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

Why Data Transfers from Xiaomi Need a Special Approach

Xiaomi smartphones work on the basis of a proprietary shell MIUI, And unlike the naked Android, there's a nuanced aspect to accessing the system folders, the workflow. MTP-protocol and synchronization via Mi Account, such as when connecting to a PC via a USB You may have noticed that some folders just don’t show up — it’s not a bug, but a feature of data protection in the app. MIUI.

Another trap is splitting the memory into internal and external (even if the memory card is not physically available). MIUI creates a virtual partition for applications that is not visible to standard file managers. So a simple copypast through Windows Explorer often doesn't work correctly. And if you try to migrate data to the new Xiaomi, you have the problem of migrating your Mi Cloud account, without which some backups simply won't recover.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to transfer data from Xiaomi in 2026, including hidden features. MIUI, circumvention MTP And alternatives for larger volumes (50GB or higher), and we'll focus on security, and why you can't just copy a folder. DCIM What to do if the phone is not detected by the computer.

Method 1: Transfer over Mi Cloud (official method)

The Mi Cloud cloud storage is the most reliable way to transfer if you have a stable Internet connection, it automatically syncs contacts, notes, photos and even system settings, and the main advantage is that the data is tied to a Xiaomi account, so it is easy to restore it on a new device of the same brand.

However, there are limitations:

• 📁 Free rate gives only 5 GB – for a full backup, this is not enough.
• ⏳ Download speed depends on Xiaomi servers (at peak hours it can slow down).
• 🔒 Some data (e.g., some data, SMS) synchronized only with manual reservation.

To transfer data through Mi Cloud:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on synchronization for the desired categories (contacts, gallery, notes).
3. For a full backup, go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local Backup and Create a Backup.
4. On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account and recover data from the cloud.

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If Mi Cloud doesn’t sync photos, check Gallery settings → Settings → Sync with Mi Cloud. Sometimes you need to manually enable downloading media files.

⚠️ Note: When you restore a backup on the new Xiaomi, all current data on it will be erased. If the phone has already been used, pre-backup its contents.

Method 2: USB cable transmission (MTP and alternative modes)

Connecting via USB seems easy, but in MIUI, this process is often accompanied by errors, such as a computer may not see a phone or show empty folders, the reason is the wrong connection mode.

To transfer data over the cable:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC with the original cable (cheap cables often don’t support data transfer).
2. In the drop-down notification on your phone, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. If folders are not displayed, go to Settings → Additional → Developer Settings and enable USB Debugging.
4. To access hidden folders (such as Android/data), use a file manager on a PC with administrator rights.

Method 3: Wireless transmission (Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth, Local Share)

If you don't have a cable, you can transfer data over the air, and MIUI has built-in tools for this.

• 📶 Wi-Fi Direct – fast transfer of large files (up to 10 MB/s), but requires support on both devices.
• 🔵 Bluetooth is suitable for small files (contacts, documents), but limited by speed ~1 MB/s.
• 🔄 Local Share (in) MIUI 12+) — Xiaomi’s AirDrop, which works without the internet.

Instructions for Local Share (the most convenient option):

1. Open Settings → Connection and Sharing → Local Share.
2. Turn on visibility for other devices.
3. Select files in the gallery or file manager, click Share → Local Share.
4. On the second phone, confirm receipt.

⚠️ Warning: When transmitting via Wi-Fi Direct, turn off mobile internet on both devices, otherwise the speed will drop due to conflicting networks.

Method 4: Use SD-card OTG-storage

If your Xiaomi has a memory card slot or OTG support, you can transfer data through an external medium, which is suitable for large volumes (movies, backups) and does not require Internet.

Step-by-step:

1. Put it in. SD-card to phone (if there is no slot, use it) OTG-flash-drive adapter).
2. Open the MIUI file manager, select the folders you need and click Copy.
3. Go to the memory card section (usually) /storage/XXXX-XXXX) And put the files in.
4. Remove the card and connect it to the new device.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔋 Does not drain the battery (unlike wireless transmission).
• 🛡️ Data is not transmitted through third-party servers (as in cloud services).
• 📥 Files of any size are supported (unlike Bluetooth).

Format your card in FAT32 (if files >4GB, use exFAT)

Check the free space (should be 10% more data)

Disable "Fast Retrieval" in the storage settings

Copy data to the card root folder (not nested directories)-->

Method 5: Third-party applications (SHAREit, Xender, Snapdrop)

If the built-in MIUI tools don’t work, third-party utilities can be used, and they often offer higher speeds and additional features (such as app transfers or call histories).

Comparison of popular applications:

Safety recommendations:

• 🔍 Before installing, check the application permissions (e.g., SHAREit requests access to contacts and SMS).
• 🚫 Do not share sensitive data (passwords, bank documents) through public networks.
• 🔄 After transfer, clear the history in the application settings.

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LocalSend is the best choice for privacy, because it's open source, without data collection, and it's as fast as SHAREit, but without ads and permissions.

Transfer of specific types of data: contacts, SMS, applications

Not all data is transferred the same way, for example, contacts can be synchronized through Mi Cloud or Google account, but SMS requires special tools.

Contact:

• 📇 Through Mi Cloud: Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization of contacts.
• 📇 Through Google: Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of contacts.
• 📇 Export to file VCF: Open your contacts. → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports.

SMS and call history:

• 💬 V MIUI No built-in exports SMS. Use applications like this. SMS Backup & Restore.
• 📞 Call history is exported through Settings → Annexes → Calls. → Exports (not on all models).

Annexes and their data:

• 📱 Backup via Mi Cloud: Settings → Additionally. → Backup (saves application settings, but not APK).
• 📱 Transfer APK: use APK Extractor (requires root rights for system applications).
• 📱 Game data: sync through Google Play Games or a developer account (e.g. Genshin Impact is linked to an email).

⚠️ Note: When transferring applications through APK-files are not restored their data (for example, save in games or configure messengers.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

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

1.The phone is not visible in "My Computer"

• 🔌 Check the cable (try the charger – if the phone is charging but there is no data, the cable is faulty).
• 🖥️ Install Mi drivers PC Suite.
• 📱 Turn on Debugging. USB developer-setting.

2.Mi Cloud doesn't sync photos

• 📸 Check if the autoload is enabled in the Gallery → Settings → Synchronization with Mi Cloud.
• 🌐 Switch from mobile internet to Wi-Fi (Mi Cloud blocks downloading large files via Wi-Fi) 4G).
• 🔄 Update the Gallery app to the latest version.

3. When transmitting over Bluetooth files are corrupted

• 📎 Reduce the size of files transferred (Bluetooth does not handle files well) >50MB).
• 🔄 Restart both devices before transfer.
• 📱 Update the firmware MIUI (In older versions, there was a file encoding bug).

4.Mi Cloud space is missing

• 🗑️ Clean up unnecessary backups in the Mi Cloud → Storage management.
• 💰 Buy an extra seat (100GB is worth it) ~300 rubles/year).
• 🔄 Use alternatives: Google Drive or physical media.

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If Mi Cloud is persistently not syncing data, try logging out of your Xiaomi account and re-signing in. Sometimes it resets the hanging processes.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions