How to transfer data from Xiaomi phone to another: 5 proven ways

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 experienced users sometimes lose hours to restore contacts, photos or app settings. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of migrating data between Xiaomi devices, from official tools to little-known life hacks that will save you time.

It is important to understand that the choice of method depends on the amount of data, the model of the phone and even the version. MIUI. For example, owners of Redmi Note 12 and Xiaomi 13 Pro have different options: somewhere will work wireless synchronization through the Mi Cloud, and somewhere will have to use the same. OTG-We tested each method on devices from 2023 to 2026 and identified the pros, cons and hidden limitations that the manufacturer does not mention.

1.Move over Mi Cloud: The Official Way from Xiaomi

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s cloud storage that automatically syncs contacts, notes, photos, and even some system settings, which is suitable if you have a Mi Account account and a stable Internet connection. The main advantage is that data is lossless and available on any Xiaomi device after authorization.

To take advantage of this method:

• 📱 On your old phone: Open Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud and enable sync for the desired categories (contacts, gallery, notes, etc.).
• ☁️ Wait for the data to be uploaded to the cloud (time depends on the volume and speed of the Internet).
• 🆕 On a new phone: log in to the same Mi Account and enable sync in Settings → Mi Cloud.

Note that the free Mi Cloud plan only provides 5GB of storage, and if you have more data, you will either have to clean the cloud or buy additional space (from 200 GB). ₽/Also, some apps (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) are not synced through the Mi Cloud, they will have to be ported separately.

2. Local copy through "Cloning of applications"

The app cloning (or App Clone) feature in MIUI allows not only duplicate messengers, but also backups of all data with subsequent recovery, a method that works without the Internet and is suitable for transferring between Xiaomi devices of different generations.

Instructions:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Select the data to copy (applications, settings, SMS) and click Create a copy.
3. Copy the backup file (usually in a folder) MIUI/backup/AllBackup) to a new phone through OTG-cable, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct.
4. On the new device, run the recovery from this copy in the same menu.

Warning: Not all apps support local recovery, such as Google Pay or banking apps, which will not be portable due to security restrictions, and the copy weighs up to 30 to 50 GB if all apps are enabled.

Charge both phones at least 50% |

Free up space on your new device (minimum 10GB free)|

Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network (to speed up transfers)|

Check the MIUI version (new phones should be at least 13.0)

-->

3.Move over Google Account: Universal Method

If you use Google services, most of the data is already synced automatically: contacts, calendar, email, photos (via Google Photos), and even some app settings, a way that is suitable for transferring not only between Xiaomi devices, but also to smartphones of other brands.

To transfer data via Google:

• 🔄 On your old phone, check that sync is enabled: Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of the account.
• 📲 On the new phone, when you first turn on, select the option to Copy data from the old device and log in to the same Google account.
• ☑️ Select categories for transfer (contacts, applications, SMS) and wait for completion.

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ No resumption of settings. MIUI (topics, gestures, system parameters).
• ❌ Applications are restored, but their data (for example, saved in games) is not.
• ❌ Photos in original quality take up space in Google Photos (free compressed versions only).

💡

If you have a lot of photos, turn on the “Free space” option in Google Photos before transferring them, which will remove local copies from your old phone after downloading to the cloud.

4. Cable transfer: fast and without internet

The most reliable way to transfer large amounts of data is to use USB-cable OTG-Adapter if the new phone doesn't have a Type-C connector, and this method works even without a network connection, and allows you to choose which files to copy.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old phone to your computer via USB and copy the files you need (photos, videos, documents) to your PC folder.
2. Turn off the old phone and connect the new one.
3. Transfer files from your computer to your new smartphone.
4. To transfer applications, use utilities like APK Extractor (extraction) APK) + manually.

Important: Not all apps can be simply copied, such as WhatsApp requiring a separate backup via Settings → Chat → Backup, and banking apps will have to be re-installed due to security.

5. Transfer through third-party applications

If standard methods do not work, you can use specialized utilities, for example:

• 📱 Xiaomi Migration – the official application for transferring data between Xiaomi devices over Wi-Fi Direct.
• 🔄 Clone Phone (from Huawei, but works with Xiaomi) – transfers contacts, SMS, photos and applications.
• ☁️ Send Anywhere – Transfers files of any size to a direct link without the cloud.

The advantage of third-party apps is flexibility, such as Send Anywhere, which allows you to send files even between Android and iOS, and Xiaomi Migration automatically determines phone models and offers optimal porting settings.

However, there are risks:

• ⚠️ Some apps require root rights to fully port.
• ⚠️ Data may be transferred through third party servers (check the privacy policy).

6.Transfer specific data: what to do with WhatsApp, SMS and passwords

Some types of data require special attention:

WhatsApp:

• Back up chats in Settings → Chat → Backup (save to Google Drive or locally).
• On your new phone, install WhatsApp and recover data from the backup when you first start.

SMS and call log:

• Use the app. SMS Backup & Restore to Create XML-backup.
• Transfer the file to a new phone and restore the messages.

Passwords and bookmarks:

• If you use Google Chrome, the data is synced automatically.
• For Mi Browser, enable synchronization in Settings → Sync.

⚠️ Note: When transferring WhatsApp, make sure that the phone number has not changed. SIM-You can activate the card on the new device first, and then restore the chats, otherwise you risk losing your messages in the last day.

7.Transfer problems and their solutions

Even if the instructions are followed correctly, errors can occur.

⚠️ Warning: If you're transferring through Mi Cloud, you'll see if you're unable to sync, check if your phone's power saving mode is on. It can block cloud background activity. Turn it off in Settings. → Battery → Energy saving regime.

💡

Before transferring data, always check the MIUI version on both phones. If the difference is greater than 2 versions (for example, 12.5 vs 14.0), update the firmware - this will prevent compatibility errors.

Frequently asked questions