How to transfer data from old Android to new Xiaomi Redmi: a complete guide with step-by-step instructions

The transition to a new smartphone is always an exciting moment, especially when it comes to changing the brand or operating system version. MIUI It offers convenient tools for migration, but many users are faced with nuances: some of the data is not copied, applications fly off, and settings are reset. This article will help you avoid typical errors and choose the best way to transfer depending on the amount of data and device models.

We’ll look at 5 working methods, from standard Mi Mover to manual backup through Google Account and third-party utilities like ShareMe (formerly Mi Drop), focusing on porting hidden folders with game settings (such as com.miHoYo.GenshinImpact), which are often lost when automatically migrating, and how to circumvent Android 14’s file access restrictions and why some apps (such as WhatsApp or Viber) require separate processing.

If you’re switching from Samsung, Huawei or another brand to the Redmi Note 13, Redmi 12 or flagship series, the instructions below are universal, but we’ll point out specific points for different versions. MIUI (For root-access device owners, add advanced ways to transfer system data that are not normally available through standard tools.

1. Preparation of devices before data perenos

Before you start migrating, make sure both smartphones meet the minimum requirements, which will eliminate errors like “can’t connect” or “not enough space.”

On an old Android device, check out:

• 🔋 Battery charge at least 50%. Transfer process can take up to 1 hour, and discharging during copying will lead to loss of data.
• 📶 Free space – internal memory should be at least 1 GB (for temporary files). → Cleaning storage.
• 🔄 Android Version – If it’s Android 5.0 or older, some methods (like Google Backup) may not work.
• 🔒 Turn off the screen lock (PIN, pattern lock – this will speed up the process of connecting over Wi-Fi Direct.

On the new Xiaomi Redmi, do:

• 📡 Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth — they’ll be needed for most methods.

If your old smartphone is from Huawei or Honor, consider that due to restrictions HMS (instead GMS) Transfer over Google Account may not work, in which case use methods with a direct connection (cable or Wi-Fi Direct).

⚠️ Note: If the old device has data encryption enabled (Settings) → Security → Encryption, the transfer process will take 2-3 times longer, we recommend temporarily disabling encryption or using the method with backup on the PC.

Method 1: Automatic transfer via Mi Mover (recommended)

Mi Mover is a proprietary application from Xiaomi, optimized for transferring data between devices on the Internet. MIUI. It supports the transfer of contacts, messages, photos, videos, music, applications (including their data) and even some system settings:

• ✅ It works for Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and some other devices of other brands (for example, Oppo, Vivo).
• ❌ Does not transfer data from some applications (for example, Telegram or banking applications due to security restrictions).
• ⚠️ Android. 13/14 Requires additional permissions to access files.

Step-by-step:

1. On the new Redmi: At the initial setup stage, select Data Transfer» → «If your smartphone is already set up, install Mi Mover from Google Play.

Both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (or Wi-Fi Direct is used).

There is enough data on the new Redmi

On the old device turned off energy-saving modes

Mi Mover app updated to latest version-->

If the Mi Mover is “hanging” during the connection stage:

• 🔄 Reboot both devices.
• 📡 Try connecting via a hot spot (turn it on your old smartphone and connect to it from a new one).
• 🛠️ Remove the Mi Mover app cache in settings (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Mover → Warehouse → Clear the cache).

⚠️ Note: If the new Redmi is installed MIUI 14, after the application transfer, a notification may appear, "Application is not optimized." That's OK - just restart the device.

Method 2: Transfer through Google Account (for contacts, calendars, and portions of apps)

This method is suitable if you use Google services (Gmail, Contacts, Calendar, Drive) or want to transfer data to Redmi from a device where Mi Mover does not work (for example, from an iPhone), the main advantage is automatic synchronization after adding an account to a new smartphone.

What can be transferred:

• 📇 Contacts (from Google Contacts).
• 📅 Calendars and reminders.
• 📎 Notes (from Google Keep).
• 📁 Photos and videos (via Google Photos, but in compressed quality).
• 🎮 Data of certain games (if linked to Google Play Games).

What's NOT tolerable:

• 📱 SMS and call log (third party software required).
• 💬 Messages from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.).
• 🔧 System settings (wallpaper, sounds, labels).
• 📂 Local files (documents, downloads).

Instructions:

1. On the old device, open Settings. → Accounts. → Google and make sure that sync is enabled for Contacts, Calendar and Google Photos.
2. Run backup to Google Drive: Settings → System system → Backup → Google settings → Create a backup copy.
3. On the new Redmi, add the same Google Account when setting up or through Settings. → Accounts. → Add an account.

If no contacts have appeared after synchronization:

• Check what is on the new device in Settings → Accounts. → Google is now syncing your contacts.
• Make sure your contacts are saved in your Google Account, not on your account. SIM-card or memory.
• Reboot your smartphone and manually update contacts in the Contacts app (swipe down for updates).

Method 3: Manual transfer via cable OTG computer

This method is suitable for transferring large amounts of data (tens of gigabytes of photo/video) or if other methods do not work due to incompatibility of devices.

• 🔌 Cable OTG (for direct smartphone connection; or USB-cable + computer.
• 💾 External drive (flash drive or hard drive) – optional if data is more than 64 GB.
• 🛠️ File Manager (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).

Option 1: Direct connection via OTG

1. Connect your old smartphone to the new Redmi via cable OTG (need an adapter USB-C to USB-C or micro-USB to USB-C depending on the connector).
2. On the new device, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. Open the File Manager on the new Redmi and copy the folders you want (DCIM, Downloads, Pictures, etc.) from a connected device.

Option 2: Computer transfer

1. Connect your old smartphone to your PC and copy all the important files to a folder on your computer.
2. Turn off the old device and connect the new Redmi.
3. Transfer files from your PC to your new smartphone.

1. Change the connection mode from Charging to File Transfer (swipe down on the notification panel).

2. Update drivers MTP computer-based.

3. Use another USB-port (preferably) USB 3.0 for speed).-->

Which folders should be copied:

• 📸 DCIM — photo and video.
• 📥 Download – Downloaded files.
• 🎵 Music, Podcasts - audio files.
• 📄 Documents - documents.
• 🎮 Android/obb — Additional game files (such as Genshin Impact cache or Call of Duty Mobile).

⚠️ Warning: Do not copy the folder Android/data In the whole, this can lead to conflicts in the operation of applications on the new device, com.miHoYo.GenshinImpact/files).

If you are transferring data from your iPhone:

• Use iTunes or Finder (on a Mac) to export photos and videos to your PC, then copy them to Redmi.
• To transfer contacts, export them in.vcf format via iCloud.com.

5. Method 4: Transfer of data messengers (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram)

Messengers store data (chats, media files) in encrypted databases that are not transferred by standard methods.

WhatsApp:

1. On your old device, open WhatsApp → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup copy.
2. Back up your Google Drive (make sure you have enough space).
3. On the new Redmi, install WhatsApp, log in to the same account and restore chats from backup.

Important: The phone number must be the same! SIM-map, move chats first, then change the number in WhatsApp settings.

Viber:

• 🔄 Viber doesn't have built-in cloud backup. Use Settings → Account. → Backup copy to save on SD-card.
• 📁 Copy the backup file (viber.bak) to the new Redmi and restore it through the same menu.

Telegram:

• ☁️ All chats and media files are stored in the Telegram cloud, so just log in to your account on a new device.
• 📥 For local transfer of secret chats, use Settings → Additionally. → Chat data export.

💡

For instant messengers, always use official backup tools. WhatsApp/Databases or Viber/Media It can cause data loss due to mismatch of encryption keys.

If WhatsApp backup is not restored:

• Check that there is enough space on the new device (a backup can weigh tens of gigabytes).
• Make sure you use the same Google Account that the copy is linked to.
• If the copy is damaged, try to recreate it on the old device.

6. Method 5: Third-party applications (ShareMe, Xender, Send Anywhere)

If standard methods don’t work (for example, due to an outdated version of Android or brand incompatibility), third-party utilities can be used. They transmit data via Wi-Fi Direct or a hotspot, which is faster than copying over cable.

Comparison of popular applications:

Instructions for ShareMe:

1. Install ShareMe on both devices (link).
2. On the old smartphone, select “Send”, on the new one – “Get”.
3. Scan it. QR-code or connect via Wi-Fi Direct.
4. Select files to transfer and confirm the transfer.

The benefits of ShareMe:

• 🚀 Transfer speeds up to 20 MB/s (faster than Mi Mover).
• 📂 Supports folders and large files (up to 10 GB at a time).
• 🔒 There is no limit on the number of transmissions.

⚠️ Note: When using Xender or similar applications, turn off battery optimization for them in settings (Settings) → Annexes → Special access → Battery optimization, otherwise the transmission may be interrupted.

7. transfer of hidden data: save games, passwords, settings

Many users have a problem: after transferring the game (for example, Genshin Impact or Honor of Kings) they require to download the data again, although on the old device they took gigabytes.

• 🎮 Game cache files (folder) Android/obb).
• 🔑 Conservation (usually in Android/data/packet).
• 🔐 Wi-Fi passwords (stored in the /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml).
• 📱 Launcher settings (location of icons, folders).

How to transfer the game saves:

1. On an old device using the File Manager (with root or through permissions) ADB) copy the game folder from Android/obb and Android/data/packet.
2. Move these folders to the new Redmi in the same directories.
3. Install the game from Play Market and check if saves have pulled up.

For Wi-Fi password transfer:

• Use the WiFi Password Viewer app (requires root) to export the network list to the file.
• Or manually copy the file /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml (Only for advanced users!).

Transfer of launcher settings:

• If you have used a standard launcher MIUI, For third-party launchers (like Nova Launcher), use built-in backup.

8. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions, you can have problems.

1 Mi Mover doesn't find old device

• 🔄 Reboot both smartphones.
• 📡 Turn on Wi-Fi Direct manually on your old device.
• 🛠️ Update the Mi Mover to the latest version.
• 🔌 Try connecting via a hot spot (turn it on your old phone).

2.There's not enough space for the new Redmi

• 🗑️ Clear the application cache (Settings) → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
• 📁 Move some of the data to SD-card (if supported).
• ☁️ Upload photos/video to Google Photos or Mi Cloud and delete local copies.

3.Appendices are not restored after the transfer

• 🔄 Reinstall them manually from the Play Market.
• 📥 If you were transferred through Mi Mover, check the folder. MiMover/backup on a new device, perhaps, APK-files are there but not installed.
• 🛡️ Turn off Google Play Protection for installation time (in Play Market settings).

4.Photo/video moved in low quality

• 📸 Check if storage optimization is enabled in Google Photos (Settings) → Make room).
• 🔍 Make sure you copy the original files,