How to Transfer Contacts to Xiaomi: All Data, Settings and Apps in 10 Minutes

Why Standard Data Transfer Doesn't Always Work

You bought the new Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or POCO F6, but you ran into a problem: the standard Mi Mover transfer only copies contacts and photos, ignoring Wi-Fi settings, accounts in apps and even some system settings. In the worst case, the process is interrupted by 87% with Mi Mover stopped error - a familiar situation?

Xiaomi restricts the transfer of service data between devices with different versions of MIUI or firmware from third-party regions (Global/EU/China). For example, if you switch from Mi 11 Ultra (MIUI 14) to Xiaomi 14 (HyperOS), the standard tool simply “does not see” part of the settings.

In this article, we will understand 4 working methods of transfer – from official (via Mi Account and Google) to manual (through backups and other forms of transfer) ADB). Each method is tested on pairs of devices with different versions MIUI/HyperOS, including cross-platform transfer from Redmi to POCO.

Method 1: Automatic transfer via Mi Account (most reliable)

This method works even if you have different Xiaomi models or firmware versions, and the main condition is that you have the same Mi Account on both devices, and the system syncs not only contacts, but also:

• 📱 System settings (brightness, sound, gestures)
• 🔑 Wi-Fi passwords and mobile network data
• 📁 Notes, calendar, alarm clocks.
• 🎮 Save some games (if you support the Xiaomi cloud)

How to do this:

1. On your old phone: Open Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud and enable sync for all items (especially Contacts and System Settings).
2. On a new phone: when you first turn on, select “Restore from backup” and log in to the same Mi Account. If the phone is already configured, reset it to factory (Settings → About Phone → Resetting).
3. Choose the most recent backup from the list, and it takes 5-15 minutes depending on the amount of data.

⚠️ Note: If the new phone is HyperOS, and the old — MIUI 13 and below, some of the settings may not be transferred. In this case, use Method 3 (manual unloading).

Contact synchronization enabled in Mi Cloud

Both phones share the same version of your Mi Account (update the "Mi Account" app if needed)

Enough space in the cloud (free to give 5 GB)

New phone connected to Wi-Fi (mobile network transfer may be interrupted)-->

Method 2: Mi Mover – Official instrument with pitfalls

Mi Mover is a pre-installed app on all Xiaomi that promises to port “everything and everything at once.” In practice, it only works stably if:

• 📱 Both phones on the phone MIUI 12+ or hyperos
• 🔄 The firmware versions are the same (for example, both Global)
• 📶 Wi-Fi Direct (not via cable) OTG!)

Instructions:

1. Install Mi Mover on both phones (if not, download from APKCombo).
2. On the old phone, select “I am the sender” and on the new phone, “I am the receiver.”
3. Connect through QR-code (will appear automatically).
4. Select data for transfer: be sure to mark "Contacts", "System settings" and "Applications" (if necessary).
5. Wait until it's done. Don't interrupt the process, because it can lead to the loss of some data.

Mi Account

Mi Mover

Google Account

Manual transfer via computer

Nothing from this.-->

Method 3: Manual transfer via backup (for experienced)

If the automatic methods don't work, you'll have to do it manually, and this is a way to guarantee that you can transfer all your contacts, SMS, Wi-Fi settings, and even some application data (like WhatsApp or Telegram) and you'll need to:

• 💻 Computer installed ADB (installation manual)
• 📱 USB-cable (preferably original)
• ⏳ 20-30 minutes of free time

Step 1: Create a backup on your old phone:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times click on the build number, then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers).
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) and type: adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab The phone will have a confirmation request - enter a password (if any) and click "Create a backup".

Step 2: Restore data on your new phone:

1. Connect the new phone to your PC and turn on USB Debugging again.
2. Enter the command: adb restore backup.ab On the phone confirm the recovery.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. banking) may block access after recovery from the ADB-In which case, they'll have to be manually reinstalled.

Method 4: Transfer through Google Account (for ecosystem lovers)

If you're a Google user, this is the best way to do this.

• 📇 Contacts (from Google Contacts)
• 📅 Calendars and reminders
• 📂 Photos and videos (if synced with Google Photos is enabled)
• 🔑 Wi-Fi passwords (if saved in Google Password Manager)

How to set up:

1. On your old phone: open Settings → Google Accounts → Sync your account and enable all items.
2. Wait until sync is complete (check with Google Contacts that all contacts are available).
3. On your new phone: When you first turn on, select “Copy Data” → “From the Cloud” → sign in to the same Google account.
4. Select data for recovery (be sure to tick "Contacts" and "Settings").

The advantage of this method is cross-platform, so if you decide to switch to Samsung or iPhone, all the data will already be in the Google ecosystem, but there are also disadvantages:

• ❌ No resumption of settings. MIUI/HyperOS (brightness, sound, gestures)
• ❌ No backups. SMS and calls (use) SMS Backup & Restore from Play Market)
• ❌ Applications will have to be installed manually.

💡

Before you migrate through Google, check if there's enough space in your account. 15GB is free, but photos and videos take up a lot of space. Clear the shopping cart in Google Photos and delete unnecessary backups in Google Drive.

Transfer of applications and their data: a separate history

Even if you have moved your contacts and settings, apps and their data (such as saves in games or chats in instant messengers) require special attention.

For other applications, use the built-in export/import functions or specialized utilities:

• 📱 SMS call-book: SMS Backup & Restore (Saves in the XML Google Drive)
• 📁 Application files: Swift Backup (requires root rights for full backup)
• 🎵 Music and playlists: export from Mi Music in format M3U

💡

Most modern apps (VK, Instagram, Spotify) link data to an account, not to a device, and just log in with the same login on a new phone, and everything will be synced automatically.

What to do if nothing works: Emergency measures

If all of these things don't work, there are radical methods that you should use only as a last resort:

1. Cloning /data partition via TWRP: It will require an unlocked bootloader and custom recovery. Suitable for power users. fastboot flash recovery twrp.img fastboot reboot recovery In TWRP, select Backup → Data, then transfer the file to a new phone and restore.
2. Titanum Backup: The app creates complete backups of all data, including system application settings.
3. If the problem is hardware incompatibility (for example, when transferring from Xiaomi Mi A2 to Redmi K70), write to the official support with the models and firmware versions.

⚠️ Attention: Transfer through TWRP Titanium Backup can cause you to lose warranty if your phone hasn't been officially unlocked. On models with HyperOS (2026), unlocking a bootloader now requires you to wait 168 hours (7 days) after you've tied your Mi Account.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions