How to Flip Information from Android to Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Comparing All Ways

Shifting data from an old Android device to a new Xiaomi smartphone is a challenge that every user faces when buying a gadget from this brand. Even if both devices run on the same operating system, the differences in shells (MIUI vs pure Android) and preinstalled services can create unnecessary difficulties. In this article, we will examine all the current ways of transferring information, from the official Mi Mover tool to alternative solutions like cloud storage or local network.

Xiaomi has its own migration tools, but they don’t always work perfectly with other manufacturers’ devices. For example, Settings → Phone → Mi Mover can freeze during the connection stage if the old smartphone has custom firmware or an outdated version of Android. We tested each method on devices with MIUI 14/15 and Android 13/14 so you can choose the best option without losing data.

Contacts, calendars and notes are easier to sync through Google Account, and cloud services or direct Wi-Fi are better for multimedia (photos, videos, music). If you need to migrate applications with their data (for example, save in games or settings messengers), you will need specialized tools like Titanium Backup (for root devices) or backup through adb backup.

1.The official way: Mi Mover by Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a proprietary solution from Xiaomi that should make it easier to transfer data from any Android device. The tool is built into the MIUI firmware and is available during the first setup of a new smartphone or through the Settings menu → About Phone → Data Transfer. However, it has limitations: for example, it does not support transferring some system settings and may not work correctly with devices on Android 12 and below.

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

• 📱 On the new Xiaomi, select Data Transfer during initial setup or find this item in the Settings menu.
• 🔗 On your old phone, download the Mi Mover app from Google Play (if it’s not by default).
• 📶 Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network or create an access point on an old smartphone.
• 🔄 On the old phone, select the role of the sender, on the new one – the receiver.
• 📁 Select the data types to transmit (contacts, messages, photos, videos, applications) and confirm the beginning of the process.

Make sure that both devices have enough charge (minimum 50%)|Turn it off. VPN firewalls|Use a stable Wi-Fi connection (not mobile internet)|Close all background apps on both phones|Check that the new Xiaomi has enough memory to receive data-->

The process can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the amount of data. Mi Mover can't handle Wi-Fi passwords, lock screen settings, and some application data (such as game cache or launcher settings). If the transfer is interrupted, try repeating the process by pre-rebooting both devices.

⚠️ Note: If your old phone has Android 9 or lower, Mi Mover may not recognize it.

2. Transfer via Google Account (contacts, calendars, notes)

The most reliable way to transfer contacts, calendar events and notes is through Google Account sync, which works on any Android device regardless of the OS version and does not require additional applications, the main condition is that the old phone must be synced with Google.

Instructions for transfer:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Accounts → Google and make sure that sync is enabled for Contacts, Calendar, and Google Keep (if you use notes).
2. On the new Xiaomi, add the same Google Account through Settings → Accounts and Sync → Add an account.
3. Turn on sync for the data you want. Contacts and calendars will appear on the new device within 5-10 minutes.

This method is not suitable for transferring photos, videos, music or apps, but it ensures that basic personal data is kept safe. If you use Google Photos to back up media files, they will also automatically download to the new Xiaomi after authorization.

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Before transferring, check that your old phone has backup enabled in Google Drive. Go to Settings → Google → Backup and activate the option. This will save your application settings, call history and SMS (if supported).

3. Fast transmission over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct

If you need to transfer multiple files (such as photos or documents) without installing additional applications, you can use built-in Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct functions. This method is suitable for transferring small amounts of data (up to 1-2 GB), since speed is limited.

Step-by-step instructions for Wi-Fi Direct (recommended as a faster option):

• 📲 On both phones, turn on Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct (usually found in the Settings menu). → Connections → Wi-Fi → Additionally).
• 🔍 On one of the devices, click Device Search and select the second phone from the list.
• 🔑 Confirm the connection on both devices (entry may be required) PIN-code).
• 📁 In the file manager, select files to transfer, click Send and select Wi-Fi Direct as the transfer method.

Bluetooth is similar, but the speed will be lower (about 1-2 MB/s vs. 10-20 MB/s for Wi-Fi Direct), a method that is convenient for transferring documents,.vcf contacts or multiple photos, but is not suitable for large amounts of data.

⚠️ Note: When transferring via Wi-Fi Direct, turn off mobile internet on both devices to avoid network conflicts. Also make sure Xiaomi allows files from unknown sources (Settings) → Annexes → Special permits → Installation of unknown applications).

4. Cloud Storage: Google Drive, Mi Cloud, Yandex Drive

Cloud services are one of the most versatile ways to transfer data, and they can transfer all types of files (photos, videos, documents, application backups) without requiring physical connection of devices, but speed depends on the quality of the Internet connection, and large volumes may require a paid subscription.

Comparison of popular cloud services for data transfer:

The recommended algorithm for transferring through the cloud:

1. On an old phone, upload files to the selected cloud (for example, through the Google Drive or Yandex Drive app).
2. On the new Xiaomi, log in to the same cloud service and download files.
3. To speed up the process, use Wi-Fi instead of mobile Internet.

5. Local area network: applications like Send Anywhere or LocalSend

If you don't want to use cloud services or you have slow Internet, you can transfer files over the local network using specialized applications, which create a direct channel between devices over Wi-Fi, which provides high speeds (up to 50 MB / s) and does not require data to be uploaded to the Internet.

Top.-3 local-network applications:

• 📤 Send Anywhere supports transfer of files of any type, including folders and large archives.
• 🔄 LocalSend is open source, encryption-enabled software that works without logging in and doesn't collect user data.
• 📡 Xender is a popular solution with a simple interface, but it contains advertising (APK).

Instructions for Send Anywhere:

1. Install the app on both phones from Google Play.
2. On an old phone, select files to send and click Send.
3. Select the method of transferring the code (a six-digit number will appear).
4. On the new Xiaomi, enter this code in the Get field.
5. Confirm file acceptance.

Mi Mover (official Xiaomi tool)|Google Account (synchronization)|Cloud storage (Google Drive, Yandex Drive)|Local network (Send Anywhere, Xender)|Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct|Another way-->

The advantage of this method is that there are no data limits (as opposed to Bluetooth) and fast speeds. However, for transferring large files (for example, video to 4K), make sure that both devices are connected to a power source to avoid battery drain.

6. Computer-assisted transfer (USB-cable SD-map)

If you have access to a computer or laptop, the most reliable way to transfer is to use it. USB-cable SD-This method is suitable for transferring any type of file, including application backups, and is independent of Internet speed or firmware compatibility.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old phone to your computer through USB-cable and select File Transfer Mode (MTP).
2. Copy the necessary files (photos, videos, documents) into the folder on the computer.
3. Turn off your old phone and connect a new Xiaomi.
4. Transfer files from your computer to your new smartphone.

The alternative is the use of SD-map:

• 📁 Copy files to SD-card.
• 🔄 Insert the card into the new Xiaomi (or use a microSD adapter).
• 📱 Transfer files to internal memory via file manager.

⚠️ Note: When copying files through a computer, avoid using file system formats NTFS or exFAT for SD-If the new Xiaomi does not support the cards, the best option is — FAT32 (but with a 4GB file size limit).

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Transferring over a computer is the only way to guarantee the structure of folders and metadata files (for example, the date of the photo creation).

7. Data Application Portability (for Advanced Users)

If you need to migrate not only files, but applications along with their data (for example, saving games, setting up messengers or database programs), standard methods will not help.

Methods of transferring applications:

• 🔧 Titanium Backup (requires root) – lets you create a full backup of applications and their data, and then restore them to a new device.
• 📦 adb backup is an integrated Android feature for creating root-free backups. runs via command line: adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab Recovery: adb restore backup.ab
• 🔄 Swift Backup (requires root) – a modern alternative to Titanium Backup with a more user-friendly interface.

To use adb backup without root:

1. Install Android SDK Platform-Tools on your computer.
2. Connect your old phone via USB and follow the backup command (see above).
3. Copy the backup.ab file to the new Xiaomi.
4. Connect a new phone and execute a recovery command.

Note that not all applications support backup via adb. Some programs (such as banking or encrypted messengers) may block the storage of their data.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data portability to Xiaomi