Transferring all data from Android to Xiaomi via Google Account: Full Guide

Moving to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting moment, but transferring data from an old Android device can seem like a daunting task, with many users fearing losing important contacts, photos or app settings. Fortunately, Google Account offers a reliable way to sync virtually all data between devices, which works even if your old phone is not Xiaomi, but the new one is one of the latest models from the Internet. MIUI 14/15.

In this article, we will analyze not only the basic steps for data transfer, but also hidden nuances that will help to avoid typical errors. For example, why some apps don’t restore automatically, how to properly configure Google Photos sync to save space, and what to do if data isn’t portable due to restrictions. MIUI. You will also learn which types of data cannot be transferred through your Google Account (e.g., Google Account, SMS Notes from some manufacturers and what alternatives are worth considering.

If you’ve tried porting data and run into problems, don’t close the article! In the last section, we’ve compiled solutions for the top 10 common bugs, including when the new Xiaomi doesn’t see a backup or sync gets stuck 99%.

1. Preparing an old Android device for data transfer

Before you start the transfer, you need to make sure that your old smartphone is properly configured to sync with Google Account, a stage that is often missed, causing the data to be not fully transferred or with errors.

First, check if your Google Account is linked to your device and sync enabled. → Accounts and archiving → Google (on some firmware, the path may be different: Settings) → Users and accounts → Google. Make sure that:

• 🔹 Your main account appears in the list
• 🔹 Synchronization switch is on (must be green or blue)
• 🔹 In the section "Sync account" marked with ticks all the necessary categories (contacts, calendar, application data, etc.)

Pay special attention to Backup (some versions of Android call it Archiving and Recovery) and include the option Download to Google Drive. If it's disabled, turn it on and wait for the first archiving to be completed. On Samsung, Huawei or other brands, the path may be slightly different, but the point remains the same: you need to activate backup to Google.

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If you have third-party apps installed on your old phone (such as Samsung Notes or Huawei Cloud), the data from them will not be transferred to Google.

We also recommend checking the free space in your Google Account. [Google One](https://one.google.com/) Or open the Google Drive app on your phone. Minimum volume required — 5-10 GB, if you plan to carry photos and videos. If there is not enough space, clear the cart or buy additional storage (prices start from the beginning of the year). 139 ₽/month 100 GB).

2. Set up a new Xiaomi smartphone for data recovery

Once the old phone is ready, you can start setting up the new Xiaomi. Here are a few key points that are often overlooked:

When you first turn on, Xiaomi will prompt you to log in to Google Account or create a new one. It's important to use the same account that was on the old device! If you miss this step and log in later, data recovery may not work automatically.

Once you log in, the system will prompt you to recover data. Select the option Restore from Google backup (not to be confused with Device Cloning is another method). Then you will be shown a list of available backups. Select the latest one (by date of creation).

• 📱 If the backup isn’t displayed, check your internet connection (better use Wi-Fi)
• ⏳ The recovery process can take anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours, depending on the amount of data.
• 🔄 Do not interrupt the process even if the screen goes out (charging must be at least 50%)

If you missed the recovery phase at the first setup, don't worry. → The phone. → Backup and reset → Recover data and select the desired copy manually.

3. What data is transferred through Google Account (and which – not)

Not all types of data can be transferred through a Google Account, but here is a complete list of what will be recovered on your Xiaomi.

Critical information: Data from banking, messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram) and some games are not transferred through Google Accounts.

• 💳 Banking applications: usually require re-authorization on a new device
• 💬 WhatsApp: backup is created in Google Drive, but is restored only when the messenger is first launched
• 🎮 Games: Progress is saved through Google Play Games accounts or social media

4. Photo and video transfer: optimal settings for Google Photos

Photos and videos usually take up the most space, so porting them requires special attention.Google Photos is the most convenient tool for this, but there are a few nuances that few people know about.

Before transferring, check the sync settings on your old phone:

1. Open the Google Photos app
2. Click on the account avatar → Settings Photo → Backup and synchronization
3. Make sure the switch is on.
4. Select quality: Original quality - retains the original resolution (takes up space in Google Drive) High quality - compression up to 16 MP for photos and 1080p Video (unlimited storage)

On the new Xiaomi, photos will start uploading automatically after logging in, but there is one hidden problem: if the old phone was enabled "Original Quality", and the new one does not have enough space in Google Drive, the download will stop.

• 📁 Free up space in Google Drive (remove old backups or files)
• 🔄 Or change the settings to High Quality (but this will result in the loss of original resolution for new photos)

If photos don’t appear on the new device, try manually updating the Google Photos app or restarting sync in the settings. Also make sure Xiaomi has enabled the option of Autoboot over Wi-Fi (located in the app’s settings).

5.Contact portability: why they might not show up on Xiaomi

Contacts are one of the most important data, but transferring them sometimes comes with problems, and the most common mistake is that users don't check where their contacts are stored.

On Xiaomi, contacts can be stored in three locations:

1. Google Contacts – synced with your account
2. Local phone memory – not automatically transferred
3. SIM-Card – You need to import it manually

To check where your contacts are stored:

1. Open the Contacts app
2. Press three dots (menu) → Contact management → Imports/Exports
3. See which accounts appear on the list.

If the contacts are stored only in the phone’s memory, they must first be exported:

• 📥 Export it to the file VCF (old-phone)
• 📤 Move the file to the new Xiaomi (via email, cloud, or cable)
• 📥 Import. VCF-file through Contacts → Imports/Exports → Import from the device

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If the old phone has duplicated contacts (for example, there are copies in Google and on the phone). SIM-map), before transfer, combine them through the menu "Contacts" in the Contacts app.

On Xiaomi MIUI Sometimes there is a problem when contacts from Google are not displayed in the standard app:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management → Contacts
2. Press Warehouse. → Clear the data (this will reset the application settings, but will not delete the contacts themselves)
3. Restart your phone and wait for sync.

6.Transfer applications and their data: what works and what doesn’t

The list of installed apps is transferred through the Google Account relatively easily – after recovery, they will automatically start installing from the Play Market. However, application data (for example, save in games or settings) is not always ported.

Here's how it works:

• 📥 Install automatically: All applications from a previous backup (if available in your area)
• 🔄 Data Recovery: Only for those applications that support backup in Google Drive (see Settings for the list). → Google → Backup → Application data)
• ❌ Not transferable: data of banking applications, some messengers, games without cloud storage

For applications that do not support backup through Google, use their built-in export/import features.

• 💬 WhatsApp: Backs up to Google Drive (Settings) → chat → Backup copy)
• 📝 Evernote or Google Keep: synced through your account
• 🎵 Spotify or Yandex Music: linked to the account, just log in again

If the application is not automatically restored:

1. Check if Auto-Update is enabled in the Play Market
2. Go to Settings. → Annexes → Manage applications and manually update the desired application
3. For games, check if your progress is tied to a Google Play Games account or social networking site.

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On Xiaomi, some system applications (such as Mi Fit or Mi Home) are not restored via Google. MIUI It is a separate app, not a Play Market).

7. Solving common problems when transferring data

Even with the right setup, sometimes you get errors. TOP-5 problems and solutions:

Problem 1: Backup doesn’t show up on the new Xiaomi

⚠️ Note: If you used multiple Google Accounts on your old phone, make sure you logged in to the same account that the backup was created with, and check if the copy has expired (Google stores them for 57 days).

• 🔄 Reboot both devices
• 📶 Check your internet connection (better to use Wi-Fi)
• 🔧 In the settings of the new Xiaomi go to Settings → The phone. → Backup and reset and click "Recover Data" manually

Problem 2: Photos are not loaded on the new phone

• 📸 Make sure your old phone is synced to Google Photos (check in the app if all files are uploaded)
• 🔄 On the new Xiaomi, open Google Photos and pull the screen down for forced sync.
• 📶 If the photos are in “Original Quality”, check the free space in Google Drive

Issue 3: Applications are being installed, but data has not been restored

• 🔧 Check if app data backup is enabled in Google settings (on your old phone)
• 📱 Some apps require re-entry (e.g. social media or banking apps)
• 🎮 For games, check your binding to Google Play Games or another cloud service

Issue 4: Contacts are duplicated or not displayed

• 📇 Open Contacts. → Contact management → Combine contacts and remove duplicates
• 🔄 Reset the Contacts app settings (Settings) → Annexes → Contacts → Warehouse → Clear the data)
• 📱 Make sure that all accounts are selected in the contact display settings (Contacts) → Settings → Display contacts)

Problem 5: Xiaomi says it failed to recover data

⚠️ Note: This error often occurs due to incompatibility of Android versions. If your old phone ran Android 10 and the new Xiaomi ran Android 13, some data may not recover.

• 🔧 Update the firmware on both devices to the latest version
• 📡 Try using another portability method (e.g. Mi Mover for Xiaomi)
• 📱 Contact Google if the problem is repeated

8.Alternative ways to transfer data to Xiaomi

If moving through a Google Account is not appropriate for some reason, consider alternative methods.

1. Mi Mover (official app from Xiaomi)

• ✅ Quick transfer over Wi-Fi Direct (without the Internet)
• ✅ Supports SMS, call log, applications and their data
• ❌ It only works between devices with MIUI Android 5.0+

How to use:

1. Install Mi Mover on both phones (available in Play Market)
2. On the old phone, select "I am the sender" and on the new one, "I am the receiver".
3. Scan it. QR-code and select data to transfer

2. Transfer via OTG cable or computer

• ✅ Reliable for large amounts of data (photos, videos)
• ✅ Doesn't require the Internet.
• ❌ Does not tolerate application settings and system data

Instructions:

1. Connect your old phone to your PC and copy files to your folder
2. Connect the new Xiaomi and transfer the files back
3. For music and photos, use the Music folder and DCIM respectively

3. Third-party applications (ShareIt, Send Anywhere, CLONEit)

• ✅ Support cross-platform transfer (Android) → iOS and vice versa)
• ✅ Often faster than a Google account
• ❌ May contain advertising or collect data

4 Manual transfer through cloud services

• 📁 For documents: Google Drive, Yandex Drive, Dropbox
• 📸 For photo: Google Photos, Flickr
• 🎵 For music: YouTube Music, SoundCloud

If you are choosing an alternative method, remember:

⚠️ Note: When using third-party data porting applications, always check the permissions they request. SMS, Call logs or even bank records. Give preference to proven, high-rated solutions in the Play Market.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions