How to transfer data from Sony phone to Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Switching from Sony Xperia to Xiaomi is not just about changing your brand, it's also about migrating all your data: contacts, photos, messages, even app settings, and many users fear this process, thinking it will take hours or lead to loss of important information, and in fact, modern tools allow you to carry out the transfer in 15 to 30 minutes, if you know the nuances.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods for data transfer, taking into account the features of Sony firmware (including Android models 10–14) and Xiaomi (with a shell). MIUI 12-15) You will learn how to use contacts, media, messages, and even apps with settings, and how to avoid common errors that may cause data to not be copied or duplicated.

Spoiler: The most reliable method is a combination of a cloud backup and a direct cable connection. OTG-cable or restricted traffic, we'll show you alternatives!

1. Preparation of telephones for data transfer

Before you start migrating, you need to follow a few critical steps, and if you skip them, you risk synchronization errors or losing some files.

On the Sony Xperia:

• 🔋 Charge the battery of both phones to at least 50%. The data transfer can take up to 1 hour, and discharging during the process will interrupt it.
• 📶 Connect to Wi-Fi (if you plan to use cloud services). Mobile Internet is not suitable - traffic restrictions or unstable signal can bring down syncs.
• 🔒 Make sure that Xiaomi does not have a binding to the old Mi Account. If the phone is used, reset through Settings → The phone. → Resetting settings.
• 📁 Clean up your files on Sony. It'll take you too long to move 50GB of garbage. Use the built-in Storage Optimizer or Files by Google app.

On Xiaomi:

• 📱 Activate the developer mode (if you plan to use it) ADB). To do this, click on the version 7 times. MIUI In Settings → The phone.
• 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version. In older versions (below) MIUI 12) may not be available on-board Mi Mover tool.
• 🛡️ Disable the antivirus (if installed) it can block file transfer over the local network or cable.

⚠️ Warning: If Sony has enabled storage encryption (e.g. on Xperia 1 models) III or Xperia 5 IV), Some transfer techniques may not work, in which case you can use cloud backup or manual copying via PC.

Also check if there is enough space on Xiaomi, for example, if you are carrying 30 GB of photos and videos and only 20 GB is free, the process will end with an error. Clear the memory in advance or use it. SD-map (if the model supports extension).

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

Mi Mover is built into the MIUI an application designed to migrate data from other Android devices:

• 📞 Contacts (including groups and notes)
• 📷 Photos and videos (preserving folder structure)
• 💬 Communications (SMS and MMS)
• 📅 Calendars and reminders
• 🎵 Music and documents
• 📱 Some system settings (wallpaper, sounds)

However, there are limitations:

• ❌ Not portable: Wi-Fi passwords, application data (e.g. game progress), call histories.
• ❌ On some Sony models (e.g. Xperia) XZ2) You may need to include a debugging USB.
• ❌ Transfer speed depends on the version MIUI. Nana MIUI 14+ The process is faster due to optimizations.

Step-by-step:

1. On Xiaomi, open Settings → Memory. → Mi Mover (or find it through search).
2. Select I am a new user → Android.
3. On Sony, install Mi Mover from Google Play (if it is not in firmware).
4. Run the app on both phones and select Send Data to Sony and Receive Data to Xiaomi.
5. Connect your phones through the cable OTG (or via Wi-Fi, if supported).
6. Select data types to transfer and wait for completion.

⚠️ Note: If the Mi Mover is stuck in the Preparation phase, try restarting both phones and repeating the process. Also check if the firewall on Sony is blocking the transmission (in the security settings).

Sony models with Android 12+ You may need to manually allow Mi Mover to access files through the application settings → Permits → Files and multimedia.

Both phones charged (≥50%)

The latest update to MIUI has been installed

VPN/antivirus disabled

There's a cable. OTG (or Wi-Fi Direct)

Freely. ≥20% of memory on Xiaomi-->

Method 2: Transfer through Google Account (for contacts, calendars, notes)

If you only need to transfer contacts, calendars and notes, syncing through Google Account is the easiest and most reliable way, and it works even if you don't have cable or Wi-Fi.

How it works:

1. On Sony, open Settings → Accounts. → Google.
2. Make sure that sync is enabled for Contacts, Calendar, and Google Keep (if you use notes).
3. Click Sync Now and wait until it is completed.
4. On Xiaomi, add the same Google Account to Settings → Accounts.
5. Turn on sync for the same data. Contacts and calendars will come automatically.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ No cable or additional applications required.
• ✅ Data is available on any device with your Google Account.
• ✅ Automatic updates: If you add a contact to Xiaomi, it syncs with the cloud.

Limitations:

• ❌ Not transferred: photos, videos, messages, applications.
• ❌ If your contacts are stored in your phone’s memory (not Google’s), you must export them first.

To export local contacts:

1. Open the Contacts app on Sony.
2. Press. ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Export to.vcf file.
3. Save the file to SD-map or internal memory.
4. Transfer the file to Xiaomi (e.g., Google Drive) and import it.

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If contacts are duplicated after sync, use the Contacts Optimizer app (available on Google Play) to clean up repeats.

Method 3: Direct copying through cable OTG PC

If you need to transfer large files (video) 4K, RAW-Photos, app backups, the best option is direct cable connection, which works even if the phones have different versions of Android or no Wi-Fi access.

Option A: Cable OTG (PCless)

• 🔌 Buy it. OTG-adapter (e.g, USB-C to USB-C or USB-C Micro-USB, depending on your phone’s connectors).
• 📱 Connect Sony to Xiaomi via Adapter.
• 📂 On Xiaomi, open Explorer (or Files by Google) and select Sony Connected as an External Drive.
• 📤 Copy the right folders (DCIM Photos, Downloads for downloads, etc.) to Xiaomi’s internal memory.

Option B: Through a computer (for reliability)

1. Connect Sony to the PC via USB-cable and select File Transfer Mode (MTP).
2. Copy all the necessary folders to your computer (for example, in a separate folder). Sony_Backup).
3. Disable Sony, connect Xiaomi and transfer files back.

What files are worth copying:

⚠️ Note: When copying through a PC, do not change the folder structure (for example, do not move files from the PC to the PC). DCIM/Camera This can cause the Xiaomi gallery to fail to see media files.

5. Method 4: Cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud, Yandex Disk)

If you don't have a cable, or if you want to back up just in case, cloud services are a good alternative, but there's a big downside to this method: speed limits and free storage.

Comparison of services:

Instructions for Google Drive:

1. On Sony, install Google Drive (if not installed).
2. Open the app. → press + → Downloading.
3. Select files (or folders) for backup. To speed up, archive them in ZIP.
4. After downloading to Xiaomi, log in to the same account and download files.

Instructions for Mi Cloud (Xiaomi only):

1. On Xiaomi, open Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Enable synchronization for the desired data (contacts, notes, gallery).
3. On Sony, upload files to Mi Cloud via i.mi.com.

⚠️ Note: When uploading photos to Google Photos in High Quality mode, they are compressed to 16 MP. To save the original resolution, select Original Quality (but it takes up space in your Google Storage).

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Cloud services are convenient for backup, but not suitable for transferring large amounts of data (for example, video to video). 4K). In this case, it is better to combine the cloud with direct copying via cable.

Method 5: Transfer of messages and calls (SMS, WhatsApp, Viber)

Messages and call histories are some of the most difficult to carry data, and standard tools like Mi Mover often ignore them, so you'll have to use specialized applications.

SMS and MMS portability:

• 📱 Install. SMS Backup & Restore on both phones.
• 🔄 On Sony, Create a Backup: Backup → Local backup → Choose all. → Create.
• 📤 Transfer the backup file (with the.xml extension) to Xiaomi (via cable or cloud).
• 🔙 On Xiaomi, restore messages: Restore → Select a file → Restore.

WhatsApp portability:

• 💬 On Sony, open WhatsApp. → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup copy.
• 📁 Connect your phone to your PC and copy the folder /storage/emulated/0/WhatsApp/Databases.
• 📱 Install WhatsApp on Xiaomi, but don’t run it!
• 🔄 Move the Databases folder to the same location on Xiaomi.
• 🔑 Launch WhatsApp and restore chats from local copy (when requested).

Viber portability:

• 📞 In Viber on Sony go to Settings → Account. → Backup copy.
• 📧 Save the backup to Google Drive or to a memory card.
• 🔄 On Xiaomi, install Viber, log in to the same account and restore chats.

⚠️ Note: If you port WhatsApp from Sony to Xiaomi, make sure the phone number is unchanged.When you change the number, chats will not recover - only media files from the backup.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when following instructions, users often encounter problems. TOP-5 mistakes and their solutions:

1 Mi Mover doesn't see Sony phone

• 🔌 Check the cable: use the original USB-C (cheap-to-use Chinese).
• 🔄 Switch the mode. USB Sony to Transfer Files (MTP).
• 📱 Update the Mi Mover on both phones.

2.Photos moved but not displayed in Xiaomi Gallery

• 🖼️ Open the Conductor. → DCIM → Camera and check if there are files.
• 🔄 Reboot Xiaomi – Sometimes the media scanner doesn’t update right away.
• 📁 Install Google Photos and wait for indexing.

3. Contacts are duplicated after synchronization

• 📇 Open Contacts. → ⋮ → Contact management → Unite.
• 🔍 Use the Simpler Merge application to automatically merge.

4.Whatsapp doesn't restore chats

• 🔑 Make sure the backup file is called msgstore.db.crypt14 (newer versions).
• 📱 Check that Xiaomi has the same number as Sony.
• 🔄 If it doesn’t work, try WhatsApp Business – sometimes it’s better at restoring backups.

5. Xiaomi writes "Insufficient memory" when transferring

• 🗑️ Clear the cache: Settings → Memory. → Clear the cache.
• 📁 Move some of the files to SD-card (if supported).
• 🔄 Break the transfer into parts: first contacts, then photos, then videos.

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If after transferring to Xiaomi, the sound in the video recorded on Sony disappeared, install the application MX Player and select the codec SW Decoder in playback settings.

8 Conclusion: Which way to choose?

The choice of method depends on the type of data, volume and availability of additional devices (cable, PC, Wi-Fi).

• 🔄 For full transfer (all at once): Mi Mover + cable OTG.
• ☁️ For backup: Google Drive or Mi Cloud.
• 📁 For large files (video, backups): direct copying via PC.
• 💬 For messages and calls: SMS Backup & Restore + hand-portable WhatsApp.
• 📱 For contacts and calendars: sync through Google Account.

If you're not sure which method is right for you, start with Mi Mover, which covers 80 percent of most users' needs, and if something goes wrong, you can always add a cloud backup or manual copy.

Remember that after the migration:

• 🔒 Set up unlock by fingerprint on Xiaomi.
• 📶 Resetting the mobile Internet (APN differ).
• 🔋 Calibrate the battery (discharge to 0% and charge to 100% without interruptions).

Now that all the data is in place, you can enjoy the new phone!If you switched from Sony to Xiaomi for the camera, be sure to check the settings AI-Cameras and Night Mode – These are often hidden in the optional menus.

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The most reliable way is the Mi Mover combination (for basic data) + Google Account (for contacts) + manual copying (for large files).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions