How to transfer your desktop to another Xiaomi phone: full instructions

Why migrating your desktop to Xiaomi isn’t just about copying files

Moving the desktop between Xiaomi smartphones seems like a simple task until you face the realities. MIUI. Unlike Android in its pure form, where you just need to copy the launcher folder, it's complicated by proprietary system settings, binding to your Mi Account account, and widgets. APK-Application files, you will lose them:

- The location of icons on screens (including folders and order);

- settings widgets (weather, calendar, notes);

- Design themes and wallpapers, if they were downloaded from the Topic;

Application data (for example, saved tabs in the browser or history in messengers).

Moreover, since MIUI 14, Xiaomi has been actively using cloud backup, but even it does not always restore the desktop to its original form. In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods of porting – from standard MIUI tools to manual methods for advanced users, taking into account the nuances of different versions of the firmware.

Method 1: Backup via Mi Cloud (official method)

The most reliable and easy way is to use the built-in Mi Cloud feature, which is suitable for most models (Redmi Note 12, Xiaomi 13, POCO F5, etc.), but requires:

• 🔹 Authorization under one Mi Account on both phones;
• 🔹 A stable Internet connection (preferably Wi-Fi);
• 🔹 Sufficient cloud space (free 5GB).

Instructions:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Backup to Mi Cloud.
2. Select “Data Backup” and tick the boxes: 📱 Desktop (required!); 🔧 System settings (optional); 📁 Applications and their data (if you need to transfer the history of chats, bookmarks, etc.).

Start backups

“Restore from backup”

Settings → Mi Cloud → Recovery

Sign in with the same Mi Account| Connect to Wi-Fi| Charge both phones at least 50% | Free up space on a new phone (minimum 2 GB)

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⚠️ Note: If the new phone has a newer version MIUI, In the old one, some desktop settings may not recover. MIUI 15 the logic of the widgets has changed, and they may be displayed incorrectly.

Method 2: Local backup (without cloud)

If you don't have access to Mi Cloud or little space in the cloud, you can back up your memory card or your computer, which works on all models, including the Redmi 10 and POCO X3, but requires manual control.

Steps:

1. Insert a memory card (or connect the phone to a PC).
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
3. Select “Create a backup” and mark: 🖼️ Desktop; 📲 Annexes (optional).

/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/backup/AllBackup

AllBackup

Local backups → Restore

⚠️ Note: If you transfer data from Xiaomi to Xiaomi POCO (Or vice versa, a local backup might not restore widgets because of different launcher versions, so you'll have to manually configure them.

Mi Cloud| Local copy to memory card | Computer copy | I don't use backups | Other way

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Method 3: Move over Xiaomi Migration (for new phones)

Xiaomi Migration is available on phones with MIUI 12 and later, and allows you to move your desktop, apps, and even some system settings right when you first turn on a new device.

How it works:

1. Turn on the new phone and select “Data Transfer” during the setup phase.
2. On your old phone, open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Data Migration.
3. Bring your phones to each other and scan them. QR-code.
4. Select data for transfer (be sure to mark “Desktop”).
5. Confirm the transfer and wait until the completion (may take 10–30 minutes).

Advantages of the method:

• 🔄 Transfer occurs without loss of quality (unlike the cloud where widgets can be reset).
• 📶 It works even without the Internet (data is transmitted over Wi-Fi Direct).
• 🔧 Not only icons are transferred, but also launcher settings (animations, gestures).

💡

If the migration is interrupted, try connecting your phones to the same Wi-Fi network and repeat the process, sometimes rebooting both devices helps.

Method 4: Manual transfer over ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t work (e.g., when migrating from Xiaomi Mi 9 to Xiaomi 14 with different MIUI versions), you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) which requires a computer and basic command line knowledge.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools;
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on both phones (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap to unlock Developer Settings → set up USB);
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

Connect your old phone and do:


adb backup -f desktop.ab -app com.miui.home




Connect a new phone and restore:



adb restore desktop.ab

This command saves the launcher settings (com.miui.home) to the desktop.ab file.

• ⚠️ Widgets may not recover;
• ⚠️ On phones with different screen resolutions, icons can be superimposed;
• ⚠️ Some system applications (such as Weather) will require re-authorization.

Method 5: Transfer through third-party launchers (Nova, Apex, Lawnchair)

If you can't move your desktop with standard tools, you can use third-party launchers with backup, which is suitable for users who are willing to temporarily change the shell.

Example for Nova Launcher:

1. Install Nova Launcher on your old phone from Google Play.
2. Set up your desktop as you need (location of icons, folders, widgets).
3. Go to Settings Nova → Backup/Import and save the settings.
4. Copy the backup file (for example, nova_backup_20260515.nb) new phone.
5. Install Nova Launcher on your new phone and restore the settings from the file.

Pros of the method:

• 🎨 Flexible desktop setting (you can even transfer gestures).
• 🔄 Works between different brands (e.g. Xiaomi on Samsung).
• 📦 Folders and groups of applications are saved.

Cons:

• ❌ System application widgets (Weather, Calendar) may not work.
• ❌ Manual adjustment is required after recovery.

💡

The launcher side is the only reliable way to transfer the desktop between phones of different brands (for example, Xiaomi → Samsung).

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even with the right transfer, users are faced with common errors, and here are the most common ways to correct them:

1.The icons overlapped.

It's because of different screen resolutions.

• 📏 Change the size of the desktop grid in the launcher settings;
• 🔄 Reboot the phone;
• 🖼️ Manually drag the icons to their places.

2.The widgets haven't recovered

Widgets are tied to system applications and are often reset to return them:

1. Remove the widget from the desktop (hold → Remove).
2. Add it again from the widget menu.
3. If the widget doesn’t appear, update the app it belongs to.

3. Wallpaper dropped on standard

If you have used the wallpaper from the theme, you need to download them again:

1. Open the topics;
2. Go to Mine. → Downloads;
3. Find the wallpaper and re-apply it.

💡

If after the transfer, the icons of some applications are missing, check the Disabled apps folder in the launcher settings - sometimes system applications are turned off automatically.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions