How to transfer all data from one Xiaomi Redmi Note phone to another: 7 proven ways

The transition to the new Xiaomi Redmi Note is always exciting, but data transfer often becomes a headache: Contacts are scattered across accounts, photos are lost in the cloud, and app settings have to be reconfigured. This article will help avoid chaos: it contains all the current ways of migration, from standard MIUI tools to little-known life hacks for advanced users.

The Redmi Note (be it the Note 12 Pro+, Note 11S or earlier) is a close integration with the Xiaomi ecosystem, which makes it easier to transfer data between devices of the same brand, but creates nuances when switching from other platforms. We will analyze every scenario, from full synchronization through Mi Account to manually copying hidden folders with game settings. And you will learn how to save data from Chinese firmware (where Google services are disabled by default) and what to do if a new phone comes without a Miver preinstalled.

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

Before you rush to copy files, follow 4 critical steps – they will save hours on kickbacks and repeated attempts:

• 🔋 Charge both phones to at least 50%.Transfer data via Mi Mover or cable consumes a lot of power - discharging in the middle of the process can lead to the loss of some files.
• 📶 Check the version. MIUI If the difference is greater than 2 versions (e.g., on both devices, MIUI 13 → MIUI 15), upgrade your old phone to the latest available firmware via Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🔐 Make sure regions are compatible.Chinese versions of Redmi Note (with suffix) CN) Some portability methods may be blocked due to lack of Google services.
• 📁 Clean up the trash. Delete duplicates of the gallery photos, old ones. APK-files from Downloads and application cache via Settings → Storage. It'll speed up the process and save space on the new device.

If the old phone used Mi Account from the Chinese region and the new phone was bought for the European market, there may be problems with syncing, in which case, change the account region in the Xiaomi profile settings beforehand.

⚠️ Note: If the old Redmi Note has custom firmware installed (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS), standard Mi Mover transfer methods will not work.

2.Official method: transfer via Mi Mover

Mi Mover is Xiaomi's proprietary data migration tool preinstalled on all Redmi Notes with MIUI 9 and later. It copies:

• 📞 Contacts (including call histories)
• 📸 Photos and videos (preserving folder structure)
• 🎵 Music and audio files
• 📱 Annexes (APK + data for supported programmes)
• ⚙️ System settings (wallpaper, sounds, Wi-Fi passwords)

How to use:

1. On the new phone, when you first turn on, select Data Portability from the settings menu. If the phone is already configured, find Mi Mover in Settings → More
2. On the old phone, open Mi Mover and select "I'm the giver."
3. Connect devices via OTG cable (included in the Redmi Note) or Wi-Fi Direct (slower but wireless).
4. On the new phone, tick the data categories for transfer and confirm the beginning.

Speed depends on the volume: ~10 GB of data will move in 15-20 minutes on the cable.

⚠️ If the new Redmi Note is on the list MIUI Global, and old — MIUI China, Mi Mover may not see some system settings.In this case, use manual transfer via Mi Cloud (Section 3).

3. Cloud Transfer via Mi Cloud and Google Account

If cable isn't on hand, cloud services will be a lifeline. Xiaomi offers two options:

Method 1: Through Mi Cloud (for Xiaomi data)

Suitable for transfer:

• 📞 Contacts and Notes Mi Notes
• 📅 Calendar and reminders
• 🔧 System settings (themes, wallpaper, sounds)
• 📁 Backups of applications (if the function is enabled in Settings) → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Backup)

Instructions:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Enable synchronization for the desired categories (e.g. Contacts, Notes).
3. On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account and wait for automatic synchronization.

Method 2: Google Account (for universal data)

Copying:

• 📞 Contacts (if linked to Google)
• 📅 Google Calendar
• 📧 Gmail mail.
• 📍 Google Maps Data (Selected Places)
• 🎮 Progress in games (if supported by Google Play Games)

How to set up:

1. On your old phone: Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync → Enable all the necessary items.
2. On a new phone: add the same Google account to Settings → Accounts and wait for sync.

The advantage of this method is cross-platform, and if you go from an iPhone or another Android, the data from your Google account will automatically come up.

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Before transferring over Mi Cloud, check for free space in the cloud. 5 GB, and backup applications can weigh 3–4 GB. Clean the cloud or buy an extra space if necessary (from the cloud to the cloud). 10 GB for ~$1/month).

4. Manual transfer via computer (for full control)

When you need to transfer all data without exception (including hidden application files or custom folders), manual copying through the PC is the most reliable way.

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux
• 🔌 Cable USB (Preferably original from Xiaomi)
• 📂 Up to 30–50 GB of free hard disk space

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old phone to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode. To do this, select the appropriate connection mode in the notification curtain.
2. Copy key folders: DCIM - all photos and videos Download - uploaded Pictures files - screenshots and saved Movies pictures - video files from other applications Android/data - Application data (e.g. game saving) Android/obb - Additional game files (may weigh several GB)
3. Export contacts: Open Google Contacts on your phone. ⋮ → Contact management → Export. Save the.vcf file on PC.

Save the SMS.

• Install the SMS Backup & Restore app from Google Play.
• Create a backup and copy the.xml file to your PC.
• Connect a new phone and transfer all the copied files to the same folders.
• Import contacts and SMS via the same apps.

⚠️ Note: When transferring through ADB or TWRP don't copy the folders /system, /vendor or /boot. This can lead to a new phone bribing due to firmware incompatibility.

6.Move data from other brands to Xiaomi Redmi Note

If you go from Samsung, iPhone or other Android, the process will be different. Here are 3 proven scenarios:

From iPhone to Redmi Note

• 🍎 Use Move to iOS (but in the opposite direction!): On the Redmi Note, install Mi Mover and select the option “Cy iPhone".
• 📧 Move your contacts through iCloud → Exports vCard → Import to Google Contacts.
• 📸 Use Google Photos with Time Sync for Photos.

From Samsung to Redmi Note

• 🤖 Install Smart Switch on Samsung and export data to PC.
• 📲 Copy files to Redmi Note via Mi Mover or manually.
• ⚙️ To transfer Samsung settings (such as Secure Folder) use manual export.

From Huawei to Redmi Note

• 📱 Use Huawei Backup to create a backup on your backup SD-map.
• 🔄 Connect the card to Redmi Note and recover data via Mi Mover.
• 🔐 For the Huawei port ID (For example, export your notes manually.

One important nuance: when you switch from Huawei or iPhone, some proprietary data (such as health from Huawei Health or purchases from the App Store) can’t be transferred.

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When switching from iPhone to Xiaomi Redmi Note, be sure to turn off iMessage before retrieving it. SIM-Otherwise, the cards. SMS Calls may not reach the new phone due to Apple ID.

7. Post-transfer validation and optimization

Data portability is only half the battle, and once you've done it,

• 🔍 Check file integrity: Open some photos and videos in the Gallery, call the contact from the phone book, run 2-3 applications with transferred data (such as WhatsApp or a game).
• 🧹 Clear the cache: Go to Settings → Warehouse → Clear cache. For individual applications: Settings → Annexes → Select an application → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 🔄 Update apps: Open Google Play and click Update Everything. For system applications (Theme, Security) check for updates in Settings → Annexes → System updates.
• 🔋 Optimize the battery: Enable Adaptive Charging in Settings → Battery. Disable auto-run of unnecessary applications in Settings → Annexes → Permits → Auto-start.

If after transferring the phone began to brake or overheat, do:

1. Reboot (press the Power for 10 seconds).


2.Verification for viruses through Security (pre-installed annex).




3. reset the partition cache via TWRP (if there is root).

For Redmi Note with 128GB of memory and less, it is recommended to transfer heavy files (video, games) to the microSD or cloud after transfer.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data portability on Xiaomi Redmi Note

Use recovery programs:

• For Android: DiskDigger or Recuva (requires root).
• For PC: EaseUS Data Recovery (if files were copied to a computer)

If files have been encrypted (e.g., in Secure Folder on Samsung), it is not possible to recover them without the original device.