How to transfer information from one Xiaomi phone to another: all ways with nuances

Why Standard Methods Don't Always Work

Shifting data between Xiaomi smartphones seems like a simple task — you don’t have typical problems yet. The official Mi Mover tool promises seamless migration, but in practice users face synchronization errors, connection breaks or incomplete file transfers, especially when switching from models to MIUI 12 to new versions of MIUI 14/15, where the logic of the services is changed.

Another trap is data volume. If the old Redmi Note 10 Pro has 128 GB of 108 MP photos, and the new Xiaomi 13T only supports FAT32 on external media (file limit 4 GB), direct copying through the cable will lead to the loss of some of the images. And what to do with applications that do not support backup? For example, banking programs or games with a binding to the device, they will have to be configured again manually.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to transfer data between Xiaomi phones, including bypassing typical restrictions, from standard tools to advanced methods for tech-savvy users, with indications of transfer times, compatibility and risks.

1. Mi Mover: The Official Way With Scuba Stones

The Mi Mover app is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones and is positioned as the main tool for migration. It transmits contacts, messages, photos, videos, music, apps (only) APK-files, and even some system settings:

• 🔄 It only works between devices on MIUI 9 and newer. For older models (e.g. Redmi) 4X) I need to update the firmware.
• 📶 Requires a stable Wi-Fi connection, even when using the mobile Internet 5G) transmission interrupted.
• 🚫 Does not transfer data from some applications (for example, WhatsApp, Viber, banking programs).
• ⏳ Speed depends on the volume: 50 GB of data can be transmitted up to 2-3 hours.

How to start:

1. On both phones, open Settings → About Phone → Mi Mover (or find the app in the menu).
2. On the old phone, select "I am the source", on the new one, "I am the receiver".
3. Scan it. QR-code from a new phone on an old one.
4. Select data types to transfer and confirm the beginning.

Charge both phones at least 50 times%|Connect to a single Wi-Fi network|Free up 10-15% of memory on a new device|Shut down. VPN firewalls|Make sure that both phones have enough free space (volume of data transferred) ×1.5)-->

Critical error: If the process is interrupted during the transfer of applications, re-starting Mi Mover can lead to data duplication or failure, in which case it is recommended to reset the new phone to the factory settings (Settings → Additional → Reset) and repeat the procedure.

⚠️ Note: Mi Mover does not transfer data from the Mi Account (notes, cloud files, sync settings) and needs to be synced separately to Settings. → Xiaomi account.

2. Google Account Transfer: Universal, but not completely

If both phones are linked to the same Google account, you can use built-in sync, which is suitable for contacts, calendars, mail, Google Keep notes and portions of files, and the advantage is that the data is automatically updated on the new device when you first sign in.

How to set up:

1. On your old phone: Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync → Enable all the necessary items.
2. Wait for the sync to complete (check in Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Management → Data and Personalization).
3. On the new phone, log in to the same Google account when you first turn on or through Settings → Accounts.

An important caveat: if your old phone used Mi Cloud for backup and you log in to a Google Account on your new phone, the data may conflict, for example, contacts from Mi Cloud will not show up automatically in Google Contacts. To avoid duplicates, export the contacts to.vcf before transferring:

Settings → Contacts → Contact Management → Import / Export → Export in Memory

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If you have duplicates in Google Contacts after the transfer, use the merge tool: open contacts.google.com, select Duplicates → Combine all.

OTG + Adapter Cable: for large volumes without Internet

If you need to transfer tens of gigabytes of data (for example, video to video) 4K or RAW-And the Wi-Fi is unstable, and the best way to do that is to connect directly through a cable:

• 🔌 USB-C OTG-cable (if both phones are from the USB-C) adapter USB-C → MicroUSB (for older models).
• 📱 On the new phone should be unlocked Developer Mode and enabled Debugging USB.
• 🛠️ File management application (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old phone to your new one OTG-The new device will display a notification on the screen "USB plugged-in".
2. Select the File Transfer Mode (MTP).
3. Open the file manager on your new phone – the old phone will show up as an external drive.
4. Copy the folders you want (DCIM for photos, Download for downloads, etc.) into the internal memory of the new device.

⚠️ Note: When you copy the Android folder (where the application data is stored), some files may not be transferred due to access restrictions. Android/obb You will have to copy manually, having previously changed the permissions through Root Explorer (root rights are required).

Cable transmission speeds are 3-5 times faster than Wi-Fi: 60 GB of data is copied in 30-40 minutes (versus 2-3 hours over the air), but there is a risk of data loss if the cable is suddenly turned off. To minimize it, use the original Xiaomi cables - cheap analogues may not provide a stable connection.

4. Cloud storage: slow but reliable

If you have access to high-speed Internet, you can upload the data to the cloud and then download it to a new phone.

• ☁️ Mi Cloud (5GB free, integrated with MIUI).
• ☁️ Google Drive (15GB free, document-friendly).
• ☁️ Yandex Drive (10 GB free, high speed in Russia).
• ☁️ Mega (20GB free, data encryption).

How to transfer via Mi Cloud:

1. On your old phone: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup → Select data and click “Create a backup”.
2. Wait until the end (time depends on the volume and speed of the Internet).
3. On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account and restore the data from the backup.

The advantage of the cloud is that data is stored encrypted and accessible from any device, but there are limitations:

• 🕒 Long download/download time (e.g., 50 GB at 10 Mbps will be transmitted) ~12 hours).
• 💾 Limited free space (for 100)+ GB data will require a paid subscription).
• 🔒 Some files (for example, APK applications) may be blocked as “potentially dangerous".

5. Advanced Methods: ADB and TWRP for Power Users

If standard methods fail (e.g., when the firmware is damaged or the screen is not accessible), you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or TWRP (Castom Recovery), which require technical skills, but allow you to transfer 100% of the data, including system files and settings.

Transfer through ADB:

1. Install ADB Tools on your PC.
2. Connect your old phone to your computer, turn on USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times press to activate the developer mode).
3. At the command line, run: adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab This will create a full backup on the PC.
4. Connect your new phone and recover data: adb restore backup.ab

Transfer over TWRP (unlocked bootloader required):

1. Install TWRP Recovery on both phones.
2. On your old phone, create a backup through Backup → Select partitions (Data, System) → Swipe for confirmation.
3. Copy the backup file to SD-card.
4. On the new phone, restore the backup via Restore.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB or TWRP This can result in loss of warranty (if you want to unlock the bootloader) or soft-brick (if the backup is restored to an incompatible model.

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ADB and TWRP are the only ways to transfer data from a phone that doesn’t have a screen or sensor, but they require pre-setting (USB debugging enabled or custom recovery installed).

Comparison of methods: what to choose in your case

The choice of method depends on your priorities:

• ⚡ Quick and simple. → Mi Mover or Google Account.
• 💾 Large volume → OTG-cable or cloud (if you have time).
• 🛠️ Full control. → ADB/TWRP (power-user).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions