How to transfer information from Xiaomi to Xiaomi: all the ways of 2026

Moving to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but transferring data from an old device can become a real headache if you don’t know the proven ways. Many users lose hours manually copying photos, finding contact backups or fighting cloud restrictions. Meanwhile, Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers several built-in tools to instantly transfer all data — from SMS to Wi-Fi settings — without any extraneous programs and the risk of information loss.

In this article, we will discuss 5 Current methods of data transfer between Xiaomi devices (including Redmi models, POCO And Black Shark, we'll compare them in terms of speed, reliability and limitations, and we'll give you specific recommendations for different scenarios, from migrating to a new smartphone to selectively transferring individual files. MIUI 14/15 relevant 2026 year-end.

1. Built-in function "Cloning applications" (Mi Mover)

The fastest and most reliable way to transfer data between Xiaomi devices is to use the proprietary Mi Mover tool (formerly called App Cloning), which works without a computer, retains the folder structure and even transfers the settings of some applications, the main condition: both smartphones must be on MIUI 9 or later (all models are supported after 2017).

How it works:

• 🔄 Direct Wi-Fi: Devices create a local area network, which eliminates data limitations (unlike cloud services).
• 📱 Support for all types of data: Contacts, SMS/MMS, Photos, videos, music, documents, applications (including their data), system settings.
• ⚡ Speed: up to 20 MB/s (depending on the Wi-Fi model). For example, 64 GB of data will be transferred over time. ~1.5 hours.

Step-by-step:

1. On an old smartphone, open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → App Cloning.
2. On the new device, follow the same path and select “I’m a new phone.”
3. On an old phone, click "I'm an old phone" and scan QR-screencode.
4. Select data for transfer (you can mark everything or select selectively) and confirm the beginning of the transfer.

⚠️ Warning: If the new phone already has data, it will be deleted before transfer! backup if you need to save information from the new device.

Make sure that both phones have a charge of ≥30%.

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

Free up ≥10% of memory on your new phone

Turn it off. VPN firewalls-->

2. Transfer through MIUI backup

If the direct transmission is not available for some reason (e.g., one of the devices is not enabled), you can use a backup to MIUI Cloud or locally, which is suitable for selective data recovery or when you do not have physical access to both phones at the same time.

Features of the method:

• ☁️ Cloud Storage: Free 5GB (up to 200GB extension available for a fee).
• 💾 Local copy: you can save a backup to a memory card or computer.
• ⏳ Restriction: Applications and their data are only transferred when they are restored to the same device (only system information will be restored on another phone).

Instructions for cloud redundancy:

1. On an old phone: Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Backup to MI Cloud.
2. Select the data to save (contacts, SMS, notes, photos from the gallery) and click “Start backup”.
3. On the new phone, log in under the same Mi Account and restore data via Settings → About Phone → Restore from backup.

MI Cloud (cloud)

Local copy to memory card

Cloning through Mi Mover

Other services (Google Drive, iCloud, etc.)

I don't make backups.-->

3.Using a Google Account for Synchronization

If you’re a Google user, you can transfer some of your data through account sync, which is convenient for sending contacts, calendars, notes, and photos (via Google Photos), but not for porting apps or SMS.

Advantages:

• 🌍 Cross-platform: Data will be available on any Android device.
• 🔄 Automatic synchronization: Changes on one device will immediately affect another.
• 🆓 Free: 15 GB of storage in Google Drive (common for all services).

How to set up:

1. On your old phone: Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync and enable the necessary options (contacts, calendar, etc.).
2. On the new phone, add the same Google account and enable sync.
3. For photos: Install Google Photos on both devices and enable autoload.

⚠️ Attention: Google Photos are compressed to 16 MP resolution with free storage.

💡

Before transferring, check if contacts are duplicated in Xiaomi and Google accounts. To avoid conflicts, export contacts to.vcf via Contacts → Management → Export / Import and import them to the new device manually.

4. File transfer via Xiaomi Share (Mi Share)

If you only need to transfer files (photos, videos, documents) without settings and applications, it is convenient to use the Xiaomi Share function (formerly Mi Drop).

Advantages of the method:

• 🚀 High speed: up to 10MB/s (faster than Bluetooth).
• 📂 No restrictions on file type: can be transferred APK, ZIP, RAW-photo etc.
• 🔒 Without Internet: Works directly between devices.

How to use:

1. On both phones, turn on Xiaomi Share through the notification curtain or in Settings → Connection and Sharing → Xiaomi Share.
2. On the sender phone, select the files in Explorer (Files or Gallery) and click Send → Xiaomi Share.
3. Select the target device from the list and confirm reception on the second phone.

5. Data transfer via computer (for advanced users)

If you want to have full control of the process, or if you want to transfer data to a device with a damaged screen, you can use the computer as an intermediary, which takes longer, but ensures that all files are safe.

Connection options:

• 🖥️ Through USB-cable: the classic method using the protocol MTP (Media Transfer Protocol).
• 🌐 On the local network: through FTP-server on the phone (application) FTP Server from Google Play).
• 🔌 Through OTG-Adapter: if you need to copy data from the phone to an external drive.

Step-by-step instructions for USB-connection:

1. Connect your old phone to your computer via USB, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Copy the folders you need (DCIM for photos, Downloads for downloads, etc.) to your hard drive.
3. Connect the new phone and transfer the files to the appropriate directories.
4. To transfer contacts, export them to the.vcf file via the Contacts app.

⚠️ Note: When you copy an Android folder (where app data is stored), some files may not be migrated due to access restrictions, and you will need root access or specialized utilities like Titanium Backup to restore them.

💡

Use your computer if you want to transfer data to a device with another firmware (for example, from MIUI to custom) or if one of the devices is not turned on.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

The choice of method depends on your tasks and technical capabilities.

Mi Mover is the best choice for a full migration to the new Xiaomi smartphone, and Xiaomi Share is suitable for one-time file transfer. If you need to transfer data to a device of another brand or with a damaged screen, use a computer or cloud services.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even with proven methods, users face difficulties, and consider common mistakes and ways to fix them:

1.Mi Mover freezes during connection stage

• 🔹 Reboot both phones.
• 🔹 Make sure that both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled.
• 🔹 Turn it off. VPN Antiviruses (e.g., Security or Avast).
• 🔹 Check if the transmission is blocked by the energy saving mode.

2.There is not enough space in the MI Cloud

• 🔹 Remove old backups in Settings → The phone. → Backup and reset → Management of backup copies.
• 🔹 Transfer photos to Google Photos (15GB free).
• 🔹 Buy an extra seat (from 6 GB for 0.99)$ monthly).

3. Xiaomi Share doesn't see the device

• 🔹 Enable Visibility for Everyone in Xiaomi Share Settings.
• 🔹 Make sure that the distance between the devices is not more than 5 meters.
• 🔹 Switch to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi (5GHz may not be supported by older models).

4. when recovering from a backup, data disappears

• 🔹 Check that version MIUI New phone no older than old phone (otherwise conflict may occur).
• 🔹 Do not interrupt the recovery process – it can cause file damage.
• 🔹 If the data is not recovered, try repeating the process or using an alternative method.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions