How to transfer data from phone to phone Xiaomi: all the ways of 2026

Shifting data between Xiaomi smartphones can seem like a simple task — until you face limitations in terms of volume, transfer speed or sudden errors. In 2026, owners of Redmi, POCO and the Mi lineup have at least 7 working ways to migrate information, but each of them has its own nuances. For example, Mi Mover copies almost everything automatically, but requires factory firmware without root rights, and the Xiaomi Cloud is limited to 5 GB of free space. In this article, we will analyze each method with regard to its speed, reliability and compatibility with different models, from Redmi Note 12 to flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

It’s important to understand that the choice of method depends not only on the type of data (contacts are transferred differently than video in 4K), but also on the state of the devices. For example, if an old phone is broken but turns on, direct transmission over cable will do, and if it does not respond at all, only backup via PC. We will also reveal little-known tricks how to circumvent the restriction on transfer of applications (spoiler: through ADB this is possible) and why sometimes Bluetooth works faster than Wi-Fi Direct.

1.Mi Mover is Xiaomi's official tool for full port

Mi Mover is a built-in app from Xiaomi that automatically copies contacts, messages, photos, videos, music, notes and even some system settings. It is preinstalled on all modern devices of the brand (starting with MIUI 9) and is considered the most reliable way, as it minimizes the risk of data loss.

• 🔹 It only works between Xiaomi phones (not suitable for porting from Samsung or iPhone).
• 🔹 Requires factory firmware without root rights and unlocked bootloader - on custom ROM LineageOS may not be running.
• 🔹 Does not transmit installed applications (only their data, if the application is already installed on the new phone).
• 🔹 Maximum speed – up to 10 MB / s (depending on the model and version) MIUI).

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

1. On your new phone, when you first turn on, select Transfer Data from the settings menu. If the phone is already configured, open the Mi Mover app manually.
2. On the old phone, also launch Mi Mover and select I give.
3. Scan the scanner on your new phone QR-code that will appear on the old.
4. Select data types to transfer (you can mark all or only the desired categories).
5. Confirm the start of transmission on both devices and wait until the end.

⚠️ Note: If the old phone has Application Protection enabled (in Settings) → Annexes → Blocking applications, Mi Mover will not be able to copy data from blocked programs (such as WhatsApp or Telegram!

Charge both phones to at least 50%|Turn it off. VPN and energy-saving regimes|Make sure that the new phone has enough memory.|Check that both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (not necessarily, but speeds up the process)-->

2. Transmission via OTG or USB-Type-C cable

If the Mi Mover doesn’t work for some reason (for example, the Wi-Fi module is broken on an old phone), you can use a direct cable connection, which is universal and works even between devices of different brands, but requires additional accessories:

• 🔌 Cable OTG (For older models with Micro-USB or USB-Type-C (for newer models).
• 📱 Both phones should be maintained. USB-accumulator (MTP).
• 🔄 There should be enough space on the new phone for the data to be copied.

Instructions for transfer:

1. Connect your old phone to your new phone using a cable (use an adapter if necessary).
2. On the old phone, select File Transfer Mode (or) in the notification that appears USB-accumulator).
3. On your new phone, open Explorer (or any file manager, such as Mi File Manager).
4. In the section USB-Find folders with an old phone (usually Internal Storage).
5. Copy the files you want (a DCIM photo, music from Music, etc.) to the internal memory of your new phone.

⚠️ Note: When copying large files (video) 4K Or archives, the cable might overheat. If the transmission is interrupted, try using a support cable. USB 3.1 (usually blue) or break files into 2–3 GB pieces.

Mi Mover| USB/OTG | Cloud Xiaomi Cloud|Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Direct| Another way-->

3.The cloud Xiaomi Cloud: pros and cons

Xiaomi Cloud is the official cloud storage from the manufacturer, which offers 5 GB for free (with the possibility of expanding to 2 TB for a fee).It is convenient for backup and data transfer, but has a number of limitations:

• ☁️ Free rate – only 5 GB (this is the case) ~1000 high-resolution photos or 30 minutes of video 1080p).
• 🔒 Some data (such as WhatsApp or Viber) are not automatically backed up.
• ⏳ Download speed depends on the Internet connection (on mobile). 4G maybe slowly).
• 📱 Mi Account (linked to the phone) is required).

How to move data through the cloud:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on synchronization for the desired categories (contacts, notes, photos, etc.).
3. Wait for the download to be completed (you can check the progress in the Warehouse section).
4. On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account and enable synchronization.
5. Data will start to load automatically (may take minutes to hours).

If you only need to transfer contacts, you can export them to the.vcf file:

Settings → Contacts → Contact Management → Import / Export → Export to File

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If you don’t have much space in the cloud, clear up unnecessary data before backing up: go to Mi Cloud → Storage → Clear cache. This will free up to 1-2 GB without deleting important files.

4. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct: When there is no cable

If you don't have a cable or Mi Mover refuses to work, you can use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct. These methods are slower (speeds up to 2-5 MB / s), but do not require additional accessories.

• 📎 Contacts (one or a packet of up to 100 pieces).
• 📄 Documents (PDF, Word, Excel).
• 🎵 Musical tracks (but not albums).
• 📷 Photo in compressed format (not RAW!).

Instructions for Bluetooth:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both phones (Settings → Connections → Bluetooth).
2. On an old phone, select files to transfer (for example, in Gallery or Explorer), click Share → Bluetooth.
3. Select a new phone from the list of devices.
4. On the new phone, confirm the file acceptance.

Wi-Fi Direct (faster than Bluetooth):

1. On both phones, turn on Wi-Fi Direct (Settings → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct).
2. On your old phone, select files and click Send via Wi-Fi Direct.
3. Confirm the connection on the new phone.

⚠️ Note: When transferring files over 50MB via Bluetooth, files over 50MB may freeze during the sending stage, in which case break them into pieces using an archiver (such as ZArchiver) or use Wi-Fi Direct.

5. Computer Transfer (for large amounts of data)

If you need to copy tens of gigabytes (like a video collection or WhatsApp backup), the most reliable way is to use your computer as an intermediary, which is also the only option if your old phone doesn’t turn on but its memory is read over your PC.

You'll need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
• 🔌 USB-Type-C or Micro-USB cable (depending on model).
• 📁 Enough free space on the hard disk (at least 10% more than the amount of data transferred).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old phone to your computer and select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Copy all the folders you need (DCIM, Download, Pictures, etc.) to your PC hard drive.
3. Turn off the old phone and connect the new one.
4. Transfer the copied data from the PC to the new phone.
5. For contacts, export them to a.vcf file (see Section 3) and import them on a new phone.

If the phone is not recognized by the computer:

• 🔄 Reboot both devices.
• 🔧 Install Mi drivers PC Suite (download from the official website).
• 🔒 Unlock your phone (sometimes Windows doesn’t see locked devices).

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Use your computer if you need to transfer more than 20GB of data or if your phone is physically damaged (such as a broken screen but is working). USB-port).

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

The official methods (Mi Mover or Xiaomi Cloud) do not copy installed applications, only their data (if the application is already installed on a new phone), and there are three methods to transfer the programs themselves (including games with saves):

Method 1: Backup through ADB (for advanced users)

Requires USB Debugging Mode enabled and ADB utilities on your computer.

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


adb restore backup.ab

Restrictions: Not all apps support backup (for example, WhatsApp blocks this feature).

Method 2: Cloning applications (e.g. App Cloner)

They allow you to create a copy of the data application, but require root rights on an old phone, suitable for porting games with saves (for example, Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile).

Method 3: Manual transfer of application files

Some applications store data in /Android/data or /Android/obb folders. These can be copied manually through Explorer, but on the new phone you will have to:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Copy the data folders into the same directories.
3. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Note: Transfer of application data through ADB or manually can cause crashes if the versions of the apps on the old and new phone are different. PUBG Mobile 2.0 is not compatible with PUBG Mobile 1.8.

7. Alternative ways: Google Account and third-party apps

If you use Google services, many of the data can be synced through your Google Account:

• 📇 Contacts (automatically synced when you add an account).
• 📅 Calendar and tasks.
• 📍 Location history (if included).
• 📝 Notes from Google Keep.

For this:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Accounts → Google.
2. Turn on synchronization for the desired categories.
3. Add the same Google account on your new phone and wait for the sync.

Third-party transfer annexes:

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If you often move data between devices, install LocalSend, an open source, ad-free software that works on the Airdrop principle (available at localsend.org).

Comparison of all methods: what to choose?

The choice of method depends on your priorities:

• 🚀 Maximum speed → Cable OTG computer.
• 📦 Complete system transfer → Mi Mover.
• ☁️ Convenience and automation → Xiaomi Cloud or Google Account.
• 🔄 Portability of applications → ADB or.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even when using official tools, users face problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

• 🔴 Mi Mover doesn't see the second phone:
• 🔴 Cable transmission interrupted:
• 🔴 There is not enough space in Xiaomi Cloud:
• 🔴 Applications are not restored after the transfer:

FAQ: Answers to popular questions