How to transfer all data to the new Xiaomi smartphone: 5 proven ways

The transition to a new Xiaomi is always exciting: fresh design, improved specs, but also the inevitable question: “How to transfer all the data so as not to lose any photo, contact, or saved password?” Many users mistakenly believe that this process will take hours or require technical skills. In fact, transferring data to Xiaomi can be done in 10-30 minutes – the main thing is to choose the appropriate method and avoid typical errors.

In this article, we will discuss 5 official and alternative ways to migrate data, from the built-in Mi Mover tool to manually transferring through the cloud or cable. Particular attention will be paid to nuances that are not written in the standard instructions – for example, how to save application settings (including games with progress) or why Xiaomi may not see an old phone via USB.

1.Preparation for transfer: what to do before the beginning

Before you start migrating, follow 3 mandatory steps to save you time and prevent data loss:

• 🔋 Charge both phones to at least 50%. The transfer process can take up to an hour (especially with a large amount of photo / video), and discharging in the middle of the procedure will lead to a failure.
• 📶 Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network. Even if you plan to use a cable, some methods (such as Mi Mover) require the Internet to sync your accounts.
• 🧹 Clean up the files on your old phone, and it'll take you too long to move 50GB of trash. Use the built-in Security app or Files by Google.

Important: If you are porting data from your iPhone, turn off iCloud for contacts, calendars and notes in settings (Settings → Apple ID → iCloud). Otherwise, Xiaomi will not be able to import them due to Apple blocking. For Android devices, it is enough to turn on File Transfer (MTP) mode when connecting via USB.

⚠️ Note: If your old phone used data encryption (such as Samsung with Knox), unlock it before the perenosom.

2. Method 1: Mi Mover is the official tool from Xiaomi

Mi Mover is an integrated application on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones designed for wireless data transfer. It supports:

• 📞 Contacts, messages (SMS/MMS), callbook
• 📸 Photo, video, audio files
• 📁 Documents (PDF, Word, Excel)
• 🎮 Annexes (APK-Files and their data* (not for all applications)
• 🔑 System settings (Wi-Fi passwords, wallpaper, sound profiles)

* Important clarification: App data is only portable if it supports backup through the Android Backup Service, such as game progress (Clash of Clans, Brawl Stars) or WhatsApp settings will not be ported over, but require a separate backup.

Step-by-step:

1. On the new Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select Transfer Data to the Settings menu. If your phone is already configured, open Mi Mover from the Tools folder.
2. On an old phone, install Mi Mover from Google Play (for Android) or the App Store (for iPhone).
3. Scan it. QR-code from the new phone on the old one or select Connect via Wi-Fi Direct.
4. Select data types to transfer (we recommend leaving all ticks except for unnecessary applications).
5. Confirm the start of the process. Don't interrupt the connection even if the screen goes out, the transfer will continue in the background.

⚠️ Note: If Mi Mover is stuck in the Preparing Data stage, check if the antivirus (e.g. Avast or Kaspersky) is blocking file transfer. temporarily disable the protection.

Method 2: Transfer via USB cable (OTG or adapter)

If you don't have Wi-Fi or you have more than 10GB of data, direct USB connectivity will be faster and more reliable.

• 🔌 Cable OTG (for modern Xiaomi with USB-C) Adapter (if you have an old Micro-USB phone).
• 📱 Mode of file transfer (MTP) old-phone.
• 🛠️ File Manager (Embedded Files or Solid Explorer).

How to transfer data:

1. Connect your old phone to the new Xiaomi via cable/adapter.
2. On an old phone in the notification curtain, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. On the new Xiaomi, open the files. → USB-device.
4. Copy the right folders (DCIM for photos, Download for downloads, WhatsApp for chats) in internal memory or SD-mapping.

🔹 Pros of the method: maximum speed (up to 40 MB / s), no dependence on the Internet, suitable for devices without Mi Mover (for example, Huawei with a high speed of the device). EMUI).

🔸 Cons: system settings and application data are not portable (files only), manual copying is required.

Method 3: Cloud Services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud, iCloud)

If you have slow internet or no cable, cloud transfer is a lifeline. Xiaomi supports synchronization with:

• ☁️ Mi Cloud (5GB free) – optimized for Xiaomi, saves SMS and settings.
• 📁 Google Drive (15GB free) – universal, but does not carry SMS.
• 🍎 iCloud – only for transfer from iPhone (requires a computer).

Instructions for Mi Cloud:

1. On the old Xiaomi go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Enable synchronization for Contacts, Notes, Photos and Records.
3. On the new phone, log in to the same Xiaomi account and wait for the sync to complete.

Instructions for Google Drive (with Android):

1. On your old phone, open Settings → System → Backup.
2. Click Create a Backup and select a Google account.
3. On the new Xiaomi, when setting up, select Restore from Google backup.

⚠️ Note: If you are transferring data from your iPhone over iCloud, use Apple's official Move to iOS app, but it doesn't support transferring music, books, or some settings.

💡

If you don’t have much space in the cloud, archive photo folders in ZIP before perenosom. To do this, select files in the file manager → compress → upload the archive to the cloud.

5. Method 4: Transfer over a computer (for large volumes)

If you have more than 50GB of data or want complete control of the process, use a computer (Windows/Mac) as an intermediary.

• 🎵 The big media library (movies, lossless-audio)
• 📂 Documentation archives
• 🎮 Game savers (via Helium or manual copying)

Step-by-step algorithm:

1. Connect your old phone to your PC via USB, select File Transfer mode.
2. Copy all the folders you need (DCIM, Pictures, Music, etc.) to your computer’s hard drive.
3. Turn off your old phone, connect a new Xiaomi.
4. Transfer files from your PC to your new smartphone.
5. To transfer applications and their data, use ADB Backup (requires USB debugging enabled).

🔹 Advantage: you can selectively transfer files, check them for viruses before copying, create backups on your PC.

🔸 Disadvantage: takes longer, requires a computer.

adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f C:\backup.ab


adb restore C:\backup.ab

These teams create a full backup of apps and restore them to a new phone, and you need Android SDK Platform-Tools to work.

6. Method 5: Transfer from iPhone to Xiaomi (features)

The transition from iOS to Android is nuanced by Apple’s closed ecosystem, with 3 key steps to a successful migration:

1. Turn off iMessage: Go to Settings → Messages → iMessage and deactivate the function. Otherwise, SMS will come to the old iPhone.
2. Export contacts: to Settings → Accounts → iCloud enable contact sync, then export them via iCloud.com in vCard format.
3. Move photos: Use Google Photos (upload photos to the cloud from your iPhone, then download to Xiaomi) or Mi Mover.

❌ What's wrong with moving:

• 🎵 Music purchased on iTunes (DRM-defence).
• 📅 Reminders from Apple Reminders.
• 💳 Apple Pay data (you will have to add cards again).

💡

To transfer notes from your iPhone to Xiaomi, use your inbox: export notes to an email to iCloud.com, then send them to an address tied to Xiaomi.

7.Verification and adjustment after transfer

After the migration is complete, make sure to perform 5 checks to avoid data loss:

If something is missing:

• 🔄 Repeat the transfer for a specific type of data (e.g. only a photo).
• 🔍 Check hidden folders: some files (such as screenshots) may lie in the /Pictures/Screenshots.
• ☁️ Recover from the cloud: If you used Mi Cloud or Google Drive, check if all data is synced.

🛠️ Additional settings of the new Xiaomi:

• 🔒 Activate face unlock/print in Settings → Screen locking.
• 📡 Set up mobile internet: insert SIM-map and check APN (Operator settings will automatically be adjusted).
• 🎧 Connect the headphones via Bluetooth and set up a sound profile in Settings → Sound.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data portability to Xiaomi