How to transfer data from Android to Xiaomi: 5 ways with and without apps

Why migrating data to Xiaomi requires a special approach

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but the process of data transfer can turn into a real quest. Unlike devices of one brand (for example, from Samsung to Samsung), where automatic synchronization through branded services often works, when switching to Xiaomi from another Android device, users face nuances. The fact is that MIUI — firmware from Xiaomi — has its own backup and recovery mechanisms that are not always compatible with solutions from Google or other manufacturers.

The main problem is the difference in the storage structure, for example, messages in Samsung Messages or Huawei Messages can be stored in proprietary formats that Mi Mover (the official Xiaomi portability app) does not always correctly recognize, the same applies to notes, calendars and even some application settings, and if the old device used Android 10 and below, and the new Xiaomi is running MIUI 14 based on Android 13, version conflicts can occur, which will simply not transfer some of the data.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to transfer data, from the official Mi Mover to alternative apps like Clone Phone or Smart Switch (yes, it doesn’t work just for Samsung!), and how to avoid mistakes, such as when contacts are duplicated or photos lose their original resolution, and at the end, FAQs with answers to the most common questions, including problems with authorization in Mi Account and limits on the amount of files transferred.

Method 1: Official Mi Mover app – fast transfer without a computer

Mi Mover is a proprietary solution from Xiaomi that is pre-installed on all new devices of the brand, allowing you to transfer most data over a wireless network (Wi-Fi Direct) without having to connect to the Internet or use cables, the advantage of this method is that it supports not only standard data like contacts or photos, but also some system settings, such as wallpaper or network settings.

However, there are important limitations:

• 📱 It works only when ported from Android 5.0 and higher (on Android 4.4 and below you will have to use alternative methods).
• 🔌 Both devices must be charged at least 20% – if the discharge is below this threshold, the process will be interrupted.
• 📁 Not all apps are supported: for example, data from WhatsApp or Viber will not be transferred (they need separate backups for them).
• 🚫 If the old device is installed MIUI, But it’s not from Xiaomi (like custom firmware), Mi Mover may not recognize it as compatible.

To start migrating through Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

1. On the new Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select the Data Portability option (if the device is already configured, find Mi Mover in the application menu).
2. On an old phone, download Mi Mover from Google Play (if it’s not there) and open the app.
3. On both devices, select the role: new – “Receiver”, the old – “Sender”.
4. Scan it. QR-code from the screen of the new Xiaomi old phone or connect via device search via Wi-Fi Direct.
5. Select the data types to transfer (contacts, messages, media, etc.) and confirm the start of the process.

Shut down. VPN both-device|Make sure that there is enough free space on your old phone (minimum 500 MB)|Sign out of your Google account on your old device if you need to transfer your email|Close all background applications, especially messengers-->

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If Mi Mover is “hanging” during the connection stage, try restarting both devices and turning on “On the plane” mode for 10 seconds – this will reset the network settings of Wi-Fi Direct.

⚠️ Warning: If storage encryption is enabled on your old phone (for example, on Samsung with Android 11)+), Mi Mover may not see some files, in which case you will have to temporarily disable encryption in the security settings before transferring.

Method 2: Transferring your Google Account is universal, but not perfect

Syncing through Google Account is the most versatile method, as it works on any Android device, regardless of manufacturer.

• 📧 Only contacts, calendars, notes (from Google Keep), mail and some settings (such as Wi-Fi networks) are transferred).
• 🚫 Photos, videos and music are not automatically synced, but you need to use Google Photos separately.
• 🔄 Communications (SMS/MMS) The call log is not transferred through standard Google sync.
• 🕒 The process can take several hours if you have a large amount of data (e.g. 10).+ GB photo).

How to transfer data through Google Account:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Accounts → Google and make sure that sync is enabled for all the right categories (contacts, calendar, etc.).
2. Run the sync manually by clicking “Sync Now”.
3. On the new Xiaomi, when setting up, select the option “Restore from backup”
4. Select the last backup and wait for the recovery to be completed.

To transfer photos and videos, use Google Photos separately:

1. On your old phone, open Google Photos and enable autoload (select “Backup and Sync” in the settings).
2. Wait until all media files are uploaded to the cloud (check progress in Photos → Devices).
3. On the new Xiaomi, log in to the same Google account and wait for sync.

Up to 5GB|5-20 GB|20–50 GB|More than 50GB-->

⚠️ Note: If the old phone used a Huawei account ID or Samsung Account for backup, data from these services are not synchronized with Google Accounts, but will have to be transferred separately (see Method 4).

Method 3: Clone Phone App – Mi Mover Alternative for Non-Xiaomi Devices

Clone Phone (also known as Huawei’s Phone Clone) is a versatile application for transferring data between Android devices of different brands, it works even where Mi Mover refuses to connect, for example, when switching from Huawei, Oppo or Realme to Xiaomi, the main advantage is support for porting applications along with their data (for example, saving in games or settings in instant messengers).

How to use Clone Phone:

1. Download the app to both devices from Google Play (on the new Xiaomi, it may be called the Phone Clone by Huawei Mobile Services).
2. On the old phone, select “This is an old device” and on the new one, “This is a new device.”
3. Scan it. QR-code from the screen of a new phone or connect via Wi-Fi Direct.
4. Select data categories to transfer (you can mark everything, including apps, SMS, call log and multimedia).
5. Confirm the start of the transfer and wait until the completion (time depends on the amount of data).

The advantages of the Clone Phone over the Mi Mover:

• 🔄 Supports the transfer of installed applications (including: APK-Files that Mi Mover does not know.
• 📱 Works with devices on Android 4.4+ (Unlike the Mi Mover, which requires Android 5.0+).
• 🌐 Supports data transfer from iPhone (if you suddenly switch from iOS to Xiaomi).

Way 4: Samsung’s Smart Switch – Unexpectedly Works for Xiaomi

Many users are surprised to learn that the Samsung Smart Switch can be used to migrate data to Xiaomi. Although the app is marketed as a solution for Samsung devices, it supports data export in a universal format that can then be imported to any Android device, including Xiaomi.

How to transfer data via Smart Switch:

1. Download Smart Switch to an old device from Google Play.
2. Connect your old device to your computer via USB and run your Smart Switch on your PC (you can download it from the official Samsung website).
3. Select the option “Backup” and select the desired data categories (contacts, messages, photos, etc.).
4. Save a backup copy to your computer (it will be in.sbk format).
5. Connect the new Xiaomi to your computer and copy the backup files to your phone’s memory.
6. On Xiaomi, install Smart Switch (yes, it works on non-Samsung devices too!) and select Restore by specifying the path to the backup file.

Important nuances:

• 🖥️ This method requires a computer (Windows or Mac).
• 📂 Smart Switch backup can weigh tens of gigabytes – make sure there’s enough space on your computer.
• ⚠️ Not all data is restored correctly: for example, SMS You can see no contact names, and photos can be displayed without contact names. EXIF-tags (dates and locations).

Method 5: Manual transfer via OTG cable or memory card

If you only need to transfer media files (photos, videos, music) or documents, the easiest way is to use an OTG (On-The-Go) cable or a memory card.This method does not require the Internet, applications or a computer, but is only suitable for files that are stored in the device's memory (not for contacts or SMS).

Instructions for transfer via OTG cable:

1. Buy it. OTG-adapter (costs about 200-500 rubles) with a connector USB-C Micro-USB (depending on the port on the old phone).
2. Connect the adapter to the old phone and insert a flash drive or external drive into it.
3. In the file manager (Files by Google) copy the desired files to the flash drive.
4. Disconnect the adapter from your old phone and connect to the new Xiaomi.
5. Copy files from the flash drive to the memory of the new device.

For transfer through the memory card:

1. Insert the memory card into the old device.
2. Copy files to the card (for example, to the DCIM folder for photos or Download for downloads).
3. Remove the card and paste it into the new Xiaomi (or use an adapter if the new phone doesn’t have a card slot).
4. Copy files from the card into internal memory.

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Manual transfer via OTG or memory card is the only way that is guaranteed to preserve the original quality of photos and videos (without compression, as in cloud services).

⚠️ Note: If you are transferring files from an exFAT memory card (usually used for cards larger than 32 GB), make sure the new Xiaomi supports this format. 9A) They only work FAT32, The map will have to be formatted, which will result in data loss.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even with proven data transfer methods, users are faced with typical problems, and here are the most common errors and ways to solve them:

• 🔌 Devices do not connect via Wi-Fi Direct: Check that both phones are disabled VPN Reboot both devices and try to connect again. If you're using the Mi Mover, try the alternative, Clone Phone or Smart Switch.
• 📱 Transfer interrupts at half: Make sure there is enough free space on both devices (at least 1GB on the new Xiaomi).Close all background apps, especially instant messengers and social media. If a cable is used, check its integrity (damaged cables often cause transmission interruptions).
• 📂 Contacts are not transferred or duplicated: Before transferring contacts, export them to a file. VCF (In the Contacts app, select Export/Import. If contacts are duplicated, use the “Combine Duplicates” function in Google Contacts after transfer.
• 🔒 Mi Account authorization is required, but it doesn't pass: Make sure you use the correct region in your Mi Account settings (e.g. if the phone is bought in China, a Chinese account may be required). Try logging in via your browser on your computer and then logging in to your phone. If Mi Account is blocked, please contact Xiaomi with the instructions IMEI device.

Critical information: If you migrate data from a phone that used root access or custom firmware, some apps (such as banking) may stop working on the new Xiaomi, which is because MIUI checks the integrity of the system on the first run, in which case you will have to reset the new phone to factory settings and repeat the port without root rights.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions