How to Transfer Data from Phone to Xiaomi Phone: A Complete 2026 Guide

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting: fresh features, an improved camera, a powerful processor. But the joy of the new product can be overshadowed by the need to transfer data from the old device. Contacts, photos, messages, applications — all this needs to be saved, and without loss and with minimal time. Fortunately, Xiaomi owners have several reliable ways to sync, and we will discuss each of them in detail.

In this article, you will find not only standard instructions (like using Mi Mover or Google Account), but also little-known life hacks – for example, how to transfer data through ADB or why it is sometimes better to use Shaomi Cloud instead of third-party clouds. And we will tell you what mistakes users often make when migrating, and how to avoid them. If you just unpacked the new Redmi Note 13 Pro + or Xiaomi 14 Ultra – this guide will save you hours of nerves!

1.Preparation for transfer: what to do before the beginning

Before you rush to copy files, make sure both phones are ready for the procedure. Neglect of preparation is the main cause of failures, data loss or endless "hangs" during transfer.

• 🔋 Charging both devices at least 50 percent. Data transfer is a very energy-intensive process, and if the battery runs out in the middle of copying, you risk losing some of your files.
• 📶 Stable Internet connection (for cloud methods) If you use mobile Internet, disable traffic restriction in your settings.
• 🧹 Clean up the garbage on your old phone, delete the files you don't need (cache, duplicate photos) to keep the ballast from going".
• 🔐 Removing the lock on both devices. Some methods (e.g. Mi Mover) require an unlocked screen during transmission.

Pay special attention to the space available on the new phone. If you are carrying 64 GB of data and the new Xiaomi has only 30 GB left, the process will stop in the middle. Check the free space in Settings → Storage.

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If there is not enough space on your new phone, transfer some files (such as movies) to a memory card or cloud, and return them back after the migration.

It is also worth updating the firmware on both devices to the latest version. Older versions of MIUI (below 12) may lack key portability functions. Check the relevance of the software in Settings → About Phone → System Update.

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

Mi Mover is a built-in application from Xiaomi, specifically designed to migrate data between the brand’s devices. It supports transferring almost everything: contacts, messages, photos, videos, applications (including their data), notes and even some system settings. The main advantage is that it does not require Internet and works directly through Wi-Fi Direct, which speeds up the process and saves traffic.

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

1. Open the Mi Mover app on both phones. If it's not available, download it from Google Play (for older models) or search for Settings → More → Mi Mover.
2. On the old phone, choose I am the sender, on the new phone, I am the receiver.
3. Scan on the new device. QR-code that will appear on the screen of the old phone. PIN-manually.
4. Select data types to transfer (you can mark all or only the desired categories).
5. Confirm the transmission. It takes 5 to 30 minutes depending on the amount of data.

Important: Don’t lock the screen or switch to other apps during the transfer, and make sure there’s enough space on the new phone – Mi Mover doesn’t check it automatically!

3. Method 2: Google Account – a universal method

If you used a Google Account on an old phone, most of the data is already synced to the cloud, which is a way to transfer contacts, calendars, notes, certain settings, and even some apps (via Google Play), the main advantage is that you don’t need to connect anything: just log in to a new device.

How to transfer data via Google:

• 📱 On your old phone, check that sync is enabled: Settings → Accounts. → Google → Sync your account. Activate all the necessary items (contacts, calendar, disk, etc.).
• 🔄 Wait for the synchronization to be completed (may take a few minutes).
• 🆕 On your new phone, when you first turn on, select Recover and log in to the same Google account. If the phone is already configured, go to Settings. → Accounts. → Add an account.
• 📥 In the Backup section, select the latest backup and restore the data.

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Not tolerated. SMS, Call history and some app settings (such as WhatsApp or Telegram).
• ❌ Photos and videos are synced only if Google Photos has been enabled before. → Backup and synchronization.
• ❌ Applications are restored, but their data (for example, saved in games) is not.

If you need to migrate all data without exception, combine this method with others (for example, Mi Mover for SMS and applications, and Google Photos for media files).

Method 3: OTG cable and adapter for large volumes

If you don't have time to wait for data to travel through the air, or if you have more than 50 GB of files, direct OTG transmission is the best solution, and it works faster than wireless alternatives, and it doesn't depend on Internet speed.

• 🔌 Cable OTG (adapter USB-C → USB-C For new Xiaomi models).
• 📁 File Manager (built-in in the MIUI or third-party, such as Solid Explorer).

Instructions for transfer:

1. Connect your old phone to your new one OTG-On the screen of the old device, select File Transfer mode (MTP).
2. On a new phone, open the file manager. In the Devices section, a folder with an old phone (usually called after a model, such as the Redmi Note 11) will appear.
3. Copy the files you want (photos from DCIM, music from Music, etc.) into the appropriate folders on your new device.
4. To port applications, copy.apk files from /data/app (root rights required) or use APK Extractor.

Warning: Do not copy system files (e.g. from system or vendor folders) – this may cause crashes on your new phone. Also remember that some apps (e.g. banking) prohibit transfers over.apk for security reasons.

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OTG cable is the fastest way to transfer large files (video, movies, backups), but is not suitable for syncing contacts, SMS or application settings.

5. Method 4: Xiaomi Cloud (Mi Cloud) – cloud from the manufacturer

Xiaomi Cloud (or Mi Cloud) is Xiaomi’s proprietary cloud storage that offers 5GB of free space, and is convenient for backing up and transferring data between the brand’s devices. Unlike Google Drive, Mi Cloud is better optimized for MIUI and supports synchronization:

• 📞 Contacts and call histories.
• 📝 Notes (Mi Notes).
• 📷 Photos and videos (with original quality).
• 🔄 System settings (wallpaper, themes, shortcuts).

How to transfer data through Mi Cloud:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Enable synchronization for the desired categories (e.g. Contacts, Gallery).
3. Wait until the download is complete (you can follow the progress in the same section).
4. On the new phone, log in to the same Xiaomi account and enable sync in the Mi Cloud.
5. The data will start to load automatically. For the photo, you may need to open the Gallery and wait for the synchronization.

Important: Mi Cloud does not carry installed applications and their data, and also note that free 5 GB quickly run out if you have a lot of photos or videos.

• 🗑️ Remove old backups in Mi Cloud → Storage management.
• 💳 Buy an additional seat (prices start from 100 rubles / month for 50 GB).
• 🔄 Use Mi Cloud only for contacts and notes, and transfer media files over cable.

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If you have a lot of photos, turn on the option of "Images compression" in the cloud settings before uploading to Mi Cloud. This will save space, but reduce the quality.

Method 5: Third-Party Applications (for Advanced Users)

If standard methods don’t work (e.g., transferring data from Xiaomi to another brand or saving specific settings), third-party utilities will come to the rescue, and we tested several solutions and selected the most reliable ones:

For most Xiaomi users, Send Anywhere is the best choice — it’s simple, root-free, and stable. If you want to migrate all the data without exception (including system settings), and you’re ready to get root access — Titanium Backup will cope with the task 100%.

Warning: Do not use unknown applications to port data, especially if they request access to SMS or banking applications.This may lead to a leak of personal data.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even with proven methods, users face problems, and we have collected TOP-5 errors when transferring data between Xiaomi phones and how to solve them:

⚠️ Note: If the transfer through Mi Mover process is suspended 99% — Don't turn off your phones! 10-15 You can restart both devices and try again, and this is usually due to a large number of small files (like WhatsApp cache).

• 🚫 There is not enough space on the new phone. → Clear the cache or transfer some files to a memory card before migrating.
• 🔌 Phones can't see each other through Mi Mover → Check if Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on both devices.Reboot your router if you use the same network.
• 📱 Not tolerated. SMS → Use it. SMS Backup & Restore or check if sync is enabled SMS Mi Cloud.
• 🔒 Requests password from old Mi Account → If you have forgotten your password, restore it via account.xiaomi.com. Without this, transferring through Mi Cloud is impossible.
• ⚡ Rapid battery discharge during transfer → Connect both phones to charge or use a cable OTG externally-fed.

If none of these methods worked, try an alternative:

1. Create a backup on your old phone through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Copy the backup file (usually in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder) to your new phone via an OTG cable.
3. On the new device, restore data from this file in the same settings section.

8. FAQ: Answers to frequent questions