How to Transfer Data to Another Xiaomi Phone: A Complete 2026 Guide

Why migrating data to Xiaomi requires a special approach

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but many users face unexpected difficulties when trying to transfer data from an old device. Unlike the iPhone with its ecosystem of iCloud or “clean” Android devices, Xiaomi phones run on a branded shell. MIUI, It has unique migration tools, and it's both a plus and a minus: on the one hand, you have specialized features like Mi Mover or Mi Mover. MIUI Clone, on the other hand, standard methods (for example, through Google Account) may not work properly due to the features of the firmware.

A key issue is that Xiaomi is actively blocking background app activity in order to save battery, which can interrupt the process of porting through cloud services. POCO X5) There are limitations to using third-party backup tools, and in this article, we’ll look at all the current portability options, from formal solutions to workarounds for complex cases, including migration from iOS or other Android brands.

It's important to understand that the method you choose depends not only on the phone model, but also on the type of data. For example, contacts and calendars are easiest to move through a Google Account, but WhatsApp messages will require a separate procedure using a local backup, and we structured the material so that you can choose the best option for your situation, whether it's an upgrade within the Xiaomi line or a transition from another brand.

1. Official method: Mi Mover (for Xiaomi phones) → Xiaomi)

Mi Mover is a proprietary solution from Xiaomi for wireless data transfer between devices on the Internet. MIUI. Supports the transmission of contacts, messages, including SMS/MMS), Photos, videos, audio files, applications (including their data) and even some system settings, the main advantage of which is that you do not need an Internet connection, since the data is transmitted directly over Wi-Fi Direct.

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

• 📱 On both phones, open the Mi Mover app (if not, download from Google Play or App Gallery).
• 🔄 On the old phone, select the option “I am the sender”, on the new one – “I am the receiver".
• 📶 Connect to the same Wi-Fi network or use an access point (if Wi-Fi Direct is not working).
• 🔍 Scan on your old phone. QR-code that will appear on the new device.
• 📁 Select data types to transfer and confirm the start of the process.

The speed of the transfer depends on the amount of data: 10 GB of photos and videos can take 15-30 minutes. Do not interrupt the process even if the screen is out - Xiaomi has optimized Mi Mover for work in the background.

Battery charge for both phones > 50%

There is plenty of free space on the new phone.

VPNs and firewalls disabled

Both devices are working MIUI 10 or newer-->

⚠️ Note: If the new phone has global firmware installed (for example, MIUI Global), and the old one is Chinese (MIUI China, Mi Mover may not recognize the device, in which case use alternative methods from the following sections.

2. MIUI Clone: Cloning the system for full migration

Function MIUI Clone (available on most Xiaomi models starting with the Redmi Note 9 and Mi 10) allows you to create an exact replica of the old phone on the new one, including system settings, wallpaper, widgets and even icon layout. POCO F3 on POCO F5).

How it works:

1. On the new phone, when you first turn on, select the option “Clone data from an old device” (or find the option to use the new phone). MIUI Clone in Settings → The phone. → Additionally).
2. Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network (preferably 5GHz for speed).
3. On your old phone, confirm the cloning request and wait for the scan to be completed.
4. Choose which data to copy: you can transfer everything completely or eliminate unnecessary applications.

Advantage MIUI Clone before Mi Mover, saves folder structure and app settings, for example, if you had a Work folder on the start screen with certain apps, it will also appear on the new phone:

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If MIUI Clone “hangs” during the connection stage, try to turn off Bluetooth on both devices – sometimes it conflicts with Wi-Fi Direct.

3. Transfer through Google Account: a universal method

If you are switching to Xiaomi from another Android device (such as Samsung or Realme), the most reliable way is to sync through Google Account.

• 📇 Contacts (including groups and labels)
• 📅 Calendars and reminders
• 📧 Gmail emails and contacts from it
• 📸 Photos (via Google Photos)
• 🎵 Music and documents (via Google Drive)

Instructions:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Accounts → Google and enable sync for all the right categories.
2. Wait for the sync to complete (check in Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync).
3. On the new Xiaomi, when you first turn on, log in to the same Google Account or add it to Settings → Accounts.
4. Turn on automatic synchronization and wait for the data to load.

For photos and videos, it is better to use Google Photos:

• 📲 Install the app on both phones.
• 🔄 On your old phone, turn on backup (Settings) → Backup and synchronization).
• 📥 On the new phone, wait until the media files are downloaded (may take several hours with a large volume).

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi by default limits background activity of Google Photos to save battery.To avoid interruption of download, add the app to exceptions: Settings → Battery → Choice of applications → Google Photo → No restrictions.

Mi Mover or MIUI Clone|Google Account|Cable OTG/PC|Manual copying (SD-map)|Other-->

4. Cable Transfer: For Large Data

If you have tens of gigabytes of photos, video in the 4K Or a large collection of music, wireless methods can be too slow, and in this case, it's better to use a direct cable connection between phones or through a computer:

Option 1: Cable OTG (cellphone USB-C)

You'll need a cable. OTG (plug-in USB-C Connect the old phone to the new one, and the new device will display a notification of the connected drive:

1. Open Explorer on your new phone.
2. Go to section. USB-The storage device (this is the memory of an old phone).
3. Copy the files into internal memory or SD-mapping.

Option 2: Transfer over PC (for any model)

If you don't have a cable. OTG, You can use the computer as an intermediary:

1. Connect your old phone to your PC via USB And copy the data to a folder on the hard disk.
2. Turn off the old phone, plug in a new one.
3. Transfer files from your PC to the new Xiaomi.

To speed up the process, it is recommended that:

• 🖥️ Use it. USB 3.0 (blue connector) on PC.
• 📂 Archive folders with photos in.zip before copying.
• 🔌 Connect your phone to charge during transmission.

5. Transfer of WhatsApp and other messengers

One of the most difficult types of data to migrate is messaging from instant messengers, especially WhatsApp, because chats are tied to a phone number and are not synced through the cloud (except for backups).

Method 1: Local WhatsApp backup

If you are staying on the same phone number:

1. On your old phone, open WhatsApp. → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup copy.
2. Create a backup (it will be saved in /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases).
3. Copy the file. msgstore.db.crypt14 (and a Media folder if you need media files on the new phone in the same folder.
4. Install WhatsApp on your new phone, confirm the number and restore chats from your local backup.

Method 2: Move over Google Drive (Android only) → Android)

If you change your phone number but you are still on Android:

1. On your old phone, back up to Google Drive (Whatsapp Settings) → chat → Backup copy → Save).
2. Install WhatsApp on your new phone, sign in under the same number and restore chats from Google Drive.

For other messengers:

• 📱 Telegram: chats are synchronized automatically when you log in to your account.
• 💬 Viber: backup is created in Settings → Account. → Backup copy.
• 🗣️ Signal: Transfer is only possible via local backup (similar to WhatsApp).

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WhatsApp does not support chat transfer between Android and iOS. If you are switching from iPhone to Xiaomi, use third-party tools like Backuptrans (paid) or iMazing (requires a PC).

6. Data transfer from iPhone to Xiaomi

The transition from iOS to Android is always fraught with difficulties due to the closed Apple ecosystem. However, Xiaomi offers a partial solution through the Move to iOS app (yes, it works the other way around!).

Step 1: Preparing the iPhone

• 📱 Update iOS to the latest version.
• 🔒 Turn off Find My iPhone (Settings) → Apple ID → Find an iPhone).
• 🔄 Create a backup in iCloud (Settings) → Apple ID → iCloud → Backup copy).

Step 2: Move to Xiaomi

1. On the new Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select “Data Transfer from iPhone”.
2. Download the Xiaomi Move app on iPhone (available from the App Store).
3. Scan it. QR-code from the Xiaomi screen and select data to transfer.

What can be transferred:

• 📇 Contacts
• 📸 Photos and videos (without Live Photos)
• 📅 Calendars
• 🎵 Music (if not protected) DRM)

What can't be transferred:

• 💬 iMessages (they will stay on iCloud).
• 📱 Apps (you need to install them again from Google Play).
• 🎮 Game data (if not synced via Google Play Games).
• 📍 Apple Pay, Health and other Apple services.

⚠️ Note: After transferring data from iPhone to Xiaomi, delete your account from iMessage (Settings) → Communications → Send/receive, otherwise messages may go to the old number via Apple.

7. Manual transfer: for experienced users

If you need to migrate specific data (such as game saves, app settings, or configuration files), standard methods may not work. ADB or access to hidden folders.

Transfer through ADB (advanced)

Tool. ADB (Android Debug Bridge allows you to copy data directly from system folders, for example, to transfer game saves:

adb pull /sdcard/Android/data/com.game.package/back path on PC


adb push reverse path on PC /sdcard/Android/data/com.game.package/

For this:

1. Turn on the debugging. USB on both phones (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
2. Connect your phones to your PC and use adb commands to copy.

Transfer through TWRP (for users with an unlocked loader)

If your Xiaomi has custom recovery installed TWRP, You can create a full backup section. /data And it's a risky method, because it can cause conflict if the phone models are very different.

Warnings:

• ⚠️ Do not copy system files (/system) — This will cause the new phone to crash.
• ⚠️ Data from some applications (e.g. banking) may be protected and not transferred.
• ⚠️ On new Android phones 12+ file-access /Android/data/ limited.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even when using official Xiaomi tools, users are facing problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

If none of these methods work, try alternative tools:

• 📱 Clone Phone (from Samsung, but it works with Xiaomi).
• 🖥️ MobileTrans (paid but cross-platform transfer support).
• ☁️ Send Anywhere (free for Wi-Fi file transfer).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions