How to Transfer All Data From the Old Xiaomi to the New: From Contacts to Wi-Fi Passwords

Why Data Transfers Between Xiaomi Need a Special Approach

The transition to a new smartphone Xiaomi is always an exciting moment, but the joy of updating the gadget is often overshadowed by the need to transfer data. Unlike other brands, Xiaomi phones have a unique ecosystem with branded services. MIUI, This requires a different approach to migration, such as standard Google tools that don't always correctly port theme settings or data from Mi Fit and Mi Home apps.

The main problem is the loss of important data when choosing the wrong method of transfer. According to service centers, 38% of calls after buying a new Xiaomi are associated with incomplete or incorrect transfer of information, this article will help to avoid typical errors and choose the best way to migrate depending on the volume of data and device models.

1.The official method: MI Mover – fast and lossless

Annex MI Mover – a proprietary solution from Xiaomi for wireless data transfer between devices on the Internet MIUI. It is pre-installed on all current models (starting with the Redmi Note 7 and Mi 9) and supports portability:

• 📱 Contacts and call histories
• 📷 Photos and videos (including Google Photos albums)
• 🎵 Music and audio files
• 📄 Documents and downloads
• 🔑 Wi-Fi passwords and system settings
• 🎮 Data from certain games (if supported)

For use MI Mover on both devices must be version MIUI 9 or later. The process takes 10 to 40 minutes depending on the amount of data. MI Mover both phones must be connected to charging – at a discharge below 20%, the process will be interrupted.

Install. MI Mover on both devices (if removed)

Connect both phones to Wi-Fi (preferably the same network)

Charging both devices > 50%

Make room on your new phone (should be free) +10% of the volume of data transferred)

Turn it off. VPN firewalls-->

Step instructions:

1. Open up. MI Mover on both phones
2. In the old one, select "I am the sender" and in the new one, "I am the receiver."
3. Scan it. QR-code from a new phone with an old one
4. Select data types to transfer (you can choose all or selectively)
5. Confirm the start of the process on both devices
6. Wait until the connection is completed (don’t interrupt the connection!)

2.Mi Cloud Transfer for those who value reliability

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s cloud storage that automatically syncs data between devices on the same account, ideal if you plan to migrate in advance and can wait for data to be uploaded to the cloud.

• ☁️ Data is stored in the cloud and accessible from any device
• 🔄 Automatic synchronization of contacts, notes and calendar
• 📲 Possibility of selective data recovery
• 🛡️ Data protection with password and two-factor authentication

Method limitations: only 5GB of storage is available for free, and large volumes (photos, videos) will require either clearing the cloud of old data or purchasing additional space. Expansion costs for 2026:

Step-by-step:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings. → Mi Account. → Mi Cloud
2. Enable synchronization for all required data types
3. Wait for the download to be completed (check in Settings). → Mi Cloud → Storage management)
4. On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account.
5. Go to Settings. → Mi Account. → Mi Cloud → Synchronization and select data for recovery

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Before you start syncing through Mi Cloud, check that the old phone has turned off the traffic saving mode in the mobile network settings. 2-3 once.

3. Transfer through Google Account – a universal method

If you're a Google user, this may be the easiest way to do this.

• 📇 Contacts and call histories
• 📅 Calendar and reminders
• 📎 Notes (if you use Google Keep)
• 📷 Photos and videos (via Google Photos)
• 🎮 Data from some games (via Google Play Games)

The main disadvantage is that the settings are not transferred MIUI, Data from Xiaomi’s proprietary apps (Mi Fit, Mi Home) and Wi-Fi passwords. Also keep in mind that free Google Photo storage is now limited to 15 GB per account (previously unlimited for compressed photos).

Instructions:

1. On your old phone, check that sync is enabled: Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of the account
2. Wait for the synchronization to be completed (check in Settings). → Accounts. → Google → Account management → Data and personalization → Data management)
3. On the new phone, log in to the same Google account when you first turn on or through settings.
4. Enable synchronization of the necessary data

MI Mover (branded application Xiaomi)

Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

Google Account

Cable connection to PC

Other ways-->

4. Cable transfer over PC – for large amounts of data

When to move tens of gigabytes of data (for example, a video collection to a video store) 4K or RAW-And in this case, the best way to do this is to use a direct cable connection to the computer:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Mac/Linux
• 🔌 Two. USB-cables (preferably original)
• 📁 Enough space on the hard disk (at least 20% more data transferable)

Advantages of the method: maximum speed (up to 480 Mbit / s with USB 3.0) and the ability to selectively transfer specific files: disadvantages: it takes time to connect and does not tolerate application settings.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect both phones to the PC via USB (file transfer/MTP)
2. On PC, open two conductor windows with the internal memory of each phone
3. Copy the right folders from your old phone to your PC: DCIM — Photos and videos Download - Download Documents - Documents MIUI — Setting up the topics (if necessary)

Transfer the copied data from the PC to the new phone

Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Exports to the vault

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When you cable transfer, never copy the entire Android folder, which can lead to conflicts in the application data on the new device, it is better to transfer only user files (photos, videos, documents).

5.Transfer through a memory card is a simple but limited method

If both your Xiaomi phones support microSD cards (which is relevant for the Redmi Note and other devices). POCO), You can use this method to transfer media files and documents:

• 🚫 No transfer of settings and application data
• 🚫 Contacts and messages should be exported separately.
• 🚫 Speed depends on the class of the memory card.

How to transfer data:

1. Insert a memory card into an old phone
2. Transfer the files to the map (you can use the file manager Files from Google or Mi File Manager)
3. Remove the card and insert it into a new phone.
4. Copy files from the card into the internal memory of the new device

For models without a memory card slot (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro or Mix Fold 3) you can use it. USB-OTG It's a card reader adapter, and the transfer speed is lower than if you're connected to a PC directly.

6. Data portability of specific applications

Some applications require a special approach to data transfer, and let's look at the most popular ones:

To transfer data to WhatsApp:

1. On your old phone, create a backup copy: ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup
2. Copy WhatsApp folder from internal memory to card or PC
3. On your new phone, install WhatsApp and restore it from a local copy.

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To transfer data from Google Authenticator, use the official Google guide. Never hand over screenshots QR-codes through messengers – this compromises the security of your accounts.

7.Typical mistakes and how to avoid them

Even with official transfer methods, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common errors and ways to solve them:

⚠️ Note: If you transfer data from Xiaomi to Xiaomi POCO (Make sure that both devices are using the same version. MIUI. Different versions can cause conflicts when restoring system settings.

• 🔄 Interrupting the process: If the transfer is MI Mover interrupted, start over. Retransfer doesn't duplicate data, it complements it.
• 📱 Not enough space: Before transferring, free up at least 20% more space on the new phone than the data you are carrying.
• 🔒 Authorization errors: When logging into a Mi Account on a new phone, confirmation may be required via SMS or email, even if you remember the password.
• 📡 Wi-Fi problems: If MI Mover doesn’t see the device, try using a mobile hotspot instead of home Wi-Fi.

A special situation is the transfer from Xiaomi to Black Shark (game smartphones from Xiaomi).

1. Use it. MI Mover for Basic Data
2. To transfer game settings, use Shark Space (Black Shark proprietary software)
3. Performance settings will have to be reconfigured

8 What to do after data transfer

Successful data porting is only half the battle, and to make the new Xiaomi work optimally, follow these steps:

Check the sync of contacts (open the contacts and update the list)

Make sure all photos and videos are opened (sometimes the paths to the files may be incorrect)

Set up fingerprints and facial recognition again

Check the mobile network (sometimes settings) APN drop off)

Update all apps through Google Play-->

Pay particular attention to:

• 🔋 Battery: After transferring data, allow the battery to fully discharge and recharge. 2-3 calibration
• 🛡️ Security: Check permissions for applications in Settings → Annexes → Permits
• 📶 Networks: Reconnect to all stored Wi-Fi networks (sometimes passwords are not ported correctly)

⚠️ Warning: If you notice that the new phone has become discharged faster after transfer, check the activity of background processes in Settings → Battery → Battery use: often the cause is incorrectly transferred cache data applications.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions