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

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but the process of transferring data often turns into a headache, especially when it comes to saving not only photos and contacts, but also messages, notes, app settings and even call history. Many users lose hours trying to manually copy files or restore backups, which suddenly turn out to be incomplete.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to migrate data between Xiaomi phones, from standard MIUI tools to little-known life hacks, learn how to transfer information without loss, even if you have different models (for example, from the old Redmi Note 8 Pro to the new Xiaomi 14 Ultra), different versions of MIUI or even damaged screen on an old device, and also how to avoid the typical mistakes that cause users to lose chats in Telegram or settings in games.

Spoiler: If both phones are on MIUI 12 and newer, the process will take no more than 15 minutes using the built-in Mi Mover tool — no computer or third-party software.

1.Preparation for transfer: what to do before the beginning

Before you rush to copy files, take a few critical steps, and ignoring them can lead to data loss or incomplete migration.

First, check for compatibility with MIUI versions. If the old phone has a MIUI 10 and the new phone has a MIUI 14, some system settings may not be transferred, in which case it is better to use Google Account or Mi Cloud instead of directly transferring via Mi Mover.

Second, free up space on both devices: Backups will require at least 20% of the space available on internal memory, delete unnecessary files, or transfer them to a memory card (if supported).

• 🔋 Charge both phones to at least 50% (preferably 80%). Data transfer can take up to an hour, and discharging in the process will interrupt the operation.
• 📶 Connect to stable Wi-Fi. Mobile Internet is not suitable — the transmission speed will be too low for large volumes.
• 🔑 Make sure both phones have the same Mi Account (or Google if you use it).
• 🛡️ Turn off the screen lock (PIN, a pattern lock) on an old phone. Some portability techniques require an unlocked device.

⚠️ Warning: If your old phone has encryption enabled (Settings → Additional → Encryption), you'll have to turn it off before you transfer it, otherwise the Mi Mover won't be able to read some of the files.

It is also worth recording or photographing in advance:

• 📝 Wi-Fi settings (network passwords if not stored in Google Account)
• 🎮 Game accounts (e.g. Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile – their association to the device may be reset)
• 💳 Bank application data (linked cards in SberPay, Google Pay, etc.)

2. Method 1: Mi Mover is the official tool of Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a MIUI-built data migration app for Xiaomi phones, which works on a point-to-point (no cloud) basis and portes:

• 📱 Contacts, messages (SMS/MMS), call-in
• 📷 Photos, videos, audio files
• 📝 Notes, calendar, alarm clocks.
• 🎮 Settings of some system applications (e.g. Theme or Security)
• 📱 Annexes (APK-Files and their data (not for all applications)

Important: Mi Mover cannot stand:

• 🚫 Data from some third-party applications (e.g. WhatsApp or Viber chats)
• 🚫 Google Account Settings (email, Google contacts, if not synced with Mi Account)
• 🚫 Memory card files (internal memory only)

Step-by-step:

1. On the new phone, when you first turn on, select Data Transfer (if the phone is already configured, open Settings → About Phone → Data Transfer).
2. On your old phone, open Settings → Additional → Data Transfer (Mi Mover).
3. Select I am the sender on the old phone and I am the receiver on the new one.
4. Scan it. QR-code from the new phone old (or connect via Wi-Fi Direct).
5. Select the data to transfer and confirm the start of the process.

⚠️ Warning: If you see a "Disconnected" error during the transfer, check that both phones are power-saving and VPN off. Also try restarting both devices.

Charge both phones >50%|Connect to a single Wi-Fi network|Disable the screen lock on your old phone|Free up 20% of memory on both devices|Make sure both phones have one Mi Account-->

Method 3: Transfer through Google Account (for contacts, email, calendar)

If you only need to migrate contacts, email, calendar, and some app settings, the most reliable way is to sync through Google Account, which works even if you have different brands of phones (like the old Samsung to the new Xiaomi).

How to turn on sync on your old phone:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Select your account and enable sliders for: 📇 Contacts 📅 Calendar 📧 Gmail 📁 Drive (if you need to transfer files) 📍 Chrome (bookmarks, history)

Synchronize now

On the new phone:

1. When you first turn on, log in to the same Google Account.
2. Wait for automatic synchronization (can take up to 10 minutes).
3. Check your contacts in the Google Contacts app (not the standard MIUI! app).

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Works on all Android devices
• ✅ Data is available immediately after logging in to your account
• ✅ Automatic updates when changes occur

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Not portable SMS, call log, files
• ❌ Some apps (e.g. Telegram) don’t sync data via Google

💡

If contacts don’t appear on your new phone, open Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Management → Synchronize and manually start syncing contacts.

4. Method 3: Mi Cloud – Xiaomi Cloud Storage

Mi Cloud is a cloud service from Xiaomi that allows you to back up an old phone and restore it to a new one. Unlike Google Drive, it saves SMS, call log, MIUI settings, and even some application data.

How to make a backup copy:

1. On an old phone, open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Select Backup in Mi Cloud.
3. Sign in to your Mi Account (if not previously logged in).
4. Select the data to reserve: 📱 System settings 📞 Call Log and SMS 📝 Notes and calendar 📷 Photos and videos (optional if there is little space in the cloud)

Start backups

How to restore on a new phone:

1. When you first turn on, select Restore from backup.
2. Log in to the same Mi Account.
3. Select the latest backup and confirm the recovery.

⚠️ Warning: If you’re using Mi Cloud for the first time, there’s only 5GB of free storage available. This may not be enough to transfer photos and videos, either by buying extra space or using another method.

5. Method 4: Transfer over an OTG cable or computer

If you don't have access to Wi-Fi or cloud services, you can manually transfer data over a cable, which is suitable for large file volumes (photos, videos, music) and doesn't require the Internet.

Option 1: Direct connection via OTG-adapter

You will need a OTG- cable (or a USB-C to USB-C adapter if you have both Type-C phones).

1. Connect your old phone to your new one via OTG.
2. On the new phone, open Explorer (or Files).
3. Select the connected old phone as an external drive.
4. Copy the folders you need (DCIM for photos, Download for downloads, etc.).

Option 2: Computer transfer

1. Connect your old phone to your PC via USB (select File Transfer Mode).
2. Copy all the necessary files to your computer (for example, in a folder on your desktop).
3. Turn off the old phone, plug in a new one.
4. Transfer files from your PC to your new phone.

What files should be copied manually:

• 📁 Folder DCIM — all photos and videos
• 📁 Download folder - downloaded files
• 📁 Folder WhatsApp/Media – Media files from chat rooms
• 📁 Folder Android/data — data from some applications (e.g. game savers)

⚠️ Warning: Don't copy the Android/obb folder, which is an app cache that might not work on a new phone. Better reinstall apps through Google Play.

💡

Cable transfer is the most reliable way for large files (video, movies, game backups), but is not suitable for system data (SMS, settings).

Method 5: Third-party applications (for specific data)

If you need to migrate specific types of data that don’t cover standard methods (like WhatsApp chats, game saves, or notes from ColorNote), use specialized apps.

Example: WhatsApp chat transfer

1. On your old phone, open WhatsApp. → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup copy.
2. Click Create a copy (make sure there is space in Google Drive).
3. On the new phone, install WhatsApp, log in to the same account and restore chats when requested.

Example: Transferring saves to games (e.g., Genshin Impact)

1. Install Swift Backup (root rights or ADB required) on both phones.
2. On your old phone, create a game data backup (com.mihoyo.GenshinImpact).
3. Transfer the backup file to the new phone and restore.

⚠️ Warning: Some applications (e.g. banking) will have to be logged in again to transfer data, and backing up is not helpful because of security policies.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when using official tools, users face problems. Here are the top -5 errors and their solutions:

• 🔌 Connection error in Mi Mover Reason: Different versions of MIUI, enabled VPN or power saving Solution: Update the software on both phones, disable VPN and add Mi Mover to battery optimization exceptions.
• 📱 Apps are not portable Reason: The new phone has a different processor architecture (e.g., from Redmi 4X to Xiaomi 13). Solution: Move only the app data and install APK from Google Play.
• ☁️ Mi Cloud does not restore backup Cause: Version mismatch MIUI or lack of space on a new phone Solution: Update the new phone to the latest version MIUI or restore the copy piece by piece.
• 🔒 Authorization requests in banking applications Reason: Device-linked (IMEI or certificates). Solution: Check in advance how your bank supports data.
• 📎 Photos lost after transfer Reason: Photos were stored on a memory card, not in internal memory Solution: Copy folder DCIM from memory card manually.

If none of these methods worked, try a combination approach:

1. Move your contacts and calendar through Google Account.
2. Copy photos and videos through the cable.
3. Recover SMS and call logs via Mi Cloud.
4. Install apps manually from Google Play.

8. FAQ: Answers to frequent questions