How to transfer data from old Android to the new Xiaomi: the complete guide

Moving to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but transferring data from an old Android device can become a headache if you don’t know the nuances. Even experienced users sometimes lose hours searching for missing contacts or restoring chat history. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of migration, from standard MIUI tools to little-known life hacks for complex cases.

Xiaomi smartphones offer multiple built-in portability solutions, but not all are equally effective. Mi Mover works perfectly for contacts and photos, but can forget about the settings of some applications. Cloud services like Google Drive or Mi Cloud require pre-tuning. We tested each method on devices from 2023 to 2026 (including Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13 and POCO F6) and identified their strengths and weaknesses.

Importantly, if you're going from an iPhone or a device to an iOS, this instruction doesn't work for you -- there's different sync protocols, and it's just about transferring between Android devices, including Samsung, Huawei, Realme and other brands.

1.Mi Mover built-in tool: fast cable transfer

The most reliable way is to use Xiaomi’s proprietary solution. Mi Mover works on the principle of “plug and forget”: data is transmitted directly over the cable without the cloud, which guarantees high speed (up to 500 MB / min on new models) and the safety of personal information.

How it works:

• 🔌 Connect both smartphones to charging (transfer consumes a lot of power).
• 📱 On the new Xiaomi, select Data Transfer when you first enable (or find Mi Mover in Settings). → The phone. → Data portability).
• 🔄 On your old phone, install the Mi Mover app from Google Play (if it’s not by default).
• 📎 Connect devices through OTG-cable (complete with the new Xiaomi usually comes with an adapter).

What can be transferred through Mi Mover:

⚠️ Note: If your old phone has encryption enabled (e.g., Samsung with Knox), Mi Mover may not see some files.

Critical feature: on Android 12+ and MIUI 14+ devices, when migrating through Mi Mover, MIUI Optimization automatically turns off for 24 hours to speed up the process. Don't be afraid - that's okay.

2. Cloud-based transfer via Mi Cloud: for those who like backups

If you already have a Mi Account, this method saves time. Mi Cloud allows you to back up your old phone and restore it to a new one. The main advantage is that you don't need to connect cables, and the disadvantage is the volume limit (5 GB for a free account).

Step-by-step:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup.
2. Select the data to copy (contacts, notes, SMS, photos from the Xiaomi gallery).
3. Click on “Create backup” and wait until it is completed (it can take up to 30 minutes).
4. On the new Xiaomi, log in to the same Mi Account and recover data from the cloud.

What's important to know:

• ☁️ Photos and videos are copied in original quality, but take up space in the cloud.
• 🔒 Application data (e.g. saved in games) is only portable if the application supports Mi Cloud.
• ⏳ Recovery can take hours if the internet is slow.

⚠️ Note: If the old phone was unofficial MIUI (custom firmware, backup in Mi Cloud may not recover. ADB backup (section 5).

3. Google Account: A universal method for contacts and apps

Google synchronization is the most cross-platform way, but it doesn’t work with all types of data, such as SMS and Google call logs that aren’t portable (you need Mi Cloud or third-party apps), but contacts, calendars, and some app settings are automatically synchronized.

How to set up:

• 📱 On an old phone: Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of the account → Turn on all the necessary options.
• 🔄 On the new Xiaomi: Sign in to the same Google account when you first turn it on or add it manually.
• ⚙️ Wait for automatic synchronization (can take up to 10 minutes).

What is carried over Google:

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If after synchronization, some contacts are not displayed, check on the old phone, whether they are saved in the phone. SIM-Map or local memory. Transfer them to your Google account manually: Open Contacts → Management → Imports/Exports.

4. Computer Transfer: For Large Data

If you have hundreds of gigabytes of photos, videos or music, the best option is to copy them to your PC and then transfer them to the new Xiaomi.This method takes longer, but guarantees 100% control over files.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 Two. USB-cable (or one with) OTG-splitter).
• 📁 Folder on PC with sufficient space (recommended 10-20% more data portable).

Instructions:

1. Connect your old phone to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Copy the folders you need (DCIM for photos, Download for downloads, etc.) to your computer.
3. Turn off your old phone, connect a new Xiaomi.
4. Move files back by following the folder structure (for example, photos should be in DCIM/Camera).

Connected the old phone in MTP | Copyed the DCIM, Download, Pictures | Checked the free space on the new Xiaomi | Follow the folder structure when copying | Disconnected both phones safely (via "Extract the device")

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⚠️ Note: If you copy music or video, check file formats. Xiaomi's new models do not support.flac in the standard player (you need to install it). VLC poweramp).

5. Transfer of messages and chats: WhatsApp, Telegram and SMS

Messages from messengers and SMS are transferred separately from the rest of the data.

WhatsApp:

• 📱 Create a backup on your old phone: Settings → chat → Backup copy.
• ☁️ Use Google Drive (only if the new Xiaomi is linked to the same account).
• ⚠️ Android. 12+ You may need to manually copy the folder. /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases.

Telegram:

• ☁️ All chats and media files are synced automatically through the Telegram cloud.
• 🔄 Just log in to your account on a new phone – the story will load itself.

SMS/MMS:

• 📲 Use Mi Mover or third-party apps like SMS Backup & Restore.
• 📎 Export. SMS Include.xml file and import it to your new phone.

6. Transfer applications and their data: saves, games, settings

The hardest part is to transfer not only the apps themselves, but also their data (e.g., game progress, Spotify or Instagram settings), there is no universal solution, but there are several working methods:

Method 1: Built-in Android (ADB Backup)

For power users, you can create a full backup through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which will save both applications and their data, but requires command line skills.

adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab

Then restore it to the new phone:

adb restore backup.ab

Method 2: Backup in applications

Many programs (e.g. Spotify, 1Password, Evernote) have their own export/import function.

Method 3: Root access (for advanced)

If both phones have root, you can copy /data/data and /data/app folders via TWRP or Root Explorer.

⚠️ Note: This method may disrupt some applications due to differences in Android versions or processor architecture (ARM/x86).

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Most modern games (such as Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile) link progress to an account (Google Play, Facebook, Mi Account). Before perenosom, check in the game settings if your data is synced to the cloud.

7. Transfer of system settings: wallpaper, sounds, profiles

Small but important details -- wallpaper, notification sounds, energy saving profiles -- are often lost when you switch to a new phone, and in MIUI, some of them can be transferred over the Mi Cloud, but not all of them.

Wallpaper and themes:

• 🎨 If the wallpaper was installed through Xiaomi Themes, they are tied to the account and will be restored automatically.
• 📁 For custom wallpaper, copy files from /sdcard/Pictures/Wallpapers.

Sounds and melodies:

• 🔔 Move the folder. /sdcard/Ringtones and /sdcard/Notifications.
• 🎵 For music tracks, use Google Play Music or Spotify (synchronize via account).

Energy saving settings:

• ⚡ V MIUI 14+ Battery profiles are saved in Mi Cloud, but can be reconfigured in 2 minutes.
• 🔋 If you have used AccuBattery or similar applications, export their data manually.

8. Check after transfer: what to do

When the transfer is complete, don't rush to drop the old phone.

1. 📞 Check all the contacts (especially those that have been saved) SIM-map).
2. 📷 Make sure all photos and videos are open (sometimes.heic or.mov formats require additional codecs).
3. 💬 Open messengers and check the history of chats.
4. 🎮 Start the games to make sure that progress is maintained.
5. 🔊 Listen to music and notifications – sometimes the paths to files get lost.

💡

If the phone is slower after the transfer, restart it and wait for the background optimization to be completed (in MIUI, it can take up to an hour).

If something's lost:

• 🔍 For a photo, check the folder. DCIM/.thumbnails — Sometimes the miniatures remain even after the originals have been removed.
• 📩 For SMS Try apps like this. SMS Backup & Restore (they look for backups in your phone’s memory).
• 🔄 If you use Mi Cloud, check the Recycle Bin section – deleted files are stored there for 30 days.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data portability to Xiaomi