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

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting moment, especially when it comes to the safety of personal data. Contacts, photos, correspondence and even app settings – all of which you want to transfer without loss and with minimal effort. Fortunately, the manufacturer has provided several official and alternative migration methods adapted to different scenarios, whether it is a transition from Android from another brand, from iPhone or even from the old Xiaomi model.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven methods of data transfer, including proprietary tools Mi Mover and Xiaomi Cloud, as well as universal solutions like Google Account or Smart Switch from Samsung. Special emphasis will be placed on transferring data from iPhone to Xiaomi, a task that often causes difficulties due to the diversity of ecosystems, you will learn how to avoid typical errors, preserve the quality of media files and even migrate the history of calls without manual input.

Important: The procedure may vary depending on the Xiaomi model (e.g. Redmi Note 13 Pro+ vs POCO X6) and the MIUI version. All instructions are valid for MIUI firmware 14/15 and later. If your phone is running on an older version, update the software first through Settings → About Phone → System Update.

1.The official way: Mi Mover by Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a proprietary data migration app pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones, which supports porting from most devices to Android 5.0+ and even from some iPhone models (via an adapter), the main advantage of which is the preservation of folder structure and file metadata, which is not always possible through cloud services.

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

• 📱 On the new Xiaomi, open the Mi Mover app (find it in the menu or search the system).
• 🔄 Select the option “I am the recipient” (if you transfer data to Xiaomi) or “I am the sender” (if you transfer it from Xiaomi).
• 📶 Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network (or use an access point).
• 🔍 Scan on your old phone. QR-code that will appear on the screen of Xiaomi.
• 📁 Select data types to transfer: contacts, messages, photos, videos, audio, applications (not all applications are supported!).
• ⚡ Wait until the process is complete (time depends on the amount of data).

⚠️ Note: If you are transferring data from your iPhone, you will need a Lightning-to-USB-C adapter (or Lightning-to-USB-A with a lightning-to-USB-A device). OTG-Mi Mover does not support wireless porting from Apple devices due to iOS restrictions.

Charge both phones at least to the 50%|Release. 10-15% memory on the new Xiaomi|Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network|Shut down. VPN both-device|Make sure there is enough space on your old phone for temporary files-->

2.Moving from iPhone to Xiaomi: bypassing Apple's restrictions

Moving from iPhone to Xiaomi is a bigger challenge than migrating between Android devices, and Apple is deliberately restricting data exports, so it will have to combine several methods, with the main problems of not being able to directly transfer call and note history, and converting media file formats.

The optimal algorithm for transferring from the iPhone:

1. Contacts and Calendars: Sync through iCloud → Settings → Apple ID → iCloud (enable Contacts and Calendars). Then on Xiaomi add an iCloud account to Settings → Accounts.
2. Photos and videos: Use Google Photos (upload media to the cloud from your iPhone, then download to Xiaomi) or Mi Mover with an adapter.
3. Messages: Export via iMazing (PC) or Backup Trans (iOS app), then import to Xiaomi.
4. Apps: Install manually through Google Play – application data (such as WhatsApp) cannot be transferred without a backup.

⚠️ Note: When transferring photos from iPhone to Xiaomi via Google Photos files in the format HEIC are automatically converted into JPEG, To avoid this, convert files through the application before uploading to the cloud. HEIC to JPG (available in the App Store).

3. Cloud Services: Google vs Xiaomi Cloud

Using cloud storage is one of the most versatile ways to transfer data, especially if you don't have physical access to an old phone.

To transfer via Google Account:

1. On your old phone: Settings → Accounts → Google → Sync (enable all the options you need).
2. On the new Xiaomi: add the same Google account and wait for sync.

For Xiaomi Cloud:

1. On the old Xiaomi: Settings → Xiaomi Cloud → Backup (create a backup).
2. On a new phone: log in to the same Mi Account and recover the data.

Google Drive|Xiaomi Cloud|iCloud|Dropbox/OneDrive|I do not use clouds-->

4. PC Transfer: When Wireless Methods Fail

If the data volume exceeds 20-30 GB or the Internet speed is poor, computer transfer is the best solution, and this method is also useful if you need to selectively copy files or convert formats (for example, HEIC to JPEG).

Instructions for Windows/macOS:

1. Connect your old phone to your PC via USB-cable and select the "File Transfer" mode" (MTP).
2. Copy the folders you need (DCIM for photos, Downloads for downloads, etc.) to your hard drive.
3. Connect the new Xiaomi and transfer the files to the appropriate directories.
4. For contacts and messages, use programs like MyPhoneExplorer (Android) or iMazing (iPhone).

⚠️ Note: When you copy photos from your iPhone through Windows Explorer, metadata (date of shooting, geotags) may disappear. To avoid this, use Apple iTunes or specialized utilities like iMazing.

1. Cable – Use the original USB-C (not all cables support data transfer).

2. Connection mode: in the phone notification curtain, select "File Transfer".

3. Drivers: Windows may require Mi installation PC Suite.-->

5. Transfer of applications and their data

The hardest part of migration is saving data inside apps (e.g., game progress, WhatsApp or Telegram settings). Not all apps support cross-platform portability, but for most there are workarounds:

• 🎮 Games: Link your account to Google Play Games, Facebook or a developer service (e.g. MiHoYo for Genshin Impact).
• 💬 WhatsApp: Backup in Google Drive (Android only)→Telegram: All data synced through the cloud automatically. Viber: Backup to Settings → Account. → Backup copy.
• 📱 System applications: For Mi Fit, Mi Home and other Xiaomi services, it is enough to log into the same Mi Account.

⚠️ Note: There is no official way to transfer WhatsApp from iPhone to Android, and the only working method is to use paid utilities like Backuptrans or iCareFone Transfer, but they require a PC connection and do not guarantee 100% success.

6. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even when following the instructions, users face typical problems, and consider the most common ways to eliminate them:

If none of these methods work, try alternative tools:

• 🔄 Smart Switch (Samsung) – works with other brands.
• 📦 Clone Phone (Huawei) – supports a transfer to Xiaomi.
• 🖥️ MobileTrans (Wondershare) – paid PC software with cross-platform migration support.

1. charge the battery of both devices (minimum 30%).

2. Free space on the new Xiaomi (should be 10-20% more data portable).

3. Internet connection stability (for cloud methods).-->

FAQ: Answers to popular questions