How to transfer data from the old Xiaomi to the new phone: all ways 2026

Why Xiaomi Data Transfers Need a Special Approach

Moving to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting moment, but the joy of updating the gadget is often overshadowed by a problem: how to transfer all the important data from the old device? Contacts, photos, messages, app settings and even call history - losing any of these categories can be a serious headache. Unlike the iPhone, where Apple's ecosystem offers almost automatic transfer via iCloud, Android devices (and Xiaomi in particular) require a more careful approach.

The main difficulty lies in the variety of versions of MIUI and models Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO. For example, transferring from Redmi Note 10 Pro (MIUI 13) to Xiaomi 14 Ultra (MIUI 15) can face problems with compatibility of backups. In addition, many users do not know that not all data can be transferred by standard means – some applications (for example, banking) require reauthorization, and smart home settings (Mi Home) can be reset. In this article, we will discuss 5 current ways to transfer data for 2026, including official tools and workarounds for complex cases Xiaomi.

It is important to understand that the choice of method depends on:

• 📱 Device models (old and new smartphone)
• 🔄 Version MIUI (how compatible they are)
• 📡 Internet availability (Wi-Fi or mobile network)
• 🔋 Battery Charge (the process can take up to 1 hour)

Method 1: Official transfer via Mi Mover (most reliable)

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary solution for migrating data between the brand’s devices, built into MIUI firmware (starting with version 9) and allows you to migrate almost everything from contacts to WhatsApp message history. The main advantage is that you do not need the Internet (data is transmitted over a direct Wi-Fi connection between phones).

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

1. On your new phone, when you first turn on, select Transfer Data from the settings menu. If the phone is already configured, go to Settings → About Phone → Data Transfer.
2. On your old phone, open Settings → Additional → Data Transfer and select I am the source.
3. Scan the scanner on your new phone QR-code that will appear on the old device.
4. Select data categories for transfer (we recommend leaving all check boxes, except for unnecessary applications).
5. Confirm the start of the process and wait until it is completed (may take 10 to 40 minutes depending on the amount of data).

⚠️ Warning: If the new phone already has data, Mi Mover will suggest erasing it before transferring it. That's OK -- that's how duplicating works. But don't interrupt the process if you see that progress is stalled by 99%: this is the final time you synchronize your settings.

Charging both phones > 50%|Both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (if there is no direct connection)|There is plenty of free space on the new phone.|Disabled. VPN firewalls|Sync with Mi Account enabled-->

Mi Mover supports the transfer of the following types of data:

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Mi Mover is the only way to transfer MIUI settings (themes, gestures, energy saving modes) without manual adjustment.

Method 2: Transfer through Google Account (universally but with limitations)

If you use Google, then transferring data through an account can be a good alternative, which works not only between Xiaomi devices, but also when you switch from other brands (Samsung, Realme, etc.).

• 📧 Contacts, calendars and mail are synced automatically if the option is enabled in Settings. → Accounts. → Google.
• 📸 Photos and videos are transferred via Google Photos, but in compressed quality (originals take up space in the cloud).
• 📱 Apps are restored from Google Play, but without stored data (for example, game progress will be lost).
• 🔑 Wi-Fi passwords are not portable – they will have to be re-entered.

To transfer data via Google:

1. On your old phone, check that sync is enabled: Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync.
2. On the new phone, when you first turn on, select Copy Data and log in to the same Google account.
3. Select a backup of your old phone (it should appear in the list).
4. Check the appropriate categories and start recovery.

⚠️ Note: If you haven’t synced with Google before, the data on your old phone may not be saved to the cloud:

1. Go to Settings → System → Backup.
2. Click Create a backup and wait until it is completed.
3. Make sure the copy appears in drive.google.com (Backups section).

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If you have slow internet, connect to Wi-Fi before transferring via Google Account and charge your phone to 100%.

Method 3: Manual transfer via OTG cable or computer

If you don’t have Wi-Fi access or want to transfer only selective files (like photos or music only), manual cable transfer may be the best solution.

• 🖼️ Large media files (video in the 4K, RAW-photo)
• 📁 Folders with documents or project files
• 🎵 Music and podcasts (unless they are synchronized with the services)

You'll need:

• 🔌 Cable USB-C → USB-C (Adapters, if the ports are different)
• 💻 Computer (optional, but convenient for file sorting)
• 🔋 Charger (transferring large files drains the battery)

Instructions for transfer via cable directly:

1. Connect your old phone to your new phone via cable (on some Xiaomi models, you need to select File Transfer mode in the notification curtain).
2. On the new phone, open Explorer (or Files) and select USB-device.
3. Copy the folders you want (DCIM for photos, Download for downloads, etc.) into the internal memory of your new phone.
4. For applications: copy the Android/data folder, but note that not all programs will support data recovery due to Android limitations.

Instructions for transfer via computer:

1. Connect your old phone to your PC and copy all the files you need to your hard drive.
2. Unplug the old phone, plug in the new one and transfer the files back.
3. For music and photos, use the Music and Pictures folders respectively, so they will automatically appear in the gallery and player.

⚠️ Warning: Do not copy the folder Android/obb — This is a game cache that might not work on a new device because of different versions of Android or processor architecture.

Method 4: Transfer over Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

Mi Cloud is a cloud storage from Xiaomi, which offers 5 GB for free (for Russia and some regions, service may be limited), the advantage of this method is that data is synchronized automatically and can be restored even after a phone is reset.

• ✅ Easy to restore contacts, notes, SMS and settings MIUI.
• ❌ Photos and videos take up a lot of space (5 GB is enough only) ~1000 photos of high quality).
• ❌ Not all Xiaomi models support app backup.

To transfer data through Mi Cloud:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on synchronization for the desired categories (contacts, SMS, notes, gallery).
3. Wait for the download to be completed (you can check the progress in the Warehouse section).
4. On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account and enable sync in Mi Cloud.
5. Data will start to load automatically (it can take from a few minutes to an hour).

If you want to create a full backup (including applications and system settings):

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup.
2. Select Backup in Mi Cloud and click Create a Copy.
3. After completing on the new phone, select Restore from backup in the same menu.

⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Cloud in Russia, some features may be restricted due to sanctions. Before transfer, check whether the service is available in your region, or use it. VPN (But it could be a violation of Xiaomi’s policy).

Method 5: Transfer data through third-party applications (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t work (for example, you’re switching from iPhone to Xiaomi or want to migrate data selectively), you can use third-party apps.

To transfer via Clone Phone (recommended for switching from iPhone):

1. Install the app on both phones from Google Play or the App Store.
2. On the old phone, choose I am the source, on the new phone, I am the receiver.
3. Scan it. QR-link-code.
4. Select data categories and start transferring.

For Send Anywhere:

1. On the old phone, select files and click Send.
2. A 6-digit code or QR is generated.
3. On the new phone, enter the code or scan the QR.
4. Confirm receipt of files.

⚠️ Note: When using Titanium Backup or other root-access applications, there is a risk of damaging system files. Do not use this method if you are not sure about your skills - you should contact the Xiaomi service center.

What to do if the data is not transferred or lost

Even if you follow instructions correctly, sometimes you have problems, and here are the most common situations and solutions.

• 📵 Contacts not moved: Check if sync with Google Contacts or Mi Cloud is enabled.Export contacts to.vcf file via Contacts → Settings → Export and import it on your new phone.
• 📷 Photos and videos are not displayed in the gallery: Check if files have been copied to the folder DCIM/Camera. Restart your phone - sometimes the media scanner doesn't update the database right away. Use the Files by Google app to force folder scans.
• 🔄 Apps not recovered: Check if automatic installation is enabled in Settings → Google → Application recovery: Some applications (banking, instant messengers) require re-authorization for security reasons.
• ⚡ Phone freezes when transferring: Turn both phones off charging (sometimes a problem in the power supply). Try another cable or type of connection (e.g. via computer). If you use Mi Mover, wait 10-15 Sometimes the process “stops” in the last stage.

If the data is lost irretrievably:

• 🔍 Check the Recently Deleted folder in the gallery (files are stored there for 30 days).
• 📞 For contacts: restore from Google backup or Mi Cloud.
• 💬 For messages: use applications like SMS Backup & Restore if you have previously done backup.

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If you regularly experience problems with data porting, set up automatic backups to Google Drive or Mi Cloud. this will eliminate the need for manual porting in the future.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi Data Transfer