How to transfer all data from one Xiaomi phone to another: the complete guide

Why and How to Transfer Data Between Xiaomi

Moving to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but the data transfer process often turns into a headache. Contacts, photos, messages, apps and even screen settings all need to be saved to not start from scratch. Fortunately, Xiaomi has several built-in migration tools, as well as versatile solutions from Google and third-party developers.

The main mistake users make is trying to copy files manually through the computer or cloud, which leads to loss of folder structure, duplicate contacts or malfunctions in applications. In this article, we will analyze 5 proven methods, including the branded Mi Mover, cloud backup Mi Cloud, synchronization through Google Account, direct cable connection and even transfer from iPhone to Xiaomi.

We will pay special attention to data transfer between devices on different versions. MIUI (for example, MIUI 12 on MIUI 14), as there are often compatibility conflicts, and consider how to save the settings of Xiaomi-specific features: themes, gestures, battery modes and even data from the fitness bracelet Mi Band.

1. Mi Mover: the official way from Xiaomi (the fastest)

Mi Mover is a built-in migration application that is installed by default on all Xiaomi, Redmi and other smartphones. POCO. It allows you to transfer almost everything from contacts to call history, without having to connect to the Internet, the main advantage is the preservation of folder structure and compatibility with even outdated models (for example, the Redmi Note 4). → Xiaomi 13 Pro).

How it works:

• 📱 Install Mi Mover on both phones (if not, download from Google Play).
• 🔗 Connect devices to a single Wi-Fi network or connect them via Hotspot (if Wi-Fi is not available).
• 📤 On the old phone, select the role of “Sender”, on the new one – “Recipient».
• 🔍 Scan it. QR-code from the new phone on the old one (or enter it) PIN-code).
• 📥 Select data to transfer: contacts, messages, photos, video, audio, applications (including their data), system settings.

The speed of transmission depends on the amount of data and the type of connection (802.11ac) 30 GB of photos will be transferred to the ~20 to 30 minutes. If you use Hotspot, it can take 2-3 times longer.

⚠️ Note: If a newer version is installed on the new phone MIUI, In the old one, some settings (like gestures or themes) may not be portable, and then you have to manually adjust them.

Charging the battery of both phones > 50%|Free space on the new phone (at least 10% more data transfer volume)|Disabled. VPN firewalls|Both phones are connected to the same Wi-Fi (or Hotspot is enabled on the new one)-->

2.Move over Mi Cloud: Cloud backup with recovery

Mi Cloud is a cloud storage from Xiaomi, which offers 5 GB for free (for Russia and CIS, available without restrictions), the method is suitable if you do not have physical access to the old phone or want to back up before selling. Not all data is restored correctly on new versions. MIUI.

Step-by-step:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings. → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on synchronization for the desired categories: Contacts, Notes, Bookmarks, Settings, Photo (optional).
3. Wait for the synchronization to be completed (progress is displayed at the top of the screen).
4. On the new phone, log in to the same Xiaomi account and enable sync in the Mi Cloud.
5. Go to Settings. → The phone. → Recover data and select the last backup.

Advantages of the method:

• 🌐 It works over the Internet – no physical connection of phones is required.
• 🔄 Only the data you need can be selectively restored (e.g., only contacts).
• 📅 Backup history is kept for up to 30 days.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Applications and their data are not portable (only system settings).
• ❌ Photos and videos are synchronized in compressed quality (originals – only when manually uploaded).
• ❌ On the new versions MIUI (14+) Some settings may not be restored (e.g. navigation gestures).

Up to 5GB|5-20 GB|20–50 GB|More than 50GB-->

3. Sync through Google Account: a universal method

If you use Google services (Gmail, Drive, Photos), this is the easiest way to do it, and it works on any Android device, including Xiaomi, and it allows you to transfer basic data: contacts, calendars, photos, notes, and even some of the app settings, the main advantage is automatic updates: if you add a contact on an old phone, it will appear on a new one.

What exactly is being transferred:

• 📇 Contacts (from the Google Contacts app»).
• 📅 Calendars (from Google Calendar).
• 📷 Photos and videos (if backup is enabled in Google Photos).
• 📝 Notes (from Google Keep).
• 🎵 Music and books (from Google Play Music/Books if used).
• 📱 Settings of some applications (for example, Chrome, Gmail, Maps).

How to set up synchronization:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Accounts → Google.
2. Select your account and enable sync for all the categories you want.
3. Wait until completion (can be checked in Settings) → System system → Backup).
4. On the new phone, log in to the same Google account when you first turn on or through settings.
5. Turn on synchronization and wait for data recovery.

Important: Google Photos by default uploads photos in High Quality (compressed) rather than in Original.If you need source files, change your backup settings before porting: Google Photos → Settings → Backup and synchronization → Quality of loading → Original.

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If you have slow internet, connect your phone to Wi-Fi before syncing and charge up to 100%.Google Photos can require a lot of traffic to download videos in original quality.

4. Direct cable transfer OTG via computer

If you don’t have access to Wi-Fi or cloud services, you can use a direct cable connection. OTG (This method is suitable for transferring large files (video, music, documents), but will not save system settings or application data.

Method 1: Cable OTG (supportive OTG)

• 🔌 Buy it. OTG-cable (Type-C) → Type-C or Micro-USB → Type-C, depending on the ports).
• 📱 Connect your old phone to your new phone via cable.
• 📂 A notification will appear on the new phone «USB-Device is connected. Click on it and select "File Transfer».
• 🗂️ Open the file manager (e.g., Xiaomi Files) and copy the folders you want (DCIM, Downloads, Pictures, etc.).

Method 2: Through a computer (Windows/macOS/Linux)

• 💻 Connect both phones to your computer via USB.
• 🖱️ On each phone, select the "File Transfer" mode» (MTP).
• 📁 Open the Explorer and copy files from one phone to another (e.g. This computer) → [Name of the telephone] → Internal memory).
• 🔄 For contacts, export them to.vcf via the Contacts app and import them on a new phone.

Warnings:

• ⚠️ Don’t copy the entire Android folder – it can cause app crashes on the new phone.
• ⚠️ Photos from DCIM/Camera Google Photos will have to be restored separately.
• ⚠️ If the new phone has a different file system (for example, F2FS instead ext4), Some files may not open.

5.Moving from iPhone to Xiaomi: features and life hacks

If you’re switching from an iPhone to Xiaomi, standard methods (like Mi Mover) won’t work, and Apple’s Move to iOS app (but it’s designed to be reverse-portable) or third-party tools will help.

Method 1: Google Drive (for contacts, photos, videos)

1. On your iPhone, install Google Drive and log in to your account.
2. Press «➕» → «Download and select files to transfer.
3. On Xiaomi, install Google Drive, log in to the same account and download files.
4. For Contacts: Export them to.vcf via iPhone Settings → Contacts → Export and import to Xiaomi.

Method 2: SHAREit (for fast transmission)

• 📱 Install Sharet on both phones.
• 🔗 Connect to a single Wi-Fi network or create an access point on Xiaomi.
• 📤 On iPhone, select files and click “Send».
• 📥 On Xiaomi, accept files.

What can not be transferred from the iPhone:

• ❌ Message history (can only be exported through paid programs like iMazing).
• ❌ iCloud Settings (you will have to adjust your mail and calendars manually).
• ❌ Data from some apps (for example, WhatsApp is only transferred through the official backup).

⚠️ Note: When you transfer photos from your iPhone to Xiaomi, metadata (date of shooting, geotagged) may get lost. To avoid this, use Google Photos for backup, rather than direct file transfer.

6.What to do if the data is not transferred or damaged

Even if you follow instructions correctly, sometimes you have problems: contacts are lost, photos are not opened, applications are out.

Problem 1: Contacts are not synchronized

• Check if sync is enabled in Settings → Accounts → Google → Contacts.
• If contacts are duplicated, use the Contacts Optimizer app to clean up.
• Export contacts to.vcf on your old phone and import on your new one via Contacts → Settings → Imports/Exports.

Problem 2: Photos and videos are not opened

• Check the file formats: Xiaomi does not support.HEIC (Use a converter (e.g., iPhone format, HEIC to JPG).
• If files are damaged, try to restore them via Recuva (on your computer).
• For video check the codecs: install MX Player with support for all formats.

Problem 3: Apps have not recovered or are flying out

• If apps haven’t migrated over Mi Mover, install them manually from Google Play.
• To recover app data (such as game saves), check if they are linked to a Google Play account or social media.
• If the app crashes, clear its cache: Settings → Annexes → [Name of name] → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

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If after the transfer the phone began to brake, check the animation settings: go to Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times to enable Developer Mode, then in Settings → Additionally. → For developers and disable window animation (Scale of window animation) → No animation).

FAQ: Frequent questions about data portability to Xiaomi