How to Transfer All Data From Old Xiaomi to New: 5 Ways to Work

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but data porting often becomes a headache, with contacts scattered across accounts, photos lost in cloud storage, and app settings having to be reconfigured. Meanwhile, ecoistema MIUI offers several seamless migration tools that not everyone knows about.

Many people mistakenly believe that it is enough to simply copy files to a flash drive or send them via a messenger. In practice, this approach leads to the loss of folder structure, photo metadata, and even some system settings. This article will reveal all the official and alternative methods of data transfer between Xiaomi devices, including little-known chips like migrating through ADB or recovering from a local backup. We will examine each method in detail, from the simplest to the most advanced one, so you can choose the best option depending on the data volume and device model.

We will focus on the issues: why Mi Mover sometimes does not see an old device, how to circumvent the restrictions on the portability of some applications, and what to do if the new smartphone “forgot” connected to Mi Account devices of the smart home. At the end of this article, you will find a comparative table of methods and answers to frequent questions that arise after migration.

1.Official method: Mi Mover - fast transfer without a computer

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary solution that allows you to transfer most data directly between two smartphones over Wi-Fi. This method works on all devices with MIUI 9 and later, including the latest models like Xiaomi 14 or Redmi Note 13 Pro+. The main advantage is the preservation of folder structure and metadata photo / video, which does not provide cloud services.

To use the Mi Mover, both phones must have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, and enough space on the new device, which takes 10 to 40 minutes depending on the amount of data. Importantly, if the old phone uses MIUI version below 12, some settings (such as Game Turbo settings) may not move.

• 📱 On your old phone: Open Settings → The phone. → Transfer data (Mi Mover) and select "I am the source».
• 📲 On a new phone: When you first turn on, select Data Transfer or find Mi Mover in the settings. Click on I'm a receiver».
• 🔗 Pair: Scan the scan. QR-code from a new phone old or connect via Bluetooth device search.
• ✅ Data selection: tick categories for transfer (contacts, messages, photos, apps) and start the process.

⚠️ Warning: If the Mi Mover is stuck in the Preparation phase, check if the old phone is power-saving. Also delete unnecessary files from the folder. MIUI/Backup — Sometimes they block the process.

Once the transfer is complete, the new smartphone will automatically restart. Some applications (e.g. banking) will require re-entering the username/password due to security policies. The only way to migrate application data without re-authorizing is to use backup through Mi Account (more on this below).

Charge both phones at least 50% |

Disable VPNs and firewalls |

Make sure there is enough space on the new phone|

Sign out of your Google account on your old phone (if you transfer your Google data) |

Connect to a single Wi-Fi network (optional, speeds up the process)

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2.Move over Mi Account: Cloud Backup

If you have a Mi Account attached, you can create a full backup of your old phone and restore it to a new one, a method that is suitable for transferring system settings, application data (including game progress), and even some files. However, it has limitations: a free account allows you to store only 5 GB of data, and some applications (such as WhatsApp) are not backed up through the Mi Cloud.

The process involves two steps: creating a backup on an old phone and restoring it to a new one. Importantly, if you change your Mi Account region (for example, from China to a global one), some data may not recover. Also check that both devices use the same version of MIUI - if there is a large gap (for example, MIUI 11 → MIUI 14), errors are possible.

• ☁️ Backup Creation: Go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup of the device. Select data categories and click "Reserve».
• 🔄 Recovery: On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account, then to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Restore from backup copy.
• ⏳ Waiting: The process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours depending on internet speed.

⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Account with Chinese firmware (China) ROM), Some data (such as call history) may not be transferred to the global version. MIUI Due to differences in privacy policy.

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Before creating a backup through Mi Account, clear the app cache in Settings → Apps → Application Management. This will reduce the backup size and speed up the process.

3. Google Transfer: A Universal Method for Any Android Device

If you don't want to depend on the Xiaomi ecosystem, you can use Google services, which is a way to transfer contacts, calendars, photos (Google Photos), notes (Keep) and some settings. The main advantage is that the data will be available on any Android device, not just on Xiaomi.

For a full migration through Google, you will need:

1. Sync all data with your old Google account on your old phone.
2. Sign in to the same account on the new phone during the initial setup.
3. Restore data from the backup of Google Drive (if it was created).

• 📇 Contacts: Check that they are synced with Google Contacts in Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization.
• 📅 Calendars: similarly check sync in Google Calendar.
• 📷 Photo/Video: Install Google Photos and enable autoload in original quality (if there is space in the cloud).
• 🎮 Annexes: C Settings → System system → Backup Enable Data Backup of Applications in Google Drive.

Note that Google does not tolerate SMS messages, MIUI settings, and some applications (such as Xiaomi Home for smart homes) and other methods will have to be used for them. Also, consider that free Google Drive provides only 15 GB of space, which may not be enough for a full backup.

4. Transfer via OTG cable or adapter: for large data volumes

If you don’t have a stable internet connection or need to move tens of gigabytes of data (e.g. video to a mobile phone) 4K or RAW-Photos, the best option is a physical connection via cable OTG adapter USB-C → USB-C. This method is faster than cloud services and does not depend on Internet speed, but it requires additional accessories and a little technical skills.

The transfer will require:

• 🔌 Cable OTG (If the new phone has a connector USB-C, The old one is a Micro-USB or adapter. USB-C → USB-C.
• 📁 File Manager (e.g., built-in file manager) MIUI File Manager or Solid Explorer).
• ⚡ Sufficient battery charge (it is better to connect to charging during transfer).

Instructions:

1. Connect your old phone to your new phone via cable/adapter. On the screen of your old phone, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. On the new phone, open the file manager and find the connected device in the Devices or Network section.
3. Copy the right folders (DCIM for photos, Download for downloads, WhatsApp for chats, etc.) for internal memory or SD-mapping.
4. To port apps, copy the Android/data folder, but note that many apps won’t work without re-installation through Google Play.

⚠️ Note: Do not copy system folders like this MIUI or Android/obb — This can cause a new phone to malfunction. Android/data/com.xiaomi.midrop, It contains temporary Mi Drop files that may conflict with the.

The speed of transfer via cable depends on the USB version: on Xiaomi 13 Pro with USB 3.2 50 GB of data is copied in 10-15 minutes, and on older models with USB 2.0 the same volume can take more than an hour.

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Moving over an OTG cable is the only way to keep the original quality of your video and photos without the compression that cloud services use.

5. Alternative methods: ADB, local backup and third-party applications

If standard methods don’t work (for example, due to different versions of MIUI or corrupted system files), you can use advanced methods, which require more time and technical knowledge, but allow you to transfer data that is not available through Mi Mover or Google.

5.1. Local backup via ADB (for power users)

The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool allows you to create a full copy of your old phone’s data and restore it to a new one, a method that is suitable for porting all data applications, including those that do not support cloud redundancy, but requires you to unlock OEM Unlock and enable USB Debugging.

adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f /sdcard/backup.ab


adb restore /sdcard/backup.ab

Note: Some manufacturers (including Xiaomi) limit the ADB backup options in newer versions of MIUI. If the team doesn't work, try using the Swift Backup alternative.

5.2 Third-party applications for migration

If Xiaomi’s built-in tools don’t work, you can use third-party solutions:

• 🔄 Cloneit: portable contacts, messages, photos and even call history, works without root, but requires installation on both devices.
• 📦 Send Anywhere: Transfers files of any size via Wi-Fi Direct.
• 🔐 Titanium Backup: the most powerful app backup solution, but requires root rights.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party applications for portability SMS or call logs, new messages on the old phone may not sync with the new one. SIM-map.

5.3. Smart home data transfer (Xiaomi Home)

If you use Xiaomi Smart Home devices (lamps, sockets, robot vacuum cleaners), their binding to the account is automatically saved when you sign in to Mi Account on a new phone, but sometimes the devices “disappear” from the list.

1. Make sure the new phone is connected to the same 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network as the smart home devices.
2. Update the Mi Home app to the latest version.
3. If the devices are not displayed, delete them from your account via the Mi Home web version (home.mi.com) and add them again.

6.What to do after the transfer: verification and optimization

Even if the data transfer is successful, the new phone may not be as fast as expected, because the useful data is often copied with the application cache, temporary files and duplicates.

• 🧹 Cache Cleanup: Go to Settings → Memory. → Clean and delete unnecessary files. Also clear the cache of individual applications in Settings → Annexes.
• 🔍 Duplicate Search: Use applications like Files by Google or CCleaner to find and delete repetitive photos or documents.
• 🔄 App Update: Open the Google Play Store and update all apps to the latest versions.
• 📡 Network settings: if internet speeds have dropped, reset your network settings in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.

Pay special attention to application permissions. Once ported, some programs (such as instant messengers or banking apps) may lose access to contacts, camera or storage. Check permissions in Settings → Apps → Permissions Management.

If the new phone starts to run out quickly, the reason may be the background activity of the transferred applications. Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Use and limit background work for unnecessary programs. It is also recommended to calibrate the battery: discharge the phone to 0%, then charge to 100% without interruptions.

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After transferring the data, be sure to restart the new phone - this will help the system correctly apply all the settings and avoid lags.

7. Comparison of transfer methods: which one to choose?

To make it easier to choose, we've put together the main characteristics of each method in one table, focusing on data volume, transfer speed and hardware.

For most users, the best solution is a combination of methods:

1. Move system settings and applications through Mi Account or Mi Mover.
2. Copy photos and videos via OTG cable (to avoid compression).
3. Restore contacts and calendars through Google.
4. Manually transfer the data of the smart home through Mi Home.

Frequent Questions (FAQ)