How to Move Data from Lenovo to Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to 2026

Switching from a Lenovo smartphone to a Xiaomi device is not only a brand change, but also the need to transfer all the important data: contacts, photos, messages and even app settings. Many users face problems when trying to sync due to differences in firmware (MIUI vs. standard Android, manufacturers’ limitations, or a banal lack of knowledge about the tools available.

In this article, we will discuss 5 Working methods of data transfer – from standard Google features to Xiaomi utilities, and also tell you how to avoid typical errors (for example, loss of quality photos or duplicate contacts). Particular attention will be paid to data transfer without a computer and the nuances of working with devices based on the MIUI 14/15.

Whether you are moving to Lenovo K12 Pro on Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 or Lenovo Legion Y70 On Xiaomi 14 Ultra, you'll find the right solutions here!

1. Preparation of devices for data transfer

Before you start the transfer, you need to follow a few critical steps, neglecting them can lead to data loss, conflict of application versions or even blocking your Mi Account account.

First, check the compatibility of Android versions:

• 📱 On Lenovo: Go to Settings → The phone. → Android version: If the version is below Android 8.0, some methods (like Mi Mover) may not work.
• 📱 On Xiaomi: Update the firmware to the latest version MIUI through settings → The phone. → Update the system. This minimizes the risk of synchronization errors.

Second, free up space on both devices:

• 🗑️ On Lenovo, delete unnecessary files (cache, duplicate photos) using the built-in Cleanup tool or the Files by Google app.
• 📁 On Xiaomi, check the free space in Settings → Storage. Data transfer will require at least 10-15% free-flow.

⚠️ Note: If Lenovo has data encryption enabled (Settings) → Security → Encryption, disable it in advance. Otherwise, Mi Mover and other tools may not see the files.

Also prepare:

• 🔌 Chargers: Both phones must be charged at least 50% to avoid interruption.
• 📶 A stable internet connection (for cloud methods) or cable OTG (forward-transfer).
• 📝 List of apps to move (some, like WhatsApp, require a separate backup).

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

Mi Mover is a Xiaomi-branded utility optimized for transferring data from devices to Android (including Lenovo), which supports the transfer of contacts, messages, photos, videos, music and even some application settings, the main advantage is that it does not require a computer and works directly between phones.

Instructions for use:

1. Download Mi Mover on both devices: 📥 On Xiaomi: the app is preinstalled (find through search in Settings). 📥 On Lenovo: download APK Xiaomi App Store (version must be at least 4.0.0).

Mi Mover

• 📤 On Lenovo: Click I'm the sender.
• 📥 On Xiaomi: Click I'm the Recipient.
• Scan the scanner on Xiaomi scan QR-code that will appear on the Lenovo screen.
• Select data types to transfer (we recommend disabling the Applications if they are not critical – this will speed up the process).
• Confirm the transfer and wait until the completion (time depends on the amount of data).

⚠️ Note: If Lenovo is running Android 12+, And Xiaomi — MIUI 13 or older, turn off Real-time Data Protection in Lenovo security settings before transferring. Otherwise, Mi Mover may end with an error. 0x80070005.

Critical: If Lenovo has Battery Optimization enabled for Mi Mover, the app can interrupt the transfer halfway through the process. To avoid this, add Mi Mover to the optimization exceptions (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications).

Disable encryption on Lenovo|Charge both phones >50%|Install the latest version of Mi Mover|Disable battery optimization for Mi Mover|Connect to a single Wi-Fi network (for speeding up)-->

Method 3: Transfer through Google Account (universal method)

Google sync is the most reliable way to transfer contacts, calendars, notes and parts of apps, and it works on any Android device and does not require additional programs, but there are limitations: it does not carry photos, videos and messages (they need Google Photos or Google Drive separately).

Step-by-step:

1. Lenovo: 🔄 Go to Settings. → Accounts. → Google. 🔄 Enable sync for all the data you need (contacts, calendar, Chrome, Gmail, etc.). 📁 To transfer photos / videos, open Google Photos, click on the avatar → Photo settings → Backup and synchronization.

Xiaomi

• 🔄 When you first turn on, select Restore Data from Google.
• 🔄 If the phone is already configured, go to Settings → Accounts. → Add an account → Google and log in.
• 📥 In Google Photos, wait until the media download is completed (it can take several hours with a large volume).

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ It works on all devices, even if they are on different versions of Android.
• ✅ Data is stored in the cloud and accessible from any device.
• ✅ Automatic update of contacts when changes occur.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Restriction on free storage in Google Photos (15 GB per account).
• ❌ No forwarding of messages (SMS/MMS) and data of some applications (for example, Viber or Telegram).
• ❌ With a large amount of data, synchronization can take several days.

💡

If you don’t have enough space in Google Drive, delete old backups of other devices before transferring. Go to drive.google.com, open the Storage section, and delete unnecessary files.

Method 3: Transfer over OTG cable (for large data volumes)

If you have tens of gigabytes of photos, videos or music, cloud services may be too slow or too fee-based, and the best option is to transfer directly over the cable. OTG (adapter USB-C to USB-C, If both phones have a type of connector USB-C).

What you need:

• 🔌 Cable OTG (adapter).
• 📁 File Manager (e.g. Mi File Manager on Xiaomi or Files by Google on Lenovo).
• ⚡ Adequate battery power (the process can take time) 1-2 hour).

Instructions:

1. Connect Lenovo to Xiaomi via cable OTG.
2. On Xiaomi, select File Transfer (MTP) mode in the notification panel.
3. Open the file manager on Xiaomi and go to the section USB-Storage: This is Lenovo’s internal memory).
4. Copy the right folders (DCIM for photo, download, etc.) to internal memory or SD-Xiaomi.
5. To transfer contacts, export them to.vcf file on Lenovo (Contacts) → Settings → Export and import to Xiaomi.

⚠️ Note: When copying a photo/video MTP Metadata loss (shoot dates, geotags) is possible, and to avoid this, use specialized programs like Syncthing or Resilio Sync to avoid it.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Maximum transfer speed (up to) 40-60 MB/s when used USB 3.0).
• ✅ There are no limits on the amount of data.
• ✅ Doesn't require the Internet.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ You need to manually copy each type of data (contacts, messages, photos separately).
• ❌ Risk of Metadata Loss in Media Files.
• ❌ Cable required OTG (not always on hand).

5. Method 4: Transfer through third-party applications (SHAREit, Xender, Send Anywhere)

If standard methods don’t work (for example, because of an outdated version of Android on Lenovo), you can use third-party applications to transfer files. P2P (Directly between devices and do not require an internet connection.

Comparison of popular applications:

Instructions on the example of Xender:

1. Install Xender on both devices from Google Play.
2. On Lenovo, click Send, on Xiaomi, Receive.
3. Scan it. QR-Xiaomi code from the Lenovo screen.
4. Select files to transfer and confirm the transfer.

Warnings:

• 🚫 Avoid apps like Zapya or Feem, which often contain malicious code.
• 🚫 Do not transfer confidential data (passwords, banking applications) through third-party services.

💡

The application side is convenient for one-time transfer of a small amount of data, but is not suitable for full migration (for example, does not tolerate system settings or application data).

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

If you prefer complete control of the process, transfer via computer (Windows/Mac) — It allows you to selectively copy files, edit them before transferring them, and avoid version conflicts.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows 7+ macOS.
• 🔌 Two. USB-cables (preferably original).
• 📁 Programs: Mi PC Suite (for Xiaomi) and Lenovo Migrate (optional for backup).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Lenovo to your computer in File Transfer mode (MTP).
2. Copy all the folders you need (DCIM, Pictures, Download, etc.) to the hard drive of the computer.
3. Export your contacts to a.vcf file (via Google Contacts or Lenovo Contacts built-in app).
4. Use the transfer of messages SMS Backup & Restore (Create a Backup in.xml Format).
5. Disable Lenovo and connect Xiaomi.
6. Copy all files from your computer to Xiaomi (in the corresponding folders).
7. Import contacts and messages through the same apps.

For the portability of applications:

• 📦 Use it. APK Extractor on Lenovo to save APK-file.
• 📱 On Xiaomi, enable installation from unknown sources (Settings) → Annexes → Special rights → Installation of unknown applications).
• 🔄 Install the saved ones. APK-Manual files (application data will not be transferred!).

⚠️ Note: When transferring via computer, do not copy the entire Android folder - this can lead to conflicts in the operation of applications on Xiaomi.

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even when following instructions, users often encounter problems, and let's look at some of the most common mistakes and how to fix them.

Problem 1: Mi Mover doesn’t see Lenovo’s device.

Decisions:

• 🔄 Update the Mi Mover to the latest version.

Problem 2: The photos were moved, but without a date.

Decisions:

• 📅 Use Google Photos to transfer – it saves metadata.
• 📅 Manually edit dates through the Exif Editor app on Xiaomi.

Problem 3: WhatsApp messages are not portable.

Decisions:

• 💬 Backup WhatsApp chats on Lenovo (Settings) → chat → Backup copy).
• 💬 Transfer the WhatsApp folder from Lenovo’s internal memory to Xiaomi (via cable or cloud).
• 💬 Install WhatsApp on Xiaomi and restore chats from backup.

Problem 4: Xiaomi doesn’t have enough space to move.

Decisions:

• 🗑️ Free up space with the built-in Cleanup tool MIUI.
• 📁 Move some of the data to SD-card (if supported).
• 🔄 Use cloud portability (like Google Drive) for the largest files.

Problem 5: Some contacts have been lost since the transfer.

Decisions:

• 📇 Check if your contacts are synced with your Google Account on Xiaomi.
• 📇 Import contacts again from the.vcf file.
• 📇 Make sure your Lenovo contacts are saved to your Google account, not your phone’s memory.

💡

If after transferring to Xiaomi, the wallpaper or screen settings are lost, restart the device. MIUI Sometimes resets personalization when first turned on after data migration.

8. FAQ: Answers to popular questions