Transferring data between Xiaomi smartphones can seem like a challenge, especially if youโve never experienced such operations before, but in practice it takes 5 to 30 minutes depending on the method and amount of information you choose, and the key is to correctly assess what data you need to transfer: it can be contacts, photos, videos, applications, or even system settings.
Modern Xiaomi devices (starting with the MIUI 12 and later) support several built-in migration mechanisms, but not all of them are equally effective. For example, wireless transmission via Mi Mover is the fastest, but requires a stable Wi-Fi connection. OTG-The cable guarantees 100% file security, but takes longer to prepare. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods, taking into account their features for different models, from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Series.
We'll focus on the hidden nuances that are rarely mentioned in standard instructions, such as why Xiaomi Memos might be missing when you transfer them through Google Accounts, or how to migrate app data (including saves in games) without losing progress. If you're planning to change your phone and want to make it as smooth as possible, read on.
1. Preparation for data transfer: what to do before the beginning
Before you start transferring files, follow the mandatory preparatory steps to avoid data loss or failures in the process:
โ Check the version. MIUI If the difference in firmware versions exceeds 2 generations (e.g, MIUI 12 and MIUI 14), some Mi Mover features may not work properly. Update the software via Settings โ The phone. โ Updating the system.
โ Clear the cache on your old phone, which will reduce the amount of data you're transmitting and speed up the process. โ Warehouse โ Clean and select "App Cache".
โ Charge both devices to at least 50%. With wireless transmission, the battery can discharge faster due to the active use of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules.
โ Connect to a single Wi-Fi network (if you plan to use Mi Mover or cloud services). Network speeds must be at least 10 Mbps for sustainable transmission.
Backup important files on the PC|Check the space available on your new phone (at least 20% of the data you transmit)|Turn it off. VPN and energy-saving regimes|Write down logins/passwords from accounts (Mi Account, Google)-->
๐น Important point: If you transfer data from Xiaomi to a device of another brand (such as Samsung or Realme), the built-in Mi Mover will not work. In this case, use Google Account or third-party applications like ShareMe (formerly Mi Drop).
2. Method 1: Mi Mover is the official tool of Xiaomi
Mi Mover is a built-in data migration app available on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 9 and later, and allows you to transfer contacts, messages, photos, videos, apps, and even system settings without an Internet connection (via a local Wi-Fi network).
๐ How to use Mi Mover:
- On the new phone, when you first turn on, select Data Portability from the settings menu. If the phone is already configured, open Settings โ About Phone โ Data Transfer.
- On your old phone, open Mi Mover (find through app search).
- Select a role: new phone - "Recipient", old - "Sender".
- Scan it. QR-code from the screen of a new phone or connect via Bluetooth.
- Select data types to transfer and confirm the beginning.
โ ๏ธ
๐ด Warning: If storage encryption is enabled on the old phone (Settings) โ Lockdown and protection โ Encryption), Mi Mover may not see part of the files.Decrypt the device before transferring or use alternative methods.
๐ Transmission speed depends on the model:
| Xiaomi model | Mi Mover speed (Mb/s) | Transfer time of 10 GB |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 12 | 8โ12 | 15-20 minutes |
| Xiaomi 13 Pro | 15โ20 | 8-12 minutes |
| POCO X5 | 6โ10 | 17-25 minutes |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | 20โ25 | 6-10 minutes |
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If the Mi Mover is stuck in the connection phase, restart both phones and try again. Often the problem is solved by a change of roles: make the new phone the "Sender" and the old one the "Receiver".
Method 3: Transfer through Google Account (for contacts, calendar, notes)
If you only need to send contacts, calendar events, Google Keep notes or email, syncing through Google Account is the most reliable option, and this method works even between devices of different brands.
๐ Step-by-step instruction:
- On your old phone, open Settings โ Accounts and Sync โ Google.
- Turn on synchronization for the desired categories (contacts, calendar, disk, etc.).
- Add the same Google account on your new phone and wait for the sync to complete.
โ ๏ธ
๐ด Note: Notes from the standard Xiaomi Notes app are not synced with Google.To transfer them, export notes to the file through the app's Settings โ Export and send it to a new phone.
โ Pros of the method:
- ๐ It works on any Android device.
- ๐ Automatic update of data when changing
- ๐ฑ No need to physically connect your phone
โ Cons of the method:
- ๐ซ Does not tolerate apps, photos or music
- ๐ถ Requires a stable Internet connection
- ๐ Some data (e.g., some data, SMS) non-synchronize
Method 3: Wireless Transfer through OTG-cable
If you donโt have Wi-Fi access or need to transfer a lot of data (e.g. 50)+ GB photos and videos, the best option is a direct connection through OTG-This method guarantees a maximum speed (up to 40 MB/s per cable). USB 3.0) and the minimum risk of file loss.
๐ What's the matter:
- ๐ฑ OTG-cable (Type-C) โ Type-C or Micro-USB โ Type-C depending on ports)
- ๐ Charging (the battery can quickly go down during transfer)
- ๐ File Manager (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer)
๐ Instructions for transfer:
- Connect. OTG-cable to the new phone and the other end to the old one.
- On your new phone, open the file manager and select a partition "USB-The storage (memory of an old phone).
- Copy the right folders (DCIM for photo, download, etc.) to internal memory or SD-mapping.
What files cannot be transferred through OTG?
โก Transfer speed depends on the version USB:
| Type of connection | Max, speed. | Approximate time for 30 GB |
|---|---|---|
| USB 2.0 (Micro-USB) | 480 Mbps (~60 MB/s) | 8-10 minutes |
| USB 3.0 (Type-C) | 5 Gbps (~400 MB/s) | 1-2 minutes |
| USB 3.1/3.2 | 10-20 Gbps | 30-60 sec. |
5. Method 4: Wireless transmission via ShareMe (formerly Mi Drop)
ShareMe (formerly Mi Drop) is an alternative to Mi Mover for file transfers without brand restrictions.It works even between Xiaomi and iPhone, but with some limitations.
๐ฒ How to transfer data to ShareMe:
- Install ShareMe on both phones (available from Google Play or App Gallery).
- On the old phone, select "Send", on the new one - "Get".
- Scan it. QR-code or connect via Bluetooth.
- Select the files and confirm the transfer.
โ ๏ธ
๐ด Note: When you transfer photos and videos via ShareMe, you may shrink if the app settings enable Quick Submit mode. Turn it off to maintain original quality: ShareMe Settings โ Quality of transmission โ Original.
๐น Features of ShareMe:
- ๐ Supports folder transfer (unlike Bluetooth)
- ๐ You can send files to multiple devices at the same time.
- ๐ก It works without the Internet (creates a local network)
- ๐ซ Does not carry applications or system data
Mi Mover (built-in tool)|Google Account (Sync)|OTG-cable)|ShareMe/Mi Drop|Another way.-->
6. Method 5: Backup and Restore via Mi Cloud
Mi Cloud is Xiaomiโs cloud storage that allows you to create a full backup of your phone and restore it to a new device, a method that is suitable if you want to migrate all the data at once, including settings and apps.
โ๏ธ How to make a backup and restore it:
- On your old phone, go to Settings โ About Phone โ Backup and Reset โ Local Backup.
- Select data for backup (contacts, SMS, applications, settings) and click "Create a backup".
- Copy the backup file (located in /MIUI/backup/AllBackup) to your new phone via OTG or the cloud.
- On your new phone, open Settings โ About Phone โ Restore from backup and select a file.
๐ Important nuances:
- ๐ Backup is password protected. If you forget it, it will be impossible to recover data - Xiaomi does not provide tools to reset the backup password.
- ๐ฆ The volume of backup can reach several gigabytes (depending on the number of applications).
- โณ Recovery takes 10 to 40 minutes depending on the model.
๐ก
Mi Cloud provides 5GB of storage for free. If the backup is larger, buy extra space or use local backup on your backup. SD-map.
7. Method 6: Transfer over a computer (for large amounts of data)
If you need to move tens of gigabytes of data (e.g., a video collection or a video collection) RAW-The most reliable way to do this is to use your computer as an intermediary, which eliminates the risk of a connection breaking and allows you to sort files before copying.
๐ป Step-by-step instruction:
- Connect your old phone to your PC via USB-cable and select the "File Transfer" mode" (MTP).
- Copy the required folders (DCIM, Pictures, Music, etc.) to the hard drive of the computer.
- Disable the old phone, connect the new one and transfer the files back.
๐ง Useful advice:
- ๐๏ธ For convenience, create a separate folder on the PC (for example, Xiaomi_Transfer) And copy all the data there.
- ๐ Use Total Commander or FastCopy to speed up copying (they run faster than standard Windows Explorer).
- ๐ Before copying, check the free space on the PC disk - it should exceed the amount of data transmitted by at least 10 times%.
โ ๏ธ
๐ด Note: When copying photos and videos via PC, geolocation tags and dates may be lost if the files were edited in the Xiaomi Gallery. To avoid this, export media through the Gallery โ More. โ Exports.
8. Method 7: Transfer application data (games, instant messengers, settings)
Standard methods (such as Mi Mover or Google Account) donโt always correctly transfer application data โ for example, save in games, chat in Telegram or Spotify settings.
๐ฎ How to transfer application data:
| Type of data | Tool. | Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Preservation of games | Google Play Games or Helium | Log in to the same account on both phones and sync your saves through the cloud. |
| Telegram/WhatsApp chat | Built-in exports/imports | On Telegram: Settings โ Data and memory โ Chat export. On WhatsApp: Settings โ Chat โ Backup. |
| Application settings | Swift Backup (requires root) | Create a backup on your old phone and restore it to a new one (superuser rights are required). |
๐ก
To transfer data from Xiaomi Health, log in to one Mi Account on both phones, and sync the data automatically for 24 hours.