How to transfer data from your old phone to your new Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Moving to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but data porting is often a headache. Photos, contacts, messages, apps and settings all need to be saved to keep things from scratch. Fortunately, Xiaomi has some built-in tools that make it easier to migrate. In this article, we’ll take a look at all the current ways to migrate data, from the official Mi Mover to manual methods for power users.

It's important to understand that the choice of method depends on the amount of data, the phone models and your preferences. For example, wireless portability is convenient, but it can take longer, and wired connection is faster, but requires cable. We also take into account the nuances of porting from Android to other brands and even from iPhones - yes, it is possible!

If you're afraid of losing important files, we recommend backing up your computer or the cloud before you start.

1.The official way: Mi Mover by Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a Xiaomi app that automatically transfers data between the company's devices, pre-installed on all new Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, so you don't have to download anything. The main advantage is simplicity: just follow the hints on the screen.

The application supports the transfer:

• 📞 Contacts (including call history)
• 📷 Photo and video (galleries, screenshots, downloads)
• 💬 Communications (SMS and chats from Mi Messages)
• 📱 Applications (with data storage, if possible)
• 🔧 System settings (wallpaper, sounds, Wi-Fi networks)

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

1. Turn on both phones and connect them to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. On the new Xiaomi, select Data Transfer when you first start (or find the Mi Mover app in the menu).
3. On your old phone, open Settings → About Phone → Data Transfer (the path may vary depending on the version of MIUI).
4. Scan it. QR-code from a new phone or select a wireless connection.
5. Select data types to transfer and confirm the start of the process.

⚠️ Warning: If the old phone has little charge (less than 30%), the Mi Mover may interrupt the transfer!

Charging both phones >50%|Same Wi-Fi network|Free space on the new Xiaomi|Disabled. VPN firewalls|Background applications closed-->

The speed of transfer depends on the amount of data. For example, 20 GB of photos and videos can be transmitted up to 30-40 minutes. If the process is stalled, try restarting the application or using a cable (more on this below).

2.Transfer via OTG cable: fast and reliable

If the wireless method seems slow or unstable, wired connection through the OTG-cable is a great alternative, and it works even without the Internet, and it's good for carrying large amounts of data (50GB or more:

• 🔌 OTG-adapter (or cable) USB-C to USB-C, If both phones are modern)
• 📱 Old phone with support USB OTG (Most models after 2016)
• 🔋 Charges at least 40% on both devices

Step instructions:

1. Connect. OTG-cable to the new Xiaomi.
2. Connect the second end of the cable to the old phone.
3. On the new device, select Data Transfer mode (usually automatically).
4. On an old phone, allow access to files (you may need to select File Transfer in the notification curtain).
5. Select files to copy and confirm the transfer.

A critical nuance: when connected via OTG, the new Xiaomi may not see the old phone if it is on developer mode or USB debugging.

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If you don't. OTG-You can use your computer as an intermediate link: copy data from your old phone to your PC, and then to your new Xiaomi.

3.Moving from iPhone to Xiaomi: features and limitations

Moving from iPhone to Xiaomi is a bigger challenge than migrating between Android devices, and the main problem is the closedness of the Apple ecosystem, but there are workarounds.

• 📞 Contacts (via iCloud or Google Account)
• 📷 Photo/video (via Google Photos or computer)
• 🎵 Music (unless purchased from iTunes)
• ❌ Applications (cannot be moved, only reinstall from Google Play)

Step-by-step instructions for transferring contacts:

1. On iPhone, go to Settings → [Your name] → iCloud and enable Contact Sync.
2. On your computer, open iCloud.com, log in to your account and export your contacts to the.vcf file.
3. Send this file to the new Xiaomi (by mail, Telegram or Google Drive).
4. On Xiaomi, open the.vcf file and import contacts.

The easiest way to transfer photos is to use Google Photos:

1. Install Google Photos on your iPhone and enable backup.
2. On the new Xiaomi, log in to the same Google account and wait for sync.
3. Open the gallery and all photos will be available.

⚠️ Note: Messages from iMessage can’t be migrated to Android without third-party paid services. If they’re critical, take screenshots of chats before you switch.

iPhone|Samsung|Another Android|Huawei|Another brand-->

4.Manual transfer: for those who like control

If you only need to transfer certain files, or you don't trust automated tools, manual transfer is your choice, and it takes longer, but gives you complete control of the process.

• 💻 Computer (Windows, Mac or Linux)
• 🔌 USB-cables for both phones
• 📁 Flash drive or external drive (optional)

Algorithm of action:

1. Connect your old phone to your computer and copy the files you need (photos, videos, documents) into a separate folder.
2. Turn off your old phone and connect a new Xiaomi.
3. Transfer files from your computer to your new smartphone (in DCIM folders for photos, Downloads for downloads, etc.).
4. For contacts, export them to the.vcf file on your old phone and import them on your new one.

Advantages of the manual method:

• ✅ Choose what to carry and what not to carry.
• ✅ No risk of data loss due to program failure.
• ✅ You can edit files before transferring (e.g. delete unnecessary photos).

Disadvantages:

• ❌ It takes a lot of time with a lot of data.
• ❌ Requires a computer and basic file management skills.

5. Cloud services: Google Drive, Mi Cloud and others

If you have a stable internet, cloud storage is a convenient way to migrate. Xiaomi offers its own Mi Cloud, but for cross-platform migration, it's better to use Google Drive or Dropbox.

Instructions for Google Drive:

1. On your old phone, install Google Drive (if not installed).
2. Log in to your Google account and click + → Download.
3. Select files for backup (photos, videos, documents).
4. On the new Xiaomi, log in to the same Google account and download files from Drive.

For Mi Cloud (only for Xiaomi devices):

1. On the old Xiaomi go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on synchronization for the desired data (contacts, notes, photos).
3. On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account and wait for the synchronization to complete.

Important: If you use Mi Cloud, please note that photos are saved in compressed format. For translation in original quality, it is better to use Google Photos (with the setting "Original Quality").

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

It's not hard to migrate the apps themselves (.apk files), but their data (game saves, settings, cache) often has problems. Here's how to do it correctly:

Method 1: Backup copy through Google

Many apps (like WhatsApp, Telegram, games) sync data to Google Drive to restore it to a new phone:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Google → Backup and enable the feature.
2. On the new Xiaomi, when you first start, select a recovery from Google backup.
3. Install apps from the Play Market – the data will be downloaded automatically.

Method 2: Manual copying of folders

Some apps store data in folders on the phone (e.g. /Android/data/ or /Android/obb/).

1. Connect your old phone to your computer and find folders with application data.
2. Copy them on your computer, then on the new Xiaomi in the same directory.
3. Reinstall apps from the Play Market.

⚠️ Note: Not all apps support manual data porting. For example, WhatsApp requires a backup in Google Drive or a local backup via Settings. → chat → Backup copy.

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Use Google Play Games or Facebook accounts to transfer these games – most games synchronize progress through these services.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

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

Problem 1: Mi Mover can't see an old phone

• 🔹 Check that both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
• 🔹 Turn it off. VPN firewalls.
• 🔹 Restart the Mi Mover app on both phones.

Problem 2: The transfer is 99% frozen

• 🔹 Wait 10-15 minutes – sometimes the process is delayed.
• 🔹 If it doesn’t work, disconnect both phones from the network, then try again.
• 🔹 Try another method (for example, OTG-cable).

Problem 3: The new Xiaomi is not enough space

• 🔹 Remove unnecessary files from your old phone before transferring.
• 🔹 Use the cloud for temporary storage.
• 🔹 Transfer data in parts (first photo, then video, etc.).

Issue 4: Contacts are duplicated

This happens if you move contacts multiple times (e.g. through Google and Mi Cloud) to fix:

1. Open Contacts → Settings → Combine Contacts.
2. Select duplicates and combine them.
3. Turn off sync in one of the services (for example, in Mi Cloud).

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If after the transfer, the wallpaper or settings disappeared, check if the themes are synchronized in Settings → Wallpaper → Theme Synchronization is included.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions