How to transfer data to Xiaomi from another Android smartphone: the complete guide

Moving to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but transferring data from an old Android device can become a headache if you don’t know the nuances. Even with the same operating system, models of different brands (for example, Samsung, Huawei or Realme) store files in different folders, and manufacturers add their own “chips” for migration. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods of transferring data from the official Mi Mover tool to manual copying via PC, and also tell you how to avoid typical errors when transferring contacts, photos, messages and applications.

Xiaomi is a company that actively promotes its own services (for example, Mi Cloud), but at the same time supports standard solutions from Google, which gives the user choice, but also requires understanding the pros and cons of each method. For example, Google account porting is universal but doesn’t always save your call history, and Mi Mover even copies your screen settings, but doesn’t work with all brands.We tested each method on 2023-2026 devices (including the Redmi Note 13 Pro).+ Xiaomi 14 Ultra and identified the criteria for choosing a migration method.

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

Before you start migrating, check out three key options on both smartphones:

• 🔋 Battery charge: both devices must have at least 50% charge, and some methods (e.g. Wi-Fi transmission) discharge the battery faster than usual.
• 📶 Wi-Fi: If you are transferring over a cloud or local area network, connect both phones to the same 5GHz hotspot (faster than 2.4GHz).
• 📁 Free space: the new Xiaomi should have at least 20% more memory than the data on the old smartphone (for example, if you carry 30 GB, you need 36 GB of free storage).

Also update the firmware on both devices: MIUI 14/15 Bugs with portability via Mi Mover, and on older versions of Android (below) are fixed 10) Some features of Google Account may not work to check version:

1. On an old smartphone: Settings → The phone. → Android version.
2. On the new Xiaomi: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI.

⚠️ Note: If your old phone has data encryption enabled (e.g. Samsung with Knox), some files may not be transferred. → Security → Encryption.

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

Mi Mover is a Xiaomi-branded app that is installed by default on all new devices of the brand, and allows you to transfer almost all data without loss, including:

• 📞 Contacts, call history and SMS/MMS.
• 📸 Photos, video and audio files (including hidden folders).
• 📱 Annexes (APK-files and their data (for example, saves in games).
• 📍 System settings: wallpaper, shortcuts on the screen, Wi-Fi settings.

However, there are limitations:

Step-by-step:

1. On the new Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select Data Portability. If your phone is already configured, open Mi Mover from the app menu.
2. On an older smartphone, install Mi Mover from Google Play (if it is not by default).
3. Run the app on both devices and select “I give” (old phone) and “I receive” (new Xiaomi).
4. Scan it. QR-code from the screen of a new phone with an old device.
5. Select data types to transfer and wait until it is completed (can take up to 30 minutes for 50+GB).

⚠️ Note: If the old phone is installed Android 12+, Before transferring, disable the function "Protection from Tracking" in Settings → Privacy. Otherwise, Mi Mover may not see some files.

Install Mi Mover on your old phone|Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network|Shut down. VPN firewalls|Charge phones to 60%+|Make room for the new Xiaomi-->

3. Method 2: Transfer through a Google Account

This method is universal and works on all Android devices, but has restrictions on data types.

• 📇 Contacts (synchronized automatically).
• 📅 Calendars and reminders.
• 📎 Notes from Google Keep.
• 🎵 Music and books (if downloaded to Google Play).
• 📲 Some system settings (language, date/time).

What's not going to happen:

• 🚫 SMS Call history (separate backup required).
• 🚫 Photos and videos (you need to use Google Photos separately).
• 🚫 Installed apps (only a list from the Play Store, themselves) APK-files).

How to transfer data:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Accounts → Google and enable sync for all the right categories.
2. On the new Xiaomi, when setting up, select “Restore from backup” and log in to the same Google Account.
3. Select the latest backup (the date of creation can be seen in the list).

To transfer photos and videos separately:

1. Install Google Photos on your old phone.
2. Enable autoboot: Settings → Backup and synchronization.
3. On the new Xiaomi, open Google Photos and files will start to download automatically.

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If you have slow internet, connect your old phone to Wi-Fi before syncing with Google Photos and leave it to charge overnight.

Method 3: Data transmission via cable OTG

If you don't have access to Wi-Fi or the cloud, you can transfer files directly through the cable.

• 🔌 OTG-Adapter (e.g. Xiaomi) USB-C to USB-A).
• 📁 Cable to connect an old phone (such as Micro-USB or USB-C).
• 🖥️ File Manager (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect. OTG-adapter to the new Xiaomi.
2. Connect your old phone to the adapter via cable.
3. On the new Xiaomi, open Mi File Manager and select a partition "USB-device".
4. Copy the right folders (DCIM for photos, Download for downloads, etc.) to internal memory or memory card.

What folders to copy:

⚠️ Note: When copying through OTG Do not remove the cable until you see the "Safe Retrieval" notification, interrupting the process can cause file damage, especially if the video is copied to the file. 4K.

5. Method 4: Transfer over a computer (Windows/Mac)

If you have more than 100GB of data, the most reliable way to do this is to copy it over a PC, and it's also useful if you:

• 🔄 File filtering before transfer (e.g., leave only photos from the last year).
• 🛡️ Want to create an additional backup copy on your hard disk.
• 🔧 Older phone doesn't support Mi Mover (like Meizu or Nokia).

Instructions for Windows:

1. Connect both phones to your PC via USB (use the original cables!).
2. On the phones, select the "File Transfer" mode" (MTP).
3. Open "This Computer" and both devices will appear as removable disks.
4. Copy data from the old phone’s drive to the new one (or on PC as an intermediate).

For the Mac:

1. Install Android File Transfer (official software from Google).
2. Connect the phones in turn and transfer the files through the Finder.

Important: When copying large amounts of data (50)+ GB) use the exFAT file system or NTFS flash-drive. FAT32 Does not support files larger than 4GB (e.g. video in the 8K).

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PC copying is the only way to transfer data from phones to Android 5-7, which does not support modern migration methods.

6. Method 5: Cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud, Yandex Disk)

If you have slow internet, but you have time, you can upload the data to the cloud and then download it to the new Xiaomi.

How to transfer data through Mi Cloud:

1. On your old phone, install Mi Cloud from Google Play.
2. Sign in to your Xiaomi account (or create a new one).
3. Select "Backup" and click "Create a copy".
4. On the new Xiaomi, log in to the same account and recover the data from the copy.

The advantages of cloud transfer:

• 🌍 Access to files from any device.
• 🔄 Automatic synchronization (for example, photos in Google Photos).
• 🛡️ Protection against data loss in case of phone breakdown.

Disadvantages:

• ⏳ Long loading at a large volume (for example, 100 GB can be loaded for a day).
• 💰 Place paid when the limit is exceeded.
• 🔒 Some files (e.g. system files) APK) loadless.

7. Transfer of applications and their data

The hardest part of migrating is migrating installed apps and their data (such as saving to games or setting up instant messengers).

• 📦 App list: Google Play will automatically prompt you to install previously used programs when you log in. APK-files and data must be transferred separately.
• 🎮 Game data: Use built-in sync via Google Play Games or Facebook (for games like Clash of Clans).
• 💬 Messengers: WhatsApp: Backup in Google Drive (settings) → chat → Telegram: Data synced through the cloud automatically. Viber: Manual backup (Settings) → Account. → Backup copy).

For transfer APK-file and application data:

1. Install on your old phone App Backup & Restore.
2. Create a backup of the desired applications (.apk files) +.obb).
3. Transfer files to the new Xiaomi in any convenient way (OTG, cloud, PC).
4. Install App Backup & Restore on your new phone and recover the data.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. banking or with) DRM-protection) block data transfer, in which case you will have to re-enter the username / password or download the application from the official stores.

8. Post-transfer validation and optimization

After the data migration, be sure to follow these steps to avoid problems:

• 🔍 Check file integrity: Open a few photos and videos - they should play without errors. Check contacts: sometimes duplicated or lost avatars.
• 🧹 Clear the cache: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Clean the cache This will eliminate possible lags after transfer.
• 🔄 Update the apps: Go to Google Play and click "Update All." For Xiaomi system apps, use Settings → The phone. → Update of the PO.
• 🔒 Set up security: Enable Settings → Security → Block applications for sensitive data. Activate Find Device in Google settings.

If after transferring the phone began to brake or overheat, do:

1. Reboot (hold the power button for 10 seconds).
2. The virus is tested by Google Play Protect or Dr.Web.
3. Resetting the partition cache (in Settings) → Memory. → Cleanup).

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If some files are missing after transfer, check the folder. /MIUI/Backup/AllBackup On the new Xiaomi – sometimes data is saved automatically.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data portability to Xiaomi