How to quickly and securely transfer data from the old Xiaomi to the Redmi Note 8 Pro

The transition to a new smartphone is always an exciting process, especially when it comes to transferring valuable data: photos, contacts, messages and applications. Redmi Note 8 Pro, despite its age, remains a popular device thanks to the powerful MediaTek Helio G90T processor and 64-megapixel camera. But how to transfer all the information from the old Xiaomi without loss and error?

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods, from official tools (Mi Cloud, Mi Mover) to alternative solutions (direct cable, Bluetooth, LAN). Each method is tested on the Redmi Note 8 Pro with the current MIUI 14 firmware and older models (Redmi Note 9/10, Poco X3, Mi 11).

We will pay special attention to the problem of data transfer via Mi Mover on devices with different versions of MIUI - this is a common cause of failures, which is not written about anywhere.

1.Official method: Mi Cloud (cloud transfer)

Xiaomi’s most reliable method is synchronization via Mi Cloud, which is suitable for transferring contacts, notes, calendars, photos and even some system settings, the main advantage is that data is stored in the cloud and can be restored to any Xiaomi device at any time.

But there are nuances:

• 📁 Volume limit: A free account only gives you 5GB (that's ~1,500 high-resolution photos).
• ⏳ The download speed depends on your Internet connection. On 3G, it can take up to 2 GB of data to transfer.
• 🔒 Security: All data is encrypted, but local methods are better for sensitive information (passwords, bank details).

Step-by-step:

1. On the old Xiaomi go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on synchronization for the desired categories (contacts, gallery, notes).
3. Wait for the download to be completed (progress is displayed as a percentage).
4. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, sign in to the same Xiaomi account and enable sync in the Mi Cloud.
5. Select "Recover Data" and confirm the download.

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If photos are not synced, check the settings of the gallery: Gallery → Settings → Cloud Sync. Sometimes you need to manually enable the "Outload" option.

⚠️ Warning: If your old phone used a Google account to sync contacts, you will have to move them separately through Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact Sync. Mi Cloud does not import contacts from Google automatically!

2. Mi Mover: Direct Wi-Fi transmission (without cloud)

Mi Mover is a built-in application from Xiaomi that allows you to transfer data directly between two smartphones over a local Wi-Fi network. This method is 3-5 times faster than the cloud and has no limits on volume (except for free space on the new device).

Supported data types:

• 📱 Applications (including their data if the developer has supported the feature).
• 📷 Photo and video (folder structure is saved).
• 📞 Contacts, messages, call logs.
• 🎵 Music and documents (except DRM- protected files)

How to use Mi Mover:

Make sure both phones have MIUI 9 or newer installed.

Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network (or create an access point)

Battery charge on both phones > 50%

Free up space on the Redmi Note 8 Pro (at least 10% more data volume transferred)-->

1. On Redmi Note 8 Pro, open Settings → About Phone → Mi Mover.
2. Select "I am a new user" (on the old phone - "I am sending data").
3. Scan it. QR-code from the screen of a new phone with an old device.
4. Select the data types to be transferred and confirm the start of the process.

⚠️ Warning: If the old phone has MIUI 12 installed and the Redmi Note 8 Pro has MIUI 14 installed, there may be an error called "Incompatible Versions." Solution: Update the firmware on the old device or use an alternative method (see section 4).

3. Transmission via OTG cable: for large data volumes

If you want to transfer 20+ GB of data (for example, a movie collection or RAW-photo), the best option is a physical connection via a OTG cable. Redmi Note 8 Pro supports OTG out of the box, but older models (Mi 8, Mi 9) may require a Type-C → Micro-USB adapter.

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ Maximum speed up to 480 Mbps (USB 2.0).
• 📂 Complete control of files (you can choose which to copy).
• 🔌 There is no dependence on the Internet or Wi-Fi.

Instructions:

1. Connect the old Xiaomi to the Redmi Note 8 Pro via the OTG- cable.
2. The new phone will display a notification saying "USB- Device Connected" and tap it and select "File Transfer".
3. Open Explorer on the Redmi Note 8 Pro – the old phone will appear as a removable drive.
4. Copy the folders you need (DCIM, Downloads, WhatsApp, etc.) into your internal memory or SD- card.

To speed up the process, you can use file managers with batch copying support:

• 📁 Mi File Manager (built into MIUI)
• 🛠️ Solid Explorer (paid, but with trial period)
• 🔄 FX File Explorer (free, supports FTP- server).

4. Bluetooth: for small files without internet

If you don’t have a cable or Wi-Fi on hand and you need to transfer several files urgently, Bluetooth will help. Despite the slow speed (1-2 MB / s), this method is universal and works even on devices with different firmware.

Limitations:

• 🚫 The maximum file size is usually 50-100 MB (depending on the Bluetooth version).
• ⏱️ Slow transmission – 1 GB of data will be transmitted for ~15-20 minutes.
• 📱 It is not possible to transfer applications or system settings.

How to transfer files:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both phones (Settings → Bluetooth).
2. Make the devices visible to everyone (the “Visibility” option).
3. On your old phone, select files in Gallery or Explorer, click Share → Bluetooth.
4. Select Redmi Note 8 Pro from the list and confirm acceptance on the new device.

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To transfer files >100 MB over Bluetooth, install the SuperBeam or Send Anywhere app. They use Bluetooth only to create a connection, and the data itself is transmitted over Wi-Fi Direct at speeds up to 10 MB/s.

⚠️ Warning: When you transfer contacts over Bluetooth, they will be saved in.vcf. To show up in the phone book, open the file after transfer and import the contacts manually.

5 Local Area Network (FTP- Server): for advanced users

If you need to transfer data selectively (for example, only photos from the last year or specific folders with documents), the best option is to create a FTP- server on an old phone and connect to it with the Redmi Note 8 Pro.

This will require:

• 📶 Both phones must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
• 📱 Application FTP- server (e.g., FTP Server from Ice Cold Apps or WiFi FTP Server).
• 🔗 IP- address and port generated by the server.

Step-by-step:

1. Install WiFi FTP Server on your old Xiaomi app and run it.
2. Remember or copy the address of the ftp://192.168.1.100:2221 type.
3. On Redmi Note 8 Pro, open Explorer → Network Storage → FTP.
4. Enter the address, login (anonymous) and password (usually empty).
5. Copy the required files to the new device.

Advantages of the method:

• 🎯 Selective transmission – you can only copy the folders you want.
• 🔄 Bilateral sharing – you can download and upload files.
• 🛡️ Security: Data does not leave the local network.

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FTP- server is the only method that allows you to transfer files without losing metadata (dates of creation, photo tags, etc.).

6. Transfer of applications and their data: nuances and limitations

Transferring the application.apk files themselves is easy, but their data (game saves, settings, cache) is difficult.

Methods of transferring applications:

• 📲 Mi Mover – portes APK and data only to supported applications (list limited).
• 🔗 Titanium Backup (requires root) — creates complete backups of data.
• ☁️ Backup in Google Drive – works for some applications (like WhatsApp).
• 📂 Manual transfer is copying folders /Android/data/ and /Android/obb/ via OTG.

Limitations:

• 🚫 DRM- Protection: Apps like Netflix or Spotify won’t move their data.
• 🔒 Root rights: Root is required for full backup (including system applications).
• 🔄 Updates: After the APK port, applications may require an update via the Play Market.

An example of WhatsApp’s manual data transfer:

1. On your old phone, open Explorer → WhatsApp → Databases.
2. Copy the file msgstore.db.crypt14 (this is a message history).
3. Move it to the Redmi Note 8 Pro in the same folder.
4. Install WhatsApp and select “Restore from backup” when registering.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions, you can have problems, and let's look at the typical scenarios and how to solve them.

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 🔋 Battery charge – at <30%, some functions are turned off.
• 📶 Airplane mode -- it blocks Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
• 📂 Access Rights – Give Mi Mover or Explorer access to the storage.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions