Transferring data from one Xiaomi smartphone to another: the full guide 2026

Introduction: Why Data Transfers to Xiaomi Need a Special Approach

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but many users face unexpected difficulties when trying to migrate their data. Unlike other brands, MIUI-based phones have unique migration tools that both simplify the process and add nuance. For example, the standard Google Backup does not always correctly restore MIUI settings, and the branded Mi Mover may refuse to work with some models.

This article will help avoid the typical mistakes, from losing contacts to not being able to recover SMS- messages, and we will look at all the current methods of transfer – both official (via Xiaomi Cloud and Mi Account) and alternative (using third-party applications and manual copying). We will pay special attention to data transfer between devices with different versions MIUI (13 vs 14), as this is a common cause of failures.

Importantly, if you’re switching from Xiaomi to a smartphone from another brand (such as Samsung or Realme), some of the instructions in this article won’t work, so you’d better use universal methods like Google Drive or Smart Switch, and this will only be about migration within the Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO ecosystem.

Preparation for transfer: what to do before the start

Before you start migrating, follow a few critical steps that neglecting can lead to data loss or malfunctioning of the new device.

• 🔋 Charge both phones to at least 50%. The transfer process can take up to 1-2 hours, and discharging in the middle of the operation will interrupt it.
• 📶 Connect to stable Wi-Fi. To transfer data over Mi Mover or the cloud, you will need a high-speed connection (preferably 5 GHz).
• 📱 Update MIUI on both devices. Different versions of firmware can cause conflicts. Check Settings → About phone → System Update.
• 🔑 Sign in to Mi Account on an old phone. Without that, you can't use Xiaomi Cloud or Mi Mover.
• 🧹 Clear the cache in the applications you plan to transfer (especially messengers) that will reduce the amount of data and speed up the process.

Note that if the new phone has already been set up (for example, you have used it for several days), you will have to reset the data to factory settings before transferring the data, otherwise the Mi Mover will not work, due to MIUI restrictions that block re-migration to the already configured device.

⚠️ Warning: If your old phone has Application Protection enabled (in Settings → Applications → Application Protection), turn it off before transferring. Otherwise, some programs (such as banking) may not recover correctly on the new device.

Method 1: Mi Mover is the official tool of Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a proprietary application from Xiaomi, designed for wireless data transfer between devices on MIUI. It is pre-installed on all modern smartphones of the brand (starting with MIUI 9), the main advantage is support for porting applications with their data (for example, saves in games or chats in instant messengers), which most alternative methods can not.

How to use:

1. On the new phone, when you first turn on, select Data Transfer (if the device is already configured, reset it to factory settings).
2. On your old phone, open Mi Mover (find through search or in Settings → Additional → Data Transfer).
3. Click I send on the old phone and I receive on the new one.
4. Scan it. QR-code from a new phone or connect via a Direct Wi-Fi connection.
5. Select data for transfer (contacts, SMS, apps, photos, etc.) and confirm the beginning of the process.

The speed of the transfer depends on the amount of data. For example, 30 GB of information (photos, videos, applications) can be transmitted from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours, it is important not to interrupt the process and not to block the screen on both devices.

⚠️ Warning: If a newer phone has a newer version MIUI than the older one, some apps may not recover. For example, when migrating from MIUI 12 to MIUI 14, some programs will require manual updates via Google Play.

Charge both phones up to 50%+

Connect to a single Wi-Fi network (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz)

Update MIUI on both devices

Sign in to Mi Account on your old phone

Disable application protection in settings-->

Method 2: Xiaomi Cloud – Cloud Transfer

If Mi Mover doesn’t work for some reason (for example, because of incompatibility of MIUI versions), the alternative will be Xiaomi Cloud, a method suitable for transferring contacts, notes, SMS, photos and some settings, but does not support the transfer of applications with their data.

Instructions for use:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Mi Account → Xiaomi Cloud.
2. Enable synchronization for all the categories you need (contacts, SMS, gallery, etc.).
3. Wait until the data is uploaded to the cloud (progress is displayed in the same menu).
4. On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account and enable sync in Xiaomi Cloud.
5. Select data for recovery and confirm the action.

Advantages of the method:

• 🌐 Works even if the phones are on different networks.
• 🔄 Allows selective recovery of only the data you need (e.g., only contacts).
• 📱 Supports backup of settings MIUI (themes, wallpaper, sounds).

Limitations:

• ❌ Free storage is only 5GB (this is often not enough for photos).
• ❌ Installed applications and their data are not transferred.
• ❌ SMS is only restored if the new phone has not yet received a message.

Tip: If you need to transfer photos in high quality, but there is not enough space in Xiaomi Cloud, temporarily subscribe to the 50 GB tariff for 99 ₽ / month (you can turn off immediately after the transfer).

Method 3: Manual transfer over PC (for power users)

If you need to migrate a lot of data (like tens of gigabytes of photos or videos) or you don't trust cloud services, manual copying through a computer is a reliable solution, which takes longer, but gives you complete control over the process.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 Two USB- cables (preferably original from Xiaomi).
• 📁 Enough free space on the hard drive (at least 50 GB is recommended).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old phone to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode (select this option when a notification appears on your smartphone screen).
2. Copy all the folders you need to your computer: DCIM for photos and videos. Download for downloaded files. WhatsApp/Media for media files from WhatsApp (if necessary). Android/data for data from certain applications (for example, saving games).

new

MTP

Move the copied folders to the new smartphone in the same directories.

contact SMS

Google Contacts

SMS Backup & Restore

Important: Some folders (such as Android/data) may be hidden. To see them, turn on the hidden files in the Explorer settings (View → Hidden Items in Windows).

⚠️ Warning: Do not copy the Android/obb folder directly, as this can lead to errors in games. Instead, use the built-in portability function in Google Play Games → Library → Data Management.

💡

If you are migrating data from Xiaomi to POCO or Redmi, check for compatibility of MIUI versions. For example, from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14, some system files may not be correctly copied, in which case you should use the cloud method or Mi Mover.

Method 4: Third-party applications for transfer

If standard methods don’t work (for example, because of different versions of Android or MIUI), third-party utilities can be used. They often offer additional features, such as data compression or local network transmission without the Internet.

Top.-3 tested applications:

• 📲 SHAREit — transfer files over Wi-Fi Direct at speeds up to 20 MB/s. Supports application portability (including data), but requires installation on both devices. Pros: fast transfer of large files, no limits on volume. Cons: shows ads, sometimes hangs.
• 🔄 Send Anywhere — transfer files over a unique 6-digit code. Works even without the Internet (via a local network). Pros: simple interface, no registration. Cons: limit 10 GB per transfer in the free version.
• 📎 CLONEit is a specialized migration application that portes contacts, SMS, apps, photos, even call history. Pros: keeps folder structure, supports transferring APK- files. Cons: not updated from 2021, may not work on new versions of Android.

How to use (Send Anywhere):

1. Install the app on both phones.
2. On an old phone, select files to send and click Send.
3. Select the transfer method – Locally (via Wi-Fi Direct) or Through code.
4. On the new phone, enter a 6-digit code or connect to the local network.
5. Confirm receipt of files.

Warning: When using third-party applications, never transmit data over public Wi-Fi networks (such as a cafe or airport) This may result in the interception of personal information. Always use Wi-Fi Direct or mobile hotspot.

💡

Third-party applications are convenient for transferring large files (video, archives), but do not always correctly restore system data (SMS, settings), for a complete migration, it is better to combine them with official methods (Mi Mover or Xiaomi Cloud).

Transfer of specific types of data: nuances and life hacks

Not all data is easily transferred, but below are detailed instructions for the most problematic categories.

1. WhatsApp portability (with chat history)

To transfer messages and media from WhatsApp:

1. On your old phone, open WhatsApp. → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup copy.
2. Back up Google Drive (make sure you are logged in to the same account as the new phone).
3. On your new phone, install WhatsApp, log in and restore chats from Google Drive.

Important: If you use a different phone number, this method will not work, in which case use a local backup (msgstore.db.crypt14 in the WhatsApp/Databases folder).

2. Transfer of accounts in games and applications

For most games (e.g. Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile), the data is linked to the account (Google Play, Facebook, Mi Account).

• 🎮 Make sure the game is linked to your account (check in the game settings).
• 📱 On the new phone, install the game, log in to the same account and download saves.
• ⚠️ Some Chinese games (such as Honkai: Star Rail) may require an additional Mi Account binding.

3. Transfer of passwords and browser data

If you are using Google Chrome or Mi Browser:

• 🔑 Enable synchronization in your browser settings (via Google Account or Mi Account).
• 📱 Log in to the same account on your new phone – bookmarks, history and passwords will be restored automatically.

For Safari or other browsers, use the export/import via HTML- file or specialized password managers (1Password, Bitwarden).

4. Transfer of MIUI settings (themes, wallpaper, sounds)

The MIUI settings (themes, wallpaper, notification sounds) can only be transferred through Xiaomi Cloud:

1. On an old phone: Settings → Theme → My themes → Sync with Xiaomi Cloud.
2. On a new phone: log in to Mi Account and upload saved themes to the same menu.

What to do if the data transfer is completed with an error

Even with the instructions, the migration process can be interrupted, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions.

If none of these methods worked, try a combination approach:

1. Move your contacts and SMS through Xiaomi Cloud.
2. Copy photos and videos via PC.
3. Install applications manually through Google Play.
4. Restore your MIUI settings through Xiaomi Cloud.

⚠️ Warning: If app errors (e.g., persistent crashes) appear on the new phone after the transfer, perform Cache Clearing in Settings → Apps → Application Management. This often resolves issues with incorrectly restored data.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data portability to Xiaomi