Buying a new Redmi smartphone is always an exciting moment, but it is often overshadowed by the need to transfer information from an old Xiaomi device. users are rightly afraid of losing important contacts, family photos or settings of their favorite apps. Fortunately, the MIUI ecosystem and modern versions of Android offer several efficient solutions for migrating data without loss of quality.
There are three main ways to solve the problem: using the built-in Mi Mover application, recovering through a Google account and manual file transfer. The choice of the specific method depends on the amount of information, Internet connection speed and personal preferences of the owner of the gadget. In this article, we will discuss each of the ways in detail so that you can choose the best one for your situation.
Before you start any manipulations, be sure to charge both smartphones to a minimum of 50-60%, as the process of transferring large amounts of data can be energy intensive, you should also make sure that both devices are on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for stable synchronization.
Use of the Mi Mover app
The fastest and most convenient way to transfer data from Xiaomi to Redmi is to use the Mi Mover utility. This application is pre-installed on most of the brand’s devices, but if it is not available, it can be downloaded for free from GetApps or Google Play. The program creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between gadgets, which allows you to transfer files at high speed without using mobile traffic.
To get started, run the app on both smartphones. On the new Redmi device, select Recipient, and on the old Xiaomi, Sender. QR-If you have a code or password connection, you can choose data categories to transfer. You can copy contacts, messages, call history, images, videos, music, and even some system settings.
☑️ Preparing for migration through Mi Mover
It is important to note that Mi Mover does not carry the applications themselves, but only their installation files or shortcuts, so logging into accounts (for example, banking applications or social networks) will have to be done again, this is done for the security of user data, the process can take from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the amount of internal memory.
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If the process is stuck in the Connection phase, try temporarily disabling mobile internet (LTE/5G) on both devices, leaving only the Wi-Fi module active.
Synchronization through Google account
The classic method that works seamlessly on all Android versions is sync through Google’s cloud service, which is ideal for saving contacts, calendar, notes and Chrome browser history. It doesn’t require additional software, but requires a stable Internet connection.
On an old Xiaomi phone, go to settings and open Accounts and Sync. Make sure your Gmail account is active and ticked to sync your data. Click on Sync or Sync Now to make sure all contacts and calendar events are uploaded to the corporation's servers.
Then, pick up a new Redmi and when you first set up (or in the settings menu) log in to the same Google account!unt. The system automatically prompts you to restore data from the backup. This method is especially convenient because your contacts will be accessible not only on your phone, but also on any computer through the web interface.
- 📱 Contacts and phone numbers are saved forever.
- 📅 Calendar and reminders are synchronized instantly.
- 🌐 Chrome Password History Will Go Automatically.
- 📷 Photos need to be included in Google Photos.
It’s worth remembering that free Google Drive storage is limited to 15GB. If you have a lot of data stored, a full backup may not fit into the cloud without buying extra space.
Manual transfer of files via computer
If you need to transfer heavy files, such as videos to 4K, Document archives or folders with games, it is best to use a computer as an intermediate. Connect the old Xiaomi to the PC through USB-cable and select the mode of operation File transfer (MTP) in the notification on the smartphone screen.
Copy the required folders (usually DCIM for photos, Download for downloads, Music and Documents) to your computer's hard drive. Once you've finished copying, disable your old phone and connect your new Redmi. Move the files to the appropriate directories of the new device.
The good thing about this is that it doesn't depend on Wi-Fi speed, and it allows you to structure files in a new location, so you can immediately remove debris that you wouldn't want to see on a new device, but you can't move your system settings and passwords that way.
⚠️ Note: When copying through a computer, do not interrupt the cable connection abruptly. Use secure device extraction on Windows or macOS to avoid damaging the file system.
Transfer of messages and call history
SMS and call logs are the data that is often forgotten to be saved, and it is critical to recover it later, and the built-in MIUI allows you to make a local backup of that data, which you can then transfer.
On your old device, follow the Settings path → About Phone → Backup and Restore. Select to create a new backup and select Messages and Call logs. The backup file will be saved to internal memory in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder.
This folder must be copied to a new Redmi (via Mi Mover or computer). After copying on the new device, go to the same backup menu, select the Recovery tab and specify the transferred file.
| Type of data | Mi Mover | Google Account | Manual (PC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Yes. | Yes. | No (export only) |
| Photos and videos | Yes. | Only through Google Photos | Yes. |
| SMS and calls | Yes. | No (third-party software required) | No. |
| Annexes | APK/tags only | List of Play Markets | No. |
| Wi-Fi passwords | Yes (on new Android) | Yes (through synchronization) | No. |
What to do if the SMS has not recovered?
Features of transfer to different versions of MIUI
Often, a user switches from an old Xiaomi version of MIUI (e.g. MIUI 10 or 11) to a new Redmi with MIUI 13, 14 or even HyperOS. In such cases, backup format conflicts may occur.
Mi Mover usually handles compatibility by converting data on the fly, but system settings (images, themes, widgets) can reset to factory values because the new shell works differently.
If you use a manual method or third-party programs, make sure they support the new Android 12/13/14 file structure. Access to some system folders on new OS versions may be limited by security policies.
- 🔄 Themes and wallpaper may not be transferred due to engine differences.
- 🔒 Wi-Fi passwords may require re-entering on new OSes.
- 📂 Folder structure Android/data modified in new versions.
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When switching between different versions of MIUI, always make a full backup before the process starts to have a rollback point.
Solving problems in transfer
Sometimes the data migration process may be interrupted or misplaced, and one of the common problems is the connection error when using Mi Mover, make sure that both devices have the traffic saving feature for that application turned off and that access to the local network is allowed.
If the new Redmi doesn’t see the old Xiaomi when trying to create an access point, try rebooting both devices.Switching flight mode also helps: turn it on for 10 seconds and turn it off again to reset network modules.
If contacts are displayed in duplicates after transfer, use the “Combine Duplicates” function in the Contacts app from Google or in the standard MIUI call. This will clear the phone book of repetitive entries.
⚠️ Warning: Never attempt to interrupt the recording process (especially when recovering from a backup) by turning off power.This may result in a database of contacts or messages being compromised, which will require resetting settings.