Transferring Data from Xiaomi to Xiaomi via Google: A Complete Guide with Proven Ways

Why is Google the best way to move data between Xiaomi?

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always accompanied by the question: how to transfer all the important data from the old device? Many users mistakenly believe that it requires third-party applications or cables, but in fact the most reliable and versatile method is using a Google account. This method works on all Xiaomi models, from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra, and does not require additional programs.

The main advantage of migrating through Google is process automation: your contacts, calendars, notes, photos (if synced with Google Photos is enabled), as well as some application settings will be available on the new device immediately after you sign in, without having to worry about compatibility of MIUI versions or data limitations - Google cloud offers 15 GB of free space for each account, which is enough for most users.

However, there are nuances: not all types of data are synchronized automatically, for example, SMS and call log require separate configuration, and some files (such as music or documents) will have to be transferred manually. In this article, we will discuss all the steps of the process from preparing an old smartphone to finalizing a new one, and also consider alternative ways for those cases where Google sync does not cover all the needs.

Preparing the old Xiaomi smartphone for data transfer

Before you start the transfer, you need to make sure that all the important data on the old Xiaomi is correctly synchronized with the Google account. This stage is critical: if you miss it, some information can be lost. Start by checking your Internet connection - you better use Wi-Fi, since synchronizing a large amount of data over the mobile network can take a lot of time and traffic.

Next, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google and make sure your account is added and active. If it is not, add by following the system prompts. Then open the sync section and turn on the switches for all the necessary categories:

• 📇 Contacts – will be transferred to the Google Contacts app.
• 📅 Calendar – Events will be available in Google Calendar.
• 📝 Notes – if you have used Google Keep.
• 📁 Disk – for backup of files.
• 📷 Google Photos – to transfer photos and videos (set up autoload!).

Contact synchronization is enabled

Has a Google account been added in the settings?

Is there Wi-Fi or stable mobile internet access?

Is there enough space in Google Drive (check in your account settings)

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Pay special attention to Google Photos. By default, the app can compress downloaded images to high (free) quality, which reduces space but reduces resolution. If you want to keep the original quality, go to the Google Photos settings and select the "Original Quality" option (note that this will quickly exhaust the free 15 GB).

⚠️ Note: If your old smartphone used a Mi Account to back up, the data will not be transferred to Google automatically. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Synchronization of SMS, call logs and applications

Unfortunately, SMS-Messages and call logs are not synced with Google by default, and you will need a third-party application to port them, for example, SMS Backup & Restore (available on Google Play) Install it on your old smartphone, back it up and upload it to Google Drive or send it to your email. On your new device, restore the data from this file.

For apps, Google saves a list of installed programs, but not their data (such as game progress or messaging settings). To transfer this, use the Google Drive Backup feature in your account settings. It creates an archive with application settings that will be restored when you first launch a new smartphone. Note that not all apps support this feature — for example, WhatsApp or Telegram require separate backup.

Contacts and communications

Photos and videos

Applications and their settings

Files and documents

All of the above-->

Transfer data to the new smartphone Xiaomi

When all the data on the old device is synced, you can start setting up the new Xiaomi. When you first turn on, the system will prompt you to log in to Google account - use the same account as on the old smartphone. If you have already missed this step, do not worry: go to Settings → Accounts and sync → Add an account and log in.

Once you log in, the system will automatically start loading synchronized data, which can take anywhere from minutes to an hour depending on the amount of information and the speed of the Internet, to speed it up:

• 📶 Connect to Wi-Fi instead of mobile internet.
• 🔋 Charge your smartphone at least 50% or connect to charging.
• 📱 Don’t interrupt the setup process – wait until synchronization is complete.
• 🔄 If the data does not appear, check the sync settings manually (Settings) → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of the account).

To recover applications, go to the Google Play Store, click on the profile icon in the upper right corner and select "Applications and Devices Management → Library." Here you will see a list of previously installed programs — click "Install" for those you want to return. Note that some applications may not be compatible with the new version of MIUI — in which case the system will offer alternatives.

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If you sync some contacts back up, use the Google Contacts (web version) merge function. Open contacts.google.com, select Actions → Find and combine duplicates.

Transfer files that are not automatically synced

Some data, such as music, documents or downloads, are not synced with Google by default. You can use Google Drive or alternative methods to transfer it.

Method 1: Google Drive

1. On your old smartphone, open the Google Drive app.
2. Click "+" → Download and select the desired files.
3. Wait until the download is complete (you can track the progress in notifications).
4. On the new device, open Google Drive, find the uploaded files and download them.

Method 2: Direct Wi-Fi (Mi Mover)

If you don’t have time to wait for a Google Drive download, use the built-in Mi Mover tool (available on most Xiaomi models):

1. On both smartphones, turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
2. On the new device, when you first start, select Data Transfer → With Xiaomi.
3. On an old smartphone, open Mi Mover (find through search in the settings).
4. Scan it. QR-code from the new device and select data to transfer.

⚠️ Note: When using Mi Mover, both smartphones must be charged at least 20%, otherwise the process may be interrupted. Also make sure that the new device has enough free space, otherwise the transfer will end with an error.

Problems in data transfer and their solutions

Even with the right sync settings through Google, there can be errors, and let’s look at the most common problems and how to fix them:

If after all the manipulations, some of the data never appeared on the new smartphone, try the following steps:

1. Reboot both devices.
2. Delete your Google account on your new smartphone and add it again.
3. Check if synchronization is blocked by Traffic Saving or Battery Optimization in MIUI settings.
4. Update Google Play Services and Google Photos to the latest versions.

Alternative ways to transfer data between Xiaomi

If you don't like Google for some reason, you can use other methods. Here are the most reliable alternatives:

• 🔗 Cable OTG + flash drive: Connect USB-drive to an old smartphone through an adapter OTG, Copy files, then plug the flash drive into a new device, suitable for large amounts of data (movies, music).
• 📡 Local area network (FTP or HTTP-server: Applications like FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer lets you run on a smartphone FTP-server and download files via browser on another device.
• ☁️ Cloud services (Yandex Drive, Dropbox): Similar to Google Drive, but with different tariffs and restrictions. For example, Yandex Drive gives 10 GB for free.
• 📲 Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct: Suitable for transferring small files (up to 1GB), but very slow.

Each of these methods has its pros and cons, OTG + Flash drive is the fastest way to get large files, but requires additional accessories. FTP-The server is convenient for transferring between devices without the Internet, but the configuration can be difficult for a beginner.

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Transferring over Google is the most versatile method, but for full backups (including SMS, calls, and app data), it’s best to combine it with other methods, such as Mi Mover or SMS Backup & Restore.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data transfer from Xiaomi to Xiaomi