How to Flip Data from Xiaomi to Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to 2026

Contents

• Introduction: Why Standard Methods Don't Always Work
• Method 1: Mi Mover – the official solution from Xiaomi
• Method 2: Sync through Google Account
• Method 3: Direct transfer over OTG cable
• Method 4: Cloud Services (Mi Cloud, Google Drive, Telegram)
• Method 5: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct for small files
• Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
• Frequent Questions (FAQ)

Transferring data between Xiaomi smartphones only seems to be a simple task – in practice, users are faced with lost contacts, Wi-Fi Direct transmission interruptions or incompatible versions of MIUI. The official Mi Mover tool does not work on all models, and synchronization through Google can miss important notes or app settings. This article will help you choose the best method depending on the amount of data, phone models and available tools.

We tested 5 portability methods on devices from Redmi Note 12 Pro+ to Xiaomi 14 Ultra, taking into account the nuances of MIUI 14/15 and the limitations of Chinese firmware. Particular attention will be paid to the problem of transferring data to phones with a locked bootloader (bootloader), which is relevant for 30% of users who bought devices in unofficial stores.

Method 1: Mi Mover – the official solution from Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a built-in migration app that Xiaomi has positioned as its primary tool. It supports portability:

• 📞 Contacts, messages (SMS/MMS) and call logs
• 📸 Photos, video and audio files (including folders) DCIM and downloads)
• 📱 Installed annexes (APK + data)
• 🔧 System settings (wallpaper, sound profiles, Wi-Fi networks)

The app is pre-installed on all smartphones with MIUI 9 and newer. If it is not available, download from the Mi App Store (Chinese firmware may require a VPN).

Step-by-step:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → About Phone → Data Transfer (Mi Mover).
2. Select the role of "Sender" and wait for the generation QR-code.
3. On the new phone, launch Mi Mover and select Receiver, then scan QR.
4. Confirm Wi-Fi Direct connection (make sure both phones have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled).
5. Select data categories to transfer and click "Start".

Battery charge >50% on both phones|Same version MIUI (or difference of no more than 2 versions)|Disabled. VPN and energy-saving regimes|Free space on the new phone (minimum) +10% of the volume of data transmitted)-->

⚠️ Note: On phones with Chinese firmware (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T Pro CN) Mi Mover can block the portability of applications due to restrictions of Google Mobile Services. OTG.

Method 2: Sync through Google Account

This method is suitable for transferring basic data: contacts, calendars, notes (from Google Keep), photos (if Google Photos are enabled), and some application settings, the main advantage is that you do not need physical access to the old phone after setting up.

How to set up:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Accounts → Google and enable sync for all categories.
2. Wait for the synchronization to be completed (check in Settings → About Phone → Account Status).
3. On the new phone, when you first turn on, select “Restore from backup” and log in to the same Google account.
4. Select the latest backup (date and model of the source phone are indicated).

Synchronization through Google has limitations:

• 🚫 Not tolerated: SMS, call log, files outside folders Downloads/DCIM.
• 🔄 Applications are restored without data (for example, game progress will be lost).
• ⏳ Recovery can take up to 24 hours (depending on the amount of data).

💡

If you don't have photos after you've recovered, check the Google Photos → Recycle Bin folder on your new phone. Sometimes files are recovered there because of a time stamp conflict.

⚠️ Attention: On phones with MIUI for Russia (e.g. Redmi) 12C) Google Contacts sync may conflict with the built-in Contacts app.Export contacts to file before transferring VCF via Contact → ⋮ → Contact management → Exports.

Method 3: Direct transfer over OTG cable

Using an OTG cable (or USB-C → USB-C adapter) is the most reliable method for transferring large amounts of data (100+ GB), suitable for media files, documents and even some applications (APK), transfer speeds up to 40 MB / s (5 times faster than Wi-Fi Direct).

What you need:

• 🔌 Cable OTG supportive USB 3.0 (for speed)
• 📱 Both phones with a charge. >30%
• 🛠️ File Manager (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer)

Instructions:

1. Connect the OTG cable to your new phone.
2. Connect the old phone to OTG-The cable (it will be defined as an external storage device).
3. Open the file manager on your new phone and copy the data from the folders: /storage/emulated/0/DCIM (photos and videos) /storage/emulated/0/Downloads (downloads) /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Backup (MIUI backups)
4. To transfer applications, copy the APK from /data/app (root rights required).

Method 4: Cloud Services (Mi Cloud, Google Drive, Telegram)

Cloud storage is convenient for data transfer if the phones are physically separated (for example, the old phone is left in another city).

1. Mi Cloud (for Xiaomi account holders)

• 🔹 Free: 5GB (expands to 100GB for 199)₽/month)
• 🔹 Supports: contacts, SMS, Notes, photos, recordings of Mi Recorder
• 🔹 Restriction: does not carry applications and their data

How to use: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup.

2. Google Drive

• 🔹 Free: 15 GB (shared with Gmail and Google Photos)
• 🔹 Supports: any files (manually), contacts, calendars
• 🔹 Speed: Depends on the Internet connection (on the 4G ~5 MB/s)

3. Telegram (unexpectedly effective method)

• 📎 Send files to your “Saved Messages” (limit 2 GB/file).
• 🤖 Use the bot for automatic download @SaveAsBot.
• ⚡ Suitable for urgent transfer of individual files (e.g. screenshots or documents).

💡

Cloud services are inefficient for carrying more than 50 GB of data due to speed and volume limitations, and in this case, it is better to use an OTG or Mi Mover cable.

Method 5: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct for small files

These methods are suitable for transferring small files (up to 500 MB): contacts, several photos or documents, the main advantage is that you do not need Internet or cables.

Bluetooth:

1. On both phones, turn on Bluetooth and make the devices Visible.
2. On your old phone, select files → Share → Bluetooth.
3. Confirm reception on your new phone.

Speed: ~1-2 MB / s (for 10 photos it will take ~1 minute).

Wi-Fi Direct:

1. Enable Wi-Fi Direct in Settings → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct.
2. Connect the phones to each other (no password required).
3. Use a file manager to transfer (e.g., Mi File Manager → Network Drive).

Speed: ~5-10 MB/s (5 times faster than Bluetooth).

⚠️ Attention: On phones with MIUI 14+ Wi-Fi Direct can automatically shut down after 5 minutes of inactivity. To avoid this, turn off "Adaptive Battery Savings" in Settings → Battery.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even with the official methods, users are facing problems, and here are the most common ones:

How to avoid data loss:

• 🔄 Always back up your phone (for example, in the Mi Cloud). + Google Drive).
• 📋 Before transferring, check the list of apps on your old phone through Settings → Annexes → Manage applications and save screenshot.
• 🔌 If you use a cable OTG, Turn off Battery Optimization for File Manager.

💡

To transfer data from Xiaomi to iPhone, use Apple’s Move to iOS app. It supports the transfer of contacts, photos and some free apps, but does not work in the opposite direction (from iPhone to Xiaomi).

Frequent Questions (FAQ)