How to Transfer Data from Xiaomi to Xiaomi: 5 Proven Ways

Switching to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but transferring data from an old device can become a real headache if you don’t know the nuances. Even between devices of the same brand, the process does not always go smoothly: application settings are lost somewhere, messages from messengers are not transferred, and sometimes synchronization errors occur altogether. In this article, we will examine all possible ways of migrating data from the official Mi Mover tool to manual methods using cloud services and physical media.

It’s important to understand that full data portability means not only copying photos and contacts, but also saving your call history, SMS, system settings, accounts in apps and even game data. We’ve tested each method on devices with MIUI 14 and HyperOS, so the instructions are relevant for modern models — from Redmi Note 12 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra. If you are afraid of losing important information or faced problems during previous transfers, this guide will help avoid typical errors.

1.Official method: Mi Mover - fast and lossless

Mi Mover is a built-in solution from Xiaomi that allows you to transfer data wirelessly directly between two smartphones. The method works on all devices with MIUI 9 and later, including models with HyperOS. The main advantage is to preserve the data structure: the applications will remain in the same folders, and the system settings (wallpaper, sound profiles, brightness) will be restored automatically.

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

• 📱 On an old smartphone: open Settings → The phone. → Backup and reset → Data Transfer (Mi Mover).
• 🆕 On a new smartphone: when you first turn on, select the option “Data Import” or find Mi Mover in the settings.
• 🔄 On the old device, select the role of “Sender” (Sender), on the new one – “Receiver” (Receiver).
• 📶 Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network or create an access point on an old device.
• 🔍 Scan it. QR-code from a new smartphone on an old one to establish a connection.

Once connected, you'll see a list of data that can be ported, and you can choose what to copy: contacts, messages, photos, videos, audio files, apps (including their data) and even system settings. Please note that you can only migrate apps if they are installed from the official Google Play store or Mi App Store - pirated APKs will not be copied.

⚠️ Note: If the new smartphone already has data (for example, you started using it before the transfer), Mi Mover will offer to reset the device to the factory settings. In this case, all existing files will be deleted.

2.Move over Mi Cloud: Reliable but limited

The Mi Cloud cloud service is another official way from Xiaomi that is suitable if you do not have physical access to both devices at the same time, for example, when a new smartphone has not yet arrived, but you want to back up in advance, the main advantage of the method is automatic synchronization of contacts, notes, calendar entries and even some settings (for example, the themes of registration).

There are, however, downsides:

• ☁️ Limit on volume: free account Mi Cloud provides only 5 GB, which is enough only for contacts and part of the photo. For a full backup you will need a subscription (from 100 rubles / month for 50 GB).
• 🚫 No Application Transfer: Only some system applications (e.g. Notes or Calendar) can be stored through the cloud, but not the data itself. APK-file.
• ⏳ Long loading: with a large amount of data (for example, 10)+ GB photo process can take several hours.

Instructions for creating a backup copy:

1. On your old smartphone, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on sync for all the categories you need (contacts, gallery, notes, etc.).
3. Click "Backup" and select the data to save. Wait for the process to be completed.
4. On the new device, log in to the same Mi Account and recover data from the cloud in the Mi Cloud → Recovery section.

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If you have a slow Internet connection, before creating a backup in Mi Cloud, connect to Wi-Fi and turn off automatic uploading of high-resolution photos (set up in Mi Cloud). → gallery → This will speed up the process of 2-3 once.

3.Using a Google Account: A Universal Method for Android

If you prefer the Google ecosystem, moving data through a Gmail account can be a good alternative, a way to copy contacts, calendar, mail, some app settings, and even some of the game data (if they support Google Play Games), the main advantage is cross-platform: you can recover data not only on Xiaomi, but on any other Android device.

What exactly is carried through Google:

• 📇 Contacts – synced in full, including profile photos.
• 📅 Calendar and tasks - events, reminders, goals.
• 🎮 Game data – progress in games that support Google Play Games (e.g. Clash of Clans, PUBG Mobile).
• 📱 System settings – language, date/time, some interface parameters.
• 📁 Photos and videos – only if Google Photos is enabled (requires separate settings).

How to set up synchronization:

1. On your old smartphone, open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Select your account and enable sync for all the categories you want.
3. To back up applications and their data, go to Settings → System → Backup and activate the option “Backup to Google Drive”.
4. On the new device, when you first turn on, log in to the same Google account and agree to restore data.

⚠️ Note: If your old smartphone used a Mi Account to back up and you restore data via Google on the new one, some system settings (such as the themes of the design or the control gestures) may not move.

4. Transfer via OTG cable or adapter: for large data volumes

If you don’t have Wi-Fi access or want to move tens of gigabytes of data (like a movie collection or a video game) RAW-Photos, physical connection through OTG-cable USB-C → USB-A This is a better solution, faster than cloud services, and it doesn't depend on Internet speed:

• 🔌 OTG-cable (for modern Xiaomi with connector) USB-C).
• 💾 flash drive or external SSD (If you transfer data through an intermediate medium).
• 🔄 adapter "USB-C → USB-A" (If you connect your old smartphone to your new one directly).

Step-by-step instructions for direct connection:

1. Connect your old smartphone to your new one with the help of OTG-On the screen of the old device, select File Transfer mode).
2. On your new smartphone, open Explorer (or any other file application, such as Mi File Manager).
3. In the list of connected devices, find an old smartphone (usually it appears as Xiaomi [model]).
4. Copy the folders you want (DCIM for photos, Downloads for downloads, Pictures for images) to the internal memory of the new device.

To transfer applications and their data through the cable, you will need to use specialized utilities, such as App Backup & Restore or Titanium Backup (requires root rights).However, note that some applications (for example, instant messengers or banking programs) may block data recovery due to security policies.

Save a backup copy to the flash drive (in case of failure)

Check the free space on the new device

Charge both smartphones at least 50%

Disable battery optimization for the Conductor-->

5. Manual transfer: for advanced users

If you need to migrate sample data or you don't trust automated tools, the manual method will give you complete control over the process, which takes longer, but avoids the typical problems (e.g. duplicate contacts or loss of photo quality).

Contacts and call history

The most reliable way is to export to the.vcf file:

1. Open the Contacts app on your old smartphone.
2. Click on three dots (menu) → Contact management → Import/Export → Export to file.
3. Select a save location (e.g., Internal Memory → Download) and confirm the export.
4. Transfer the resulting contacts.vcf file to a new smartphone and import it through the same menu.

5.2. SMS and MMS

Use the SMS Backup & Restore app to transfer messages:

1. Install the app on both devices.
2. On an old smartphone, create a backup (Backup) and save the file to Google Drive or USB drive.
3. On the new device, download the file and restore messages (Restore).

Photo and video in original quality

To avoid compression, copy files directly through Explorer:

• Connect your old smartphone to your PC via cable.
• Find the DCIM (camera photo) and Pictures (screenshots, uploaded images) folders.
• Copy them to your computer and then transfer them to a new smartphone.

6.Switching data from HyperOS-based devices: what has changed?

In 2026, Xiaomi began a massive transition to the new HyperOS firmware, which replaced MIUI. If your new smartphone runs on HyperOS (for example, Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), and the old one on MIUI, nuances may arise:

• 🔄 Mi Mover still works, but may require an update on both devices.
• ☁️ Mi Cloud is fully compatible, but some interface settings (such as control gestures) may not be portable due to changes to HyperOS.
• 📱 Backup copies MIUI Not always correctly restored on HyperOS. We recommend using Google Drive for critical data.

If you see an error “Incompatible version of the system” during the transfer, try the following solutions:

1. Update the firmware on your old device to the latest version of MIUI.
2. Use intermediate transfer via PC (copy the data to your computer and then to your new smartphone).
3. Reset the new smartphone to factory settings and repeat the transfer via Mi Mover.

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When you switch from MIUI to HyperOS, some system applications (such as Themes or Security) may not be available, and you can install them from the Mi App Store after transferring the data.

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even when using official tools, users often face problems.-5 errors and ways of eliminating them:

If none of these methods worked, try a combination approach:

1. Move your contacts and calendar through your Google account.
2. Copy photos and videos through OTG-cable.
3. Restore apps from Google Play (setting history is saved in your account).
4. Transfer your system settings through Mi Cloud.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions