How to transfer data from Android to Xiaomi Redmi 9: the complete guide

The transition to a new smartphone is always an exciting moment, especially when it comes to the budget but functional Xiaomi Redmi 9. The main fear of users: loss of contacts, photos, messages or app settings when changing devices. Fortunately, transferring data from one Android device to another is now as simple as possible – manufacturers offer several reliable ways to migrate, and Xiaomi has added its own proprietary chips to this procedure.

In this article, we will discuss 5 current methods of transfer, from the classic backup through Google Account to the proprietary tool Mi Mover, which works without an Internet connection. Particular attention will be paid to the nuances associated with Redmi 9 — for example, why you sometimes can not migrate applications through Mi Mover, and how to circumvent the limitation on the amount of files transferred.

Whether you’re upgrading from an old Samsung Galaxy, Huawei or another Xiaomi, the instructions below will work for any combination of Android 6.0 and newer devices.The main thing is to properly prepare both phones before starting the process.

1. Preparation of devices before data transfer

Before migrating, there are several critical steps to follow on both smartphones, and neglecting them can lead to data loss or transmission failures.

On the old phone (data source):

• 🔋 Charge the battery to at least 50% – transferring large amounts of data (such as photo gallery) drains the device faster than you expect.
• 📶 Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (if you plan to use cloud services). Mobile Internet may not withstand the load when downloading backups.
• 🔒 Make sure there is no lock from the manufacturer (e.g., the device is not locked, FRP Lock on Samsung.It could interfere with connecting to a new phone.
• 📁 Free up space: delete unnecessary files or transfer them to a memory card.

On the new Xiaomi Redmi 9:

• 📱 Go through the initial setup before you connect to Wi-Fi, but don’t create a Mi or Google account – you’ll do it later.
• 🔄 Update your firmware to the latest version through Settings → The phone. → Update system. At the time of writing, the current version for Redmi 9 — MIUI 14 (Android 12).
• 🛠️ Turn off battery optimization for applications that will be used for portability (such as Mi Mover or Google Drive.

⚠️ Note: If your old phone is running Android 5.1 or older, some methods (such as Mi Mover) may not be available.In this case, use backup via Google Account or physical cable OTG.

Method 2: Transfer over Mi Mover (official solution from Xiaomi)

Mi Mover is a proprietary utility from Xiaomi that allows you to transfer data directly between two phones without intermediaries, the advantage of which is high speed (up to 10 MB / s when connecting via cable) and no restrictions on the amount of files transferred (unlike cloud services), but there are nuances: not all data is transferred correctly, and some applications may require re-authorization.

Step-by-step:

1. Install Mi Mover on both phones: Redmi 9 has the app preinstalled (you can find it in the Tools folder). On your old phone, download it from Google Play (if the device is not from Xiaomi).

Launch the application on both devices

• On the old phone: I'm the sender.
• On Redmi 9: I'm the recipient.
• Scanner. QR-Code: The new phone will appear QR-code – scan it with an old device.
• Select data for transfer: tick the desired categories (contacts, messages, photos, etc.).
• Confirm the transmission and wait until it's done.

What can be transferred through Mi Mover:

⚠️ Note: If you see an error “failed to install” when you migrate applications through Mi Mover, check the security settings on Redmi 9: allow installation from unknown sources in Settings → Annexes → Special rights → Installation of unknown applications.

Charge both phones up to 50%+

Install Mi Mover on an old device

Connect to a single Wi-Fi network (if you use wireless mode)

Free up space on a new phone (minimum 2GB free)

Shut down. VPN Firewalls (they can block the connection)-->

3. Method 2: Backup through Google Account

This method is universal and works on any Android device, regardless of manufacturer, and the main advantage is that it automatically recovers most data when you first turn on Redmi 9.

• 📧 Contacts, calendars and mail are synchronized.
• 📱 Applications are restored, but without data (for example, saving in games will have to be downloaded again).
• 📷 Photos and videos are only transferred if they were uploaded to Google Photos in original quality (free only up to 15 GB).
• ❌ Messages, calls and Wi-Fi settings are not backed up.

How to make a backup copy:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → System → Backup.
2. Enable the option to back up in Google Drive and select an account.
3. Click Create a copy now and wait until it is completed.
4. On Redmi 9, when you first turn on, select Recover Data and log in to the same Google Account.

If you have already set up Redmi 9, but want to recover your data later:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Select your account and enable sync for the right categories.
3. To restore applications, open Google Play → Library → Installed.

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If you don’t have enough space in Google Drive, clear the cart in Google Photos before backing up and delete old copies in Drive → Backups. This will free up up to 5-10 GB of space.

Method 3: Transfer via OTG cable or adapter

If you don’t have Wi-Fi access or want to transfer data without using cloud services, a physical connection is available. OTG-cable USB-C → USB-A This method is suitable for transferring large files (for example, movies or archives) and works even on devices with outdated versions of Android.

What you need:

• 🔌 OTG-cable (Redmi 9 requires a connector) USB-C).
• 📁 File Manager (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
• ⚡ Adequate battery power (the process can take up to a maximum of three years) 1-2 hours).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old phone to Redmi 9 via OTG-cable.
2. On Redmi 9, select File Transfer (MTP) mode in the notification panel.
3. Open File Manager on your new phone – a folder with an old phone will appear in the Devices section.
4. Copy the files you want (like the DCIM folder with a photo or Download with downloads) into Redmi 9’s internal memory.
5. To transfer contacts, export them to the.vcf file on your old phone (via Contacts → Settings → Export), then copy it to a new one and import it.

⚠️ Note: When connecting through OTG Redmi 9 may not recognize some Samsung or Huawei devices due to different protocols MTP. In this case, use the memory card as an intermediary: copy the data to it from the old phone, then paste it into Redmi 9.

5. Method 4: Using cloud services (Google Drive, Dropbox, Yandex Disk)

Cloud storage is convenient for transferring sample data — for example, only photos, documents or music. The main advantage is that files are accessible from any device, and they can be downloaded even after you set up Redmi. 9. Cons: Limited free space (usually 5-15 GB) and Internet speed dependence.

Comparison of popular services:

How to transfer data via Google Drive:

1. On your old phone, install Google Drive and log in.
2. Click + → Download and select files to transfer.
3. On Redmi 9, open Google Drive, find uploaded files and download them.
4. For photos, it is easier to use Google Photos: turn on autoload on the old phone, then on the new one log in to the same account - photos are synchronized automatically.

Method 5: Transfer over a computer (for power users)

If you prefer full control of the process or want to transfer hidden files (for example, save games or set up applications), connecting both phones to your PC is the best option.

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 Two. USB-cables (preferably original).
• 🛠️ Program for synchronization: Mi PC Suite (official utility from Xiaomi) or Syncthing (for advanced users).

Instructions for Mi PC Suite:

1. Download and install Mi PC Suite on your computer.
2. Connect your old phone via USB by selecting File Transfer mode.
3. In the program, select the Backup section and mark the necessary data.
4. Create a backup copy on the PC.
5. Turn off your old phone, plug in Redmi 9 and select Recovery.

To transfer game saves or application settings:

• Use Helium (requires root) or manually copy /data/data/ and /Android/obb/ (developer rights required).
• For WhatsApp, back up the chats in Settings → Chat → Backup, then transfer the msgstore.db.crypt14 file to the WhatsApp/Databases folder on the new phone.

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If you have a Mac, use Android File Transfer to access your Android files. Windows may require you to install ADB drivers to correctly recognize Redmi 9.

7 What data cannot be transferred in standard ways?

Even the most advanced tools of migration have limitations, and here's what you can't do automatically and how to solve this problem:

1. Passwords from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices

• 🔑 Solution: Use applications like WiFi Key Recovery (requires root) or write down passwords manually.

2. Data of some banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff, VTB)

• 🏦 Solution: Reinstall the app on your new phone and log in again. Some banks block data transfer for security reasons.

3. Smart Home settings (Mi Home, Google Home)

• 🏠 Solution: Link devices back to the app. In Mi Home, you can export configuration to file, but it doesn't work for all devices.

4.Save some games (e.g. Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile)

• 🎮 Solution: Use a link to your Google Play Games account, Facebook or game server. Genshin Impact requires a link to miHoYo.

5. SMS from banks and services with one-time passwords

• 📱 Solution: Reschedule SIM-Redmi 9 card or request new passwords after activation of phone.

8. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even when following instructions, users face problems. Consider the most common ones:

Mistake: "Mi Mover can't see the old device"

• 🔄 Reason: Different versions of the application or incompatible firmware.
• ⚙️ Solution: Update Mi Mover on both phones. Reboot your devices. Use cable instead of Wi-Fi.

Error: “There is not enough space on Google Drive”

• 📁 Reason: Free Storage (15GB) is occupied by old backups.
• ⚙️ Solution: Remove unnecessary copies in Drive → Backups. Use photo compression in Google Photos (quality "High" instead of "Original"). Buy extra space (from 139) ₽/month).

Error: "Applications are not restored from backup"

• 📱 Redmi 9 has disabled the installation from unknown sources.
• ⚙️ Solution: Allow installation in Settings → Annexes → Special rights → Installation of unknown applications.

Error: "Photos are moved but not displayed in the gallery"

• 🖼️ Reason: Files copied to the wrong folder or gallery not scanned them.
• ⚙️ Solution: Move the photo to the folder DCIM/Camera. Restart your phone or manually update your gallery (in Google Photos click on the avatar). → Renovate the library).

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If Redmi 9 starts to slow down after transferring data, clear the cache to Settings → Memory → Cleanup. Also check if background migration processes are running (for example, sync with Google Account).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions