How to transfer data from the old Xiaomi phone to the new: the complete guide

Buying a new smartphone from Xiaomi or Redmi is always a thrill, but immediately there is the question of migrating the accumulated information: owners of the MIUI ecosystem are in a good position, as manufacturers provide several built-in tools for rapid cloning of the system. The transition process can take from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the size of your digital library.

Modern methods allow you to copy not only contacts and photos, but also the location of icons on the desktop, Wi-Fi passwords and alarm settings. You do not need to manually re-install each application or search for lost numbers. Backup has become an automated process that is available even to beginners, eliminating the risk of losing important data when changing devices.

Preparation of devices before the migration

Before you run any port tool, make sure both devices are ready to go, charge your old and new phones to at least 60-70%, as the active data transfer process consumes a lot of battery power, and check for free space on the receiving device: the amount of free memory should exceed the size of the data you plan to transfer.

Both smartphones need to be connected to a stable Wi-Fi network if you plan to use cloud services or wireless. Although embedded tools create a direct connection, having the Internet will be required to check application versions. Make sure that both devices are enabled with Bluetooth and geolocation, as some system services use them to detect nearby gadgets.

⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the file transfer process or block smartphone screens during the active cloning phase.The screen must be on constantly, otherwise the system may consider this as downtime and break the connection.

It is important to remove temporary files and cache on your old device so you don’t distill digital debris. Use the built-in cleaning in the Security app to make room and speed up final sync, especially for users who store years of correspondence and media files on their phone.

Using the Mi Mover application for wireless transfer

The most effective way developed specifically for the Xiaomi ecosystem is the Mi Mover utility. This application is pre-installed on the system, but if it is not, it is easy to find it in the GetApps store or download it. APK-It allows data to be transmitted over a direct Wi-Fi connection without using Internet traffic and at high speeds.

Run the app on both devices. On the new phone, select Reciever and on the old phone, Sender. QR-code or connect to the network you created. Once you have established the connection, you will see a list of data categories that are available for copying.

You can choose from specific types of data: images, videos, music, documents, apps, and even system settings. The algorithm is optimized to copy system settings first and then user content, allowing the new phone to become functionally identical to the old one as soon as the process is complete.

⚠️ Note: When transferring applications, some banking programs may require reauthorization for security reasons.

Transfer speeds depend on the number of files and the version of Wi-Fi modules in smartphones. On current models with Wi-Fi 6 support, speeds can reach 40-50 MB / s, which allows you to transfer 100 GB of data in about an hour. Old models can run slower, so be patient.

Sync with Mi Cloud and Xiaomi account

The second reliable method is to use Mi Cloud cloud storage, which is ideal for those who want to have a current copy of the data at any time, not just when changing their phone. You need to log in to the same Xiaomi account on both devices via the Settings → Mi Account menu.

In the sync menu, select the data you want to save: contacts, messages, notes, voice recorder and calendar schedule. Once you turn on the sync switches, the data will automatically upload to the cloud. On the new device, you just need to log in to your account, and the information will “fly” itself when you have the Internet.

Photos and videos are powered by the Sync Gallery, which allows you to free up space on your old phone by deleting the originals and uploading them to the new phone in full resolution, and the quality of media files is not compromised because the Mi Cloud stores the originals.

But there's a limit to the amount of free storage that you can get, and if you have a lot of 4K video, the cloud can fill up quickly, so it's smarter to combine the methods of keeping contacts and settings in the cloud, and transferring heavy files with cable or Wi-Fi.

Transferring data through Google Account

The Android ecosystem offers its universal migration method, which works on all smartphones, including Xiaomi. When you first turn on a new phone, the system will offer to restore data from the Google Drive backup.It's a great way to migrate contacts, calendar events and a list of installed apps.

What worked is, on the old phone, go to Settings → Google → Backup and click “Start Copy.” The backup will include Wi-Fi passwords, call history and some application data. On the new device, select recovery from this copy when you set up.

The main advantage of the method is brand independence. If you ever decide to switch to another Android smartphone, your data will stay with you. However, Google Photos can compress images to save space if you do not have a Google One subscription.

Applications will recover automatically, but their data (logins inside games, progress) may not be saved if the developer does not use cloud storage, so for important games, it is better to check whether they are linked to social networks or a game account separately.

Copying through a computer and USB-cable

For users who prefer full control of files, the classic PC method is fine: connect your old phone to your computer, select file transfer mode (MTP), and copy the DCIM, Pictures, Download, and Music folders to your hard drive.

Then you plug in a new phone and transfer it to the appropriate directories, which is especially good for sending huge video files that take a long time to copy through the air. USB-port-and-cable.

For more advanced users, there is a tool called Mi PC Suite (or its analogues) that allows you to make full backups of the system. However, standard Windows Explorer is often enough for household tasks. Remember to check the integrity of files on the new device after copying.

Using a cable also allows you to sort files on your computer by removing the extra files before downloading to a new phone. This is a good reason to digitally clean. The folder structure on MIUI is standard for Android, so there are usually no problems with the paths to the files.

What to do if the data is not transferred

Sometimes the process can run into errors, such as when the connection is interrupted or the memory is out. In such cases, do not panic. Most often, it helps to restart both devices and try again, selecting only those categories of data that were not copied.

If apps aren’t portable, try updating Mi Mover to the latest version on both phones.Firmware version conflicts (e.g., between the old MIUI 12 and the new MIUI 14) can cause crashes that are fixed in software updates.

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Expert advice: If the Mi Mover is stuck at a certain percentage, try disabling the screen lock (password/pattern lock) on both devices before transferring.

For contacts that are lost, check where they were originally stored. SIM-If you're on your phone, make sure you pick the right source when you sync.

In rare cases, resetting network settings on both devices before starting the procedure helps, which clears the cache of network connections and allows a more stable direct connection between gadgets.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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The fastest and most complete way to upgrade to the new Xiaomi is to use the built-in Mi Mover app over Wi-Fi, as it even copies the system settings and desktop layout.