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

Introduction: Why and when data transfer is necessary

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but the joy of updating the gadget can be overshadowed by the need to transfer data. Photos over the past 5 years, hundreds of contacts, saved passwords, notes and even progress in games all require careful migration. According to Counterpoint Research, 68% of Xiaomi users in Russia face problems when transferring data precisely because of ignorance of optimal methods.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to transfer data between Xiaomi phones, from the Mi Mover brand solution to universal cloud services. Particular attention will be paid to the hidden limitations of Mi Mover when switching from Android 12 to Android 14, which the manufacturer does not advertise. You will find out what method is suitable for your case: whether you need to save applications with data or only media files, whether there is a cable at hand or you have to do “over the air”.

1. Branded solution: Mi Mover - fast transfer "out of the box"

Mi Mover is a built-in app from Xiaomi that automatically offers to transfer data when you first turn on a new phone. It supports Wi-Fi Direct transmission (without the Internet) and works even on older models like the Redmi Note 5. The main advantage is the preservation of applications with their data (for example, progress in games or messaging settings), which is not available in most alternative methods.

There are nuances, however: when migrating from Xiaomi to POCO (or vice versa), there may be errors due to different firmware, and Mi Mover does not transfer data from some banking applications (SberBank, Tinkoff) due to security restrictions. If you need to migrate them, use backup through your bank account.

• ✅ Supports: contacts, SMS, Photos, videos, music, applications (+ data), system settings
• ❌ Not supported: Bank application data, some files protected DRM (For example, movies from KinoPoisk)
• ⚡ Speed: ~1 GB for 2-3 minutes (depending on the model)
• 🔌 Required: Both phones with charge >50%, cable USB-C/USB-C (optionally)

⚠️ Note: If your old phone has custom firmware installed (like LineageOS), Mi Mover will not work, the system will recognize the modified software as a potential security threat.

Step-by-step instructions for using Mi Mover

1. On the new Xiaomi phone, when you first turn on, select Data Transfer → From another Android. If the phone is already configured, find Mi Mover through a search in the settings.

2. On your old phone, open Settings → Additional → Mi Mover (on some models, the path: Settings → About phone → Data Transfer).

3. Select the role of the device: new phone - "Receiver", old - "Sender".

4. Connect your phones to a single Wi-Fi network or connect them with a cable (if supported). QR-Code - scan it with an old phone.

Charge both phones to a minimum of 60%|Make sure there is enough memory on your new phone|Shut down. VPN firewalls|Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (or use a cable)|Close all background applications-->

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If the Mi Mover is stuck in the connection phase, restart both phones and try again. IP-local-network addresses.

2. Cloud services: Google Drive and Mi Cloud

If Mi Mover doesn’t work for some reason (e.g., you’re transferring data to a different brand or want to back up your phone for the future), cloud services are a great alternative: Google Drive and Mi Cloud allow you to save data online and restore it to a new device at any time, the main advantage is that you don’t need to physically connect your phones to each other.

However, there are limitations:

Google Drive only provides 15GB for free, which may not be enough for a full backup.

Mi Cloud in Russia is working with interruptions due to locks, and the free tariff is limited to 5 GB.

Some data (such as SMS or call logs) are not automatically backed up – they need to be stored manually.

• 📁 Google Drive: Best choice for contacts, photos and documents. Supports automatic synchronization.
• ☁️ Mi Cloud: Optimized for Xiaomi phones, saves system settings and some application data.
• 🔄 Yandex.Disk: an alternative for users from Russia (free 10 GB, but no built-in integration with Xiaomi).

Google Drive|Mi Cloud|Yandex.Disk|iCloud|Nothing else |Not using-->

How to Transfer Data to Google Drive

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Google → Backup.

2. Enable the option to Backup in Google Drive and select your account. Make sure all the categories you need are included (contacts, photos, app data).

3.Click Create Backup Now and wait until it is completed.

4. On the new phone, when setting up, select Recover Data → From Google Drive backup and log in to the same account.

⚠️ Note: If you have used two-factor authentication in some applications (such as Telegram or WhatsApp), their data will not be restored automatically.

3. 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.

USB-C Cable → USB-C (or adapter for older models with Micro-USB)

OTG adapter (if you connect via a computer).

File management software (e.g. Mi File Manager or Total Commander)

This method is suitable for transferring large amounts of data (for example, film collections or other data). RAW-photo) as the speed of transmission by cable in 5-10 But applications and their data cannot be moved this way, just media files, documents and other data. APK-installer.

• 🔌 Direct phone-to-phone connection: requires support USB OTG (All Xiaomi models are available after 2018).
• 💻 Computer: Universal Method, but Takes More Time.
• ⚡ Speed: up to 480 Mbps (USB 3.0) or 40 Mbps (USB 2.0).

Instructions: transfer files through the computer

1. Connect your old phone to your computer via cable and select File Transfer (MTP) mode.

2. Copy the desired folders (DCIM for photos, Download for downloads, WhatsApp for correspondence) to the hard drive.

3. disable the old phone, connect the new one and transfer the files back.

4. For photos and videos, use the DCIM/Camera folder, so they will automatically appear in the gallery.

⚠️ Warning: Don’t copy the entire Android folder, which can cause app crashes on your new phone.

4. Use of a memory card (SD) or flash drive

If your Xiaomi phone supports microSD cards (like the Redmi Note 11 or the POCO M4 Pro), this method will be the easiest: just copy the files to the card, paste it into the new phone and transfer the data back.

- No need for internet or cables.

- Can be used as an intermediate storage for backups.

Transfer speed is comparable to USB 3.0 (~100 Mbps).

There are, however, downsides:

- Not all Xiaomi models support all of them. SD-cards (for example, flagship Xiaomi) 13/14 slotless).

Applications and their data cannot be transferred - only files.

ExFAT memory cards may not be readable on older phones (FAT32 format is required, but it does not support >4GB files).

How to transfer data through SD-map

1. Insert the memory card into your old phone and format it (if new) into Settings → Storage → SD Card → Format.

2. Open Mi File Manager, select the files you need and click Copy → SD Card.

3. Wait for the copy to be completed, remove the card and paste it into the new phone.

4. In the file manager of the new phone, go to the SD Card, highlight files and click Move → Internal Memory.

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If you use SD-map as external storage (not as portable), do not forget that after retrieving the card, the applications installed on it will cease to work.

5. Data transfer of banking applications and instant messengers

Banking applications (SberBank, Tinkoff, VTB) and instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) are particularly complex, and their data is encrypted and not carried by standard methods.

• 🏦 Banking Applications: - Take screenshots of important data (card numbers, balances). - In the application settings, find the Data Export or Backup (if any). - After installing on a new phone, log in under the same login / password and confirm the login via the SMS push-notification.
• 💬 WhatsApp: - Create a backup in Settings → chat → Backup. – Make sure the copy is saved to Google Drive (for Android) or iCloud (for iPhone). – On the new phone, install WhatsApp, log in under the same number and restore chats.
• 📱 Telegram: - All chats and media files are synced automatically through the Telegram cloud. - For secret chats, export manually: Settings → Secret chat rooms → Exports.

⚠️ Note: Some banks (for example, Alfa-Bank) link the application to a particular device by its use. IMEI. After transferring to a new phone, a support call may be required to unlock access.

Comparison of data transfer methods

To choose the best way, evaluate your priorities:

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For the fullest possible transfer, combine methods: use Mi Mover for applications and settings, and for media files – cable or other devices. SD-map.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data portability to Xiaomi