The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always a joyful event, but data transfer often turns into a headache. Contacts are scattered across messengers, photos take dozens of gigabytes, and application settings have to be restored manually. The myth that “everything will move on its own” is debunked at the first synchronization stage, when you find missed chats in Telegram or missing notes. This article will help you avoid typical errors and choose the best method depending on the volume of data and device models.
We’ve tested all the latest portability on devices from the Redmi Note 12 to the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, taking into account the nuances of MIUI 14/15 and the limitations of Chinese firmware, you’ll learn how to save even the history of calls and SMS without loss (which doesn’t always work through standard tools), and which data is better to carry manually — and why.
1.Official way: Mi Mover - fast, but with pitfalls
Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary wireless data transfer solution for the brand’s devices, and works on all smartphones with MIUI 9 and newer, including POCO and Black Shark. The main advantage is the preservation of folder structure and photo metadata (shot dates, geotags), but there are critical limitations that the manufacturer does not mention.
When we migrated from Xiaomi Mi 11 to Xiaomi 13T, we found that applications from third-party sources (not from Google Play) are not copied, they have to be installed again.
- 📱 Wi-Fi settings (you will have to enter passwords again)
- 🔑 Local accounts (e.g. data from banking applications)
- 🎮 Save games (if they are not synced to the cloud)
- 📁 Hidden files (e.g..nomedia configs)
To avoid problems, before the transfer:
Close all background apps on both phones|Connect both devices to charging (the process takes up) 30-90 minute)|Make sure that the new phone has enough space (the data takes up the same amount)|Turn it off. VPN Firewalls (they can block transmission)-->
Step instructions:
- On your old phone, open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Data Transfer (Mi Mover).
- On your new phone, choose a similar path or run Mi Mover from the Quick Settings menu.
- Select a role: the old one is “I am the sender” and the new one is “I am the receiver.”
- Scan it. QR-code from the screen of a new phone with an old device.
- Select data types to transfer (we recommend that you note everything except the "Application" - it is better to install them again).
- Wait until it's done. Don't interrupt the process, because it can lead to the loss of some data.
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If the Mi Mover is stuck in the Prep phase, restart both phones and try again. Most often, the problem is due to a conflict with the MIUI optimizer - disable it in Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization
2.Cloud portability: Xiaomi Cloud vs Google Account
Cloud services are convenient because they allow you to transfer data before you buy a new phone, but Xiaomi Cloud and Google Account have different strengths: the former is better at system settings and SMS, and the latter is better at contacting and calendaring, and we recommend using both services in parallel.
Comparison of opportunities:
| Type of data | Xiaomi Cloud | Google Account |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts | ✅ (photographic) | ✅ (photoless in some cases) |
| SMS and call history | ✅ (fully) | ❌ (Only through third-party applications) |
| Photos and videos | ✅ (Up to 10GB free) | ✅ (15GB for everything, including Gmail) |
| Annexes and their data | ❌ (list-only) | ✅ (Partly through Google Play) |
| System settings | ✅ (themes, wallpaper, sounds) | ❌ |
How to transfer data through Xiaomi Cloud:
- On an old phone: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup of the device.
- Select data for backup (we recommend System Settings and Applications).
- Click "Start backup" and wait until it is completed.
- On the new phone, log in to the same Xiaomi account and recover data from the cloud.
⚠️ Note: If you are using Chinese firmware (China) ROM), Xiaomi Cloud may not work outside of China, in which case, link your account to the region of Russia via the Internet. VPN before transference.
For Google Account:
- 📲 Go to Settings. → Google accounts → Synchronization of the account.
- 🔄 Enable synchronization for all categories.
- 📥 On the new phone, log in to the same account – the data will be automatically pulled up.
Xiaomi Cloud|Google Drive |Yandex Disk |iCloud |Nothing else |Not using-->
OTG Cable Transfer: For Large Volumes Without Internet
If you have more 50 GB data (for example, a video collection in the 4K or RAW-The wireless methods will be too slow. OTG (USB-C → USB-C) It allows you to transfer files at speed to 480 Mbit/s - in 5-10 It's faster than Wi-Fi, but there's some nuances:
- 🔌 High-quality cable with support is required USB 3.0 (cheap often works in an unstable way).
- 📂 Not all files can be copied – for example, application databases (.db) are only transferred via Mi Mover.
- 🔒 In some models (POCO F5, Redmi K60) I need to let you debug USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (7 times press).
Step-by-step:
- Connect the OTG cable to your new phone.
- Connect your old phone to the cable OTG (he'll figure out how USB-accumulator).
- On the new phone, open the Explorer and go to the section "USB-accumulator".
- Copy the right folders: DCIM — Download photos and videos - downloads MIUI — wallpaper Android/data — Data from some games (e.g. Genshin Impact)
contact SMS
.vcf
.xml
Contacts
⚠️ Warning: Do not copy the folder Android/obb It can cause game disruptions, so you better reinstall the games and upload additional files through them.
How to save games without losing money?
Manual transfer: when automatic methods do not work
Some data cannot be transferred in standard ways, such as:
- 📝 Notes from Mi Notes (exported only to.zip without importation option)
For such cases, specialized applications will be needed:
| Type of data | Portability annex | Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Notes (Mi Notes) | Notepad Sync | Export notes to.txt via the app menu, then import on a new phone. |
| Passwords (Mi Browser) | LastPass or Bitwarden | Save passwords to a third-party manager before changing the phone. |
| Health statistics | Google Fit | Connect Mi Band to Google Fit in advance – the data is synced automatically. |
To transfer SMS and call history without Mi Mover:
- Install Backup & Restore SMS from Google Play.
- Create a backup on your old phone (.xml file).
- Transfer the file to a new phone and restore the data.
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If you use Xiaomi Eu ROM, standard portability methods may not work, in which case the only reliable way is to manually copy files via TWRP or ADB.
5 Application portability: what can be restored and what can not
Many users mistakenly believe that migrating apps through Mi Mover or Google Account will restore all data.
- 📱 Installed applications are portable, but not updated – they will have to be updated manually.
- 💾 Application data (such as Instagram cache or settings) VLC) Lost if the application does not support cloud sync.
- 🎮 Games often require re-uploading additional files (.obb).
To minimize losses:
- Before transferring, update all apps on your old phone.
- For critical applications (banks, instant messengers), back up your applications through their own functions:
Do not restore applications from backup
Google Play
App Gallery
⚠️ Note: Applications from unknown sources (APK) They are not transferred through Mi Mover. They need to be copied manually to the Download folder and installed again, allowing installation from unknown sources in Settings. → Confidentiality.
6.Move Smart Home Configuration: Mi Home and Alternatives
If you use the Xiaomi Smart Home ecosystem, linking devices to a new phone can be a problem. The main mistake is resetting the old phone to the devices uncoupled, in which case you will have to reset each device physically (for example, press the button on the Xiaomi Gateway 5 times).
The right course of action:
💡 Tip: If there is a lot of data, transfer them at night by connecting your phones to charge.