How to transfer data to Xiaomi: a complete guide with a guarantee of file safety

Transferring data to Xiaomi’s new smartphone is a task that seems easy only at first glance, and users are faced with lost contacts, “broken” photos or apps that refuse to recover. The reason is often not technical limitations, but the choice of the wrong method for a particular situation, for example, a cloud backup is suitable for switching between devices. MIUI, But to transfer from the iPhone or old Samsung will require special utilities.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to transfer data to Xiaomi in the future. 2026 year from standard functions MIUI We will focus on data transfer between devices with different operating systems (Android). ↔ iOS, because that's where most bugs come from. All instructions are tested on the latest versions. MIUI 14/15 and relevant to the Redmi Note models 12/13, POCO F5/X5, Xiaomi 13/14 and earlier devices with support for updates.

Before you start, answer the key question: how much data do you need to move? If you're talking about a few gigabytes of photos and videos, direct cable is the best solution. Contacts and messages are just cloud backups. But applications and their settings (like saving in games) may require a combination of methods.

1.The official way: Mi Mover by Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a native solution from Xiaomi for transferring data between devices to the Internet. MIUI. It is pre-installed on all modern smartphones of the brand and supports transmission over Wi-Fi Direct (without an Internet connection), the main advantage is the preservation of folder structure and file metadata, which is critical for photos and documents.

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

1. On the old device, open the Mi Mover app (you can find it in the menu or through search).
2. Select the role of "Sender".
3. On the new Xiaomi, run the same app and select Receiver.
4. Scan it. QR-code from the screen of a new phone with an old device.
5. Select data types for transfer (contacts, messages, photos, video, audio, applications).
6. Confirm the transfer and wait for the completion (time depends on the amount of data).

It is important to consider the limitations of the Mi Mover:

• 🚫 Does not support the transfer of application data (for example, saves in games or settings messengers).
• 🚫 Maximum transfer volume – 10 GB per session (for large volumes you will have to repeat the procedure).
• 🚫 On Android 12 devices+ Additional permission to access files may be required.

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If Mi Mover doesn’t see either device, check whether Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on on both smartphones, and try restarting the app or reconnecting to the other network.

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

The transition from iOS to Android is always difficult due to Apple’s closed ecosystem, but there are two reliable ways for Xiaomi to do so:

Method 1: Move to iOS application (reverse port)

Yes, this app from Apple is designed to be ported from Android to iPhone, but it can be used in the opposite direction with some caveats:

1. Install the Move to iOS app on your iPhone (available from the App Store).
2. Download it to Xiaomi. APK-Move to iOS (Android version) from APKCombo.
3. Run the app on both devices and follow the instructions by selecting “Move from iOS”.

This method allows you to transfer contacts, photos, videos and bookmarks to Safari, but does not work with messages and notes.

Method 2: iCloud + Google Account

A more versatile, but time-consuming option:

• 📱 Export your iPhone contacts to iCloud → Contacts → Exports vCard.
• 📧 Import a.vcf file to Google Contacts (via the web version).
• 📷 For photos and videos, use Google Photos (upload the media library to the cloud from your iPhone, then download to Xiaomi).
• 💬 Messages are transferred through third-party utilities such as iMazing or AnyTrans (paid).

3. Cable transport: maximum speed and reliability

If you have USB-OTG Adapter (or Type-C to Type-C cable for new models), you can transfer data directly between devices. 5-10 faster than Wi-Fi transmission and suitable for large volumes (tens of gigabytes).

Instructions for transferring from Android to Xiaomi:

1. Connect both smartphones with a cable (on the old device, you may need to turn on File Transfer in the notification curtain).
2. On Xiaomi, open a Explorer → Devices and select a connected smartphone.
3. Copy the right folders (DCIM for photos, Downloads for downloads, etc.) to internal memory or memory card.

To transfer from PC to Xiaomi:

• 🖥️ Connect your smartphone to your computer in the "File Transfer" mode" (MTP).
• 📁 Copy files to the Internal Storage folder or to SD-map.
• ⚠️ Avoid copying to system folders (Android, MIUI), keep out MIUI.

4.Cloud portability: Google Drive vs Mi Cloud

Cloud services are convenient for backup, but have speed and volume limitations.

To transfer via Google Drive:

1. On the old device, open Settings. → Google → Backup.
2. Enable data backup and wait until it is completed.
3. On Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select “Restore from Google Backup”.

For Mi Cloud:

• 🔗 Register your Xiaomi account on both devices.
• 📱 On an old smartphone: Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization.
• 📲 On the new Xiaomi: Sign in to the same account and enable sync.

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Mi Cloud automatically compresses photos when you upload them. If it's important to maintain original quality, use Google Photos or cable transfer.

5. Applications and their data portability: what works and what doesn’t

The hardest part of the transfer is the applications and their internal data (e.g. save in games, set up messengers).

1. Apps from Google Play

Most apps are automatically restored when you log in to the same Google account.

• 🎮 Games: saves are only portable if the game supports cloud sync (e.g., via Google Play Games or Facebook).
• 💬 Messengers: WhatsApp and Telegram require a separate backup (see below).
• 📱 System settings: not portable (language, wallpaper, sound circuits will have to be reconfigured).

2. WhatsApp portability

To transfer WhatsApp chats from Android to Xiaomi:

1. On your old device, create a backup: WhatsApp settings → chat → Backup copy.
2. Copy the file. msgstore.db.crypt14 folder /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases new-phone.
3. Install WhatsApp on Xiaomi and restore chats when you first start.

3.Move from iPhone

WhatsApp with iOS will require:

• 🍎 Backup in iCloud (in WhatsApp settings).
• 🤖 Use iCareFone Transfer (PC) to convert backup to Android compatible format.

6. Data transfer from computer: alternative methods

If you have a backup of your data on your PC, you can transfer it to Xiaomi in a number of ways:

Method 1: Through Mi PC Suite

The official utility from Xiaomi for controlling a smartphone from a computer:

• 🖥️ Download Mi. PC Suite from pcsuite.mi.com.
• 📱 Connect Xiaomi to the USB (Enable debugging in Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (7 times press) → Developer → Debugging by USB).
• 📂 Drag files in the program window or use the function "Restore from the backup".

Method 2: ADB (for experienced users)

If you need to transfer system data (for example, SMS or a call log, you can use it. ADB:

adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f /sdcard/backup.ab


adb restore /sdcard/backup.ab

⚠️ This method requires an unlocked bootloader and can disrupt the work MIUI misuse.

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To transfer music from your computer, use the Mi Music app – it automatically syncs the Music folder on your device with selected tracks on your PC.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when following instructions, users face problems, and here are some of the most common solutions.

Problem 1: Mi Mover is 99% frozen

Reason: Conflict of Versions MIUI memory deficit.

Decision:

• 🔄 Restart the application on both devices.
• 🧹 Free up space on the new Xiaomi (at least 10% of the data portable).
• 📶 Connect to another Wi-Fi network (sometimes it helps).

Problem 2: Contacts are not tolerated

Reason: Contacts are stored in the device memory, not in the account Google/Mi.

Decision:

• 📇 Export contacts to.vcf file on old device.
• 📤 Transfer the file to Xiaomi and import through Contacts → Settings → Imports/Exports.

Problem 3: Photos moved, but not opened

Cause: file corruption during transfer or incompatible format.

Decision:

• 🖼️ Check the files on your old device (they may have already been broken).
• 🔧 Use another transfer method (e.g. cable instead of Wi-Fi).
• 📱 Install Google Photos on Xiaomi – it automatically converts incompatible formats.

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If after transfer applications fly out, clear their cache in Settings → Annexes → App management. It helps 80 percent of the time.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions