How to Transfer Data from an Old Phone to Xiaomi: A Complete 2026 Guide

Why migrating data to Xiaomi requires a special approach

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always a joyful event, but the data migration process can become a headache if you do not know the nuances. Unlike iPhones or other brands, Xiaomi devices use their own MIUI ecosystem, which imposes specific restrictions and offers unique tools for portability. For example, a standard Google Account does not always correctly synchronize MIUI settings, and the Mi Mover application only works with certain versions of the firmware.

Another trap is different versions of Android. If your old phone runs Android 10 and the new Xiaomi 14 runs Android 14, direct data transfer via cable can end in error due to protocol incompatibility. Xiaomi also blocks the transfer of some system files (such as data from the /miad/ folder) through third-party utilities, which requires workarounds. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways, from official to alternative, and also explain how to avoid data loss when changing devices.

1.Official way: Mi Mover app from Xiaomi

The most reliable and recommended Xiaomi method is the use of the proprietary application Mi Mover, which is pre-installed on all new smartphones of the brand and allows you to transfer:

• 📞 Contacts, call log and SMS
• 📷 Photos and videos (including Google Photos albums)
• 🎵 Music and audio files
• 📁 Documents (PDF, DOC, XLS etc.)
• 📱 System settings (Wi-Fi, wallpaper, sound profiles)
• 🎮 Data from certain games (if supported)

The app works point-to-point over Wi-Fi Direct, so it doesn't require an internet connection.

• ⚠️ Does not carry applications (only their data if they support backup).
• ⚠️ There should be a version on the old phone. MIUI 8.0 (for Android, no less than 5.0).
• ⚠️ Maximum amount of data transmitted – 100 GB (with large volumes, it is recommended to use a cable).

Step-by-step:

1. On the new Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select Data Transfer → Mi Mover. If the phone is already configured, find the app in the menu.
2. On an older phone, install Mi Mover from Google Play (for Android) or the App Store (for iOS).
3. Run the app on both devices and select “I am the sender” on the old phone and “I am the receiver” on the new one.
4. Scan it. QR-The code from the screen of the new Xiaomi old phone.
5. Select data types to transfer and confirm the start of the process.

Charge both phones at least 50 times%|Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network (optional, but speeds up the process)|Free up at least 20% of memory on the new Xiaomi|Shut down. VPN firewalls|Make sure there is enough space on your old phone for temporary files-->

⚠️ Warning: If the transfer is interrupted during the Preparation phase, check if the old phone is power-saving.

2.Moving from Android to Xiaomi via OTG cable

If the data is over 100GB or the Mi Mover is down, the fastest way is to connect directly via an OTG cable, which is suitable for any Android device, including Samsung, Huawei or Realme.

• 🔌 Cable USB-C → USB-C (Adapters, if the ports are different).
• 📱 Old regime-supported phone USB Mass Storage (most modern smartphones support).
• 🔋 Charges at least 30% on both devices.

Instructions:

1. Connect the cable to both phones. On the screen of the old device, select File Transfer (FTP) mode.
2. On the new Xiaomi, open Explorer (File app) and go to the section USB-device.
3. Copy the folders you want (DCIM for photos, Downloads for downloads, etc.) into internal memory or a new phone’s memory card.
4. To transfer contacts, export them to the.vcf file via the Contacts app on your old phone, then import them to Xiaomi.

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If the new Xiaomi doesn’t see the old phone through a cable, try turning on the old device Developer Mode (7 times click on the build number in Settings → About phone) and activate the USB Debugging option.

3.Moving from iPhone to Xiaomi: bypassing Apple's restrictions

The transition from iPhone to Xiaomi is complicated by Apple’s closed ecosystem, but there are a few working ways, and the main problem is that iCloud doesn’t sync directly to MIUI, so you’ll have to use workarounds.

Method 1: Using the “Switch to Android” app (Google)

• 📱 Install the application “Switch to Android” from the App Store on iPhone.
• 🔗 Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network.
• 📎 On Xiaomi, when setting up, select Copy Data from iPhone and follow the instructions.

This method transfers contacts, photos, videos and calendars, but does not transfer: iMessage messages, notes from Apple Notes, application data (for example, progress in games).

Method 2: Manual export via iCloud

1. On iPhone, go to Settings → [Your name] → iCloud and enable sync for Contacts, Photos, Notes.
2. On your computer, open iCloud.com, log in and export data: 📞 Contacts: Contacts → ⚙️ → Exports vCard. 📷 Photo: Select the right ones and click Download.

Xiaomi

Google Drive

Mi Cloud

4. Alternative methods: cloud services and third-party utilities

If the standard methods don't work, you can use third-party solutions that are suitable for transferring sample data or when both phones don't support direct transmission.

Option 1: Google Account (for contacts, calendars, mail)

• 🔄 On your old phone, add a Google Account and enable sync for the data you want (Settings) → Accounts. → Google).
• 📱 On the new Xiaomi, log in to the same account – the data will be automatically pulled up.

Option 2: Cloud storage

Option 3: Cloning annexes

For full transfer (including applications and their data) suitable:

• 🛠️ Clone Phone (from Xiaomi) – works with most Android devices.
• 🔄 Samsung Smart Switch – if an old phone is from Samsung, you can export data to a file and then import it to Xiaomi.
• 📱 SHAREit – Wi-Fi Direct transmission (suitable for large files).

Through cable. OTG|Wi-Fi (Mi Mover, Shareit)|Through the Cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud)|Manual export/import|I can't handle data, I can set it up from scratch.-->

5. Applications and their data portability: what you need to know

One of the most difficult aspects is the transfer of installed applications and their data (for example, saves in games or settings of messengers).

How to transfer the applications themselves (APK):

• 📦 Use it. APK Extractor (for Android) or Backup & Restore to backup APK-file.
• 📂 Transfer the received files to Xiaomi and install manually (allow installation from unknown sources to Settings) → Security).

How to transfer application data:

• 🎮 For gaming: Link your account to Google Play Games or Facebook – progress will be automatically picked up.
• 💬 For messengers: WhatsApp: backup in Settings → chat → Backup (save to Google Drive).Telegram: data synced through the cloud when logged in to your account.
• 📊 For working applications (e.g. Trello, Notion): export data to a file and import it on a new device.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. banking) block data transfer for security reasons, in which case you will have to re-authorize or contact the bank.

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Transfer applications through APK-Files can disrupt their performance if they are tied to a specific version of Android or processor architecture (ARM/x86). It is recommended to install apps from Google Play on a new device.

6. Frequent errors and how to fix them

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

Additional advice:

• 🔋 If the transfer takes too long, connect both phones to charge – this will prevent failures due to discharge.
• 📶 To speed up Wi-Fi transmission, use a 5 GHz frequency (less loaded than 2.4 GHz).
• 🔄 If the data is not fully transferred, repeat the process selectively (for example, only photos or contacts).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions