Xiaomi to Xiaomi Data Transfer: Full Guide 2026

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but data transfer often turns into a headache. Even between devices of the same brand, users face lost contacts, “broken” photos or incorrectly restored messages, the reason is not technical limitations, but the choice of the inappropriate method of migration.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to transfer data between Xiaomi smartphones, from official tools to alternative solutions that work even when crashes: how to save SMS/MMS, call history, MIUI settings, and why cloud backup is not always reliable; and the only method that is guaranteed to transfer application data without authorization (including game saves).

1. Official method: Mi Mover (fast transfer over Wi-Fi)

Mi Mover is a standard solution from Xiaomi, which is pre-installed on all devices with MIUI 9+. It transfers data directly over Wi-Fi Direct, without the cloud or PC. Speeds reach 10-15 MB / s, and most importantly - saves folder structure and file metadata.

How it works:

• 📱 On an old smartphone: Settings → The phone. → Data Transfer (Mi Mover)
• 🆕 On a new smartphone, select “I am a new user" → "Get data from Android"
• 🔗 Connect to the old phone’s access point (password will appear on the screen)
• 📁 Select data types: Contacts, SMS, photos, video, audio, documents, applications (without APK)

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ There are no limits on volume (unlike cloud services)
• ✅ Preserve settings MIUI (wallpaper, themes, labels)
• ✅ Supported by Redmi, POCO and Black Shark on base MIUI

⚠️ Note: If the new phone already has a Mi Account, log out before transferring – otherwise the data may be duplicated or conflict with the cloud backup.

Charging both phones > 50%|Shut down. VPN firewalls|Remove unnecessary files from your old phone|Check the free space on the new (should be 1.5 times the volume of data transferred)-->

2. Cloud transfer through Mi Cloud: pros and pitfalls

Mi Cloud allows you to back up your old phone and restore it to a new one, which is useful if the devices are physically separated (e.g., one of them is in repair).

How to make a backup:

1. On an old phone: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup
2. Select the data to save (maximum 5 GB on the free tariff).
3. On a new phone: log in to the same Mi Account and restore the backup to the same menu.

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Applications are not portable – only their list for re-installation
• 🚫 Original quality photos take up space in the cloud (compressed versions lose details)
• 🚫 Call history is restored only when the version matches. MIUI (for example, MIUI 14 on MIUI 14)

⚠️ Note: If you have used third-party launchers (like Nova Launcher), their settings will not be saved in the Mi Cloud backup.

Mi Mover (Wi-Fi Direct)|Mi Cloud (cloud)|Google Account|Cable OTG/PC|Another way.-->

3. Google Account Transfer: Universal, but not completely

Syncing with Google Account is the most cross-platform way, but it doesn’t cover all types of data, and it’s good if you’re using Google services (Gmail, Calendar, Drive) or planning to switch from Xiaomi to another brand.

What is automatically transferred:

• 📇 Contacts (if linked to Google, not to Google) SIM-map)
• 📅 Calendar and reminders
• 📎 Notes from Google Keep
• 📷 Photos (if Autoboot is enabled in Google Photos)

What's not tolerable:

• 🚫 SMS/MMS (Third party software is required, for example SMS Backup & Restore)
• 🚫 Call history
• 🚫 Settings MIUI (topics, gestures, system sounds)
• 🚫 Local files outside of Download folders or DCIM

How to check the synchronization:

1. Open Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync.
2. Make sure all the necessary items (Contacts, Calendar) are included.
3. Sign in to the same account on your new phone and wait until sync is complete (it can take up to 24 hours).

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If contacts are duplicated after the transfer, use the Contacts Optimizer app (available on Google Play) to automatically merge entries.

4. Direct transfer via OTG or PC cable: for large volumes

If the data volume exceeds 50 GB (for example, a video collection in the 4K or RAW-And the wireless methods are becoming impractical, and that's where it helps:

• 🔌 Cable OTG (Connecting your old phone to a new one like a flash drive)
• 💻 Computer (copying through Windows/Mac and then re-recording to a new phone)

Step-by-step instructions for OTG:

1. Buy a cable. OTG Type-C → Type-C (for modern Xiaomi).
2. Connect the old phone to the new one. On the old one, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. On the new phone, open Explorer (Files) and copy the data manually.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Maximum speed (up to 40 MB/s when used) USB 3.0)
• ✅ No loss of quality (files copied in original form)
• ✅ Suitable for encrypted files (unlike cloud services)

⚠️ Note: When copying via PC, avoid the path of this computer → Internal storage → MIUI — system folders MIUI You can get damaged by manual editing. Use only custom directories (DCIM, Download).

5. Application data portability: save games and settings

The hardest part of migration is the application data: game saves, messaging settings, card cache, official methods (Mi Mover, Mi Cloud) don't tolerate it.

For games:

• 🎮 Use cloud saves (e.g. Google Play Games for Android games).
• 📱 For Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail and other miHoYo projects, link your account to an email account.
• 🔄 For offline games (such as Minecraft) copy the folder /Android/obb manually.

For messengers:

• 💬 WhatsApp: backup in Google Drive (Settings) → chat → Backup copy).
• 📱 Telegram: Cloud sync (saves linked to your account).
• 🔒 Viber: Settings → Account. → Backup copy (retained on SD-map).

For maps and navigation:

• 🗺️ Google Maps: Route history synced with Google account.
• 🚗 Yandex.Navigator: copy the folder /Yandex/Maps new phone.

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The only way to transfer data to applications without loss is to use their built-in backup functions. There are no universal tools for this task.

6.Alternative tools: when standard methods do not work

If Mi Mover is an error and Mi Cloud is not recovering data, try third-party utilities. We tested 5 popular solutions - the results in the table:

For root-right users, the best choice is Titanium Backup or Swift Backup.

• 📦 Save. APK + application data.
• 🔄 Restore system application settings (for example, MIUI Launcher).
• 🗃️ Plan auto-mobility backups.

⚠️ Note: When using SHAREit or Send Anywhere, turn off battery optimization for these applications (Settings) → Annexes → Permits → Battery optimization, otherwise the transmission may be interrupted.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when following instructions, users face problems.-5 mistakes and their solutions:

1. Mi Mover can't find the device. Check that both phones have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on. Reboot the router if you use it as an intermediary.
2. Backup in Mi Cloud breaks by 99% Clear the cache of the Mi Cloud application (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Mi Cloud → Clear the cache).
3. Photos will not open after transfer, which means that the folder structure is damaged. Move the files back to the old phone and repeat the process with the option "Save paths to files" enabled in Mi Mover.
4. Apps are not recoverable from the backup Make sure that the new phone has turned off the Google Play Protection feature (Settings → Google → Security) during recovery.
5. The new phone overheats during transfer, close all background apps and turn down the brightness of the screen. If the temperature is above 45°C, take a break for 10 minutes.

If none of these methods work, try a combination approach:

1. Move your contacts and SMS through your Google Account.
2. Copy photos/videos through OTG-cable.
3. Restore applications from Mi Cloud (list to install).
4. Reconfigure the MIUI settings manually (it will take 15-20 minutes).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions