How to transfer data from the old Xiaomi to the new: all ways 2026

Switching to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting moment, but transferring data from an old device can turn into a real headache if you do not know the proven ways. In 2026, users have at least 5 working methods of migration - from the official Mi Mover tool to manually copying through cable. The main rule is never start transferring if a new phone already has a Mi Account - this blocks automatic synchronization.

In this article, we will analyze each method with nuances in mind: what data is transmitted (contacts, SMS, photos, applications), how long the process takes, and what pitfalls may arise. For example, why the Redmi Note 12 may not see the Mi 11 Ultra through the Mi Mover, although both devices are updated to MIUI 14. Or how to circumvent the restriction on transferring applications larger than 2 GB. We will separately focus on security – what data cannot be transferred over public Wi-Fi networks and how to protect personal information with a cloud backup.

1.Official method: Mi Mover - fast, but with limitations

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary solution for wireless data transfer between devices on MIUI. It works on all models since Redmi 5 (2017), but there are critical nuances: the application does not support data transfer from devices of other brands (even if they are on Android) and can “hang” when transferring large numbers of photos in HEIF format.

How to start the process:

• 📱 Install Mi Mover on both phones (you can download it from the App Store or through Settings). → The phone. → Updates).
• 🔄 On the old phone, select “I am the sender” and on the new one, “I am the receiver».
• 📶 Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network (or create an access point on an old phone).
• 🔍 Scan it. QR-code from the screen of a new phone with an old device.

What's automatically transmitted:

• 📞 Contacts, call log, SMS/MMS.
• 📷 Photos and videos (but not in original resolution if compression option is enabled).
• 🎵 Music and documents (except protected) DRM-file).
• ⚙️ System settings (wallpaper, sound schemes, screen brightness).

Charging both phones > 50%|Shut down. VPN both-device|Remove unnecessary files from your old phone (free up memory)|Check that there is no linked Mi Account on the new phone (if any, log out)-->

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Applications are transmitted only as a download list (not by themselves). APK-file).
• ⏳ Speed depends on Wi-Fi: 10 GB of data is transferred to 5 GHz network ~20 minutes, at 2.4 GHz - up to 1.5 hours.
• 🔒 Some models, for example, POCO F5) Additional authorization is required through your Mi Account.

⚠️ Warning: If you see a "Disconnected" error during transmission, restart both phones and try again. If the problem persists, check if the firewall is blocking. MIUI connection (in Settings) → Annexes → Permits → Auto-start: Turn on Mi Mover).

OTG Cable Transfer: For Large Data Volumes

If you have more than 50 GB of data (for example, a video collection in the 4K or RAW-And the wireless methods are going to be too slow, and that's where direct connectivity will help. OTG-cable USB-C → USB-C). This method works even on phones without root rights and does not require the Internet.

What you need:

• 🔌 Cable USB-C → USB-C (or microUSB → USB-C old-model).
• 📱 The new phone must be enabled File Transfer mode (MTP).
• 🔋 Battery charge > 30% (when transferring large files, the phone can discharge faster).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the cable to both phones.
2. On an old phone, in the notification curtain, select File Transfer (not Charging).
3. On the new phone, open Explorer (Files) and select the tab «USB-device».
4. Copy the folders you need (DCIM, Download, Pictures) to the internal memory of your new phone.

⚠️ Warning: If you connect a cable to a phone that starts charging, but it's not defined as a drive, check if you're using a charging cable instead of data. Some cheap cables only support power. POCO You may need to include a debugging USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (press 7 times).

3.Cloud portability: Mi Cloud vs Google Drive

Cloud services are convenient because they allow you to move data in advance before you buy a new phone, but there are limitations to every service.

• Mi Cloud (5GB free) – syncs contacts, notes, SMS, but does not save call history and some application settings.

How to make a backup in Mi Cloud:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on synchronization for the desired categories (contacts, gallery, notes).
3. Click on “Backup” and select the data to save.
4. On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account and restore the backup to Settings → Additional → Restore and Reset.

Comparison of services:

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If you use Google Photos to sync your media files, check your compression settings before the penos. High Quality mode saves photos up to 16 MP, which can be critical for professional shots.

4. Applications and their data portability: what works and what doesn’t

One of the most difficult aspects of migration is the transfer of installed applications and their data (for example, save in games, chats in Telegram, Nova Launcher settings).

• 📦 APK-You can copy files via cable, but they won’t automatically update (you’ll have to do it manually via APKMirror or Google Play).
• 🔄 Application data (e.g., progress in Genshin Impact) is only ported if the application supports cloud sync (e.g., through Google Play Games or your account).
• 🚫 System applications (such as Camera or Phone) cannot be moved - they are tied to firmware.

How to migrate applications with data storage:

1. Use App Cloner (requires root) or Swift Backup to create an APK+ data backup.
2. For cloud-saving games (such as Call of Duty Mobile), log in to your new phone using the same account (Facebook, Google Play, Activision).
3. For WhatsApp, back up chats in Settings → Chat → Backup and restore it to your new phone after installing the app.

⚠️ Note: If you are using Titanium Backup or similar tools, remember that system applications are restored to the new version. MIUI This can lead to a boothole (cyclical reboot).Always check the compatibility of Android versions before restoring.

5. Computer Transfer: Reliable but Longer

If you have a PC or a Mac, you can use it as a data intermediary, and this is a method that works for:

• 🖥️ Transfer of large archives (e.g. backups) TWRP).
• 🔧 Manually sort files before copying.
• 🛡️ Checking files for viruses before the penos.

Instructions for Windows:

1. Connect your old phone to your computer via USB and select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Copy the folders you need (DCIM, Download, Android/data) to your hard drive.
3. Disable the old phone, connect the new one and transfer the files back.
4. For apps, use ADB (if root is available): adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab Then restore on a new phone: adb restore backup.ab

For Mac, you will need to install Android File Transfer (the official software from Google), since macOS does not support MTP out of the box.

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Use a computer if you need to migrate data selectively or if the phones can't see each other through Mi Mover. This is the only way to guarantee that folder structure and file metadata are saved.

6. Transfer of data from phone to phone SD-card (for models with support)

If your new Xiaomi supports memory cards (like the Redmi Note 12 Pro+), you can temporarily use microSD as an intermediate storage.

• 📸 Transfer photos and videos (especially in format) RAW or ProRes).
• 🎮 Save the game (if stored on the map).
• 📄 Documents and archives.

How to transfer data to the map:

1. Insert microSD into your old phone.
2. Open the files. → select the right folders → press "Copy» → choose SD-map.
3. After copying, remove the card and paste it into a new phone.
4. Transfer files from the card to internal memory (or leave them on the map if the location allows).

⚠️ Note: Not all applications can work with files located on the SD-For example, WhatsApp does not allow you to transfer backup chats to a memory card, only to internal memory or the cloud, and the read/write speed on Class 10 cards can be 2-3 times lower than in internal memory of the phone.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even when following instructions, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

Another common mistake is to migrate data to a phone with a different regional firmware, such as if you buy a Xiaomi 13T for the European market (EEA) and an old phone on global firmware (Global), you may have problems with system application compatibility, in which case, before penos, reset the new phone to factory settings and select the correct region when you first set up.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions