The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but data porting often turns into a headache. Contacts, photos, messages, apps and even Wi-Fi settings all need to be saved and moved correctly. In 2026, users have at least 5 proven ways to do it without loss, but each has nuances.
The main problem is not the process itself, but format compatibility and manufacturers’ limitations. For example, transferring data from iPhone to Xiaomi requires workarounds due to Apple’s closed ecosystem, and migrating between Android devices can cause firmware version conflicts. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, from the official Mi Mover tool to manual copying via PC, and also explain how to avoid typical errors.
1.The official way: Mi Mover by Xiaomi
Mi Mover is a proprietary data portability app preinstalled on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones. It supports migration from other Android devices (including Samsung, Huawei) and even from iPhones, but with limitations. The main advantage is the preservation of folder structure and metadata (for example, the date of the photo creation).
To use the Mi Mover, both devices must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. The old smartphone will require you to download the application from Google Play (for Android) or the App Store (for iOS), and the new Xiaomi already installed it by default, the process takes from 10 to 40 minutes depending on the amount of data.
- ✅ Supported data: contacts, SMS, Photo/video, audio, documents, some system settings.
- ❌ Restrictions: Apps are not portable (only lists for manual installation), no support for notes and data of some messengers (for example, WhatsApp).
- 🔄 Alternative: iPhone may require pre-exporting data to iCloud.
⚠️ Note: If encryption is enabled on your old device (e.g. Samsung with Knox), Mi Mover may not see some of the files.
Charge both devices > 50%|Shut down. VPN firewalls|Connect to Wi-Fi 5 GHz (for speed)|Release. 10-15% memory on the new Xiaomi|Remove unnecessary files from your old phone-->
2.Moving from iPhone to Xiaomi: bypassing Apple's restrictions
The transition from iOS to Android is always more difficult because of Apple’s policy: Officially, Mi Mover supports the transfer of contacts, photos and videos, but for the rest of the data you will need to use third-party tools, for example, to migrate WhatsApp will require the Move to iOS app (yes, it works in the opposite direction with the right settings).
The most reliable way is a phased export:
1.Contacts: sync with iCloud, then export to vCard and upload to Xiaomi via mail.
2. Photo/Video: Use Google Photos (up to 15 GB free) or iCloud for Windows (if you have a PC).
3. Music: transfer via iTunes to a computer, then copy to a smartphone.
| Type of data | Mode of transfer | Time. | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | iCloud → vCard → Xiaomi | 5-10 minutes | ⭐ |
| Photo/video | Google Photos or Cable | 20-60 minutes. | ⭐⭐ |
| Move to iOS + backup | 30-40 minutes. | ⭐⭐⭐ | |
| Annexes | Manual search in Play Market | 15-30 minutes | ⭐⭐ |
⚠️ Note: When transferring WhatsApp from iPhone to Xiaomi, chat history may be cut if the backup in iCloud has not been updated for more than 7 days.Be sure to create a fresh copy before migrating!
iPhone|Samsung|Huawei|Other Android|Nothing (first smartphone)-->
Manual transfer via computer: reliable, but long
If you have more than 50GB of data, or if you prefer full control of the process, porting over a PC is the best solution. USB-cable (preferably original) and Mi program PC Suite (official software from Xiaomi). Alternative - standard Windows Explorer or macOS Finder.
Step-by-step:
1. Connect your old smartphone to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Copy the DCIM (photo/video), Downloads, Documents folders to the hard drive.
3. Connect the new Xiaomi and transfer the files to the appropriate directories.
4. For contacts, export them in.vcf format via the Contacts app on your old phone.
How to transfer SMS via PC?
- ✅ Pros: full control, no restrictions on file type, works even with damaged devices.
- ❌ Cons: takes time, application settings and system data are not portable.
- 💡 Advice: Use to accelerate USB 3.0 and disable the antivirus while copying.
4. Cloud Services: Google, Mi Cloud and Alternatives
If you have a stable Internet, cloud portability is the easiest way. Xiaomi is integrated with Mi Cloud (10 GB for free), but for cross-platform migration, Google Account is more convenient. Contact, calendar and email syncs are automatically activated when you first turn on your smartphone.
For the rest of the data:
Google Photos: backup photos/video in original quality (free up to 15 GB).
Google Drive: Manual download of documents and archives.
Mi Cloud: Backup SMS, notes and system settings (only for Xiaomi devices).
💡
Before using Mi Cloud, check your account region. If it is tied to China, some features (such as synchronizing notes) may not work. You can change the region in the Xiaomi account settings.
| Service | Free seat | Supported data | Speed. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Account | 15GB | Contacts, calendar, mail, photo (compressed) | Medium |
| Mi Cloud | 10GB | SMS, notes, settings, photos | Fast (for Xiaomi) |
| Yandex Disc. | 10GB | Any files. | Depends on the Internet. |
5. Applications and their data portability: what works and what doesn’t
The hardest part is migrating installed apps and their data. On Android, this is only possible for applications that support backups via Google Drive or their own clouds (like WhatsApp, Telegram), and most games and banking apps don't allow for portable saves.
What can be done:
1. Application list: Mi Mover or Google Play will keep a list of installed programs. On the new smartphone, they will have to be installed manually.
2.App Data: Some apps (e.g. Spotify, Netflix) sync data through an account.
3. Backup: Use adb backup (for power users) or apps like Swift Backup (requires root).
💡
Most banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff) prohibit data transfer for security reasons. After installation on a new smartphone, you will need to re-authorize.
- 🎮 Games: saves are only portable if the game supports a cloud profile (for example, through Google Play Games).
- 💳 Banking applications: always require re-activation.
- 📱 Social media: VK, Instagram, Facebook sync data through account.
6. Transfer data from a damaged or blocked phone
If an old smartphone doesn't turn on, locks on, or has a damaged screen, the transfer methods are limited, but not impossible.
- PC connection: even if the screen is not working, the device can be defined as a drive. Use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to extract data: adb pull /sdcard/ C:\Backup\
- Recovery Mode: On some devices (such as Samsung), you can connect in Download Mode and copy data via Odin.
- Cloud Copies: If your phone has been enabled to sync with Google or Mi Cloud, data can be restored to the new device.
⚠️ Note: If encryption is enabled on a locked phone (for example, on Xiaomi with a MIUI 12+), It's impossible to extract data without unlocking, and only an official service center with proof of ownership of the device will help.
How to recover data from a broken screen?
7.Optimize the new Xiaomi after data transfer
After successfully transferring data, the new smartphone requires customization for maximum performance.
- 🧹 Cache Clearing: Go to Settings → Annexes → Clear the cache to free up memory.
- 🔄 Software Update: Check the relevance of the firmware in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
- 🔒 Security settings: Enable Find Device (Settings) → Google → Security and Mi Cloud for Remote Management.
- 📶 Network Optimization: Disable Auto Connection to Open Wi-Fi in Settings → Wi-Fi → Additionally.
Critical recommendation: If you have moved data from your iPhone, disable sync with iCloud on the new Xiaomi to avoid conflicts with duplicate contacts and calendar. → Accounts. → iCloud (if the application is installed).