How to transfer data from Android to Xiaomi Redmi 10S: the full guide 2026

Shifting data to a new smartphone is a daunting task, especially when it comes to switching to a different brand, such as a Samsung, Huawei or Google Pixel to a Xiaomi Redmi 10S. Fear of losing important contacts, photos or settings often makes you delay buying a new gadget, but in fact, the data migration process can be made quick and painless — the main thing is to choose the right method and follow clear instructions.

Redmi 10S

MIUI

Cloning of applications

MIUI

Google Drive

Mi Cloud

5 Proven Methods

If you've never migrated data between smartphones before, don't worry: even a user with no technical skills can do it in 15 to 30 minutes, and for those who like to control the process, we've prepared a method comparison table and a checklist for preparing devices.

1. Preparation of devices for data transfer

There are several steps that must be taken before migrating, and neglecting them can lead to data loss, a new smartphone crash, or even account lockdown (for example, if you are talking about a Google account with two-factor authentication).

First, check the battery power on both devices. The optimal level is at least 50%, but it is better to connect both smartphones to charge while transferring. Second, make room for the new Redmi 10S: remove unnecessary applications or files if there is less than 2-3 GB of memory. Third, update the firmware on both phones to the latest version - this minimizes the risk of compatibility errors.

Pay special attention to the security settings:

• 🔐 Turn off the screen lock (PIN, A pattern lock or fingerprint on an old phone will speed up the process of scanning data.
• 📱 Make sure you are on the new Redmi. 10S Developer Mode is enabled (if you plan to use it) ADB or Fastboot).
• 🌐 Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network (for wireless methods) or prepare OTG-cable (for wire transfer).
• 📁 Backup of critical data (contacts, SMS, Photos) on a computer or cloud is a crash insurance.

⚠️ Note: If your old phone uses encryption (such as Samsung with Knox), some portability techniques may not work, in which case we recommend using cloud services or manual copying via your computer.

2. Method 1: Integrated cloning of applications in MIUI

Xiaomi Redmi 10S offers a proprietary migration tool called Application Cloning (Mi Mover), which is suitable for transferring most data, including:

• 📞 Contacts and call log
• 💬 Communications (SMS and MMS)
• 📷 Photos and videos (from the gallery)
• 🎵 Music and documents
• 📱 System settings (Wi-Fi, wallpaper, sound profiles)
• 🤖 Some app data (such as WhatsApp, but not always completely).

To take advantage of this function:

1. Turn on the new Redmi 10S and get to the data port configuration stage.
2. Choose Cloning with Android and follow the instructions on the screen.
3. On an old phone, download the Mi Mover app from Google Play (if it’s not by default).
4. Scan it. QR-code from a new device or connect via Wi-Fi Direct.
5. Select the data to transfer and confirm the start of the process.

The speed of the transfer depends on the amount of data, for example, 10 GB of photos and applications can be copied for 20-40 minutes, the main advantage of the method is simplicity, but there are also disadvantages:

• ❌ Not all apps support data portability (e.g. Telegram or Viber will have to be reconfigured).
• ❌ Sometimes the settings of some programs are reset.
• ❌ If the connection is interrupted, the process will have to start again.

Make sure there is enough space on your old phone (at least 1GB free)

Disable VPN and Firewall

Connect both devices to charging

Check the stability of the Wi-Fi network-->

3. Method 2: Transfer through a Google Account

If you use Google services, this is going to be the most reliable method, and it's good for porting:

• 📇 Contacts (from Google Contacts)
• 📅 Calendar (Google Calendar)
• 📧 Letters and settings Gmail
• 📁 Google Drive files (if previously downloaded)
• 🎮 Data from some games (via Google Play Games).

Instructions:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Accounts → Google and make sure that sync is enabled for all the data you need.
2. Wait for the sync to complete (check in Settings → Accounts → Google → Sync).
3. On the new Redmi 10S, when you first turn on, select Restore from a backup and log in to the same Google account.
4. Select the latest backup and confirm the recovery.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Free and does not require additional programs.
• ✅ Data is automatically updated whenever changes are made on any device.
• ✅ It works even if your old phone is broken (just know the login / password from Google).

⚠️ Note: If your old phone used a different Google account (e.g., a work account) after transferring to Redmi 10S You may have trouble accessing some purchases in the Play Market.To avoid this, add both accounts to your new device.

Embedded cloning (MIUI/Mi Mover)

Google account

Cloud services (Drive, Mi Cloud)

Wired connection (USB/OTG)

Manual transfer via computer-->

Method 3: Using cloud services (Mi Cloud, Google Drive)

Cloud storage is a universal way of transfer, which is suitable even if the devices are located in different parts of the world. For Xiaomi Redmi 10S, two services are relevant:

1. Mi Cloud is a proprietary cloud from Xiaomi (gives 5 GB for free).
2. Google Drive is a universal solution (15 GB free).

Instructions for Mi Cloud:

1. On your old phone, install Mi Cloud from Google Play.
2. Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi account (if you don’t have one, create a new one).
3. Go to Settings → Mi Cloud → Backup and select the data to save.
4. On the new Redmi 10S, log in to the same Mi Cloud account and restore data from the backup.

Instructions for Google Drive:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → System → Backup.
2. Select Backup in Google Drive and click Create Backup.
3. On the new Redmi 10S, select Restore from Google Drive when setting up.

Comparison of services:

Important: If you are using Mi Cloud, make sure that the old phone has the Traffic Saving feature in network settings turned off, otherwise the backup can take hours or be interrupted.

5. Method 4: Wireless Transfer through OTG-cable

If you have more than 20 to 30 GB of data, or you don't trust wireless methods, you can use a direct cable connection to do this.

• 🔌 OTG-Adapter (if you connect your old phone as a flash drive to a new one).
• 💻 Computer with USB-Ports (for intermediate copying).
• 📁 File Manager (e.g., Mi File Manager or Total Commander).

Option 1: Direct connection via OTG

1. Connect. OTG-adapter for the new Redmi 10S.
2. Connect your old phone to an adapter via USB-cable.
3. On the new device, open the File Manager and select the connected phone as a removable drive.
4. Copy the files (photos, videos, documents) to Redmi 10S memory.

Option 2: Computer transfer

1. Connect your old phone to your PC and copy all the data to your hard drive.
2. Turn off your old phone and connect the Redmi 10S.
3. Transfer files from your computer to a new device.
4. Use apps like MyPhoneExplorer or Samsung Smart Switch to transfer contacts and SMS (yes, it works with other brands as well).

⚠️ Note: When connecting via computer, avoid using port USB-Hubs -- they can cause data errors. Connect your phones directly to the data center. USB-ports on the system unit or laptop.

💡

If the new Redmi 10S doesn’t see the old phone when connecting via OTG, try enabling File Transfer (MTP) mode in the USB settings on both devices.

Method 5: Transfer data through third-party applications

If the standard methods do not work, you can use specialized programs.

• 📲 SHAREit - Wireless transfer over Wi-Fi (speed up to 20 MB / s).
• 📲 Send Anywhere – Transfer files via 6-digit code generation.
• 📲 Cloneit – cloning data from Android to Android (including WhatsApp).
• 📲 Samsung Smart Switch – despite the name, it works with Xiaomi.

Example of transfer via SHAREit:

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

The advantages of third-party applications:

• ✅ Often support data transfer that is not copied by standard methods (e.g. game saves).
• ✅ It works without branding (unlike the Mi Mover or Smart Switch).

Cons:

• ❌ Some programs show ads or offer paid features.
• ❌ Transmission speed may be lower than with wired connection.

7.Typical mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when following instructions, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to solve them:

If none of the methods worked, try resetting the network settings on the new phone (Settings → Resetting → Network Settings Reset) or updating the firmware through Settings → About Phone → System Update.

💡

Always check firmware compatibility before perenosom data. If the old phone has a very old version of Android (below 8.0), some methods (such as Mi Mover) may not work.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)