Changing your smartphone is always an exciting process, especially when it comes to switching to a new model within the Xiaomi ecosystem. Users often wonder how to quickly and without loss transfer accumulated gigabytes of photos, contacts, correspondence history and installed applications. Fortunately, the Chinese manufacturer has provided several effective tools that allow you to clone the contents of an old device to a new one in just a few touches.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods of data synchronization, from built-in system utilities to cloud services and local Wi-Fi transmission. You will learn which way is suitable for transferring huge amounts of media and which is best for migrating system settings. The right method will save you hours of time and nerves when you first set up.
It’s worth noting that most of the brand’s current smartphones run on MIUI shells or the new HyperOS, ensuring that portability tools are compatible across generations of devices. Whether you have a budget Redmi or a flagship Xiaomi 14, the algorithms of action will be almost identical, providing a seamless data migration experience.
Using the Mi Mover app to migrate fully
The most effective and recommended way is to use a specialized application called Mi Mover, which is designed specifically for the ecosystem, and allows you to transfer not just files, but also folder structure, Wi-Fi settings, alarm clocks and even the location of icons on the desktop.
The process starts with running the program on both devices, and on the new smartphone you choose the Recipient role, and on the old one you choose the Sender role, and then the gadgets will suggest creating an access point or connecting to an existing Wi-Fi network. The transfer speed in this mode can reach 20-40 MB / s, which is much faster than standard Bluetooth.
Once the connection is established, the system will suggest selecting data categories to transfer, so you can tick only contacts and messages, or download everything, including heavy video files and application cache. It is important that the method does not require an active Internet connection, since the data is transmitted over a local channel.
☑️ Preparation for transfer via Mi Mover
Pay special attention to the transfer of data messengers. If you use WeChat or QQ, Mi Mover will offer a special backup mode that will save the history of correspondence. For other messengers, such as Telegram or WhatsApp, it is better to use built-in backup functions inside the applications themselves before starting the process.
⚠️ Note: Do not interrupt the transfer process or switch to other applications while Mi Mover is running.This may damage the data archive and cause you to start the procedure again.
File transfer via Mi Drop (now Xiaomi Share)
If you only need to flip a portion of your files, like a fresh photo shoot or a few videos, there’s no point in running a full migration of the system. Here comes the Mi Drop feature, which in new firmware versions has been renamed Xiaomi Share. This tool works on the principle of Apple AirDrop, using a combination of Bluetooth for search and Wi-Fi Direct for transmission.
To get started, make sure that both devices have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled. In the Control Center, find the Xiaomi Share or Mi Drop icon and activate it. In the visibility settings, choose the “Visible to All” or “Visible to Contact” option so that the receiving device can detect the sender.
The algorithm of actions is very simple:
- 📂 Open a gallery or file manager on the original phone.
- 👆 Select the necessary files and click the “Send” button».
- 📱 In the list of available devices, select the name of your new smartphone.
- ✅ A request will appear on the receiving party, which must be confirmed.
The main advantage of this method is its versatility: files can be sent not only between Xiaomi phones, but also to devices of other brands, if they have the appropriate plugin or application installed. The transfer speed remains high, and the quality of files does not suffer from compression, as is the case when sent via instant messengers.
What if devices can’t see each other?
Synchronization through the cloud service Mi Cloud
For those who prefer automation and don’t want to mess with cables or direct connections, the ideal solution is the Mi Cloud cloud service. MIUI/HyperOS, It allows you to store contacts, notes, voice recordings and photos in a secure cloud.
To use this method, log in to the same Mi Account on both devices. On your old phone, go to the cloud settings and make sure that the sync sliders for the desired data categories are activated. Click on Sync to update the information on the server.
On the new smartphone, when you enter your account, the data will automatically pull up, photos will appear in the gallery, contacts will appear in the phone book, and notes will be available in the corresponding application. Free storage is 5 GB, which is enough for contacts and documents, but photos and videos may require expanding or cleaning the archive.
| Type of data | Synchronization with Mi Cloud | Local transmission (Mi Mover) | Recommended method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts and SMS | Automatically. | Manual launch | Mi Cloud (background mode) |
| Photos and videos | It requires a place in the cloud. | High speed. | Mi Mover / PC |
| Annexes | Only a list. | Full copy + data | Mi Mover |
| System settings | Partially. | Completely. | Mi Mover |
Using the cloud is especially important in situations where the old phone is no longer available, broken or lost, but you have taken care of the backup beforehand, in which case recovering from the cloud copy of Mi Cloud is the only way to recover lost contacts and notes without physical access to the old device.
Transfer of data via computer (USB-cable)
A classic method that is still relevant, especially when it comes to transferring hundreds of gigabytes of information, connecting to a computer allows you to work with the file system of a smartphone like a regular flash drive, which gives you complete control over the copying process.
Connect your old phone to your PC via USB-In the connection mode notification, select "File Transfer» (MTP). On the computer, open the disk that appears, find folders. DCIM (photo and video), MIUI (Screenshots and voice recorders, Download and other required directories. Copy them to your computer's hard drive.
Then disable the old device and plug in the new one. Repeat the connection procedure and copy the saved folders from your computer to the new smartphone, following the directories structure, which ensures that no bytes of information are compressed or changed in the process.
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Use it. USB-A 3.0 port (blue) on your computer and a high-quality cable that supports high data rates, which will speed up the copying of large video files several times over.
But there's a caveat to this: it won't take the settings of apps, Wi-Fi passwords, or widgets, it's file sharing, so once you copy the data, you'll have to manually log in to the apps and customize the system.
Using Google Account for Contacts and Calendar
Don’t forget the basic synchronization level provided by the Android operating system itself. Google Account binding is the foundation without which it is difficult to imagine a modern smartphone. Contacts, calendar events, Google Keep notes and even passwords saved in Chrome are stored on the search giant’s servers.
When you first set up a new Xiaomi phone, the system will prompt you to log in to your Google account. If you agree and select the recovery option from Google backup, the phone will automatically pull up your contact list, call history (partially) and the list of apps installed from the Play Market.
This is a great way to make sure your address book isn’t going anywhere, even if you decide to change your smartphone brand in the future. To activate sync on your old device, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google and make sure the ticks are in front of Contacts and Calendar.
It’s important to understand the difference: Google saves the “skeleton” of your data (contacts, events) but doesn’t save the “body” (heavy files, game cache, local system settings).
Typical problems and their solution
Despite the fact that processes are fine, users may encounter difficulties, and one of the common problems is the error “Not enough space” when using Mi Mover. This occurs if the receiving device has less free memory than the amount of data transferred, in which case you must first clear the cache or delete unnecessary files.
Another common situation is the interruption of the Wi-Fi Direct connection, which can happen if one of the devices goes into power saving mode or the screen goes out, and it is recommended to keep the screens of both smartphones on throughout the transfer procedure.
If the transmission is stuck at a certain percentage (e.g. 99%), don’t rush to restart the phone. Often the process just waits for the confirmation or completion of the background indexing. However, if the freeze lasts more than 10-15 minutes, you will have to interrupt the process and try to transfer data in smaller portions.
⚠️ Note: When transferring data from an older Android device to a newer device (e.g., Android 10 to Android 14), some system settings may not apply due to changes in the configuration file structure of the operating system.
When transferring files over open Wi-Fi networks (such as in a cafe), use only proven encryption methods or local connections like Mi Drop, which create direct secure communication between devices, bypassing the router.