How to transfer data from Xiaomi smartphone to Poco X3: the complete guide

Why data transfer between Xiaomi and Poco X3 requires a special approach

Moving from one Xiaomi smartphone to another — like the Redmi Note 9 or Mi 10T to the Poco X3 — seems like a simple task. However, even within one ecosystem, there are nuances that can lead to loss of photos, contact synchronization failures or app malfunctions. The main problem is that the Poco X3, despite the common MIUI firmware, often has stripped down features for data migration compared to flagship models.

In this article, we will look at 5 proven ways to transfer data, from the official Mi Mover tool to manually copying via PC, and how to avoid common errors, such as why Mi Notes may not be migrated when using a Google Account, or how to export SMS correctly so that it appears in the standard Poco X3 app.

We’ll focus on migrating data from MIUI 12 and later devices, where the algorithm differs from older versions due to changes in Xiaomi’s security policy. If your older smartphone runs MIUI 11 or lower, some steps will be different — we’ll note these points separately.

Method 1: Official Mi Mover tool – fast but limited

Mi Mover is a built-in solution from Xiaomi for data migration between devices on MIUI. It works without a PC connection, but has critical limitations:

• 📱 Supports portability only between Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones (not working with other brands).
• 📂 Transferring: Contacts, SMS, photos, videos, music, documents, some system settings (wallpaper, calls).
• ❌ Does not tolerate: apps (only their data), notes from Mi Notes, call history, Wi-Fi passwords.
• ⚡ Requires on both devices MIUI 9 or newer and at least 20% battery charge.

How to use Mi Mover:

1. On Poco X3, when you first turn on, select Transfer data from the settings menu. If your phone is already configured, go to Settings → About Phone → Mi Mover.
2. On the old Xiaomi, open Settings → Additional → Mi Mover.
3. Select a role: Poco X3 – New device, on the old Xiaomi – Old phone.
4. Scan it. QR-Poco screen X3 ol.
5. Select the data to transfer and confirm the start of the process.

⚠️ Note: If old Xiaomi has storage encryption enabled (in Settings) → Security → Encryption, Mi Mover won't work. You'll have to decrypt the device first or use another method.

Method 2: Transferring your Google Account – Universal, but not completely

Syncing through Google Account is the most reliable method if you use Google services (Gmail, Contacts, Calendar, Drive), but it does not cover all types of data:

Step-by-step:

1. On the old Xiaomi, check that sync is enabled: Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync Make sure all the necessary items (Contacts, Calendar, Drive) are active.
2. Upload important photos/videos to Google Photos (by hand or by auto-upload).
3. On Poco X3, log in to the same Google Account when you first enable it.
4. Wait for the synchronization to be completed (it can take up to an hour with a large amount of data).

💡

Before transferring, check the free space in Google Account. The free fare offers only 15 GB, and photos in original quality take up a lot of space. If necessary, clear the Drive or buy additional space.

Method 3: Manual transfer over PC – for full control

If you need to migrate all the data without exception (including applications, their settings and system files), the best option is to copy through a computer. This method takes longer, but guarantees 100% results.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 Two. USB-cables (preferably original).
• 📁 Enough free space on the PC (at least 50 GB is recommended).
• 🛠️ Programme Mi PC Suite (optional, for backup applications).

Instructions:

1. Connect the old Xiaomi to your PC via USB, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Copy all important folders on PC: DCIM (photo / video), Download (download), Pictures (images from applications), Movies (video) Music (audio files) Documents (documents)
3. To port applications and their data, use Mi PC Suite: Install the program from the official website. Connect Xiaomi, select Backup. Save the backup to your PC.
4. Connect Poco X3 to your PC and transfer the copied files to the appropriate folders.
5. To recover applications from the Mi PC Suite backup, plug Poco X3 and select Restore.

⚠️ Note: When manually transferring, do not copy the entire Android folder - this can lead to conflicts in the operation of applications. PC Suite or manually reinstall from Google Play.

Method 4: Move over Mi Cloud – if you don’t have access to a PC

Mi Cloud is a cloud storage from Xiaomi that allows you to back up your old phone and restore it to a new one, which is convenient if you don’t have a computer but have stable Wi-Fi.

Limitations:

• 📱 It only works between devices. Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco.
• 📁 Free rate – only 5 GB (can be expanded to 200 GB for a fee).
• ⏳ Transferring a large amount of data can take several hours.

How to transfer data through Mi Cloud:

1. On the old Xiaomi, go to: Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud → Device Backup Click Create Backup and select all the data you need.
2. Wait for the backup to complete (time depends on the amount of data and Internet speed).
3. On Poco X3, when you first turn on, select Restore from Mi Cloud and sign in to the same Xiaomi account.
4. Select the last backup and confirm the recovery.

If the Poco X3 is already configured, you can go to the recovery via:

Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Recovery from Mi Cloud

Method 5: Third-party applications for specific data

If you need to migrate specific types of data that are not covered by standard methods (such as call history, notes from Mi Notes or game saves), you will need to use specialized applications.

Example of SMS transfer via SMS Backup & Restore:

1. Install the app on both phones.
2. On the old Xiaomi, click Backup and save the file to Google Drive or locally.
3. Transfer the backup file to Poco X3 (via PC, cloud, or mail).
4. On Poco X3 in the app, select Restore and specify the path to the file.

💡

Third-party data porting applications often require root or USB debugging rights, and if you’re not willing to provide them, use official methods or manual copying.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

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

• 🔄 Mi Mover is 99 percent freeze-free, usually because of the big data. Solution: transfer data in parts (photo first, video next, etc.).
• 📵 Poco X3 Does not see the old Xiaomi over Wi-Fi Direct – check that both phones are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, and also turn off VPN.
• 🔒 Mi Mover and Mi Cloud are not copied APK-Files. Use Mi. PC Suite or reinstall manually.
• 📱 After the transfer, the contacts were lost - most likely they were saved in the phone's memory, not in Google Account. → Settings → Imports/exports.

If none of these methods worked, try resetting the Poco X3 to factory settings and repeating the clean-up port, sometimes because of previously installed apps or settings.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions