How to transfer all data from your old phone to your new Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Moving to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but data porting often becomes a headache. Photos, contacts, messages, app settings all need to be saved to keep things from scratch. Fortunately, Xiaomi has a few built-in migration tools, as well as universal solutions that work on any device.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 ways to transfer data, from the official Mi Mover app to manually copying through your computer, which method is the fastest, which stores the most information, and how to avoid typical errors (such as loss of messages from WhatsApp or failure of sync of Google Account), and we’ll compare the transfer speed for each option and give recommendations for specific models – from budget Redmi to flagship Xiaomi 14.

If you're afraid of losing important files or you're not sure which way to go, don't worry. We've detailed each step, added screenshots of key steps and warnings about possible problems. OTG It may not work on smartphones with MIUI 14+ free-tuning USB-debugging.

1. Official method: Mi Mover app

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary solution for transferring data between MIUI-based devices, which supports contact, message, photo, video, music, apps (including their data) and even some system settings, with the main advantage of not requiring a computer or cloud, everything happens via direct communication between phones.

The application is pre-installed on all new smartphones Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO. If you don't have one, download it from Google Play (for Android) or the App Store (for iPhone, but with limited functionality). MIUI 9 Or else the Mi Mover will not be able to connect.

• ✅ Pros: retains the structure of folders, transfers SMS/MMS, It works without the internet.
• ❌ Cons: does not copy passwords from Google Smart Lock, can process large amounts of data for a long time (100)+ GB).
• ⚠️ Restriction: iPhone only transfers photos/video and contacts.

How to use:

1. On the new Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select Data Transfer → Mi Mover. If your phone is already configured, open the application manually.
2. On your old phone, launch Mi Mover and select I Give (on iPhone – Send).
3. Scan it. QR-code from a new phone or connect via Direct (Wi-Fi Direct).
4. Select data types to transfer (we recommend leaving all ticks except for unnecessary applications).
5. Confirm the transfer. Do not interrupt the process, as this may result in the loss of some files.

Charging both phones > 50%|Free space on the new Xiaomi (at least 20% more data portable)|Disabled. VPN and energy-saving regimes|Both phones are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (if used) QR-code)-->

⚠️ Note: If the new Xiaomi is installed MIUI 14 or newer, but on the old one — MIUI 12 and below, update the old phone's firmware before transferring. Otherwise, the Mi Mover may freeze during the connection phase.

2. Transfer through Google Account (for Android)

If both phones are running Android, the most reliable way is to sync through Google Account, which is a method that copies contacts, calendars, notes, email, some app settings, and even call history, and the main advantage is that the data is automatically updated when new contacts or events are added.

However, there are nuances: photos and videos are synced only if backup is enabled in Google Photos, and messages from the Internet are synced. SMS/MMS They are not portable (they need a separate backup through Google Drive). Also, keep in mind that Google’s free cloud only gives you a free backup. 15 GB – if you have more data, you will have to buy additional space or use another method.

• 📱 What’s portable: contacts, calendars, Gmail, Chrome bookmarks, Wi-Fi settings, some app data (e.g. game progress if they support Google Play Games).
• 🚫 What's not tolerable: SMS, call log (on some firmware), files outside folders Download/DCIM, setup.
• ⏳ Transfer time: from 5 minutes to several hours (depending on Internet speed).

Step-by-step:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Google → Backup.
2. Enable Backup in Google Drive and click Create Backup Now.
3. On the new Xiaomi, when setting up, select Restore Data → From Google Backup.
4. Log in to the same Google account and select the latest backup.
5. Wait until the recovery is complete (don’t leave the settings menu!).

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If no contacts have appeared from Google after restoration, check the sync settings: open Settings → Accounts → Google → [your email] → Account Sync and turn on the Contacts switch.

3.Moving from iPhone to Xiaomi (for Apple users)

Moving from iPhone to Xiaomi requires a special approach, as the Apple and Android ecosystems are incompatible at the backup level.

1. Yes, it’s designed to move from Android to iPhone, but with a tricky trick: first back up your iPhone to iTunes, then use Mi Mover to transfer data from your computer to Xiaomi.

The easiest way to get photos and contacts:

1. On iPhone, open Settings → [Your name] → iCloud and enable sync for Contacts and Photos.
2. Go to iCloud.com and log in to your Apple ID.
3. Export contacts in vCard format, and download photos archived.
4. Transfer files to Xiaomi via cable or cloud.

⚠️ Note: Messages from iMessage cannot be transferred directly to Xiaomi, the only way is to use paid programs like Backuptrans or take screenshots of important chats.

iPhone|Samsung|Another Android|Huawei|Another brand-->

4. Transfer via OTG cable or computer

If you don't have access to Wi-Fi or cloud services, direct cable is the most reliable way to do this.

• 🔌 Cable OTG (Connecting an old phone to a new one like a flash drive).
• 💻 Computer (if) OTG unsupported).
• 📁 File Manager (e.g., Mi File Manager or Total Commander).

Advantages of the method: maximum transfer speed (up to 480 Mbit / s on USB 3.0), no data limits and no dependence on the Internet. However, there are also disadvantages: application settings and SMS are not transferred, and the folder structure can be broken.

Instructions for OTG cable:

1. Connect the OTG cable to the new Xiaomi.
2. Connect the old phone to OTG-The cable (it will be defined as an external storage device).
3. Open Mi File Manager on your new phone and copy the folders you want (DCIM, Download, WhatsApp, etc.).
4. To transfer contacts, export them to the.vcf file on the old phone, then import them on the new one.

If the OTG doesn’t work (e.g. on older Redmi models), use a computer:

1. Connect both phones to your PC via USB.
2. Enable file transfer mode (MTP) on both devices.
3. Copy data from your old phone into a folder on your PC, then onto a new Xiaomi.

5. Cloud services: Google Drive, Mi Cloud, Yandex Drive

Cloud storage is convenient because data is accessible from any device and does not take up space on the phone, but to transfer a large volume (for example, 50+ GB photo) will require fast Internet and patience – downloading can take hours.

Compare popular services:

How to transfer data through Mi Cloud (the best option for Xiaomi owners):

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on synchronization for the desired data (contacts, SMS, photos, notes).
3. On the new Xiaomi, log in to the same Mi Account and wait for the sync to complete.

For other clouds:

1. Upload files from your old phone to the cloud through an app (like Google Photos for media).
2. On your new phone, download data from the cloud.

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If you use Google Photos to transfer, select Original Quality in your backup settings – otherwise, the photos will shrink to 16 MP, and the video will shrink to 1080p.

6. Transfer of applications and their data

The hardest part is migrating installed applications and their data (e.g. saves in games, chats in messengers, program settings). Not all applications support backup, but for most there are solutions:

• 🎮 Games: Use Google Play Games or built-in sync through a developer account (e.g. Supercell) ID Clash of Clans).
• 💬 Messengers: WhatsApp: backup in Google Drive (Settings) → chat → Telegram: data is stored in the cloud, just log in to your account. → Account. → Backup copy.
• 📱 System applications: Mi Mover transfers data to standard programs (Camera, Gallery, Notes).

For manual transfer APK-file:

1. Install App Backup & Restore or Titanium Backup (root rights required) on your old phone.
2. Create a backup of the necessary applications.
3. Move the APK and the data folder (Android/data) to your new phone.
4. Install APK and recover data through the same app.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. banking) block the new device after transferring data, and you will have to delete and install them again.

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 old phone. Check if Wi-Fi Direct is on on both devices. Reboot both phones. Update the Mi Mover to the latest version.

There's not enough space on the new phone.

• Move the data in parts (first photo, then video).
• Use it. SD-card (if supported).

If nothing helps, try alternative programs:

• Clone Phone (from Xiaomi, for porting from other Android devices)
• SHAREit (fast Wi-Fi transmission, but a lot of advertising)
• Send Anywhere (generates 6-digit code for transmission)

FAQ: Answers to popular questions