How to Transfer Data from One Android to Another Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to 2026

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting moment, but transferring data from an old device can turn into a real headache if you do not know the proven ways. If contacts don't sync, if photos are losing quality, if apps are not recovering, then in this article we'll look at all the current methods of transfer, from the official Mi Mover tool to the little-known life hacks using the use of the new tools. OTG-cable ADB.

Feature of Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi models, POCO And Black Shark, which is based on proprietary solutions that aren't always compatible with standard Android tools. SMS Xiaomi’s Google Account works differently than it does on pure Android, and some system settings (like design or control gestures) are not exported through the cloud at all. MIUI 14 and HyperOS so you can choose the best option for your situation.

1.Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s official tool for flawless transfer

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary solution that is installed by default on all new devices of the brand, and allows you to migrate almost everything from contacts and messages to call history and Wi-Fi settings. The main advantage is support for data transfer between devices with different versions. MIUI (including HyperOS without loss of compatibility.

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Make sure that both devices have the latest version installed. MIUI 14+/HyperOS (Check in the settings → The phone. → Updating the system).
• 🔌 Connect both smartphones to the same Wi-Fi network (or create an access point on an old phone).
• 📲 On the new Xiaomi, run Mi Mover (you can find it in the Tools folder or through search).
• 🔄 On the old device, select the mode "Send data", on the new one - "Receive data".
• 📋 Check the categories for transfer (contacts, SMS, Photos, applications, etc.).

Charge both devices >50%|Shut down. VPN firewalls|Release. ≥2 GB of memory on the new Xiaomi|Use stable Wi-Fi (not mobile internet)-->

It can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the amount of data, and it's important to know if the old phone has non-standard fonts or themes. MIUI, They won’t be transferred; they’ll have to be re-installed through themes.

⚠️ Note: If data encryption is enabled on the old device (in Settings) → Security → Encryption, Mi Mover may not work, in which case first decrypt the device or use alternative methods.

2. Transfer through Google Account: universal, but with limitations

Syncing through Google Account is the most versatile way that works on any Android device, including Samsung, Huawei and of course Xiaomi.

• ☁️ Only contacts, calendars, notes (Google Keep), photos (Google Photos) and some settings are transferred.
• 🚫 Not transmitted: SMS, call history established APK, file.
• 📶 Requires a stable Internet connection (better Wi-Fi).
• 🔄 Xiaomi will have to manually enable synchronization for each data type.

Instructions for transfer:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Accounts → Google and make sure that sync is enabled for all the right categories.
2. On the new Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select “Recover Data” and log in to the same Google Account.
3. If the phone is already configured, go to Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronize and activate all switches.

For photos and videos, it is better to use a separate Google Photos app:

• 📸 On your old phone, set Google Photos and enable autoload (Settings) → Backup).
• 🔄 Wait for the download to be completed (check in the photo section" → "Library" → "Devices").
• 📱 On the new Xiaomi, install Google Photos and wait for sync.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi by default limits background activity of Google Photos to save battery.To avoid interruption of download, add the app to exceptions: Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → Google Photo → No restrictions.

3. Cable transfer OTG: fast and without internet

If you do not have Wi-Fi access or want to transfer data as quickly as possible, you can use the data. OTG-cable USB-C to USB-C, If both phones are modern, this method is suitable for portability:

• 📁 Any files (photos, videos, documents, music).
• 📱 APK-Application files (but not their data!).
• 🔧 Some settings (if exported manually).

Step-by-step:

1. Buy it. OTG-cable (or adapter) with suitable connectors (e.g, USB-C Micro-USB if you have an old phone with Micro-USB).
2. Connect your old phone to your new Xiaomi phone via cable.
3. The new Xiaomi will be notified "USB-Device connected. tap it and select "File Transfer" (MTP).
4. Open Explorer (or Files) on the new Xiaomi and a folder with an old phone will appear.
5. Copy the files into internal memory or SD-map.

1.Reboot both phones.

2. Enable Developer Mode on the old phone and activate Debugging by USB.

3. Use another cable (sometimes the problem is poor quality cables) OTG-adapter).-->

This method does not tolerate:

• ❌ Contacts, SMS, Call history (they must be exported separately).
• ❌ Application settings (for example, save in games).
• ❌ System settings MIUI.

Mi Mover|Google Account|OTG-cable|Cloud services (Yandex Drive, Google Drive)|Another way.-->

4.Move over cloud services: Yandex Drive, Dropbox, Telegram

If you don't. OTG-And you can use the cloud, but you can use the Internet, and this is a method that's suitable for transferring:

• 📂 Large file volumes (photos, videos, documents).
• 🔄 Backup before resetting your phone.
• 📱 Data exchange between devices of different brands.

Instructions for Yandex Disk:

1. Install Yandex Drive on both phones.
2. On an old phone, upload files to the cloud (select folders and click Download).
3. On the new Xiaomi, open Yandex Drive, find uploaded files and download them.

Telegram lifehack: If you need to transfer small files (up to 2 GB), you can use saved messages:

1. Open the chat "Saved Messages" in Telegram.
2. Send files from your old phone.
3. On the new Xiaomi, open the same chat and download files.

The advantages of cloud services:

• 🌐 Access to files from any device.
• 🔒 Encryption of data during transmission.
• 📱 No need for cables or additional programs.

⚠️ Note: When uploading photos to the cloud (e.g. Google Photos or Yandex Drive), they can shrink to 16MP if the option “High Quality” is enabled instead of “Original Quality” is enabled!

5. Transfer SMS, Call history and contact history separately

If you do not use Mi Mover or Google Account, SMS, You'll have to manually transfer your phone records and contacts:

For contacts:

• 📇 Export them to the.vcf file via the Contacts app (click on three dots). → "Exports/imports").
• 📤 Transfer the file to the new Xiaomi (via the new Xiaomi) OTG, email or cloud and import.

For SMS:

• 💬 Use the app. SMS Backup & Restore (Available on Play Market).
• 📥 Create a backup on an old phone, transfer the file to a new one and restore it.

For call history:

• 📞 Install Call Logs Backup & Restore.
• 🔄 Make a backup, transfer the file and restore on the new Xiaomi.

On Xiaomi MIUI 14+ The call history may not be fully restored due to system limitations:

1. Open the phone app.
2. Go to Settings. → Call history → Restore.
3. Select a backup file (if it is in.xml format).

💡

When transferring SMS through third-party applications (for example, SMS Backup & Restore) messages can be displayed without contact names. To fix this, import contacts first and then — SMS.

6. Transfer of applications and their data (including games)

Move it yourself. APK-Application files are simple (it is enough to copy them through the OTG Or download it from Play Market again, but it's more complicated with the application data (game saves, settings, cache) and it's more complicated:

Method 1: Integrated MIUI backup

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Backup.
• 📱 Select “Local Backup” and create a backup.
• 🔄 Transfer the backup file to the new Xiaomi and restore through the same section.

Method 2: Helium (Old, but Works on Some Devices)

• 🛠️ Install Helium (root rights required or ADB).
• 📲 Create a backup of the necessary applications.
• 🔄 Move the backup to your new phone and restore it.

Method 3: Manual copying of data (for advanced)

1. Connect your old phone to your PC and enable Debugging USB.
2. Use the team. ADB To create a backup: adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab
3. Transfer the backup.ab file to the new Xiaomi.
4. Recover the data by command: adb restore backup.ab

For cloud-based games (such as Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile is the easiest:

• 🎮 Link your game account to Google Play, Facebook or Xiaomi Miaccount.
• 📱 Install the game on a new phone and log in to the same account – saves will be downloaded automatically.

7. Transfer system settings and personalization MIUI

Settings MIUI/HyperOS (topics, gestures, sound circuits) are not transferred through standard tools to maintain personalization:

Themes and wallpaper:

• 🎨 Open the Topics app on your old phone.
• 📥 Click on the subject. → "Download" (if it is custom, save a screenshot of the settings).
• 🔄 On the new Xiaomi, log in to the same Xiaomi Account – some topics are synced automatically.

Gestures and buttons:

• 👆 Take a picture of the screen with the gesture settings (Settings) → Display. → Gestures).
• 🔧 On your new phone, restore them manually.

Sound circuits and alarm clocks:

• 🔔 Export custom tunes through Settings → Sounds and vibrations → The ringing melody (click on the melody) → "Exports").
• ⏰ For alarm clocks, use the Clock app (in MIUI There is an option to export / import to the alarm clock → Settings → Backup).

If you used a miaccount to sync, some settings (such as Quick Settings or Do Not Disturb Mode) will recover automatically when you first log in.

8. Frequent problems and their solutions

Even with the right transfer, the data may not recover or not work properly.-5 problems and ways of solving them:

If Xiaomi started to slow down after the transfer, follow the following steps:

1. Reboot the phone.
2. Clean the cache in Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
3. Turn off the autoload of unnecessary applications in Settings → Battery → Autostart.

1. Hold your finger to the free space on the screen → "Screen settings" → "Restore the layout".

2.Reboot Launcher: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the data (Warning: all widgets will be dropped!).-->

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions