How to Flip Data to Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Photos and Videos

Transferring data to the new Xiaomi smartphone is a task that every user faces when buying the Redmi Note 13, POCO X6 Pro or Xiaomi 14 flagship, and even if you're switching from an iPhone or other Android device, you can do it quickly and without loss, and the key is to choose the right method depending on the amount of data, the availability of the Internet and the compatibility of devices.

In this article, we will discuss 7 working ways to transfer information – from the standard Mi Mover application to manual copying through the ADB. You will learn how to move contacts without losing avatars, migrate WhatsApp with chat history, and why some files may not be copied through the cloud. 4X, Mi A2) Alternative solutions, taking into account the limitations MIUI 12/13.

1. Official method: Mi Mover app

Mi Mover – built-in solution from Xiaomi for data migration between devices MIUI. It supports porting contacts, messages, photos, videos, apps (including their data) and even some system settings, the main advantage of which is that it does not require root rights and works on most models, starting with the Redmi 5.

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Install the Mi Mover app on both devices (available on Google Play for non-Guideline devices)-Xiaomi smartphone).
• 🔗 Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network (or create an access point on an old phone).
• 📤 On the old device, select the role "Sender", on the new one - "Receiver".
• 🔍 Scan it. QR-The code from the screen of the new phone is old (or enter) PIN-manually).
• ✅ Select data types to transfer and confirm the start of the process.

The speed of the transmission depends on the amount of data and the stability of the network. For example, 10 GB of photos and videos can be copied from 20 minutes to 1 hour.

• 🔄 Reboot both devices.
• 📶 Switch to 5 GHz Wi-Fi (if the router supports).
• 🔌 Connecting phones to charge (the process consumes a lot of power).

⚠️ Note: Mi Mover does not port data from some applications (such as Telegram or banking applications) due to limitations of their developers. MIUI 14+ You may need to unlock the OEM Unlock in the Developer Settings.

2.Mobile over cloud services: Mi Cloud vs Google Drive

Cloud storage is convenient if you have a stable Internet and small files (up to 15-20 GB). Xiaomi offers its own Mi Cloud service, but it has limitations: only 5 GB is available for free, and synchronization of contacts and notes does not work on all models (POCO The alternative is Google Drive, which gives 15GB for free and better integrated with Android.

Let's compare the two options:

Instructions for Google Drive:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Google → Backup.
2. Turn on “Google Drive Backup” and wait until it’s finished.
3. On the new Xiaomi, when you first set up, select “Recover Data” and log in to the same Google account.

⚠️ Note: If you are porting data from your iPhone, use Apple’s Move to iOS app – it supports sending contacts, photos and some messages to Android, but doesn’t work with Mi Cloud.

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Before uploading to the cloud, check if the total data volume exceeds the free storage limit. For example, Google Photos can enable High Quality compression (unlimited storage until 2021), but the originals will be reduced to 16 MP.

3. Transfer via OTG cable or adapter

If you don’t have access to Wi-Fi or the cloud, connect directly to the cloud. OTG — It's a reliable way. It's going to take a lot of time:

• 🔌 Cable OTG (USB-C → USB-C or USB-A → USB-C port-dependent).
• 📁 File Manager (e.g., embedded Files or Solid Explorer).
• ⚡ Charging for both devices (long-duration transfer drains the battery).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect. OTG-adapter to the new Xiaomi.
2. Connect your old phone to the adapter via cable.
3. On the new device, open the Files → USB-storage (old phone folder will appear).
4. Copy the files you need (for example, folders) DCIM For photo, Download for downloads).

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ Maximum speed (up to 40 MB/s per USB 3.0).
• 🔒 Security – data is not transmitted via the Internet.
• 📂 Support for any files, including APK and system backups).

Disadvantages:

• 🔌 Physical adapter required (not all models support) OTG).
• 📱 On some phones (such as iPhones) you need to unlock access to files.

Is it formatted? OTG-adapter FAT32 (compatiblely)|

Is there enough battery power on both devices?|

Is it allowed to access files on an old phone (on Android: Settings) → Memory. → Access to USB)|

Is there a backup of data in case of failure?-->

4. Computer-assisted transfer (Windows/Mac)

Using a PC is relevant if you need to transfer a large amount of data (50+ GB) or make a full backup before reset, which is the standard Windows Explorer or utilities like Xiaomi. PC Suite (official software for the Mi/Redmi).

Instructions for Windows 10/11:

1. Connect both phones to your PC via USB (use original cables for stability).
2. On phones, select File Transfer Mode (on Xiaomi: swipe down) → "Charging through USB" → "File transfer").
3. Open this computer - both devices will appear as removable disks.
4. Copy data from one disk to another (e.g, D:\Phone1\DCIM\Camera → E:\Phone2\DCIM\Camera).

MacOS requires Android File Transfer (the official utility from Google).

• 🍎 On Mac some folders (for example, Android/data) Can be hidden – use the Cmd combination + Shift +. map.
• 🔄 If the phone is not detected, try restarting the PC or changing it. USB-port.

Warning: when copying system files (e.g. folders) Android/obb for games) errors may occur due to access rights:

⚠️ Note: Do not copy folders Android/data and Android/obb manually, this can cause app malfunctions. Use specialized utilities like Helium or built-in game features (for example, binding to Google Play Games) to migrate game saves).

5. Transfer applications and their data (including games)

Just copy it. APK-Application files are not enough – you need to transfer their data (settings, saves, cache:

Method 1: Built-in MIUI backup

1. Open Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. Select Local Backup and specify a folder to save (e.g. Internal) Storage/MIUI/Backup).
3. Transfer the backup file to the new phone and restore it through the same settings section.

Method 2: Swift Backup (requires root)

• 🛠️ Install Swift Backup from Google Play.
• 🔓 Provide root access (on Xiaomi you need to unlock the bootloader and install Magisk).
• 📦 Select backup applications and save the archive to SD-map.
• 🔄 On the new phone, restore data from the archive.

Method 3: Synchronize through accounts

Many apps (such as WhatsApp, Telegram, games) support synchronization through:

• 🔄 Google Account (contacts, calendar, some settings).
• 💬 WhatsApp: “Settings → chat → Backup copy (saves history in Google Drive).
• 🎮 Google Play Games (for saving in games).

What matters to WhatsApp is:

• Use the same phone number on both devices.
• Before transferring, disable two-factor authentication (if enabled).
• On the new phone, WhatsApp will offer to restore chats from Google Drive when it first launches.

6. Data transfer from iPhone to Xiaomi

The transition from iOS to Android is often accompanied by problems due to the closedness of the Apple ecosystem, but there are proven ways:

Method 1: Move to Android (from Google)

• 📱 Install Move to Android on iPhone from the App Store.
• 🔗 On Xiaomi, when you first set up, select "Copy data from iPhone".
• 🔢 Enter the code displayed on Xiaomi in the iPhone app.
• ✅ Select data for transfer (contacts, photos, videos, Safari bookmarks).

Method 2: iTunes + PC

1. Connect your iPhone to your PC and back up to iTunes.
2. Use iMazing or AnyTrans to extract data from the backup.
3. Copy files on Xiaomi via MTM (Media Transfer Protocol).

Method 3: Cloud services

• 📁 Upload the photo to Google Photos (on your iPhone, install the app and enable autoload).
• 📋 Export your contacts via iCloud → "Export vCard and import it to Google Contacts.
• 🎵 Bring the music via YouTube Music or Spotify (if it was on streaming services).

⚠️ Note: When transferring from iPhone to Xiaomi is not portable: 💳 Apple Pay data (you need to add cards again). 📅 Reminders (use Google Keep as an alternative). 🎮 Preserve games that do not support cross-platform.

Alternative methods: ADB, TWRP and hand-back

For advanced users who want full control of the data penos, the following are suitable:

1. Transfer through ADB (Android Debug Bridge)

Allows you to copy any files, including system files, without root.

adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/Camera C:\Backup\Photos

To copy the data back:

adb push C:\Backup\Photos /sdcard/DCIM/Camera

2.Backup through TWRP

• 🛠️ Install custom recovery TWRP (requires an unlocked loader).
• 📦 Make a full backup section /data (includes all applications and their data).
• 🔄 Move the backup to a new phone and restore through TWRP.

3. Manual database backup

Some applications (e.g, SMS Organizer or Call Recorder store data in.db databases:

1. Use Root Explorer or ADB access /data/data/com.example.app/databases.
2. Copy.db files on your PC.
3. Restore them to the same folder (root rights required) on the new device.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB or TWRP It can cause you to lose warranty on Xiaomi devices if you unlock the bootloader. Also, incorrect system file recovery can cause a bootloop (a looped reboot).

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For most users, Mi Mover or cloud services are enough. ADB and TWRP Designed for advanced users who need to save specific data (e.g. game saves or system settings).

FAQ: Frequent questions about data portability to Xiaomi