How to Transfer All Apps and Data from an Old Xiaomi to a New Phone: 5 Proven Ways

Switching to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but transferring data from an old device often becomes a headache. MIUI, The risk of losing important files, settings or app data remains, and in this article we will look at all the current ways of migration, from standard Xiaomi tools to alternative solutions for complex cases.

Xiaomi devices offer multiple built-in portability mechanisms: Mi Mover, Mi Cloud, backup to Settings, and even physical cable transmission, but each method has limitations. For example, Mi Mover does not carry data from some applications (like WhatsApp or banking services), and the cloud requires a stable Internet. MIUI 14/15 Identify key nuances that are not written in the official instructions.

It is important that your old phone is working on MIUI 12 Some features may not be available, in which case we recommend updating the firmware before transfer, which will eliminate compatibility errors. 30-40% battery charge on both devices and free space on the new smartphone (minimum on the device) 10-15% more than the data in the old).

Preparation for the transfer: what to do before the migration begins

The first step is to audit the data on your old phone, and go through the key sections and see how much information you have.

• 📱 Applications: list of installed programs (Settings) → Annexes → Pay attention to save games (such as Genshin Impact or Honor of Kings) – their data is often not automatically transferred.
• 📞 Contacts and messages: check if they are synced with Google Account or Mi Cloud. If not, export manually through Contacts → Management → Exports/imports.
• 📸 Media files: photos and videos in the gallery, downloads and folders of applications (for example, Telegram or Telegram) VK). Use the Files. → Analysis of the storage to see the full picture.
• 🔑 Accounts: Write down logins and passwords from services that do not support automatic login (such as some banking applications or corporate emails).

The next step is to clean up the garbage, remove the files, the app cache, and the duplicate photos, and it will speed up the transfer and save space on the new device.

1. Open Security. → Clean up and run a deep check.
2. In the Files section → Categories → Find and delete screenshots, memes, or old videos.
3. Check the Download folder – there are often unnecessary ones accumulate there. APK-file.

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If your new phone has less memory than your old phone, use the File feature. → Cloud disk in MIUI, Temporarily upload rarely used data to the cloud and make room for transfer.

A critical mistake many users make is to move data without first syncing contacts and calendars with Google. If you don't do this in advance, after the migration, phone numbers may be duplicated or lost. → Accounts. → Google and enable sync for Contacts, Calendar and Gmail.

2. Method 1: Mi Mover – Xiaomi’s official wireless port tool

Mi Mover is a built-in migration app that works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and other smartphones. POCO s MIUI 9 and up, it allows you to move it:

• 📱 Applications (including settings for some of them)
• 📞 Contacts, call log and SMS
• 📸 Photos, video and audio files
• 📅 Calendars and notes
• 🎮 Some game saves (depending on the game)

However, there are limitations:

Step-by-step:

1. On both phones, install Mi Mover (if not, download from the App Store or APKMirror).
2. On the new phone, select “I am a new user” and on the old phone, “I am an old user.”
3. Scanner. QR-The code on the new device reads the code from the old one (or use it) PIN-link-code).
4. Select data to transfer. We don't recommend you to move system settings, because this can cause conflicts on the new phone.
5. Confirm the migration. It takes 10 to 60 minutes depending on the amount of data.

Both phones are charged at least 50 times%|Wi-Fi is enabled on both devices|There is plenty of free space on the new phone.|Disabled. VPN and energy-saving regimes|Sync with Mi Cloud temporarily disabled-->

If Mi Mover freezes or gives an error "I failed to connect", try:

• Reboot both phones.
• Disable Bluetooth (sometimes it conflicts with Wi-Fi Direct).
• Use a mobile hotspot instead of Wi-Fi.
• Update the Mi Mover to the latest version.

Method 2: Mi Cloud Transfer – When wireless transmission is not possible

Mi Cloud is a cloud storage from Xiaomi that offers 5GB for free (up to 100GB for a fee).

• 📶 There is no stable Wi-Fi for the Mi Mover.
• 🔄 You need to transfer data to a phone of another brand (for example, from Xiaomi to Samsung).
• ⏳ You want to make a backup before selling your old phone.

How to transfer data through Mi Cloud:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Enable synchronization for all the categories you need: Contacts, Messages, Gallery, Notes, etc.
3. Wait for the synchronization to complete (it can take several hours with a large amount of data).
4. On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account and enable sync in Mi Cloud.
5. The data will start to load automatically. Connect to Wi-Fi to speed up the process.

Important nuances:

• 📌 Photos and videos are synced in their original quality, but they take up a lot of space in the cloud. If you have a free 5GB tariff, you may have to buy extra space.
• 🔄 Applications are not portable via Mi Cloud – only their data (for example, Mi Browser settings or Themes).
• 🔒 Security: If you are selling an old phone, remember to log out of your Mi Account and reset it to factory settings (Settings) → The phone. → Resetting settings).

If you are transferring data to a phone of another brand (such as Samsung or iPhone), use the Mi Cloud data export format. ZIP:

1. Visit i.mi.com from your computer.
2. Log in and select "Backup".
3. Click on “Data Export” and select the desired categories.
4. Download the archive and transfer it to a new phone through USB cloud-based.

4. Method 3: Transferring through Google Account – a universal method for Android

If you use Google services (Gmail, Contacts, Calendar, Drive), this is the most reliable way, it works on any Android device, including Xiaomi, and ensures the safety of basic data even when changing the phone manufacturer.

What is carried through Google Account:

• 📞 Contacts (including groups and tags)
• 📅 Calendars and events
• 📧 Letters and settings Gmail
• 📁 Google Drive files (if stored there)
• 🌐 Bookmarks and Chrome history
• 📱 Some system settings (Wi-Fi passwords, background data)

Instructions for transfer:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Accounts → Google.
2. Make sure you're syncing all the right categories. If not, manually turn it on.
3. Click on "Sync Now" and wait until it's finished.
4. On the new phone, when you first turn on, select “Copy data from your old device” and log in to the same Google Account.
5. If the phone is already configured, go to Settings → Accounts. → Google and enable synchronization.

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Applications are not portable – only their data (if the app supports sync via Google).
• ❌ Media files (photos, videos) are not synced automatically – you need to use Google Photos for this purpose.
• ❌ Communications SMS Not portable (you need Google Messages with backup enabled).

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Google Account is the only transfer method that works when you switch from Xiaomi to iPhone. To do this, install Google apps (Contacts, Calendar, Drive) on your iPhone and log in to your account.

If you want to transfer photos and videos to Google, use the Google Photos app:

1. Install Google Photos on your old phone.
2. Enable autoboot in Settings → Backup and Synchronization.
3. Wait until the download is complete (may take a few hours).
4. On the new phone, install Google Photos and log in to the same account – all media files will be downloaded automatically.

Warning: Free storage in Google Photos is limited to 15GB per account (together with Gmail and Google Drive).If you have a lot of high-resolution photos, consider buying extra space or compressing files before downloading.

5. Method 4: Cable transfer OTG — big-data

If you have a lot of data (over 50 GB) or an unstable Internet, cable transfer is the most reliable option.

• 🔌 OTG-cable USB-C → USB-C, If both phones are new).
• 📱 Old phone with unlocked screen.
• 🔋 Charges at least 70% on both devices.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old phone to your new one OTG-The new device will have a notification "USB-drive-in".
2. Open Files on your new phone and select "USB-The storage device (this is the memory of an old phone).
3. Copy the right folders: DCIM (Photos and videos) Download (downloads) Pictures (images from social networks) WhatsApp/Media (media) Android/data (data)
4. Use the application transfer APK Extractor (available on Google Play) to save APK-Files from your old phone and then install them on your new phone.

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ Speed: transmission is in 5-10 faster than Wi-Fi.
• 📦 Full control: you choose which files to copy.
• 🔒 Security: Data is not transmitted via the Internet.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Not all data is transferred: for example, SMS or the system settings will have to be synchronized separately.
• ❌ Technical Skills Needed: Incorrect copying of system folders can cause crashes.

1. Reboot both devices.

2. use another cable (some cheap ones) OTG-cables do not support data transmission).

3. On the old phone, turn on Developer Mode and activate Debugging by USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI — press 7 times).-->

Warning: Do not copy folders Android/obb or Android/data for games without prior backup via Helium or Swift Backup.Incorrect transfer may result in game crashes or loss of saves.

Method 5: Manual transfer for advanced users (ADB, Titanium Backup)

If standard methods are not suitable (for example, you need to transfer data from system applications or rare programs), you can use advanced tools:

• 🛠️ ADB (Android Debug Bridge: To copy data via command line.
• 📦 Titanium Backup: To create full application backups and their data (requires root rights).
• 🔄 Swift Backup: Titanium Backup alternative without root (but with limitations).

Instructions for ADB:

1. Install ADB Tools on your computer.
2. On the phone, turn on the debugging. USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → Press 7 times; then additionally → For developers → Debugging by USB).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command to create a backup: adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab
4. Transfer backup.ab to your new phone and restore data: adb restore backup.ab

For Titanium Backup (root required):

1. Install the app on both phones.
2. On your old phone, create a backup of all applications and data ("Backage Action") → Backup of all user applications").
3. Transfer the Titanium Backup folder to your new phone (via the phone) OTG cloud).
4. On the new phone, restore data through "Package Action" → Recovery".

Attention: use ADB Titanium Backup without experience can lead to:

• Loss of data due to incorrect recovery.
• Application conflicts on a new phone.
• Violation of system services (if you transfer system applications).

7. Transfer of specific data: WhatsApp, banking applications, passwords

Some applications require a separate approach to portability, and let's look at the most difficult cases.

📱 WhatsApp and other messengers

To transfer WhatsApp chats:

1. On your old phone, create a backup: WhatsApp settings → chat → Backup copy.
2. Install WhatsApp on your new phone and sign in to the same account.
3. When the application offers to restore chats from the backup – confirm.

If the backup is not restored:

• Make sure the new phone has the same number as the old one.
• Check that backup file (msgstore.db.crypt14) foldered /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases.
• If you use Google Drive for backup, make sure that the new phone has the same Google Account.

🏦 Banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff, VTB)

Most banking applications do not support data portability due to security concerns, so as not to lose access:

• Take screenshots or export your transaction history (if you have such a feature in the app).
• Take a picture or record the card details (number, expiration date, CVV — But keep it in a safe place!).
• On the new phone, install the bank application and log in again (required) SMS push-notification).

🔐 Passwords and autocomplete data

If you are using Google Smart Lock:

1. Make sure password synchronization is included in Settings → Google → Managing a Google Account → Security → Passwords.
2. On the new phone, log in to the same account – passwords will be downloaded automatically.

If you use Mi Browser or other password managers:

• Export passwords to a file (usually in.csv format) and import them on a new phone.
• For 1Password or Keeper just install the app on the new device and log in to your account.

8. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions, you can have problems.

If after the transfer the phone began to brake or overheat, try:

• Clear the application cache (Settings) → Annexes → Remove the cache).
• Disable autoloading of unnecessary programs.
• Reset network settings (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings).

If the new phone is missing memory after transfer:

• Use the Files. → Storage analysis to find and delete unnecessary files.
• Transfer the media files to SD-card (if supported).
• Turn on "Light Mode" in the camera settings so that new photos take up less space.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions