How to Transfer Data and Apps from Android to Xiaomi: Full Guide

Why migrating data to Xiaomi requires a special approach

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always a joyous event, but the process of data migration can turn into a headache if you do not know the nuances. → Samsung, when you migrate from Android to Xiaomi, there are specific difficulties. MIUI — Xiaomi’s proprietary shell has unique backup and recovery mechanisms that are not always compatible with standard Android tools.

Main problems faced by users: incorrect synchronization of Google account (especially if the old device used customized). ROM), Restrictions on portability of some system applications (e.g. com.miui.gallery) and Mi Cloud features, and many users overlook the fact that Xiaomi is blocking installations. APK-files from unknown sources by default, which may interrupt the transfer of applications through third-party services.

In this article, we'll look at all the current transfer methods, from official MIUI tools to advanced user workarounds, how to save not only photos and contacts, but also SMS, call histories, Wi-Fi settings and even game data, and how to avoid the typical mistakes that cause data to be lost or a new smartphone begins to slow down after a migration.

Preparation for transfer: what to do before the beginning

Before you start migrating, follow the mandatory preparatory steps that will save time and prevent data loss.

• 📱 Update both devices: The old smartphone should have an up-to-date version of Android (at least 8.0 for full compatibility), Xiaomi should have the latest firmware. MIUI (Check in the settings → The phone. → Updating the system).
• 🔋 Charge both devices to at least 50%. The data transfer can take from 20 minutes to several hours (depending on the volume), and the battery discharge in the process will lead to a failure.
• 📡 Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network. Mobile Internet is not suitable for transmitting large amounts of data (photos, video) - connection breaks may occur.
• 🔐 Make sure that the bootloader is unlocked on Xiaomi (if you plan to use it). ADB Checked by the fastboot oem device-info command, the line Device unlocked: true means that restrictions are lifted.

⚠️ Note: If root access or custom recovery was used on the old device (e.g, TWRP), Standard transfer methods may not work, in which case you should prioritize manual copying through the ADB cloud-based.

We also recommend temporarily disabling battery optimization for applications involved in the transfer (such as Mi Mover or Google Drive), which will prevent the process from interrupting due to background constraints. → Battery → Optimizing the battery.

Method 1: Official Mi Mover tool – fast transfer without PC

Mi Mover is a Xiaomi-branded app designed to wirelessly migrate data between devices, and it supports the transfer of contacts, SMS, photos, videos, audio, documents, applications (including their data), and even some system settings, with the main advantage of not requiring a computer or cables.

How to use:

1. Install Mi Mover on both devices (available on Google Play for an old smartphone and preinstalled on Xiaomi).
2. On the new Xiaomi, select This is a new phone, on the old one, This is an old phone.
3. Scan it. QR-code from the screen of a new device with an old smartphone for pairing.
4. Select data types to transfer (you can mark everything or select individual categories).
5. Confirm the start of the transfer and wait for the completion (time depends on the amount of data).

⚠️ Note: If the old device is installed Android 12+, And Xiaomi — MIUI 13 or later, before transferring, disable the function Data Protection in the Mi Mover settings. Otherwise, the process may be interrupted due to a conflict of encryption protocols.

Once the transfer is complete, restart the new Xiaomi to help the system correctly apply all the imported settings. If some apps don't open, check the permissions in Settings → Apps → Permissions Management.

Install Mi Mover on both devices|Shut down. VPN both phones|Connect to a single Wi-Fi network|Charge devices to 60%+|Free up 10-15% of memory on the new Xiaomi-->

Method 2: Transferring through a Google account is universal, but with nuances

Google account sync is the most versatile method, as it works on all Android devices, but it has limitations: not all data is automatically transferred, and some categories (such as app settings) may not be restored correctly to MIUI.

What exactly can be transferred:

• 📇 Contacts (if saved in Google Contacts)
• 📅 Calendars (Google Calendar)
• 📎 Notes (Google Keep)
• 📷 Photos and videos (via Google Photos, but with limited quality)
• 🎮 Data from some games (if they support Google Play Games)

Step-by-step:

1. On your old device, open Settings → Accounts → Google and make sure that sync is enabled for all the right categories.
2. On the new Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select Recover Data and log in to the same Google account. If your phone is already set up, go to Settings → Accounts → Google → Sync and start the process manually.
3. To transfer photos and videos, install Google Photos on both devices and enable backup (in the app settings).

Important point: Xiaomi defaults to its own Mi Cloud, which may conflict with Google Photos. To avoid duplication, turn off automatic download to Mi Cloud (Settings → Mi Cloud → Gallery).

Method 3: Cloning via OTG cable or adapter for large volumes

If you need to move tens of gigabytes of data (for example, a collection of movies or a collection of movies). RAW-And the wireless methods are going to be too slow, and in this case, the optimal way to do this is to use a direct cable connection:

• 🔌 Cable OTG (If the new Xiaomi does not have a connector USB-C) adapter USB-C → USB-A.
• 📱 Old smartphone with regime support USB Mass Storage (most modern Android devices don’t support it, so rooting may be required).
• 🖥️ File management application (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).

Algorithm of action:

1. Connect your old smartphone to the new Xiaomi via cable/adapter. On the screen of the old device, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. On Xiaomi, open Mi File Manager and go to the section USB-device (usually displayed as an external drive).
3. Copy the right folders (DCIM for photos, downloads, etc.) to internal memory or SD-mapping.
4. To port applications, copy the /data/app folder (root rights required), but note that many APKs won’t work without additional setup.

⚠️ Note: When copying a folder Android/data (where the application data is stored) without root, you'll get an access error. ADB pull: adb pull /sdcard/Android/data /The path/to/computer Then transfer the data back to Xiaomi via ADB push.

This method is most reliable for large files (video) 4K, Backups of games), but requires care: do not interrupt the copying and keep an eye on the free space on the new device. SD-map.

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If Xiaomi doesn’t recognize the connected smartphone, try restarting both devices and using the original Xiaomi cable. OTG-Cables often do not support the mode MTP.

Method 4: Data Application Portability – Bypassing MIUI Restrictions

One of the most difficult aspects of migration is the transfer of installed applications along with their data (for example, save in games, set up messengers). Standard methods (like Mi Mover) often ignore APK user data, and Google accounts recover only part of the information, which will help a combination of several tools.

Step 1: Export of the Application List

To avoid manual installation, export the list of APKs installed:

1. Install App List Backup (from Google Play) on your old device.
2. Export the list to a.txt or.csv file.
3. Transfer the file to Xiaomi and import it through Google Play (the app will prompt you to install missing APKs).

Step 2: Transfer of Application Data

To back up data, use:

• 📱 Swift Backup (requires root) – creates backups APK + data in.swb format.
• 🖥️ ADB Backup (no root, but not all apps are supported): adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab Recovery: adb restore backup.ab
• ☁️ Cloud services (for example, Helium for PC backup).

For cloud-based games (such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile), it is easier to link an account to Google Play Games or Facebook and sync progress through it. If the game does not support the cloud, use GameGuardian or Titanium Backup (root only).

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On Xiaomi with MIUI 14+, before recovering data via ADB, you must temporarily disable the MIUI Optimization function in the developer settings, otherwise the system can block the installation of third-party APKs.

Method 5: Manual transfer over PCs for advanced users

If you prefer full control of the process or other methods have failed, use computer transfer, which is a universal way to choose which files to copy.

Tools required:

• 💻 PC Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 Cables. USB For both devices (preferably original).
• 📁 Programs: Mi PC Suite (for Xiaomi), Android File Transfer (for macOS), ADB (optionally).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old smartphone to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Copy all the necessary folders to your computer: DCIM (Photo/video) Download (downloads) Pictures (images from messengers) Android/data (Application data if there is root)
3. Connect Xiaomi to your PC and transfer the files to the appropriate folders.
4. To port applications, use Mi PC Suite (Application Management → Import).

If you need to migrate SMS and call history, export them in.xml format using SMS Backup & Restore (available on Google Play), and then import them to Xiaomi.

⚠️ Note: When copying a folder Android/obb (additional game files) on Xiaomi may need to manually specify permissions. Use the command: adb shell chmod -R 777 /sdcard/Android/obb

This is the most time-consuming method, but it gives you 100% control over the process, and it’s especially useful if you’re migrating data from outdated Android (versions 5-7), where modern tools like Mi Mover may not work.

What to do if the data is not transferred or the phone is “lagging”

Even if you do the right things, sometimes you have problems, and here are the typical scenarios and solutions.

• 📱 Applications will not open after the transfer → Remove them and reinstall them from Google Play. If the problem persists, clear the cache to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → [name] → Clear the cache.
• 📎 Photos and videos are not displayed in the gallery → Reboot your phone or manually update your media base with the command: adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.MEDIA_SCANNER_SCAN_FILE -d file:///sdcard/
• 🔋 The phone has become slower to work → Maybe too much unnecessary data has been moved. → Memory. → Memory analysis and delete the extra files. Also disable background activity of unnecessary applications in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery.
• 📶 Wi-Fi settings have not recovered → Move them manually: on an old phone, export configurations via WiFi Key Recovery (root required), then import to Xiaomi.

If Xiaomi starts to overheat or discharge quickly after the transfer, check the background processes in Settings → Permissions → Autorun. disable autorun for unnecessary applications, especially if they were transferred from an old device.

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If after the migration, widgets or wallpaper are missing, reset the launcher settings: pinch the empty space on the main screen → Home screen settings → Reset the settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data portability to Xiaomi