you have a slow Internet connection, archive photos in ZIP before uploading to Mi Cloud via a file manager, which will reduce the amount of data by 20-30% without loss of quality.

3.Use of Google Account for Universal Transfer

If you’ve used an Android device before Xiaomi, you probably already have a backup in your Google Account, which is universal and works even when you’re switching from Samsung, Huawei or other brands, and the main advantage is that you automatically sync contacts, calendars, emails and some apps.

What is carried over Google:

• 📇 Contacts (from Google Contacts)
• 📅 Calendar and tasks
• 📧 Letters from Gmail
• 📱 Wi-Fi settings and wallpaper (on some devices)
• 🎮 Progress in games (if supported by Google Play Games)

How to recover data on the new Xiaomi:

1. When you first turn on, select Restore from backup.
2. Log in to your Google Account.
3. Select the latest backup (check the date of creation!).
4. Confirm the recovery and wait for completion.

⚠️ Note: If your old phone has two-factor authentication enabled in Google, turn it off or save backup codes before penos. Otherwise, the new Xiaomi may have problems logging in to your account.

4.Moving from iPhone to Xiaomi: features and life hacks

Moving from iPhone to Xiaomi requires a special approach, as iOS and Android use different data formats. Fortunately, there are several proven ways:

• 🔄 Move to iOS (Google Reverse Portal)
• ☁️ iCloud + Mi Cloud (for contacts and photos)
• 💻 iTunes + Third-party utilities (for music and video)

The easiest way to do this is to use Google Account as a bridge between the two.

1. On your iPhone, download Google Drive or Google Photos.
2. Upload contacts, photos and videos there.
3. On the new Xiaomi, log in to the same Google Account and sync your data.

To transfer WhatsApp and other messengers:

• 💬 Use built-in chat export to WhatsApp (on iPhone, select Settings) → chat → Chat exports).
• 📁 Send the file to yourself by mail or via AirDrop, then open it on Xiaomi.

⚠️ Note: When transferring music from Apple Music, remember that tracks purchased on iTunes are protected. DRM. You can’t just copy them – use Apple Music for Android or convert them to Apple Music for Android. MP3 via iTunes on PC.

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To transfer notes from Apple Notes, export them to PDF via Print (swipe up on the note → Share → Print → save to PDF).

5. Transfer via OTG cable or adapter

If you don't have Wi-Fi, or if you want to move data as quickly as possible, use a direct cable connection.

• 🔌 Cable OTG (For new models of Xiaomi with USB-C)
• 🔄 Adapter (if on an old Micro-USB or Lightning phone)
• 📱 File Manager (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer)

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old phone to the new Xiaomi via an OTG cable.
2. On the new device, open the file manager and select the connected phone.
3. Copy the folders you want (DCIM for photos, Downloads for downloads, etc.).
4. Use APK Extractor to port apps (but note that some apps may not work without data!).

⚠️ Note: When copying your WhatsApp folder, remember to also move the databases folder inside. /sdcard/WhatsApp/. Otherwise, the chat history will not be restored!

The transmission speed through the cable can reach 480 Mbps, but in practice it depends on the USB version:

• USB 2.0: Up to 40MB/s
• USB 3.0/3.1: up to 100-150 MB/s

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If the file manager does not see the connected phone, turn on the old device mode File Transfer (MTP) customized USB-connection.

6. Applications and their data portability: what you need to know

Move it yourself. APK-Application files are simple, but their data (saves, cache, settings) often have problems:

Method 1: Built-in backup in MIUI

1. Go to Settings → Applications → App backup.
2. Select the right applications and create a backup.
3. Transfer the backup file to the new phone and restore it.

Method 2: Titanum Backup (requires Root)

• 🛠️ Allows you to save application data, system settings and even SMS/MMS.
• 🔓 It only works on phones with unlocked bootloader and Root rights.

Method 3: Cloud-based application synchronization

Many apps (like WhatsApp, Telegram, Spotify) have built-in sync through an account, and just log in on a new phone, and the data will be downloaded automatically.

⚠️ Note: Some banking applications (e.g., SberBank Online or Tinkoff) block the new device after the transfer, in which case you will have to reinstall them and pass authorization.

7.Hidden Data Transfer: Passwords, Wi-Fi, Settings

Many users forget about hidden data, which is also important to transfer:

• 🔑 Wi-Fi Passwords: Export through Settings → Wi-Fi → Save Networks (requires Root or specialized applications like WiFi Password Viewer).
• 🔐 Account Passwords: Use Google Smart Lock or Password Managers (Keepass, 1Password).
• 📡 Mobile network settings: APN for the Internet and MMS You can transfer it through the settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Access points (APN).
• 🎨 Personal settings: Themes, gestures, audio profiles are synced through Mi Cloud (enable Theme Sync in account settings).

To transfer SMS/MMS messages, use the SMS Backup & Restore app:

1. Install it on your old phone and create a backup.
2. Move the backup file to the new Xiaomi.
3. Restore messages through the same app.

⚠️ Note: If you used a fingerprint or facial recognition on an old phone, this data cannot be transferred for security reasons. → Passwords and security.

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To transfer the Google Assistant settings, log in to the same account on your new phone and enable sync in the Google app settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data portability to Xiaomi