How to Transfer All Data from an Old Xiaomi Smartphone to a New One: A Complete Guide to 2026

Moving to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but data porting often becomes a headache. Contacts, photos, messages, apps, and even screen settings all need to be saved to keep from starting from scratch. Fortunately, Xiaomi has several built-in tools and third-party solutions that make it easier to migrate, and the key is to choose the right method based on the amount of data, device model and your preferences.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to transfer data between Xiaomi smartphones: from the official Mi Mover app to manual copying via the OTG cable. You will learn which method is faster, which is more reliable, and how to avoid typical errors, such as data loss when resetting or incompatible versions of MIUI. And if you switch from an iPhone or other Android device, there is a solution for you too.

Before you start, check two key points: 1. Both smartphones should have enough battery life (at least 50%). 2. Update MIUI to the latest version - this will eliminate compatibility errors.

Now let's get to the details.

1.Official method: transfer via Mi Mover

Mi Mover is a Xiaomi-branded app that is designed specifically for data migration between the brand’s devices, and supports transferring almost everything: contacts, messages, photos, videos, apps (including their data), notes, and even some system settings, the main advantage of which is that you don’t need to connect to the Internet, since data is transmitted over a local Wi-Fi Direct network.

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Install the Mi Mover app on both smartphones (if it is not on the default system.
• 🔄 On the old phone, select the option “I am the sender” and on the new one, “I am the receiver".
• 📶 Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network or activate Wi-Fi Direct (the app will prompt you to do this automatically).
• 🔍 Scan on your old phone. QR-code that will appear on the new.
• 📁 Select data types to transfer (you can mark everything or select selectively).
• ⚡ Click "Start transfer" and wait until it's done!

The speed of transfer depends on the amount of data, for example, 10 GB of photos and applications can be transmitted from 15 to 40 minutes, if the process is stalled, check the stability of the Wi-Fi connection or restart the application.

⚠️ Warning: If the new smartphone already has data, Mi Mover will prompt you to erase it before transferring it. Back up the new device in advance if it has important information.

2. Transfer through Google Account (for contacts, photos and applications)

If you use Google services, most of the data is already synced to your account automatically, a method that is suitable for transferring:

• 📇 Contacts (from Google Contacts)
• 📷 Photo and video from Google Photos)
• 📱 Applications (list of installed programs from Google Play)
• 📅 Calendars and Notes (from Google Keep or Google Calendar)

To transfer data via Google:

1. On your old smartphone, open Settings → Accounts → Google and make sure that sync is enabled for all the right categories.
2. Wait for the sync to complete (check manually in Google Photos or Contacts).
3. On the new smartphone, log in to the same Google account when you first turn on or add it to Settings → Accounts.
4. Turn on synchronization and wait for the data to load.

The advantage of this method is that data is available on any device, not just Xiaomi.

• ❌ Not tolerated. SMS call logs.
• ❌ Applications are reloaded, but their settings (such as saving in games) may not be restored.
• ❌ Photos in original quality take up space in the cloud (free only 15 GB).

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If you have a lot of photos, turn on the Traffic Savings option in Google Photos (Settings → Backup) before transferring them, which will speed up the download, but reduce the quality to 16 MP for pictures and 1080p for videos.

3. Manual copying via OTG cable or adapter

If you don’t have Wi-Fi access or prefer a physical connection, you can transfer data through the Internet. OTG-Type-C adaptor → Type-C is a method suitable for:

• 📁 Large amounts of data (films, music, archives)
• 🔧 Backup before resetting
• 📱 Transferring data from non--Xiaomi devices (such as Samsung or iPhone)

For this method you will need:

• 🔌 OTG-Type-C cable (or adapter if older microUSB models have one).
• 📂 File Manager (e.g., embedded Explorer or Solid Explorer).

Instructions:

1. Connect your old smartphone to your new one OTG-cable.
2. On the new device, open Explorer and select the connected phone in the Devices section.
3. Copy the folders you need (DCIM for photos, Download for downloads, WhatsApp for correspondence, etc.) into the internal memory of the new smartphone.
4. For applications, copy the /data/app folder (root rights are required, otherwise you will skip this step).

This method is the most universal, but requires care:

⚠️ Note: Do not copy system folders (system, vendor) - this can cause malfunctions in the new smartphone.

4. Cloud Transfer via Xiaomi Cloud

Xiaomi Cloud is a proprietary cloud storage that offers 5GB of free space (with the option to expand to 200GB for a fee) and is ideal for backup and porting:

• 📱 Contacts and call logs
• 💬 SMS and MMS
• 📝 Notes (from the appendix Notes)
• 📷 Photo and video (in compressed quality)
• ⚙️ Some system settings (wallpaper, sounds, settings) MIUI)

To move data through Xiaomi Cloud:

1. On your old smartphone, open Settings → Xiaomi Cloud and log in to your Mi Account.
2. Turn on sync for the desired categories and wait for the download to be completed.
3. On the new smartphone, log in to the same Mi Account and enable synchronization.
4. The data will start to load automatically. Connect to Wi-Fi to speed up.

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Free storage is only 5 GB – for large amounts of data you will have to pay.
• ❌ Not all apps and their data are synced (for example, WhatsApp or Telegram need to be ported separately).
• ❌ Photos are uploaded in compressed quality, if you do not pay a premium subscription.

5.Move from iPhone to Xiaomi (or other Android devices)

If you're switching from an iPhone or a smartphone from another brand (e.g. Samsung, Huawei), the Mi Mover may not work, and there are two reliable options:

Method 1: Move to iOS (reverse port)

Yes, this is an Apple app, but it works backwards for some data:

1. On iPhone, install Move to iOS from the App Store.
2. On Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select “Data Transfer from iOS”.
3. Scan it. QR-code on the iPhone and select data for transfer (contacts, photos, videos).

Limitation: Only basic data (not applications or settings) is transferred.

Method 2: Third-party applications (e.g. Clone Phone or SHAREit)

Apps like Xiaomi's Clone Phone or SHAREit allow you to transfer data between different platforms.

1. Install the app on both devices.
2. Select the role of “Sender” on the old phone, and “Receiver” on the new one.
3. Connect to a single Wi-Fi network or create an access point.
4. Select the data and start the transfer.

Advantage: even call logs and SMS are supported.

1. Charge both smartphones to 100%

2. Free up space on the new device (minimum 20% free memory)

3. Update MIUI to the latest version

4. back up important data to your PC or cloud

5. Prepare the OTG cable or check the stability of the Wi-Fi-->

6. Transfer of applications and their data (including games)

Transferring the apps themselves (.apk files) is easy, but their data (such as saving in games or settings for messengers) is often lost.

For standard applications:

• 📱 Use built-in sync (e.g. Google Account for Gmail, Chrome).
• 🔄 For WhatsApp, Telegram and other instant messengers, use their own backup features.

For games and applications with local data:

• 🎮 If the game supports Google Play Games or Facebook authentication, sign in to the same account on the new device.
• 📂 For manual transfer, copy folders /Android/obb and /Android/data through OTG-cable (root rights required for some applications).

Examples of Genshin Impact:

1. On the old phone, copy the folder:


/Android/obb/com.miHoYo.GenshinImpact




2. Insert it on the new device in the same location.




3. Install the game from Google Play and start - the data will be downloaded automatically.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. banking) block the work when you manually transfer data, in which case you will have to reinstall it and pass authorization.

7.Verification and configuration of a new smartphone after transfer

After the data transfer is complete, follow a few steps to make sure everything is working correctly:

1. Check contacts: Open the Contacts app and make sure all numbers are in place. If contacts are duplicated, use the Unite function.
2. Photo and video test: Open the Gallery and check that all files are displayed without artifacts. If the photos don't open, try restarting your phone.
3. Launch key apps: Open WhatsApp, Telegram, banking apps and make sure they work error-free.
4. Set up notifications: Go to Settings → Notifications and set up priority apps.
5. Update apps: Go to Google Play and update all programs to the latest versions.

If something went wrong:

• 🔄 Missing data: Try repeating the transfer using another method (e.g. if Mi Mover didn't work, use it). OTG-cable).
• ⚙️ Failures: Make a reset on the new smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Reset settings) and repeat the transfer.
• 📞 Problems with SIM-Card: Make sure the new device has the mobile network configured correctly (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks).

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After transferring the data, be sure to check the key functions: calls, SMS, mobile Internet and authorization in banking applications. If something does not work, repeat the transfer or contact Xiaomi support.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data portability to Xiaomi