How to transfer data from Android to Xiaomi Redmi 12 Pro: Full Guide 2026

Why porting data to Redmi 12 Pro requires a special approach

The transition to a new smartphone is always an exciting moment, especially when it comes to the Xiaomi Redmi 12 Pro with its unique firmware. MIUI 14 based on Android 13. Unlike pure Android, Xiaomi devices have their own migration tools that can both simplify and complicate the process.The main problem is that not all standard methods of data transfer (for example, through Google Account) work equally effectively with the help of the user. MIUI.

In this article, we will analyze 5 proven ways to transfer data – from the official Mi Mover app to little-known tricks with the help of the Internet. ADB We will focus on the nuances associated with the Redmi 12 Pro: limitations on the amount of files transferred, compatibility with different versions of Android and ways to avoid typical errors (for example, “cannot connect to the device").

Importantly, if you’re switching from Samsung, Huawei, or a pure Android smartphone, some steps will be different — we’ll highlight these points separately.

Preparation for the transfer: what to do before the migration begins

Before you start transferring data, follow the mandatory preparatory steps to avoid loss of information or failures in the process, which will take no more than 10 minutes, but save hours to fix problems.

On the old device:

• 📱 Update your firmware to the latest version (check in Settings) → The phone. → System Update: Redmi 12 Pro must be installed at least MIUI 14.0.3.
• 🔋 Charge both smartphones to at least 50% – when transferring over Wi-Fi Direct, the battery dies faster than usual.
• 🔒 Make sure both devices have power saving turned off (it can interrupt data transfers).
• 📡 Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network (if you plan to use cloud services or local transmission).

On the new Redmi 12 Pro:

• 🛠️ Complete the initial setup until the system prompts you to move the data (don’t miss this step!).
• 🔑 Put the debugging on. USB (If you plan to use the cable: go to Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI, Tap 7 times on the build number, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and activate the option.
• 📦 Free up space: Redmi 12 Pro should have at least 10GB of free space for temporary migration files.

⚠️ Note: If you are transferring data from Huawei (especially models without Google services), install it on your old device in advance. APK-Mi Mover file from Xiaomi official website.

Charge both phones up to 50%+

Update the firmware on both devices

Connect to a single Wi-Fi network

Free up 10GB on Redmi 12 Pro

Turn off the power saving mode

Enable debugging on USB (if you need a cable)

Install Mi Mover on the old device (for the first time) Huawei/Samsung)

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2. Method 1: Mi Mover – official Xiaomi tool (recommended)

Mi Mover is a proprietary application from Xiaomi, optimized for transferring data between devices on the Internet. MIUI. It supports the transfer of contacts, messages, photos, videos, applications (including their data), notes and even system settings, the main advantage is the preservation of the structure of folders and metadata of photos (date of shooting, geotags), which cloud services do not guarantee.

Step-by-step:

1. On Redmi 12 Pro, select Data Transfer when you first set up" → "Android".
2. On your old phone, install Mi Mover (if it's not there) and open the app. Select "I'm the sender."
3. On Redmi 12 Pro, tap "I'm the recipient" and scan QR-screencode.
4. Select data types for transfer (we recommend unchecking the "System settings" box if you go from the "System settings" box to the "System settings" box).-Xiaomi Devices can cause conflicts).
5. Confirm the transfer on both phones and wait until the end (time depends on the amount of data).

Limitations of Mi Mover:

• 🚫 Does not support the transfer of established APK-files (only application data from Google Play).
• 🚫 Maximum transmission capacity – 100 GB (if exceeded, you will have to use alternative methods).
• 🚫 On some models, Samsung may need to disable Knox in security settings.

⚠️ Warning: If Mi Mover fails to connect when you connect, try: Reboot both devices. VPN Use a guest Wi-Fi network (some routers block) P2P-linkage).

Mi Mover (Xiaomi)

Google Account

OTG/USB cable

Cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud)

Another way.

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Method 3: Transfer through Google Account (universal method)

If Mi Mover doesn’t work for some reason (like a device without Google services), you can use Google Account sync, which is suitable for transferring contacts, calendars, mail, notes (Google Keep), photos (Google Photos) and certain settings.

What is NOT transferred through Google Account:

• 📱 Installed apps (only list from Google Play, no data).
• 📁 Files and documents (you need to download manually to Google Drive).
• 💬 Communications SMS/MMS call history.
• 🎵 Music and video (except uploaded to Google Photos).

Instructions for transfer:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings. → Accounts. → Google and enable sync for all the data you need (contacts, calendar, Chrome, etc.).
2. Wait for the sync to complete (check in Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync).
3. On Redmi 12 Pro, when you set up, select “Restore from Backup” and log in to the same Google Account.
4. Select the last backup and wait for the recovery.

To transfer photos and videos, use Google Photos separately:

• 📸 On your old phone, open Google Photos → Photo Photo → ⋮ → Backup settings.
• 🔄 Enable Backup and Sync and select quality (Original or High").
• ⏳ Wait for the download to complete (you can speed up the process by connecting to Wi-Fi).
• 📱 On Redmi 12 Pro, install Google Photos and log in to the same account – photos will appear automatically.

💡

If you have slow internet, turn on the option “Wi-Fi Only” in your backup settings before transferring via Google Photos. This will prevent mobile traffic consumption.

Method 3: Local Wi-Fi transmission (without internet)

If you don't have access to a stable Internet, or you don't want to upload data to the cloud, you can use local Wi-Fi, and you can do that with apps like Send Anywhere, Xender, or LocalSend (open source), and the main advantage is that there are no limits on the amount of data (unlike Mi Mover) and you don't need the Internet.

Instructions for Send Anywhere (recommended):

1. Install Send Anywhere on both devices (link for Android).
2. On an old phone, select files to transfer and click "Send".
3. Select the “Wi-Fi Direct” method and wait for the generation to occur. QR-code-in-code.
4. On Redmi 12 Pro, open Send Anywhere, select Get and scan. QR or enter the key.
5. Confirm the transmission on both devices.

Comparison of applications for local transmission:

⚠️ Note: When transferring large amounts of data (more than 20 GB) via Wi-Fi Direct, the processor on the Redmi 12 Pro may overheat. We recommend: Put the phone on a flat surface for better cooling. Close all background applications (especially games and social networks). Use Airplane Mode on both devices if the transmission is interrupted due to calls.

5. Method 4: Transfer over cable OTG or USB (bulky)

If you need to transfer tens of gigabytes of data (for example, a collection of movies or a collection of films). RAW-The most reliable way to do this is to connect directly through a cable:

• 🔌 Cable OTG (USB-C → USB-C or USB-C → Micro-USB, depending on the port of the old phone).
• 🖥️ adapter USB-C → USB-A (If you connect through a computer).
• 📁 File Manager (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).

Option 1: Direct phone connection (without PC)

1. Connect the cable. OTG Redmi 12 Pro.
2. Connect the second end of the cable to the old phone.
3. On Redmi 12 Pro, open Mi File Manager and select the following "USB-side-menu.
4. Copy the files from your old phone’s memory into Redmi 12 Pro folders (e.g, DCIM For photo, Download for downloads).

Option 2: Through a computer (for backup)

1. Connect both phones to your PC via USB.
2. On your old phone, turn on "File Transfer" (MTP) notice USB.
3. Copy data from your old phone to your computer (for example, to a folder on your desktop).
4. Disable your old device and connect Redmi 12 Pro by selecting File Transfer.
5. Transfer files from your PC to your new phone.

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ Maximum speed (up to 40 MB/s when used) USB 3.0).
• 📦 There are no limits on the amount of data.
• 🔒 Only the necessary files can be selectively copied.

⚠️ Note: When connecting Redmi 12 Pro to PC for the first time may require the installation of drivers ADB. If Windows does not recognize the device: Download Mi PC Suite from the official website: mi.com/pcsuite. Or install universal Google drivers USB Driver via Android SDK.

💡

Use the cable. OTG Only from trusted manufacturers (e.g. Anker or Baseus) cheap cables may not support data transmission or damage the port. USB-C Redmi 12 Pro.

Method 5: Transfer over ADB (for power users)

If standard methods do not work (for example, due to damaged firmware on an old phone), you can use the device. ADB (Android Debug Bridge is suitable for porting data applications, system settings and even some protected files, but requires technical skills.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB and Fastboot (download) SDK Platform Tools).
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB both-device.

Instructions for transferring data applications:

1. Connect the old device to your PC and execute a command to get a list of applications:

adb shell pm list packages -f

1. Copy the data of the desired application (for example, com.whatsapp):

adb backup -f whatsapp.ab -apk -obb -shared com.whatsapp

1. Turn off the old device and connect the Redmi 12 Pro.
2. Recover the data:

adb restore whatsapp.ab

ADB limitations:

• 🚫 Not all applications support backup through ADB (For example, some banking applications).
• 🚫 System application data (e.g. com.android.contacts) may not be restored correctly to the system. MIUI.
• 🚫 Root rights are required to transfer certain protected files (e.g, SMS-database).

• Remove the application on the target device before restoring.
• Use an alternative method: adb pull /data/data/com.whatsapp manually.

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7. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even when following instructions, users often have problems with data portability. TOP-5 errors and ways of eliminating them:

1.Mi Mover doesn't see old device

• 🔄 Solution: Reboot both phones and try again. If it doesn't work, check if the firewall on the old phone is blocking. P2P-Connections (relevant to Samsung and Huawei).

2. Wi-Fi Direct transmission interrupted

• 📶 Solution: Go to Wi-Fi settings on Redmi 12 Pro and turn off the "Adaptive Wi-Fi" option. Also try using modem modem on your old phone and connect to its access point.

3. Contacts are not transferred through Google Account

• 📇 Solution: Check that contacts are saved in Google Account, not in the memory of your phone or in the phone. SIM-Open the contact card for that. → ⋮ → Contact management → Import/Export and export them to Google.

4. when connected through OTG phone's unrecognizable

• 🔌 Solution: Try another cable or adapter. On Redmi 12 Pro, go to Settings → Memory. → USB-drive and enable the option "Connect How" USB-accumulator".

5. "Not enough space" error during transfer

• 📦 Solution: Free up space on Redmi 12 Pro by removing unnecessary apps or transferring files to your Redmi 12 Pro SD-You can also split the transmission into parts (for example, first photo, then video).

8. FAQ: Answers to popular questions