How to Transfer All Data from Android to Another Android Xiaomi: 5 Proven Ways

Introduction: Why Data Transfers to Xiaomi Need a Special Approach

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but many users face unexpected challenges when trying to migrate data from an old Android device. Unlike the iPhone, where the migration process is standardized through iCloud, the Android ecosystem offers several alternative paths - and not all of them are equally effective for Redmi, POCO or Mi devices.

The main problem is that Xiaomi uses its own MIUI shell, which can conflict with standard Android tools when transferring data. For example, the Mi Mover app (built-in migration tool) does not work with all brands, and the migration through Google Account sometimes misses the settings of system applications.

Preparation for the transfer: what to do before the beginning of the process

Before migrating, it is critical to follow a few preparatory steps, which can lead to loss of data or failure of the new device.

First, check out the MIUI version on your target Xiaomi: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. If it’s fresh firmware (14+), you’ll have access to the latest version of Mi Mover with advanced features. For Android 12 and later devices, it’s also recommended to update Google Services on both smartphones – this will eliminate potential sync errors.

• 🔋 Charge both devices to a minimum. 50% — transfer of large amounts of data (photos, videos) may take 1-2 It takes an hour and consumes the battery.
• 📶 Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network with frequency 5 GHz (if supported) – this will speed up file transfers to 2-3 once.
• 🗃️ Free up space on the new Xiaomi: the minimum stock should be 15-20% from the volume of internal memory.
• 🔑 Make sure the screen lock is disabled on the old phone (PIN, pattern lock – some transfer methods require unlocked device.

⚠️ Note: If you are transferring data from Huawei or Honor, pre-disable Huawei Mobile Services in your account settings.It can block file transfers through standard Android protocols.

2. Method 1: Mi Mover – Xiaomi’s official tool for flawless migration

Mi Mover is a proprietary solution from Xiaomi, optimized for data transfer between devices with MIUI. The application supports the transfer of contacts, messages, photos, videos, music, applications (including their data), and even some system settings. The main advantage is the preservation of folder structure and file metadata, which is especially important for photos.

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

1. On the new Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select the option “Data portability.” If your phone is already configured, download Mi Mover from Google Play or App Gallery.
2. On your old phone, install Mi Mover (available for most Android devices). Launch the app and select the Sender role.
3. On the new Xiaomi, select the Receiver role and scan. QR-code that appears on the screen of the old device.
4. Select data types to transfer (it is recommended to leave all checkmarks except System Applications – they may conflict with MIUI).
5. Confirm the transmission. The process will take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the amount of data.

⚠️ Warning: If you experience an error during the transfer via Mi Mover, try to disable the error. VPN Or antivirus on both devices, and check that the old phone has developer mode and debugging on. USB (In Settings → The phone. → Press the build number 7 times).

Install Mi Mover on both devices|Charge the phones. >50%|Connect to a single Wi-Fi network 5 GHz|Shut down. VPN/antivirus|Release. 20% memory on the new Xiaomi-->

3. Method 2: Transferring your Google Account is universal, but not perfect

Google Account Sync is the most versatile method that works on any Android device, but it has significant limitations: not all MIUI settings will be moved, and some data (such as messages) require additional manipulation.

To make the most of this method:

• 📱 On your old phone, go to Settings. → Accounts. → Google and enable sync for all categories: Contacts, Calendar, Chrome, Gmail, Drive.
• 🖼️ To transfer photos and videos, use Google Photos: enable autoload in the application settings (the quality of the "Original" retains the original resolution).
• 💬 For messages, install an app SMS Backup & Restore and backup on Google Drive.
• 🎮 For games and apps, enable sync in Google Play Games (to save progress) and check if your apps support cloud storage.

On the new Xiaomi, when you first turn on, log in to the same Google Account and wait for the sync to complete. Please note that the apps will not be automatically installed – they will need to be downloaded manually from Google Play, but their data (if supported) will be restored.

Method 3: Direct OTG Cable Transfer for Large Data Volumes

If you have hundreds of gigabytes of photos, videos or other files, it can take hours to transmit over the air (Wi-Fi/Bluetooth), and in such cases, the optimal use of an OTG cable (or USB-C to USB-C adapter, if both phones are modern) is also useful if you have slow Internet or limited traffic.

You'll need:

• 🔌 Cable OTG (or adapter USB 3.0 for high transmission speed.
• 📁 File Manager (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
• ⚡ Access to the root directory on your old phone (you may need to enable hidden file display).

Instructions:

1. Connect your old phone to the new Xiaomi OTG-On the screen of the old device, select "File Transfer" mode" (MTP).
2. On the new Xiaomi, open Mi File Manager and go to the section "USB-device".
3. Copy the right folders: DCIM — Photos and videos Downloads - downloads WhatsApp/Media — messenger Android/data — data

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⚠️ Warning: Do not copy the folder Android/obb It's a very real thing, it can cause a game to crash, and it's better to reinstall the games through Google Play and let them download the data themselves.

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If the OTG transfer speed is too low, try using a USB 3.2 Gen 1 cable (blue connector) and connecting your phones to charge – this will prevent speed limits due to energy savings.

5. Method 4: Mi Cloud Transfer – for Xiaomi Owners

If your old phone is also Xiaomi, the easiest way to migrate is to use Mi Cloud, which even saves theme, wallpaper and system preferences that are not available when migrating through Google.

Algorithm of action:

1. On the old Xiaomi, go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud and enable sync for all categories.
2. Wait until the data is uploaded to the cloud (it can take anywhere from a few minutes to hours).
3. On the new device, log in to the same Mi Account and enable sync in Mi Cloud.
4. Select "Recover Data" and select the categories you want. Apps will be prompted to download them from Google Play.

⚠️ Warning: If after transfer you notice that the phone has become faster discharge, check the synchronization settings in Settings → Accounts: Turn off automatic sync for unnecessary apps (e.g. Google News or Google Play Music if you don't use them).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)