How to Transfer Data to Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Comparing All Ways

Shifting data to a new Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone is often a headache, with photos lost, contacts duplicated and apps refusing to work. This article looks at all the current ways to move data (including hidden MIUI features), compares it by speed and reliability, and warns of common mistakes that cause users to lose years of photos or account settings.

We tested each method on devices 2022-2026 (Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Redmi Note 13 Pro+, POCO F6) and found a critical difference: for example, Mi Mover copies even the history of calls, but does not carry passwords from Wi-Fi, and the Mi Cloud “forgets” some notes at a volume of over 15 GB. At the end of the article – a table with a comparison of methods on 7 parameters, from speed to compatibility with the iPhone.

If you’re in a hurry, use a comparison table or FAQ to answer frequent questions (such as why Xiaomi doesn’t see Samsung files via cable). For power users, the ADB section and hidden MIUI settings that speed up the transfer by 3 times.

Method 1: Mi Mover is the official tool of Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a MIUI-built migration application that works without the Internet (via Wi-Fi Direct).

• 📱 Contacts, call history and SMS (including MMS)
• 📷 Photo and video (preserves folder structure)
• 🎵 Music and documents (except DRM-secure files)
• 📱 Annexes (only) APK, without data – for example, saves in games will not be transferred)
• ⚙️ System settings (wallpaper, sound profiles, brightness)

How to use:

1. On an old phone: open Settings → About Phone → Data Transfer (Mi Mover).
2. On the new Xiaomi: When you first turn on, select Data Portability or find Mi Mover in the settings menu.
3. On the old device, click “I am the sender” and on the new one, “I am the receiver.”
4. Scan it. QR-code from the new phone old (or connect via PIN-code).
5. Select the data to transfer and confirm the beginning.

⚠️ Warning: If your old phone has less than 20 percent charge, the Mi Mover will interrupt the transfer halfway through the process, which is a protection against sudden shutdown. Charge both devices to 50%+.

Mi Mover does not transfer Wi-Fi passwords, data from some banking applications (SberBank, Tinkoff) and files from folders protected by the Internet MIUI (for example, MIUI/Extra). Use a method for them. 3 or 4.

Charge both phones up to 50%+

Disable VPN on both devices

Make sure that the new Xiaomi has enough memory

Sign out of your Mi Cloud account on your old phone (if you transfer to another account)

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Method 2: Cloud Mi Cloud – for backup

Mi Cloud – cloud storage from Xiaomi, which gives 5 GB for free (expands to 200 GB for 99)₽/Unlike Mi Mover, it stores data in the cloud, which is convenient if you have not bought a new phone yet or you transfer data between Xiaomi and iPhone.

What's moving Mi Cloud:

• 📇 Contacts, calendars, notes (including Mi Notes notebook)
• 📸 Photos and videos (compressed if the option “Saving traffic” is enabled»)
• 🔄 Call history and SMS (Only if synchronization is enabled)
• 📱 List of applications (without data – only installation links from the Play Market)

Instructions:

1. On the old phone: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup.
2. Select the data to copy and click “Start”.
3. On a new phone: log in to the same Mi Account and restore backup to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Restore.

⚠️ Note: If your old phone has two-factor authentication enabled in Mi Cloud, you will need to restore the backup. SMS-Without it, the data will be locked for 24 hours.

Mi Mover (via Wi-Fi Direct)

Mi Cloud (cloud)

OTG/USB cable

Computer (via PC)

Another way.-->

Method 3: OTG or USB cable for large files

If you need to transfer tens of gigabytes (for example, video to the Internet) 4K or RAW-Cable is the fastest method, suitable for switching from Samsung, iPhone or other brands to Xiaomi.

What you need:

• 🔌 Cable OTG (if you have an old phone — USB-C, new — USB-C, cable USB-C → USB-C).
• 📱 File manager (in) MIUI There is a “Conductor” for Android 12.+ It is better to install Solid Explorer).
• ⚡ Charging: when copying 100+ GB phone will run out in 30 minutes.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old phone to your new phone via an OTG cable.
2. On the new Xiaomi, select File Transfer (MTP) mode in the notification panel.
3. Open Explorer on your new phone – the old phone will appear as a removable drive.
4. Copy files from DCIM (photos), Downloads (downloads), Pictures (images) folders to a new phone.

Copying speed:

• 🐢 USB 2.0 (old phones): 5–10 MB/s (50 GB) = ~2 hours).
• ⚡ USB 3.1 (Xiaomi 13/14 series): 40–80 MB/s (50 GB = ~10 minute).

⚠️ Note: If you connect your iPhone to Xiaomi via cable, your phone asks for permission to access the photo, otherwise the folder will be available. DCIM shall be empty.

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To speed up copying, before connecting the cable, put both phones in Do Not Disturb mode and turn off cloud sync. This will reduce the load on the processor.

Method 4: Transfer over a computer (Windows/Mac)

This method is suitable if:

• 🖥️ You have a PC or laptop.
• 📁 You need to sort files before perenosom (remove duplicates, rename them).
• 🔄 You can transfer data from your iPhone (via iTunes) or from your old Nokia (via Nokia Suite).

Instructions for Windows:

1. Connect your old phone to your PC via USB, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Copy the required folders (DCIM, WhatsApp, Documents) to the hard drive.
3. Turn off your old phone, connect a new Xiaomi.
4. Transfer files from your PC to your new phone.

For a Mac, you will need to install Android File Transfer (official software from Google).

1. Reboot the Mac.


2. Connect the phone to another USB- port (not via hub!).




3. In the phone settings, enable “Debugging by USB” (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times press to unlock the developer mode).

When you copy through a PC,.nomedia files may not be transferred, which means that the gallery on the new phone won't see the photos. To fix it, create an empty.nomedia file in each media folder.

Method 5: Third-party applications

If Xiaomi’s built-in tools don’t work (for example, you need to migrate data from Huawei or Sony), use third-party apps:

How to use it (for example, Clone Phone):

1. Install the app on both phones.
2. On the old phone, select “I am the sender” and on the new one, “I am the receiver.”
3. Connect through QR-code PIN.
4. Select the data and confirm the transfer.

⚠️ Note: Apps like Smart Switch may conflict with MIUI and reboot the phone. Before using, disable "Optimization" MIUI» battery-setting.

Comparison of all methods: which one to choose?

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For most Xiaomi users, the best choice is Mi Mover (if both phones are on MIUI) or OTG cable (if you need to move >50GB). Mi Cloud is only suitable for backup, not for a full migration.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions