How to transfer all settings from Android to the new Xiaomi smartphone: 5 proven ways

Moving to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but migrating data from an old device can be a real headache, especially if you’re used to certain settings, icon layouts, or unique app settings. Unlike the iPhone, where data migration is standardized through iCloud, the Android ecosystem offers dozens of ways, from built-in MIUI tools to third-party services.

This article will not just list ways to copy contacts or photos (any kettle can handle this), but will reveal the hidden nuances: how to transfer the information to the user. APN-settings for mobile Internet, saving your call history without loss, restoring your desktop widgets, and even migrating data from Xiaomi-specific applications like Mi Fit or Mi Home. MIUI 14/15 (including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 Xiaomi 13T) They are those who are stable in 2026 year.

1.The official way: Mi Mover by Xiaomi

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s signature tool, which is installed by default on all new devices of the brand.It allows you to transfer most data over Wi-Fi Direct (without an Internet connection), but there are limitations: for example, not all applications support recovery through this service, and some system settings (like Always On Display) are reset.

To take advantage of the Mi Mover:

• 📱 Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices.
• 🔗 On your old smartphone, open Settings → The phone. → Data Transfer (Mi Mover).
• 📲 On the new Xiaomi, run the Initial Setup Wizard and select “Transfer Data from Old Device».
• 🔄 Confirm the connection on both phones and select data types to copy.

Contacts and call log

SMS and MMS (except for large-scale multimedia)

Photos and videos (up to 5GB per session)

Applications (APK only, no data!)

Wi-Fi and wallpaper settings

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⚠️ Note: If the old device is MIUI In the version below 12, Mi Mover may not recognize it, in which case use alternative methods from the following sections.

2.Move through Google Account: Pros and Cons

Syncing with a Google account is a universal method that works on all Android devices, but it has critical drawbacks for Xiaomi users:

• ☁️ What is portable: contacts, calendars, Chrome bookmarks, some system settings (language, date/time).
• ❌ What's not tolerable: SMS, call history, settings MIUI (topics, gestures, most applications.
• 🔄 How to Enable: Go to Settings → Google accounts → Sync your account and activate all switches.

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If you use Google Photos to transfer media files, turn on the "Original Quality" option in your backup settings. Compressed files lose up to 30% of details.

3. Data Application Portability: Bypassing Limitations

The most painful part of migration is the transfer of application data (for example, saves in games, chat history in Telegram or settings in the mobile app). VLC). The official tools (Mi Mover, Google Backup) are copied only by the user. APK-Files, but user data is often lost:

• 🔧 Backup through ADB: Connect the old device to the PC, turn on debugging USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 Once you tap, and execute the command: adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab Then restore to the new Xiaomi: adb restore backup.ab
• 📦 Third-party backup managers: Apps like Swift Backup (requires root) or Titanium Backup (for older versions of Android) allow you to save application data to the cloud or memory card.
• 🎮 For gamers: Use built-in sync features in games (like Google Play Games or Facebook for saves).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14+ Debugging by USB It can be blocked by a security system. To unlock it, go to Settings. → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging control USB Add your PC to the list of trusted.

Mi Mover by Xiaomi

Google account

Third-party applications (Titanium, Swift)

Manual transfer via PC

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4. Postponement SMS, call history APN-settings

Official tools often ignore SMS and call logs, and APN settings are reset altogether.

• 📩 SMS/MMS: Use it. SMS Backup & Restore (free on Google Play) app exports messages to XML-The file is then imported to the new Xiaomi.
• 📞 Call history: Call Logs Backup & Restore app saves logs in.vcf or.csv format.
• 📡 APN-settings: Write down the settings manually (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Access points (APN)) or export through APN Backup & Restore.

5.Move MIUI settings: themes, gestures, Always On Display

Unique MIUI chips — such as customizable themes, navigation gestures, or Always On Display — are not portable in standard ways. Here's how to save them:

• 🎨 Themes and wallpaper: Download the theme you use from the Mi Theme Store (it is linked to your Xiaomi account). /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/wallpaper/.
• 👆 Gestures: Gesture settings are stored in a file gestures.xml way /data/system/. It can only be transferred with root access.
• 🌙 Always On Display: Settings are reset when transferred. Configure again to Settings → Screen. → Always On Display.
• ⚙️ Other settings: Export configurations through the Laboratory MIUI (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → tap).

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MIUI settings are tied to the device’s firmware, and even when migrated via Mi Mover, some settings are reset due to differences in the MIUI versions on the old and new smartphones.

6. Data transfer from Xiaomi applications: Mi Fit, Mi Home, Mi Browser

Xiaomi’s proprietary apps (such as Mi Fit for fitness bracelets or Mi Home for smart homes) store data in the cloud, but are tied to a Xiaomi account.

• 🏃 Mi Fit: Sign in to the same Xiaomi account on your new device — the data is synced automatically. If you use Google Fit, check your connection to Settings → Accounts. → Google → Fit.
• 🏠 Mi Home: Smart devices are linked to an account, not a phone. Just log in to the same profile in the app.
• 🌐 Mi Browser: Bookmarks and history don't sync. Export them to HTML-file via Settings → Imports/exports.

⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Account for sync, make sure the new device has the same version of the app installed. For example, Mi Fit 5.0 may not open data created in Mi Fit 6.0.

7 Manual file transfer: what and where to look

Some data is easier to copy manually through USB-cable SD-Here are the key folders on the old Android device:

• 📁 Media files: /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/ (photo), /Movies/, /Music/.
• 📄 Documents: /Documents/, /Download/.
• 🎮 Preservation of games: Usually in the /Android/data/ or /Android/obb/ (Root is required for full access).
• 🔊 Sounds and melodies: /Ringtones/, /Notifications/, /Alarms/.

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To speed up the transfer of large files (for example, video to the 4K) use FX File Explorer with support FTP-Launch the server. FTP On your old phone and connect to it from the new Xiaomi via the same phone FX Or Solid Explorer.

8 Post-transfer check: what could have gone wrong

Even after a successful migration, some functions may not work properly.

• 📶 Mobile Internet: If it doesn’t work 4G/5G, Restart the device or manually select the network in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Preferred type of network.
• 🔔 Notifications: Open Settings → Notifications and Allow Showing for Critical Apps.
• 🔋 Auto Brightness: Configure again in Settings → Screen. → Autobrightness (calibration reset).
• 🔒 Security: Check if your fingerprints or Face Unlock are reset (Settings) → Password and security).

Critical information: Xiaomi devices with MediaTek processors (e.g. Redmi Note 11, POCO M4 Pro) may experience an error after transferring data: “Stop com.miui.securitycenter app.” Solution: clear the cache of this application in Settings → Applications → Application Management → Security.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data portability to Xiaomi