How to Transfer Data from the Old Xiaomi to the New: The Complete 2026 Guide

Moving to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but data porting often turns into a headache. Photos, contacts, messages, app settings, and even call history all need to be saved to keep things from scratch. Fortunately, Xiaomi owners have several proven ways to migrate, from the built-in Mi Mover tool to cloud services and manual copying.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods for transferring data between Xiaomi devices (including Redmi models, POCO And Black Shark, the pros and cons, and the tips for avoiding errors, and we'll focus on porting data between devices on different versions. MIUI (like the old one. MIUI 12 on the new HyperOS, as compatibility issues often arise here.

Whether you’re upgrading from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 or from POCO X3 to POCO F6, the instructions below are suitable for any combination, and the main thing is to prepare both devices correctly and choose the best way depending on the amount of data and Internet speed.

1. Preparation of devices before data transfer

Before migrating, there are several critical steps to follow on both smartphones, and neglecting preparation can lead to data loss or disruptions in the process.

On the old device:

• 🔋 Charge the battery to at least 50% – transfer data can take from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the volume.
• 📶 Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (if you plan to use the cloud or Mi Mover) Mobile internet is not recommended due to traffic restrictions.
• 🗑️ Delete unnecessary files (cache, duplicate photos, old apps) via Settings → Memory. → Cleaning up. It'll speed up the process.
• 🔑 Make sure the screen lock is disabled on the device (PIN, pattern lock) or you know the password – some methods require unlocking during the transfer.

On the new device:

• 📱 Complete the initial setup until the system prompts you to move the data (usually the “Copy Data” step after you connect to Wi-Fi).
• 🔄 Update your firmware to the latest version through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system, minimizing the risk of compatibility errors.
• 📡 If you are using Mi Mover, turn on the data mode in the notification curtain ("Mi Mover" icon").

⚠️ Note: If the old device has data encryption enabled (Settings) → Additionally. → Encryption, some transfer methods (e.g. via cable) OTG) In this case, use the cloud or Google Account.

2. Method 1: Mi Mover is the official tool from Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a built-in data portability app designed specifically for Xiaomi devices, which supports contact, message, photo, video, music, apps (including their data) and even some system settings, the main advantage of which is that it does not require Internet (works on Wi-Fi Direct) and maintains the folder structure.

How to use:

1. On the new device, at the initial setup stage, select Data Copy → Mi Mover.
2. On your old device, open the Mi Mover app (if not, download from Google Play).
3. Select the role: on the new one, "This is a new phone," on the old one, "This is an old phone."
4. Scan it. QR-code from a new phone on an old phone (or connect manually via Wi-Fi Direct).
5. Select the data to transfer and confirm the start of the process.

The speed of transmission depends on the amount of data:

• 📷 10 GB photo/video — ~20-30 minute.
• 📱 Annexes + setting — ~10-15 minute.
• 📞 Contacts + message — ~2-5 minute.

⚠️ Note: If the new device is installed HyperOS, and on the old — MIUI 12/13, Update Mi Mover to the latest version on both phones before transferring. Otherwise, an error will occur".

Charge both devices up to 50%+

Install the latest version of Mi Mover on your old phone

Connect to a single Wi-Fi network (optional, but speeds up search)

Disable VPNs and Firewalls

Remove the screen lock during the transfer-->

3. Method 2: Google Account – the universal way

If you use Google services, this method will allow you to transfer most data without additional applications, suitable for switching not only between Xiaomi devices, but also to other brands (for example, from Redmi to Samsung).

What can be transferred via Google:

• 📇 Contacts (synchronized automatically if enabled in Settings) → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization).
• 📅 Calendar and notes (from Google Keep or Calendar).
• 📎 Photos and videos (via Google Photos with original quality or compression).
• 🎮 Game and App Data (if the developer supports Google Play Games).
• 🔧 Some settings (Wi-Fi passwords, language, date/time).

Step-by-step:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Accounts → Google and enable sync for all the data you need.
2. Upload the photo/video to Google Photos (open the app → click on the avatar → Photo settings → Backup).
3. On the new phone, select “Copy Data” → “From Cloud Storage” → sign in to the same Google account.
4. Select the data to recover and wait for completion.

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Not tolerated. SMS/MMS (Unless you use third-party apps like SMS Backup & Restore).
• ❌ No transmission of established APK — Application data only (if it supports cloud storage).
• ❌ Volume limit: only 15GB of free Google Drive is available (in original quality photos occupy this space very quickly).

💡

If you don’t have enough space in Google Drive, turn on the “High Quality” option in the Google Photos backup settings before transferring your photo, allowing you to download an unlimited number of photos without paying for storage.

Method 3: OTG cable or adapter for large volumes

If you have a lot of data (50+GB) and don’t have time to wait for a cloud download, the fastest way is to transfer directly via an OTG cable or USB-C to USB-C adapter.

What you need:

• 🔌 Cable OTG (for older models with Micro-USB or adapter USB-C to USB-C (for the new Xiaomi).
• 📂 File Manager (built-in) MIUI File Manager or Solid Explorer).
• ⚡ Charger – with a large amount of data, it is better to connect a new phone to the network.

Instructions:

1. Connect your old phone to your new phone via cable/adapter. On the new device, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Open File Manager on your new phone and go to the section"USB-The storage (memory of an old phone).
3. Copy the right folders: DCIM — Photos and videos. Downloads — downloads. Pictures, Music — media files. Android/data — Data from some applications (but not all!).

contact SMS

• Contacts: Contacts → Settings → Export / Import → Export to.vcf.
• SMS: Use the SMS Backup & Restore app.

The advantages of the cloud method:

• 🌐 Works at any distance (no physical connection to your phone is required).
• 🔄 You can transfer data in parts (for example, today photos, tomorrow contacts).
• 🛡️ Data is protected from loss (if something goes wrong with your phone).

Disadvantages:

• ⏳ Long loading time with a large amount of data.
• 💾 Limited free space (you will have to clean or buy additional space).
• 🔌 It requires a stable internet.

💡

Mi Cloud is convenient for transferring contacts and SMS, but not suitable for large media libraries. For photos and videos, it is better to use Google Photos or Yandex Disk with automatic download.

Method 5: Manual transfer via computer

If none of the previous methods are suitable (for example, the new phone is not yet available). SIM-You can use a computer as an intermediary, and this is universal and works even with damaged phones (if they are defined as a drive).

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
• 🔌 Two. USB-cable (or single cable) + OTG-hub).
• 📂 Copying program (you can do with a standard conductor).

Advantages of the method:

• 🖥️ Complete control of the process (you can selectively copy files).
• 🔄 Suitable for phones with damaged screen (if debugging mode is enabled) USB).
• 📁 You can edit files before transferring (e.g., delete duplicate photos).

⚠️ Note: If your old phone has memory encryption enabled, your computer may not see files without unlocking. → Security → Encryption (password entry required).

💡

To speed up copying large files (video, backups), connect both phones to your computer via USB 3.0 (blue ports) or use a microSD card reader (if the phones support memory cards).

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when following instructions, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

Problem 1: Mi Mover doesn't find the old device.

• 🔄 Reboot both phones and try again.
• 📶 Make sure that both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled.
• 🔗 Try to connect manually through QR-code (click "Connect without" QR" Mi Mover).
• 📱 Update Mi Mover to the latest version on Google Play.

Problem 2: Applications or their data are not portable.

• 📱 Check if the app supports backup (for example, WhatsApp requires a separate setup).
• 🔧 For certain games and programs (for example, PUBG Mobile, Banking Apps) data is linked to your account – log in to your new phone under the same login.
• 📁 If you use a cable OTG, copy the folder Android/obb — It stores additional game data.

Problem 3: Photos and videos will not open after the transfer.

• 📷 Check if the files have been fully copied (sometimes the transfer is interrupted).
• 🔍 Make sure that file extensions have not changed (e.g..jpg has not become.jpg.part).
• 📱 Try opening files through another player (for example, VLC or quickpic).

Problem 4: There is not enough space on the new phone.

• 🗑️ Remove unnecessary system applications through Settings → Annexes → Remove (e.g., duplicate Xiaomi services).
• 📁 Move some files to a memory card (if supported).
• ☁️ Upload rarely used files to the cloud and leave only previews on your phone.

Problem 5: After the transfer, the settings or wallpaper disappeared.

• 🔧 Not all settings are portable through Mi Mover, but you have to manually adjust them (brightness, sounds, gestures).
• 🎨 Wallpaper can be copied from the folder Pictures/Wallpapers Or download it again from Xiaomi Themes.

8. FAQ: Answers to frequent questions