How to transfer data to Xiaomi phone: a complete guide with pictures and life hacks

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting moment. How not to lose precious photos, important contacts or saved messages? We have collected all the current ways to transfer data to Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices in 2026 — from standard tools to little-known life hacks. Whether you change Android to Android, move from iPhone or recover data after a reset — there is a solution for your situation.

In this article, you'll find step-by-step picture instructions, a method comparison table, answers to frequent errors, and even tips for post-transfer optimization. And if you're afraid of losing data, we'll tell you how to back up before migrating. Start with the simplest method that works on 90% of Xiaomi devices.

⚠️ Note: If you transfer data from iPhone to Xiaomi, install the Move to iOS app on your old phone in advance – without it, synchronization of contacts and messages will not be possible.

1. Transfer data via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

The most versatile way that works even if you don’t have a computer or cable on hand: Mi Cloud automatically syncs contacts, notes, photos, call records and system settings, the main advantage is that data is available on any Xiaomi device after you log in to one Mi Account.

To take advantage of this method:

1. On an old Xiaomi phone, go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on sync for the desired categories (be sure to check Contacts, Gallery and Notes).
3. On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account and wait for the sync to complete.

⚠️ Warning: Free cloud Mi Cloud provides only 5 GB of space. If you have more data, you will either have to clean the cloud or buy additional space (from 100 rubles / month for 50 GB).

• ✅ Pros: works without PC, saves synchronization history, supports automatic backup.
• ❌ Cons: limited in scope, does not tolerate applications and their data.
• ⚡ Lifehack: If you only need to transfer contacts, export them to.vcf via Contacts → Management → Exports and send them to the post office.

2. Transfer from Android to Xiaomi via cable (Mi Mover)

If you have both Android phones, the quickest way is to use the built-in Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones and supports portability:

• 📞 Contacts and call histories
• 📷 Photos and videos (including Google Photos albums)
• 💬 Communications (SMS and MMS)
• 🎵 Music and documents
• 📱 Some applications (without data)

Instructions:

1. Connect both phones to charge (transfer can take up to 30 minutes).
2. On the new Xiaomi, run Mi Mover (you can find it in the Tools folder or through search).
3. Choose I'm the recipient → Android.
4. On an old phone, download Mi Mover from Google Play and select I'm the sender.
5. Scan it. QR-code from the new phone and confirm the connection.
6. Select the data to transfer and wait for completion.

Important: Don't break the connection or lock the screen during the transfer, and if the process stops, you'll have to start over.

Charge of both phones > 50%

Mi Mover app installed on old phone

Power saving mode is off

Free ≥ 2 GB on the new Xiaomi

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3.Moving from iPhone to Xiaomi (from iOS to Android)

The transition from iPhone to Xiaomi requires a special approach, as Apple restricts data exports, which can be helped by the official Move to iOS app (yes, it works backwards!) or manual transfer via iCloud.

Method 1: Move to iOS (Recommended)

1. On iPhone, install Move to iOS from the App Store.
2. On Xiaomi, select Data Import when you first set up → S iPhone/iPad.
3. On iPhone, open the app, enter the code with Xiaomi and select data to transfer.

Method 2: iCloud (for photos and contacts)

• 📱 On iPhone: Settings → [Your name] → iCloud → Synchronize contacts/photos.
• 🌐 On your computer: go to iCloud.com, export contacts to.vcf and photos to the archive.
• 📲 On Xiaomi: Import your contact file through Contacts → Management → Import and copy the photo to the folder DCIM.

4. Data transfer via computer (Windows/Mac)

If you have a PC or a laptop on hand, this method gives you maximum control over the process, you can selectively copy files, sort them before transferring them, and even compress large folders.

For Windows:

1. Connect your old phone to your PC via USB (select File Transfer Mode).
2. Copy the desired folders (DCIM for photos, Downloads for downloads) to your computer.
3. Connect the new Xiaomi and transfer the files to the appropriate folders.

For the Mac:

• 🖥️ Use Android File Transfer (official software from Google).
• 📁 For photos, it is more convenient to use Google Photos or AirDrop (if the old phone is an iPhone).
• ⚡ Tip: To speed up the transfer of large files (>1 GB) use the cable USB 3.0 or USB-C.

5. Transfer through third-party applications (SHAREit, Xender, Send Anywhere)

If standard methods don’t work (like very old Xiaomi models), you can use popular file sharing apps that create a local network between phones over Wi-Fi Direct, allowing you to transfer data without the Internet.

Top.-3 portability:

1. SHAREit supports files up to 200 MB in the free version, there is a feature of cloning the phone.
2. Xender is faster than SHAREit, but it shows ads. It supports application portability (.apk).
3. Send Anywhere is the simplest interface, transferring 6-digit code.

Instructions for SHAREit:

1. Install the app on both phones.
2. On the old phone, click Send, on the new one, Receive.
3. Select the files and wait for the transfer to be completed.

⚠️ Note: Applications like SHAREit often collect user data. After transferring, delete it and clear the cache to Settings. → Annexes.

1. Switch to mobile data (4G/5G) in the application settings.

2. Reduce packet size (in SHAREit: Settings → Packet size → Small).

3. Disconnect. VPN and firewall on both phones.-->

6. Transfer of applications and their data

Standard portability methods (like Mi Mover) only copy the application.apk files themselves, not the data, and you need to use backup to keep your game progress, chats in messengers, or program settings.

For cloud-enabled applications:

• 🎮 Gaming: Link a Google Play Games account or social network (e.g. Facebook for Candy Crush).
• 💬 Messengers: WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber have built-in backup in Google Drive.
• 📅 Calendars/Mail: sync with Google Account.

For the remaining applications:

1. Use ADB Backup (requires a computer and enabled USB Debugging).
2. For rooted phones, Titanium Backup is suitable.
3. Some applications (such as Spotify) allow you to export data to a file.

Not all apps support data transfer between Android and iOS, for example, WhatsApp can’t restore chats when switching from iPhone to Xiaomi, but you’ll have to use third-party tools like Backuptrans.

1. Version compatibility (for example, WhatsApp with iOS to Android is ported only through paid services).

2. the presence of a backup in the cloud (Google Drive, iCloud).

3. Linked accounts (games, social networks, instant messengers).-->

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions, you can have problems.-5 Mistakes in data transfer to Xiaomi and how to fix them:

• 🔌 "The phone does not connect to the PC" → Check the cable (try another one), turn on Developer Mode → Debugging by USB, Update the Mi drivers PC Suite.
• ⏳ "Mi Mover is getting stuck on 99%" → Reboot both phones, clear the Mi Mover app cache, try another cable.
• 🚫 "There is not enough space for the new Xiaomi" → Transfer files to microSD (if supported) or clear the cache through Settings → Memory.
• 🔒 "I can't log in to Mi Account" → Check if your account is linked to another region, and if so, create a new account with the right region.
• 📱 "After the transfer, the photos disappeared" → Check the folder. DCIM/.thumbnails (Sometimes files are hidden or use the DiskDigger app to recover.

If none of these methods worked, try an alternative method:

1. Create an archive of data on your old phone (for example, through Total Commander).
2. Upload the archive to Google Drive or Yandex Drive.
3. On the new Xiaomi, download the archive and unpack it.

8.Place optimization after transfer

After successful data transfer, it is often found that the new Xiaomi phone has little space left, and here is how to free up memory without losing important files:

• 🧹 Cache cleanup: Settings → Memory. → Clear the cache (can be removed before) 1-3 GB).
• 🗑️ Removing duplicates: Use Files by Google or CCleaner to find repetitive photos.
• ☁️ Transfer to the cloud: Upload photos to Google Photos (up to 15GB free) and delete local copies.
• 📱 Disabling Unnecessary Apps: Many Xiaomi System Apps Can Be Disabled in Settings → Annexes → Application management.

Hidden Xiaomi feature: You can turn on Light Mode (Settings → Special Opportunities → Light Mode) in Miyuy, which reduces memory consumption by simplifying animations.

If you need to transfer data to Xiaomi from a phone of another brand or after a reset, now you know all the current ways. The main thing is to first make a backup on the old device, and then start migrating. If you have any questions, see the answers below or write in the comments, which model Xiaomi you have difficulties with.

1. Contacts and settings → Mi Cloud

2. Photo/video → Cable or computer

3.Apps → Cloud Backups (Google Drive, iCloud)

4. Music/documents → Side Apps (SHAREit)

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FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions