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

Why you need the right data transfer between Xiaomi devices

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting moment. But the joy of updating the gadget can be overshadowed if important data remains on the old device. Photos from vacation, working contacts, saving in games or setting up a smart home all require neat transfer. Unlike other brands, Xiaomi smartphones offer several unique ways of migration that work faster and more stable than standard Android solutions.

The main problem with data transfer is the risk of loss or fragmentation. For example, when using cloud services, application settings may not synchronize, and when transferring over a cable, hidden files may be passed. In this article, we will analyze 5 proven methods, including proprietary Mi Mover, Mi Cloud, physical connection and even little-known tricks for transferring data without loss, special attention will be paid to nuances that the manufacturer does not always voice – for example, why up to 30% of files are lost during transfer via Bluetooth due to a 10 MB packet size limit.

Method 1: Mi Mover – the official solution from Xiaomi

The Mi Mover app was developed specifically for a painless transition between Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices. It is preinstalled on all modern models (starting with MIUI 9) and supports the transfer of almost all types of data: from SMS and call logs to Wi-Fi settings and desktop wallpapers. The main advantage is the speed: when connected via Wi-Fi Direct, the average transfer speed reaches 50 MB / s, which is 2-3 times faster than analogues from Samsung or Google.

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Install the app on both devices (if removed) and download it from the Mi App Store or Google Play.
• 🔗 On the old smartphone, select the role of “Sender” (I’m the sender), on the new one – “Receiver” (I’m the receiver).
• 📶 Connect to a single Wi-Fi network or create an access point on an old phone.
• 📁 Select data types to transmit (contacts, messages, multimedia, applications).
• ⚡ Click Start and wait until it's done. Don't interrupt the process, which can cause partial data loss.

Charge both devices > 50%|Disabled. VPN and energy-saving regimes|Both phones are connected to the same network.|Freely. ≥ 2 GB on the new device|Background applications closed-->

It is important to consider the limitations of the Mi Mover:

• ❌ Data from some third-party apps is not shared (e.g. WhatsApp or Viber require a separate backup).
• ❌ On models older than Redmi Note 5 may not support the transfer of application settings.
• ❌ When the battery is below 20%, the process is automatically interrupted.

Method 2: Cloud Mi Cloud – Reliable, but with nuances

The Mi Cloud is an alternative for those who don't want to depend on a physical connection, which allows you to back up your old device and restore it to a new one, and the main advantage is that you automatically synchronize contacts, notes, and even browser history, but there are also disadvantages: free rates are limited to 5 GB, and download speed depends on the quality of the Internet connection.

Instructions for transfer via Mi Cloud:

1. On your old smartphone, go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on synchronization for the desired categories (contacts, gallery, records).
3. Create a backup: Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local backup.
4. On the new device, log in to the same Mi Account and recover data from the cloud.

💡

If you need to transfer more than 5 GB, temporarily place a paid subscription to Mi Cloud (from 99 GB). ₽/After the transfer of data, it can be canceled without loss of files.

⚠️ Note: When you restore from Mi Cloud to a new device, all existing data in selected categories will be overwritten, for example, if the new phone already has contacts, they will be replaced with those that were in the backup.

Method 3: Direct Cable Connection (OTG)

For users who do not trust wireless methods, the best solution is to transfer data via an OTG cable. This method works on all Xiaomi models with USB OTG support (check in Settings → About Phone → Specifications). The main advantages are high speed (up to 480 Mbit / s for USB 3.0) and no data limits.

Step-by-step:

• 🔌 Connect your old smartphone to your new one OTG-cable (type-c adaptor may be required) → MicroUSB for older models).
• 📂 On your old phone, select the file transfer mode» (MTP).
• 🖱️ On the new device, open Explorer (or Mi File Manager) and copy the folders you need (DCIM, Downloads, Pictures, etc.).
• 🔄 To transfer applications, use the backup through ADB Specialized utilities like Titanium Backup (require root).

Critical moments:

• ⚠️ Not all folders are visible through MTP. For example, WhatsApp data is stored in /sdcard/Android/media/com.whatsapp, But it can be hidden.
• ⚠️ When copying large volumes (> 30GB) phone may overheat. Watch the temperature in Settings → Battery.

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Cable connection is the only way to transfer data without loss of quality (for example, video in 4K resolution or RAW-photo).

Method 4: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct – When There’s Nothing Else

If you don’t have cable or stable internet, you can use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct. These methods are suitable for transferring small files (up to 1 GB), but are extremely inefficient for full migration. Bluetooth speeds on Xiaomi rarely exceed 2-3 MB / s, and Wi-Fi Direct can work unstable on budget models (for example, Redmi 9A).

How to transfer data via Bluetooth:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both devices (Settings → Connections → Bluetooth).
2. Pair your phones (click Device Search and confirm the code on both screens).
3. Select files in Explorer, click Share → Bluetooth.
4. Accept files on the new device.

For Wi-Fi Direct:

• Activate Wi-Fi Direct in Settings → Wi-Fi → More
• Connect to an access point created by one of the phones.
• Use Mi File Manager to transfer files over the local network.

⚠️ Note: When you transmit files via Bluetooth, Cyrillic files may be displayed in cracosabre.

Method 5: SD-A Forgotten, But Reliable Method

If your devices support microSD cards (such as the Xiaomi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro), this can be a lifeline: it does not require Internet, works even on dead phones (if you have enough charge to copy), and allows you to transfer selective data.

Algorithm of action:

• 📤 Put it in. SD-card.
• 📁 Copy the data you need (for example, a folder) DCIM/Camera for the photo.
• 🔄 Remove the card and insert it into a new phone.
• 📥 Transfer files to internal memory.

Nuances:

• 🔹 On some models (Xiaomi Mi 11 and newer) slot for the SD-I'm gonna have to temporarily remove one of the cards. SIM.
• 🔹 The format of the map should be FAT32 exFAT. NTFS unsupported.
• 🔹 Read/write speed depends on the card class (recommended) UHS-I Class 10).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even with the official methods, users are faced with problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions.

• 🚫 Mi Mover can't see the device: Check that both phones have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on. Reboot the router if you're using a local network.
• 🚫 Cloud does not sync contacts: Make sure contacts are saved in your Mi Account, not in your phone or Google memory.
• 🚫 Applications are not portable: Most apps (like Telegram or Instagram) do not support data portability.Use their built-in backup features.
• 🚫 Files corrupted after transfer: This may be due to interruption of the process.Always check checksums (MD5) critical-file.

Another common problem is the lack of space on the new device. Before transferring, clear the cache (Settings → Storage → Clear cache) and remove unnecessary applications. If the data volume exceeds the free space, use Mi Cloud for temporary storage.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions