Why data transfer between Xiaomi requires a special approach
The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always a joyful event, but the process of data migration often turns into a headache. Unlike the iPhone, where the Apple ecosystem offers a single algorithm through iCloud, Xiaomi has several official and informal methods at once, and each has its own nuances. For example, Mi Cloud limits the amount of free storage, and transfer via cable may not work on devices with different versions of MIUI.
Another trap is binding to your Mi Account. If you forget your password or didn't sync your data in advance, it's going to be difficult to restore access to backups. And some users find that SMS and call logs are duplicated or lost after transfer, and in this article we'll look at all the current ways to port to 2026, including bypassing typical errors and optimizing the process for models from Redmi Note 12 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
Method 1: Transfer through Mi Cloud – pros and pitfalls
The official method from Xiaomi, which works on all devices with MIUI 10 and newer, the main advantage is wireless sync, but there are limitations: a free account only gives 5 GB of storage, and for a full transfer (especially if you have a lot of photos in 4K or video) this is clearly not enough.
To avoid problems, check before starting:
- 🔄 Version MIUI on both devices (must be the same or different than on the 1major-version).
- 📶 Stable Wi-Fi connection – with a weak signal, synchronization can be interrupted.
- 🔋 Battery charge not less than 50% (process can take up to 2 hours).
- 🔒 The same Mi Account on both phones (if the accounts are different, the data will not be transferred!).
Instructions:
- On your old phone: Settings → Mi → Mi Cloud → Synchronization → Select data for reservation (contacts, SMS, notes, photos).
- On a new phone: when you first turn on, select “Restore from backup” or manually go to Settings → Mi → Mi Cloud → Recovery.
- Confirm the recovery and wait until the process is completed (don’t interrupt!).
What if Mi Cloud doesn’t see a backup?
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If you have a lot of photos, upload them to Google Photos before migrating through Mi Cloud – this will save space in the cloud and speed up the process.
Method 2: Mi Mover – Faster, but with limitations
Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary application for direct data transfer via USB-OTG or Wi-Fi Direct. This method is 3-5 times faster than the Mi Cloud, but it does not work on all models. For example, on the POCO F5 and Redmi K60, compatibility problems may arise due to different chipsets (Snapdragon vs Dimensity).
What is carried over the Mi Mover:
- 📞 Contacts, call log, SMS/MMS
- 📷 Photos and videos (but not in format) RAW or ProRes)
- 🎵 Music and documents (except DRM-secure files)
- 📱 System settings (wallpaper, sounds, brightness - but not all parameters are transferred correctly)
What's NOT tolerable:
- 🚫 Installed Apps (only their list for Play Market)
- 🚫 Application data (for example, saves in games or chats in Telegram)
- 🚫 Security settings (fingerprints, Face) ID)
Step-by-step:
Download Mi Mover on both phones (unless set by default)|Connect your old phone to your new one OTG-cable (or select Wi-Fi Direct)|On the new phone, select "I receive data"|The old one is, "I send data"|Select files to transfer and confirm-->
⚠️ Note: If during the transfer there is an error "failed to connect", try:
1. Reboot both phones. 2. Use the original Xiaomi cable (cheap OTGs may not work). 3. Disable the VPN or firewall (they block Wi-Fi Direct).
Method 3: Transferring your Google Account – Universal, but not completely
If you used Google services on the old Xiaomi, this method will save time.
- 📇 Contacts (via Google Contacts)
- 📅 Calendars and reminders
- 📎 Notes from Google Keep
- 📷 Photos and videos (if you have autoloaded in Google Photos)
- 🎮 Data from some games (via Google Play Games)
How to set up:
- On your old phone: Settings → Accounts → Google → Sync → Enable all the necessary items.
- On a new phone: when you first turn on, log in to the same Google account or add it to Settings → Accounts.
- Wait for automatic synchronization (can take anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours).
⚠️ Attention: This method does not tolerate SMS, Xiaomi call log and settings. They will have to use Mi Cloud or third-party applications.
Method 4: Third-party applications – when official methods don’t work
If the Mi Cloud refuses to sync and the Mi Mover can't see the device, third-party tools will come to the rescue.
| Annex | What's transferable | Speed. | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| ShareIt (from Xiaomi) | Photos, videos, music, documents, applications (APK) | ⚡ Very fast, up to 20MB/s) | Does not tolerate SMS and settings |
| Xender | Any files, contacts, SMS (requires root rights) | ⚡ Fast (10-15 MB/s) | Advertising, sometimes hanging out |
| Clone Phone (from Huawei) | Contacts, SMS, photos, applications | 🐢 Slowly (5–8 MB/s) | Not all data is transferred correctly |
| Smart Switch (from Samsung) | Everything except the MIUI settings | ⚡ Fast (15-20 MB/s) | Sometimes it does not recognize Xiaomi models. |
Recommendations for use:
- 🔌 Use it for maximum speed. USB-OTG instead of Wi-Fi Direct.
- 📱 Close all background applications before transfer – they may interfere with the transfer.
- 🔒 If you can't. SMS, Give the app the right to “Read magazines” in Android settings.
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To transfer WhatsApp, use the built-in backup feature in Google Drive. On the new phone, install WhatsApp, log in to the same account and restore chats.
Method 5: Manual transfer for advanced users
If you only need to transfer individual files (such as saving games or setting up Kodi), you can do it manually through Explorer or ADB. This method takes longer, but gives you complete control.
How to transfer files through the Explorer:
- Connect your old phone to your PC via USB (select File Transfer Mode).
- Copy the folders you want (for example, DCIM for photos or Download for downloads) to your computer.
- Connect a new phone and paste files into the same folders.
To transfer SMS and call logs through ADB:
adb backup -f backup.ab -apk -obb -shared -all -system
adb restore backup.ab⚠️ Note: This method requires enabled debugging USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press → For developers → Debugging by USB). Not all applications are restored correctly!
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Manual transfer over ADB is the only way to save application data (like progres in games), but it requires technical skills and can cause crashes if you don’t follow the instructions.
What to do after the transfer: checking and optimization
Data portability is only half the battle, and once you've done it,
- Check the integrity of the files: 📷 Open a few photos and videos – they should be played without errors. 📞 Call another number to make sure the call log has moved over. 💬 Send. SMS Check to see if old messages are saved.
- Set up synchronization again: 🔄 Enable auto sync for Google Photos, Contacts and Mi Cloud. 🔒 Update your fingerprints and Face Unlock (not carried over!).
Clean the old phone.
- 🧹 Make reset to factory settings (Settings) → Additionally. → Reset).
- 🔐 Log out of Mi and Google accounts.
⚠️ If after transfer the phone began to brake, check:
1. Is the storage full (the transfer could duplicate files). 2. Are the transferred settings conflicting with the new version of MIUI (sometimes resetting the network settings helps). 3. Are the background synchronization processes running (see Settings → Battery).