Moving to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but transferring data from an old device can become a headache if you don’t know the proven ways. Even between phones of the same brand, the process has nuances: there is enough cloud backup, and in some cases you will have to use a physical connection. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods of transfer — from the official Mi Mover tool to manual copying through the computer — and also explain how to avoid data loss and why some files may not move.
The Xiaomi ecosystem is very specific, because it offers its own migration solutions, but they don't always cover all the user needs. For example, Mi Mover is great for contact and SMS, but it can skip settings for some applications or files in.nomedia packages. We tested each method on models from Redmi Note 12 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra and identified the strengths and weaknesses of each, and if you need to migrate not only media files, but also data from Mi Fit, Mi Home or game saves, here you will find working solutions.
1. Official method: Mi Mover (without computer)
Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary data migration tool pre-installed on all of the brand’s smartphones, and works on a point-to-point basis via Wi-Fi Direct, allowing you to do without the Internet and cables, the main advantage of transferring not only media files, but also SMS/MMS, call logs, and settings for some system applications (such as Themes or Security).
To get started, on both phones, go to Settings → Phone → Backup and Reset → Data Transfer (Mi Mover). On the old device, select “I am the source”, on the new one, “I am the receiver”. Follow the on-screen instructions. Importantly, both phones must be charged at least 50%, otherwise the process may interrupt. The transfer speed depends on the amount of data — for example, 30 GB of photos and videos are transferred in about 40 to 60 minutes.
- ✅ Pros: does not require a PC, saves the folder structure, transfers SMS and call logs.
- ❌ Cons: does not work with data of some third-party applications (for example, WhatsApp or Viber), can “hang” on large volumes.
- ⚠️ Limitation: on some models (e.g, POCO F5) Mi Mover is hidden in the menu → Special facilities.
⚠️ Note: If the new phone already has data (for example, you started using it), Mi Mover will prompt you to erase it before transferring. Once the reset is confirmed, it will be impossible to return deleted files - make a backup copy to the PC in advance.
2. Transfer through Google Account (cloud)
If you use Google services, the most versatile way is to sync through your account, which is suitable for transferring contacts, calendars, Google Keep notes, as well as parts of your application data (such as Chrome or Gmail). To activate sync, go to Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync and turn on all the necessary items on your old phone.
On the new device, when you first turn on, the system will prompt you to log in to the same Google account, and after authorization, the data will begin to be downloaded automatically.
- 📱 Contacts and calendars are synced instantly, but photos and videos will have to be uploaded to Google Photos separately (via the app).
- 🔄 Some settings (such as Do Not Disturb Mode or Gestures) are not portable.
- 📁 File folders (such as downloads or documents) will have to be copied manually through Google Drive.
For media files, we recommend uploading them to Google Photos with original quality (if the tariff allows). After that, on the new phone, open the Google Photos app, log in to the same account and wait for the sync to complete. Please note: if you have the “Free space” option on your old phone, high-resolution photos can be deleted from the device after downloading to the cloud.
3. cable connection (OTG or USB)
If you have more than 50 GB of data or you have slow Internet, you're going to want to use direct cable. OTG-Adapter (if the new phone does not have a port) USB-C) special cable USB-C — USB-C Connect the old phone to the new one through an adapter, and a notification will appear on the screen «USB-Connection. Select File Transfer Mode (MTP).
Next, open Explorer on a new device - in the section «USB-You'll see the file system of the old phone. Copy the folders you want (DCIM for photos, downloads, etc.) to internal memory or SD-This method guarantees 100% transfer of all files, including hidden files, but does not affect the SMS, call logs and application settings.
Charge of both phones > 30%
The original cable is used (not charging!)
There's plenty of room on the new phone.
Battery optimizers are disabled (e.g. Mi Security)
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| Mode of transfer | Speed. | Portable data | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Average (10-15 MB/s) | Contacts, SMS, photos, videos, MIUI settings | Does not transfer data of third-party messengers |
| Google Account | Depends on the Internet. | Contacts, calendars, part of settings | Does not transfer SMS and files outside of Google Drive |
| OTG/USB cable | High (40–60 MB/s) | All files (including hidden files) | Does not tolerate SMS and application settings |
| Computer (via PC) | Very high. | All files + backup copies | It requires extra time. |
4. Computer Transfer (full backup)
For those who want to make a full backup of an old phone, including data apps (such as saving games or setting up WhatsApp), the method will be suitable via PC. You will need Mi PC Suite (the official software from Xiaomi) or universal tools like Syncios or Dr.Fone.
- Download and install Mi PC Suite from the official website.
- Connect your old phone to your PC via USB-cable and allow debugging USB (developer-setting).
- In the program, select the Backup section and tick the desired categories (applications, contacts, SMS, etc.).
- After creating a backup, connect a new phone and restore the data from the backup.
This is the only way to transfer application data (for example, game progress or chat Telegram), but it has limitations:
- 🖥️ It only works on Windows (no version for macOS).
- 🔄 Some applications (e.g. banking) may block recovery from backup for security reasons.
- ⏳ The process takes longer than Mi Mover (about 1-2 hours for 64 GB of data).
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If the Mi PC Suite doesn’t see the phone, try enabling File Transfer (MTP) mode in the notification curtain or installing Xiaomi USB Driver drivers manually.
5. Data portability of specific applications
Some applications require special attention because their data is not carried in standard ways.
WhatsApp and Viber
To transfer WhatsApp chats, use the built-in backup function in Google Drive:
- On your old phone, open WhatsApp. → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup copy.
- Click “Create a copy” and wait until it is completed (Wi-Fi connection required).
- On your new phone, install WhatsApp, log in and restore chats from Google Drive.
For Viber, the process is similar, but backup is created manually in the account settings.
Mi Fit and Zepp Life
Data from the fitness bracelets Mi Band or Amazfit are tied to the account Xiaomi/Zepp. Just log in to the same account on the new phone, and the activity history will adjust automatically, but the settings of alarms and notifications will have to configuring again.
Game saves
For games with cloud-based storage (such as Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile), you can only link your Google Play Games or social network account. For offline games (such as Minecraft), copy the save folder (/Android/data/com.mojang.minecraftpe/files/games/com.mojang/) via cable or PC.
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6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them
Even when following instructions, users face problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:
- 🔌 Mi Mover doesn’t see the device: check that both phones have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, and turn off the device VPN. If the problem persists, restart both devices.
- 📱 Not tolerated. SMS: Make sure that you are on your old phone. SMS not archived in Google Messages (they don't sync with Mi Mover). SMS Backup & Restore from Google Play.
- 🔋 It's 99 percent interrupted, which is a common mistake when you don't have enough space on your new phone.
- 🔒 Apps are not restored: if you use the backup via Mi PC Suite, check that the new phone has installed from unknown sources (Settings) → Special facilities → Installation rights).
⚠️ Note: If you transfer data from Xiaomi to Xiaomi POCO Black Shark, please note that some of the settings are MIUI (For example, Second Space or Child Mode may not recover due to differences in firmware.
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Before transferring data, always check for compatibility of MIUI versions on both phones. For example, with MIUI 14 on MIUI 12, some features may not work properly.