How to Transfer Data from Xiaomi to Xiaomi with All Settings via PC

Changing your smartphone is always stressful, with the risk of losing important contacts, photos or correspondence history. However, if you stay in the Mi UI or HyperOS ecosystem, the migration process becomes much easier and more transparent. Using the personal computer as an intermediary allows you not only to copy files, but also to back up system settings that cannot be transferred by cloud methods.

Many users mistakenly believe that root access or complex paid utilities are necessary to fully clone a phone. In fact, the standard toolkit provided by the manufacturer allows you to complete the backup of the system, including application data, Wi-Fi passwords and the location of icons on the desktop, the computer here acts as a reliable repository to ensure the integrity of data even when the connection is broken.

In this guide, we will discuss in detail how to prepare both devices, what drivers are necessary for proper operation in the Windows environment and how to properly restore the system from the backup created. internal_storage Hidden Android folders that often go unnoticed in standard copying.

Preparation of equipment and software

Before starting the procedure, you need to make sure that both the old and the new smartphone have a battery charge of at least 60%. The process of creating a full backup can take considerable time, especially if the amount of data is large and a sudden power outage can damage the archive. You will also need quality. USB-cable, preferably original, supporting data transfer, not just charging.

You need to install the current ADB and Fastboot drivers on your computer, or use the official Mi PC Suite utility (although its support is limited, drivers are often used separately). To work with the file system, make sure that antivirus software is installed on your PC directly, so that you do not accidentally enter malicious code when you connect your old device.

It is important to free up space on your computer hard drive in advance, the volume of which exceeds the occupied space on the old smartphone. If you have 100 GB full, then at least 110-120 GB should be free on the disk for comfortable work of the file system and creation of temporary files.

Create a full backup on an old device

The process starts with the old phone. You need to go to the settings menu and find the partition responsible for saving data. The path may vary slightly depending on the version of the shell, but the logic remains the same. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore.

So here, the system will suggest you choose a save source. We need a computer option. When you first connect, the phone will ask for permission to debug or transfer files, confirm the action. Once you connect to the PC, you will start the process of creating an archive, which will be saved to a special secure folder or transmitted directly to the computer, if the appropriate mode is selected.

⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the backup process, even if it is 99% frozen. Interrupting may cause the archive to become unreadable and you have to start the process again.

If the standard menu method does not activate PC transmission, you can use Device Backup mode and then manually copy the backup file you created. It is usually down the MIUI/backup/AllBackup path. Copy the entire creation date folder to your computer's hard drive.

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To speed up the process of copying large files, use USB-3.0 port (blue) on your computer, as the write speed on older 2.0 ports can be critically low.

Working with the file system through ADB

For more advanced users who want full access to all partitions, including hidden ones, Android Debug Bridge will be an indispensable tool, which allows you to unload application data that is usually hidden from the user. To get started, turn on the developer mode by seven times clicking on the build number in the About Phone section.

In the Developer menu, activate the USB Debugging option. Connect your smartphone to your PC and open the command line. Enter a command to check the connection:

adb devices

You'll see a debugging permission request on your phone screen -- check the "Always Allow" box and click OK. The device should appear in the console window, and you can now unload specific data packets or take a full system picture using adb pull commands to extract files.

Using the command line gives flexibility, but requires care. An error in the command syntax can cause you to copy the wrong files or the wrong ones. Always double-check the paths before pressing Enter.

Data Transfer and Recovery on the New Xiaomi

Once all the data is saved on your computer, connect a new smartphone. If you used the standard MIUI backup tool, the recovery process will go automatically. Go to the same Settings menu → About Phone → Backup and select Restore from your computer.

The system will find the archive and suggest you select the data to recover, so you can choose only contacts and messages, or you can restore everything, including system settings and widget layout, which is especially convenient, because the new phone will be an exact copy of the old one in software terms.

If you have copied files manually, just move them to the appropriate directories of the new device: photos in DCIM/Camera, documents in Download or Documents. The folder structure on the new Xiaomi will be similar, which makes navigation easier.

Solving problems with compatibility of Android versions

Often, there is a situation when the old phone is Android 10, and the new has already arrived with Android 13 or 14. In such cases, direct recovery of the full backup system can be blocked by developers to avoid conflicts.

This is normal behavior. The table below shows the main limitations of migration between different OS versions:

In cases of major differences in OS versions, it is recommended to use Google cloud services for contacts and calendar, and to transfer media files manually, which ensures that the new device will work smoothly without the “junk” from the old system.

Final configuration and integrity check

When you're done with the transfer, take your time to delete data from your old device, do a thorough review of your new smartphone, check if all apps have opened, if your social media and banking usernames are still in place, and some apps require re-authorization for security reasons.

Pay attention to the alarms and reminders, which are the features that are most often lost when migrating, and check the notification settings, as newer versions of MIUI can be more aggressive and block unnecessary apps by default.

⚠️ Note: Banking apps and Google Pay may require additional security checks. Don't be afraid if you have to re-link cards or configure biometrics - this is standard method of protecting funds.

Make sure all photos and videos are opened in the gallery without errors. If you find "broken" files, try to restore them from a copy on your PC again, perhaps the first time you copy it, there was a failure.

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A full PC migration is the only way to save not only files but also system structure, but it requires careful consideration of Android versions on both devices.