Switching to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but transferring data from an old device can become a real headache if you don’t know the nuances. Even within the same MIUI ecosystem, users face problems: somewhere lost contacts, somewhere do not transfer application settings, and sometimes the process is delayed for hours due to slow Wi-Fi. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of migration – from the official Mi Mover to manual transfer through the cloud – and also reveal the hidden limitations of each method, which even Xiaomi’s instructions are silent about.
The thing about porting between devices of the same brand is that it has unique tools that are not available for other Android smartphones. For example, only Xiaomi can use Mi Mover without losing the quality of media files or synchronize system settings through Mi Account in minutes. However, even these tools have pitfalls, from data limitations to compatibility of MIUI versions. We tested each method on devices in 2020-2026 and found out which ones work stable and where to back up in advance.
1.Official way: Mi Mover is fast, but not perfect
Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary solution for transferring data between the brand’s devices, pre-installed on all smartphones with MIUI 9 and later, but it depends on the firmware versions on both phones, the main advantage of which is direct Wi-Fi transmission without the cloud, which speeds up the process and preserves privacy.
To use Mi Mover, select Settings → About Phone → Mi Mover on your old phone, and on the new phone, run the Initial Setup Wizard and wait for the “Transfer from Another Device” option to appear. Follow the on-screen instructions. Importantly, both phones must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network (or create an access point on the old one), and the battery is at least 50% charged.
- ✅ What is transferred: contacts, messages, photos, videos, music, applications (without data), system settings (wallpaper, sounds, Wi-Fi).
- ❌ What NOT to port: Application data (e.g. save in games), Wi-Fi passwords (if not synced with Mi Account), some security settings.
- ⚠️ Limits: maximum volume - 200 GB, speed depends on Wi-Fi, on the MIUI 12+ You may need to confirm that through SMS.
⚠️ Note: If a new phone has already created a Mi Account, before transferring it must be deleted via Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account → Delete your account or Mi Mover will block the process.
2.Move over Mi Account: cloud with catch
Synchronization via Mi Account is the most versatile method, but it requires pre-setting. All data is uploaded to the Xiaomi cloud and then downloaded to the new phone, the main advantage is that you can transfer data remotely even if the old phone is lost or broke (provided that the sync was enabled in advance).
To activate sync, go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud and back up for the right categories (contacts, notes, photos, etc.) on your old phone, sign in to the same account and wait for the download to complete. Note: the free Mi Cloud cloud is limited to 5 GB, and for media files, it is better to use alternatives like Google Photos.
| Type of data | Volume (max.) | Synchronization time | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Unlimitedly | 1-5 minutes | Transferred with photos and groups |
| Photos | 5GB (free) | 10–60 minutes | Compression to 12 MP when exceeding the limit |
| Notes | 200 MB | 2-10 minutes | Only notes from Mi Notes |
| Communications | 1GB | 5-20 minutes | No attachments (photo/video) |
⚠️ Note: If you have used Mi Account on phones with different regional firmware (e.g. global and Chinese), the data may not sync. → Mi Account → Personal data.
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Before transferring to Mi Cloud, clear the cloud of unnecessary files. To do this, select "Storage Management" in Mi Cloud and delete old backups.
3. Manual transfer via OTG cable: for those who like control
If you need to transfer a large amount of data (for example, 100)+ GB photos and videos) or you don’t trust cloud services, the best option is a physical connection through the cloud. OTG-This is an adapter. This works even without the Internet, and it allows you to selectively copy files.
You'll need:
- 🔌 OTG-adapter (Type-C) → Type-C or MicroUSB → Type-C, depending on the port of the phone).
- 📁 File Manager (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
- ⚡ Charging – the process can take 1-2 hours with a large volume.
Connect your old phone to your new one via OTG, select File Transfer (MTP) mode and copy the folders you want in the file manager:
- /DCIM/ - Photos and videos.
- /Download/ - downloads.
- /Android/data/ – Data from some applications (e.g. WhatsApp)
- /MIUI/ - Themes and wallpaper.
Format a new phone (if it’s not new)
Check the free space on the new device
Connect. OTG-adapter
Enable USB debugging on your old phone (if you need app data)
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The main disadvantage of this method is that applications are not portable (only their applications are not portable). APK-To keep progress in games or messaging settings, you’ll need to use additional tools like Swift Backup (requires root) or backup inside the apps themselves.
4. Transfer of applications and their data: a separate history
Even if you successfully transferred APK-The application files, their data (saves, cache, settings) will remain on the old phone:
- Built-in backup: Some apps (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram) allow you to back up in the cloud. For WhatsApp, this is done through Settings → Chat → Backup.
- Titanium Backup (root): If you have root access, this app will transfer all the data along with the settings.
- ADB Backup: for advanced users. commands: adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab adb restore backup.ab
Important: Xiaomi blocks some system applications from backing up through ADB. For example, com.miui.securitycenter or com.xiaomi.account (Mi Account) will not be able to migrate this way.
How to transfer saves in games?
5. Transfer of system settings: themes, gestures, sounds
MIUI settings (themes, navigation gestures, sound circuits) are not transferred through standard tools.
- Topics: Export your current theme through Settings → Themes → My themes → Export. On your new phone, import the file through the same section.
- Gestures and buttons: take a picture of the current settings in Settings → Additional → Buttons and gestures and restore manually.
- Sound: Copy custom tunes from /MIUI/ringtone/ or /MIUI/notification/.
To transfer security settings (fingerprints, Face ID) you will have to configure everything again – this data is tied to the phone hardware and is not subject to migration.
6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them
Even when following instructions, users face problems, and here are the most common ones:
- 🔄 "Mi Mover can't find the device": check that both phones are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (not mobile data!).If an access point is used, turn off the access point. VPN firewall.
- ⏳ "Transfers are 99% "hung": usually associated with large files (video) 4K). Try to transfer the media separately through OTG.
- 🔒 "Lack of space in Mi Cloud: Clear old backups from the cloud or use Google Photos for media files.
- 📱 "Apps don't install on new phone": check compatibility of Android versions. Android 10 apps may not work on Android 14, for example.
⚠️ Note: If you transfer data from Xiaomi to Xiaomi POCO Or Redmi (and vice versa), make sure the firmware is compatible, MIUI for POCO It may not support some settings. MIUI Redmi, even if the versions are the same.
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The most reliable way to transfer is the Mi Mover combination (for contacts and messages) + OTG-cable (for media) + You can manually configure applications. You can minimize data loss.