How to transfer data from Xiaomi smartphone to another Android: the complete guide

The transition to a new smartphone is always exciting, especially when it comes to transferring data from Xiaomi to a device from another manufacturer. Even with the same operating system (Android), the nuances of migration can turn the process into a headache: contacts are lost somewhere, messages are not restored, and applications refuse to work without re-authorization. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods of transferring – from standard Google tools to Xiaomi branded solutions, and also reveal the pitfalls of each method.

Xiaomi is also heavily using its own services (such as Mi Account and Mi Cloud), which are not always compatible with pure Android on other brands, and some data (such as notes or recordings from Mi Fit) are stored in private formats and require separate attention. We have tested each method on real devices — from low-end Redmi to flagship Xiaomi 14 — and are ready to share honest conclusions.

Preparation for the transfer: what to do before the migration begins

The first and most important step is to check the compatibility of the old and new device, and even if both are Android-powered, the OS and shell versions may be different. MIUI, a Samsung - One UI. This affects which data can be transferred automatically and which data can be copied manually.

List of mandatory actions before transfer:

• 🔋 Charge both phones to at least 50% – the process can take up to an hour.
• 📶 Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network (or use a mobile hotspot).
• 📱 Update. MIUI on the old Xiaomi to the latest version via Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🔐 Make sure there is enough space for portable data on the new phone (check in Settings). → Warehouse).

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If you’re transferring data to a Samsung device, install the Smart Switch app from Google Play in advance – it supports migration even from Xiaomi via cable. OTG.

Pay special attention to the accounts:

• 📧 Link Mi Account to Google (if you haven’t already) to make it easier to move your contacts and calendar.
• 🔑 Remember passwords from Mi Cloud, Google Drive, and other cloud services – they will be needed to log in to your new device.
• 🛡️ Disable two-factor authentication in Mi Account at the time of transfer (if enabled) to avoid blocking.

⚠️ Note: If old Xiaomi has data encryption enabled (Settings) → Additionally. → Encryption and credentials, some transfer techniques (e.g., cable) may not work. In this case, use cloud services.

2. Method 1: Transfer through Google Account (the most universal method)

This method is suitable for transferring basic data: contacts, calendar, notes (if synced with Google Keep), mail and some settings, the main advantage is that you do not need to install additional applications, and the data will be available on any Android device.

Step-by-step:

1. On the old Xiaomi, open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Select your account and enable sync for all the right categories (contacts, calendar, Google Fit, etc.).
3. Wait until sync is complete (check the time of the last update in each section).
4. On the new phone, when you first turn on, select the “Recover Data” option and log in to the same Google account.
5. Follow the system hints by selecting a backup with the most recent date possible.

What is carried in this way:

⚠️ Note: If on the old Xiaomi contacts are saved to Local Contacts (not Google), they will not be transferred.To fix this, export them to the.vcf file through the Contacts app and import them to the new device.

Method 3: Transfer over Mi Cloud (for users of the Xiaomi ecosystem)

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s proprietary cloud storage that allows you to back up almost all data, including SMS, Call logs, notes, even system settings, but there's a limitation to this method: the new device must be installed. MIUI (Or at least the app "Mi Mover").

How to transfer data through Mi Cloud:

1. On the old Xiaomi go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Enable synchronization for all categories (especially Backup).
3. Click "Create a backup" and wait for the process to be completed.
4. On a new device (if it is from Xiaomi), log in to the same Mi Account and select the option "Restore from backup".
5. If the new device is not from Xiaomi, install the “Mi Mover” app from Google Play and follow the instructions.

Advantages and disadvantages of the method:

• ✅ Transferred SMS, callbook MIUI (What Google is not doing).
• ✅ Free 5 GB of cloud storage is provided.
• ❌ Not all data is compatible with “clean” Android (for example, notes from “Mi Notes” may not open).
• ❌ Requires a stable Internet connection (with a large amount of data).

Method 3: Cable transfer (quickly and without internet)

If you don't have Wi-Fi, or you don't want to upload data to the cloud, direct cable transfer is the best solution. OTG (adapter USB-C → USB-C, If both phones are modern and the migration application.

The best applications for cable transfer:

• 📱 Mi Mover (officially from Xiaomi, but works with other brands).
• 🔄 Samsung Smart Switch (if the new device from Samsung).
• 📎 Clone Phone (from Huawei, but supports most Android devices).

Instructions for Mi Mover:

Install Mi Mover on both devices from Google Play

Connect the phones with a cable. OTG (Xiaomi as a source, new as a receiver)

On the old phone, select "Send", on the new one - "Get"

Select data categories for transfer (contacts, SMS, photo etc.)

Confirm the start of the process and wait until the process is completed (don’t turn off the cable!)

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The speed of transfer via cable is 5-10 times higher than over Wi-Fi, but there are nuances:

• 🔌 Not all cables. OTG Support data transfer (some only charging). Use the original Xiaomi cable.
• 📵 Some devices (such as Pixel or OnePlus) may need to enable debugging. USB (Settings → The phone. → Assembly number (7 taps) → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔒 If the new phone is locked screen, it will have to temporarily turn off.

⚠️ Warning: When you move through the cable, don't interrupt the process, which can cause some data to be lost or applications to fail. If the phone overheats, pause and continue later.

5. Method 4: Porting photos, videos and files (cloud vs local copying)

Multimedia files (photos, videos, music) often take up the lion’s share of memory, and porting them requires a separate approach, and there are two main options: cloud services (convenient but long) and local copying (quick, but free space is needed).

Option 1: Cloud services

• 📷 Google Photos – automatically uploads all photos and videos in original quality (if the option “High quality” is enabled, space is unlimited).
• ☁️ Mi Cloud – Suitable if you already use the Xiaomi ecosystem, but storage is limited to 5GB.
• 📁 Yandex Disk / Mail.ru Cloud is an alternative for users from Russia (free 10-20 GB).

Option 2: Local copying

1. Connect the old Xiaomi to your computer via USB and select the "File Transfer" mode".
2. Copy the folders. DCIM (Photos, Downloads (downloads) and Music on your computer.
3. Connect a new phone and transfer the files to the same folders.
4. Use the card reader to speed up if the files are stored on SD-map.

A critical nuance: if you transfer photos from the Gallery app to Xiaomi, some albums (like Screenshots or Screen Records) can be stored in hidden folders. To see them, turn on the display of hidden files in the Explorer.

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To transfer photos in their original quality, use Google Photos with the setting "Original quality" - this will save all metadata (date, geolocation, shooting parameters).

Method 5: Transfer applications and their data (without loss of progress)

The hardest part of migration is migrating installed applications and their data (e.g., game progress, chat history in instant messengers), standard methods (via Google or Mi Cloud) transfer only application lists, not their internal files, and specialized tools will help.

For the transfer of application data:

• 🎮 Google Play Games – Keeps progress in games (if the developer supports this feature).
• 💬 Own backups of messengers: WhatsApp: Settings → chat → Backup (saves to Google Drive). Viber: Settings → Account. → Telegram: Data is stored in the cloud, but media files need to be transferred separately.
• 🛠️ Titanium Backup (requires root rights) – for full backup of applications and their data.

How to transfer applications without root:

1. On your old phone, install App Backup & Restore from Google Play.
2. Create a backup of the desired applications (files with the extension.apk and.zip).
3. Transfer files to a new phone (via cable, cloud, or other devices) SD-map).
4. Install App Backup & Restore on your new device and restore the data.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. banking or with) DRM-security, blocking data transfer for security reasons, in which case you have to re-sign in and configure everything from scratch.

7. Problem Solving: What to Do If Data Is Not Transferred

Even with the right instructions, there are times when you fail, and let's look at the typical problems and the ways you can solve them.

If none of the methods worked, try manual transfer:

1. Copy all important files onto a computer or SD-map.
2. Install the necessary apps from Google Play on the new phone.
3. Restore data from local copies (for example, contacts from.vcf, photos from the folder) DCIM).

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If some features don’t work on the new phone (such as fingerprint or gestures), reset to factory settings (Settings). → System system → Reset settings) and repeat data transfer.

8. FAQ: Answers to frequent questions