Transferring Data from One Xiaomi Redmi to Another: A Complete 2026 Guide

Why Transferring Data to Redmi Needs a Special Approach

The transition to the new Xiaomi Redmi smartphone is always exciting, but the data migration process often turns into a headache. Unlike the iPhone, where Apple’s ecosystem offers a single Quick Start tool, Android devices — and Redmi in particular — require a choice of several methods. The main problem is that not all methods are equally effective for different types of data. For example, contacts and calendars are synchronized through a Google Account in seconds, but WhatsApp messages or app settings may require manual backup.

In this article, we will analyze 5 proven ways to transfer data between Xiaomi Redmi smartphones (including the Redmi Note 12, Redmi 13C, POCO X5 and others), taking into account their features: the version of MIUI, memory capacity and even the presence of a microSD slot.

Before you start, answer the key question: what data do you need to migrate? That's what determines the method.

Method 1: Mi Mover – official solution from Xiaomi

Mi Mover is an integrated application in MIUI, designed specifically for data migration between Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices. It supports the transfer of contacts, messages, photos, videos, audio, documents, calendars and even some system settings. The main advantage is that it does not require Internet (works on Wi-Fi Direct) and maintains the folder structure.

How to use:

• 📱 Install Mi Mover on both phones (if it is not available, download from Google Play).
• 🔗 On the old phone, select “Send”, on the new one – “Receive».
• 📶 Connect to one Wi-Fi Direct network (password will appear on the screen of the new device).
• ✅ Select data types to transfer and confirm the start of the process.

Limitations of Mi Mover:

• ❌ Does not work with phones of other brands (Samsung, Huawei, etc.).
• ❌ Does not transfer applications and their data (only) APK-saveless).
• ❌ Some models (Redmi Note 10 and older) may need an update. MIUI last-minute.

Method 2: Transfer through Google Account (for contacts, calendars, and part of apps)

If you use a Google Account on an old Redmi, most of the system data is already synced to the cloud.

• 📇 Contacts (including groups and labels).
• 📅 Calendars and reminders.
• 📧 Gmail emails and other data from Google services.
• 🎮 Some game saves (if the games support Google Play Games).

Instructions:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Accounts → Google and make sure that you have the right data synchronization enabled.
2. On the new Redmi, log in to the same Google Account the first time you turn on or add it to Settings → Accounts.
3. Wait for automatic synchronization (can take up to 10 minutes).

Important nuances:

• ⚠️ Communications SMS and call logs are not synced through Google – they need a separate backup (see method 4).
• ⚠️ If a new phone has already added another Google Account, the data may not be transferred. In this case, delete the old account and add the desired one.

Synchronize contacts on an old phone

Check the free space in Google Drive

Remember the password from the main Google account

Disable VPN (can block synchronization)

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Method 3: OTG cable + adapter (for large file sizes)

If you have tens of gigabytes of photos, videos or documents and your internet connection is unstable, the best option is to physically connect via a link. OTG-This method works even if one of the phones is discharged or damaged screen (provided that the device is recognized as a drive).

What you need:

• 🔌 OTG-Adapter (e.g., Xiaomi Type-C to) USB).
• 📁 Cable to connect an old phone to an adapter (e.g. microUSB-USB for Redmi) 4X).
• 🔋 Charging for a new phone (the process can take a long time).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect. OTG-adapter for the new Redmi.
2. Connect your old phone to the adapter via cable.
3. On your new phone, open the File Manager (e.g. Files by Google or built-in MIUI).
4. Copy the files you want from your old phone’s memory to your new one (internal or microSD).

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Transmission speeds up to 40 MB/s (depending on cable).
• ✅ There are no limits on volume (unlike cloud services).
• ✅ It works even without an internet connection.

💡

If the new Redmi doesn’t see the old phone through OTG, try enabling File Transfer (MTP) mode on the old device in the USB connection settings.

Method 4: Cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud, Yandex Disk)

Cloud storage is convenient for transferring sample data, such as photos, documents or app backups, but each service has limitations:

How to transfer data via Google Drive:

1. On an old phone, open Google Drive and click “+” → “Download”.
2. Select files or folders to download.
3. On the new phone, log in to the same Google account and download files.

For SMS messages:

• Install Google Messages on both phones.
• On an old phone, enable backup in Settings → Message Backup.
• On the new phone, restore backup messages.

💡

To transfer WhatsApp, use the built-in Chat → Backup feature. Importantly, the phone number must remain the same, otherwise the story will not recover.

Method 5: Transfer applications and their data (manual method)

None of the standard methods can handle installed applications and their data (for example, save in games or settings Viber).

Method 1: Titanium Backup (requires root)

• 🛠️ Install Titanium Backup on your old phone.
• 📥 Create a backup of the necessary applications and their data.
• 📤 Transfer the backup to your new phone (via the phone) OTG cloud).
• 🔄 Restore data on a new device.

Method 2: Helium (without root but with limitations)

• ⚙️ Install Helium on both phones.
• 🔗 Connect to one Wi-Fi.
• 📤 On your old phone, select backup apps.
• 📥 On the new phone, restore data from the backup.

⚠️ Note: Data portability of apps can disrupt their work if new and old phones run on different versions of Android or other devices. MIUI. For example, the Redmi Note 9 on MIUI 12 and Redmi 12 on MIUI 14 may conflict when restoring Facebook or banking apps settings.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

The choice of method depends on the type of data, the volume and availability of additional devices.

Selection recommendations:

• 📱 If both phones — Xiaomi/Redmi, Use the Mi Mover.
• ☁️ Google Accounts are enough to transfer contacts and emails.
• 📁 For large volumes (movies, RAW-photo) — OTG-cable.
• 🎮 To save games, Titanium Backup or Helium.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even when following the instructions, users often encounter problems. TOP-5 mistakes and their solutions:

1. Mi Mover does not find a second phone Reason: conflict versions of MIUI or disabled Wi-Fi Direct Solution: Update MIUI on both devices to the latest version or use the hotspot instead of Wi-Fi Direct.
2. Google does not sync contacts Reason: contacts are saved SIM-Solution: Move contacts to Google Account manually: Contacts → Management → Imports/Exports.
3. WhatsApp does not restore history Reason: backup created to another number or Google Drive is not tied Solution: Before transferring, check that the new phone has the same number and enough space in Google Drive.
4. Files through OTG You're copying too slowly. You're using a poor-quality cable or adapter. Solution: Take the original one. OTG-Xiaomi adapter or cable with support USB 3.0.
5. Apps crash after porting Reason: Incompatibility of Android or MIUI versions Solution: Reinstall problematic apps from Google Play.

⚠️ Note: If you transfer data from Redmi to a phone from another brand (e.g. Samsung), Mi Mover will not work.In this case, use the Google Account combination (for contacts) + OTG-cable (for files) + Smart Switch (for messages).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions