How to transfer data from one Xiaomi phone to another: the full guide 2026

Contents

• Introduction: Why Data Transfers to Xiaomi Need a Special Approach
• Method 1: Mi Mover – official solution from Xiaomi
• Method 2: Cloud Transfers via Mi Cloud
• Method 3: Direct transmission by cable (OTG/Type-C)
• Method 4: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct Local Area Network
• Method 5: Using a computer as an intermediary
• Typical problems and their solutions
• Frequent questions about data transfer

Shifting data between Xiaomi smartphones only seems to be a simple task, and in practice, users face limitations in the amount of files they can transfer, compatibility issues between old and new models (such as the Redmi Note 8 Pro and Xiaomi 14 Ultra), and the nuances of branded services. In this article, we will examine all the current migration methods, from the official Mi Mover to manual methods using PCs, taking into account the features of MIUI 14/15 and the manufacturer’s limitations.

We’ll focus on speeds (from 2MB/s for Bluetooth to 40MB/s for cable), personal data security, and media file security. If you’re moving from Android 10 to Android 14, some of the techniques may require additional action, which we’ll look at.

Method 1: Mi Mover – official solution from Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a MIUI-built application designed specifically for data migration between Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, which supports contact, message, photo, video, music, apps, and even some system settings, with the main advantage of not having to use the Internet or computer: data is transmitted directly over Wi-Fi Direct.

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Install the Mi Mover app on both phones (unless it's pre-installed). Download from AppGallery or APKPure for older models.
• 🔗 On the new phone, select I receive data, on the old one, I send data.
• 📶 Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network or use an access point (if Wi-Fi Direct is not working).
• 🔍 Scan it. QR-code on the screen of a new phone from an old device.
• 📁 Select data types to transfer (maximum up to 10 GB per session).

Transfer speeds depend on the phone model and MIUI version. For example, on Xiaomi 13T Pro with MIUI 14, the average speed is ~20 MB / s, whereas on Redmi 9A with MIUI 12 it can drop to 5 MB / s. If the process is interrupted, try:

⚠️ Note: When you transfer applications via Mi Mover, your data (such as saving in games or settings for messengers) may not be transferred. For critical applications, use backup within the application itself (such as WhatsApp). → Settings → chat → Backup copy).

Method 2: Cloud Transfers via Mi Cloud

If you don’t have physical access to both phones at the same time (e.g., an old phone broke but you can turn it on periodically), Mi Cloud storage is the best solution. It allows you to back up on one device and restore it on another. Note that the free rate is limited to 5 GB – for large amounts of data you will need a paid subscription (from 100 rubles / month for 50 GB).

Instructions for transfer via Mi Cloud:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Enable synchronization for the desired types of data (contacts, notes, photos).
3. For a full backup, select Backup → Create a backup.
4. On the new phone, log in under the same Xiaomi account and restore data from the Mi Cloud → Restore.

Advantages of the method:

• 🌐 Access to data from any device (not even Xiaomi).
• 🔄 Automatic synchronization of contacts and notes.
• 🛡️ Data is protected by encryption (but don’t forget two-factor authentication!).

⚠️ Note: If you use Google Photos to back up your media files, disable it before migrating over Mi Cloud to avoid duplication. Otherwise, photos can take up space in both clouds at the same time.

Download/download speeds depend on your Internet connection. At 100 Mbps, 5 GB of data will load in about 10-15 minutes. Connect your phone to 5 GHz Wi-Fi or use Mobile Hotspot with LTE-A support to speed up the process.

Method 3: Direct transmission by cable (OTG/Type-C)

For users who want to transfer large amounts of data (10+ GB) without depending on the Internet, a cable connection is suitable. Modern Xiaomi smartphones support USB OTG, which allows you to connect one phone to another as an external drive.

• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C — USB Type-C (for newer models) or Micro-USB — USB OTG (old).
• 📦 File Manager (e.g., embedded Files or Solid Explorer).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old phone to your new phone using a cable. On the screen of the old device, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. On your new phone, open the file manager and go to the section. USB-accumulator.
3. Copy the folders you need (DCIM for photos, Download for downloads, WhatsApp for chat backups).
4. For applications, copy.apk files from /data/app (root rights required!).

Cable transfer speeds can reach 40–60 MB/s (on USB 3.1), but in practice, this is often limited to the performance of flash memory of phones. For example, on the Xiaomi 12 Pro with UFS 3.1, copying 20 GB will take ~10 minutes, and on the Redmi 8A with eMMC 5.1 - up to 40 minutes.

💡

If the phone doesn’t recognize the connected device, try turning on Developer Mode and activating the USB Debugging option. To do this, click on MIUI Version 7 times in your phone’s settings, then go to Additional → For Developers and enable debugging.

⚠️ Note: When copying the WhatsApp folder, don’t forget about the file msgstore.db.crypt14 — It's a database of your messages, and without it, the backup will be incomplete, and the chats won't be restored on the new phone.

Method 4: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct Local Area Network

If you don’t have a cable or Wi-Fi at hand, and you only need to transfer a few files (such as contacts or documents), Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct will do. Despite the slow speed (up to 2-3 MB / s), these methods are reliable for small amounts of data.

For Bluetooth transmission:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both phones (Settings → Connections → Bluetooth).
2. Connect devices (on a new phone, select the old one from the list of devices found).
3. On your old phone, select files to send (e.g., via Files → Select → Send → Bluetooth).
4. Confirm acceptance on the new device.

Wi-Fi Direct is faster (up to 10MB/s), but requires support from both phones.

1. On both phones, turn on Wi-Fi Direct in your Wi-Fi settings.
2. Connect to a network created by one of the devices.
3. Use a file manager or data transfer application (e.g. Send Anywhere).

Limitations of methods:

• ❌ Bluetooth is not suitable for transferring folders – only individual files.
• ❌ Wi-Fi Direct can be turned off when the screen is locked.
• ❌ Maximum file size: 50MB for Bluetooth, 1GB for Wi-Fi Direct.

💡

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct are convenient for transferring small files, but are not suitable for full data migration. For large volumes, use a cable or Mi Mover.

Method 5: Using a computer as an intermediary

If none of the previous methods work (for example, due to incompatibility of MIUI versions or damage to the screen on an old phone), the computer will become a universal solution.

You'll need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 Cables. USB for both phones.
• 📂 Backup program (optional: Mi) PC Suite, Syncios, or Standard Conductor).

Instructions:

1. Connect your old phone to your computer and copy all the files you need to a separate folder (e.g., file file, Xiaomi_Backup).
2. Turn off the old phone and connect the new one.
3. Transfer data from your computer to your new phone.
4. For apps, use APK Extractor (on your old phone) and manually install APK on your new phone.

Advantages of the method:

• 🗃️ Ability to create a full backup to the hard disk.
• 🔧 Flexibility in file selection (you can filter out unnecessary data).
• 🛠️ It works even with damaged screens (if the phone is recognized by the computer).

⚠️ Note: When connecting the phone to the computer in mode MTP Some files (for example, from a folder) Android/data) To see them, turn on the display of hidden files in the Explorer settings (View) → Hidden elements).

To automate the process, you can use Mi PC Suite (official software from Xiaomi), which supports:

• Backup and recovery of data.
• Manage contacts, messages and applications.
• Update to MIUI firmware.

You can download the program from the official website.

Typical problems and their solutions

Even when following instructions, users often encounter errors.

If none of the methods worked, try alternative applications:

• 📲 Send Anywhere – transfer files over Wi-Fi without restrictions.
• 📲 Cloneit – Cloning data between Android devices.
• 📲 Google Files – a simple manager with Wi-Fi Direct transmission.

For advanced users, the method is available through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to copy all data, including system files, but requires command line skills.

adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab

Recovery:

adb restore backup.ab

Frequent questions about data transfer