How to transfer all data from Xiaomi to Xiaomi Redmi: 5 proven ways

Switching to a new Xiaomi Redmi smartphone is always exciting, but the process of transferring data from an old device can seem complicated, especially when it comes to saving not only photos and contacts, but also messages, notes, call history and even app settings. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways of data migration between Xiaomi devices, taking into account the features of firmware. MIUI 14/15 and the nuances of different models of Redmi (from Redmi Note) 12 redmi K60).

The main problem of users during the transfer is the loss of information or incorrect operation of applications after moving. We analyzed common errors (such as incomplete syncing of Google Account or failures when using Mi Mover) and prepared universal solutions that work even for devices with different versions. MIUI. In this article you will find step-by-step instructions with illustrations of key points, a comparison table of methods and answers to frequent questions โ€“ from restoring backups to transferring data without the Internet.

1. Preparation of devices for data transfer

Before migrating, several critical steps must be taken on both smartphones, and neglecting preparation can lead to data loss or disruptions in the process.

On the old device (Xiaomi):

  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Charge the battery to at least 50% โ€“ transfer data can take up to 1 hour with a large amount of files.
  • ๐Ÿ“ถ Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (preferably 5 GHz to speed up the process).
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Update. MIUI Up to the latest version through Settings โ†’ The phone. โ†’ Updating the system.
  • ๐Ÿ“ Free up at least 10% of memory โ€“ this will speed up backup creation.

On the new device (Redmi):

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Go through the initial setup before the request to transfer data (do not miss this step!).
  • ๐Ÿ” Turn off Reset Protection in Settings โ†’ Passwords and security if it is active.
  • ๐Ÿ“ก Make sure there is enough space on the device for all the data being transferred.

โ˜‘๏ธ Checklist before data transfer

Done: 0 / 5

Pay special attention to applications with two-factor authentication (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram, banking applications).

  1. Save the backup recovery codes.
  2. Turn off the phone number binding in the security settings.
  3. Make sure you have access to the email linked to your accounts.

๐Ÿ’ก

If you are transferring data from Xiaomi to Redmi from different regions (e.g. global version) โ†’ Chinese, change the region in the settings of the old device to the same as the new one, and this will prevent problems with service compatibility. MIUI.

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

Mi Mover is a built-in application from Xiaomi, specially designed for wireless data transfer between devices on the Internet. MIUI. It supports the transmission:

  • ๐Ÿ“ž Contacts, call history and SMS
  • ๐Ÿ“ท Photos and videos (including Xiaomi Gallery albums)
  • ๐ŸŽต Music and documents
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Applications (with data if they support backup)
  • โš™๏ธ System settings (wallpaper, sound circuits, Wi-Fi passwords)

Step-by-step:

  1. On the new Redmi, when you first turn on, select "Move data" โ†’ "Xiaomi".

The transfer time depends on the amount of data:

Data volumeTime of reference (Wi-Fi 5 GHz)Approximate time (Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz)
1-5 GB5-15 minutes10โ€“25 minutes
5-20 GB20-40 minutes30-60 minutes
20โ€“50 GB40-90 minutes60โ€“120 minutes
50+GB90+ minuteIt is recommended to use a cable
What to do if the Mi Mover is 99% frozen?
This is a common problem associated with data integrity verification. Solutions: 1. Restart the process by pre-booting both devices. 2. Turn it off. VPN/proxy on both phones. 3. Try using a mobile hotspot instead of Wi-Fi. 4. If the freeze is repeated, transfer the data in parts (first contacts, then photos, etc.).

Limitations of Mi Mover:

  • โŒ Does not transfer data to certain applications (for example, WhatsApp requires separate backups).
  • โŒ It may not work between devices with different regional firmware (e.g. Global). โ†’ China).
  • โŒ Does not support data transfer from iPhone or other Android devices (only Xiaomi) โ†’ Xiaomi).
๐Ÿ“Š What kind of data transfer you usually use?
Mi Mover
Google Account
Manual cable transfer
Cloud services (Dropbox, Yandex Drive)
Other

3. Method 2: Transfer through Google Account

Sync with Google Account is a universal method that works on any Android device.

  • ๐Ÿ”‘ Passwords from Google Password Manager

Instructions:

  1. On the old Xiaomi go to Settings โ†’ Accounts and synchronization โ†’ Google.
  2. On the new Redmi, when setting up, select โ€œRestore from backupโ€ and log in to the same Google Account.

Important nuances:

  • ๐Ÿ”„ Synchronization of contacts can take up to 24 hours with a large number of contacts (>5000).
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Apps are not portable โ€“ only their list to install from Google Play.
  • ๐Ÿ“ท Photos and videos are synced only if Google Photos Backup was previously enabled.

๐Ÿ’ก

Google Account is the only way to transfer data that works even when changing the smartphone manufacturer (for example, Xiaomi). โ†’ However, to fully transfer it will have to be combined with other methods.

If you use Google Photos to back up your media files:

  1. Open the Google Photos app on your old phone.
  2. Go to Settings โ†’ Backup and Synchronization.
  3. Make sure the feature is active and all files are uploaded (check the status at the top of the screen).
  4. On the new phone, install Google Photos, log in to your account and wait for the files to download.

๐Ÿ’ก

To speed up up the upload of photos to Google Photos, connect your phone to charge and use Wi-Fi 5 GHz. You can also temporarily turn off video backup (in settings) if they are not critical, and turn it on later.

Method 3: Transfer via OTG cable or adapter

Use of direct cable connection (through OTG-adaptor USB-C to USB-C) โ€” The fastest and most reliable way to transfer large amounts of data (from 50 GB) is suitable for the use of electronic devices:

  • ๐Ÿ“ Full copy of internal memory (including hidden application folders).
  • ๐ŸŽฎ Game savers (e.g. Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile).
  • ๐Ÿ“„ Documents and archives.
  • ๐Ÿ“น High-resolution video (4K/8K).

Step-by-step:

  1. On old Xiaomi, turn on File Transfer Mode in Settings โ†’ Additionally. โ†’ Developer parameters โ†’ Configuration USB.

Advantages of the method:

  • โšก Transfer speeds up to 40MB/s (5-10 times faster than Wi-Fi).
  • ๐Ÿ”’ No dependence on internet connection.
  • ๐Ÿ“‚ Ability to selectively copy files.
How to transfer game saves through cable?
1. On your old phone, find a folder with saves (usually). Android/data/[title of the game] or Android/obb/[play-off]). 2. Copy it to a new phone in the same location. 3. Install the game from Google Play (donโ€™t run it!). 4. Restart your phone and start the game - saves should be downloaded. Some games (such as Genshin Impact) require additional account binding in the game settings.

Limitations:

  • โŒ Not all application data can be transferred (depending on the developer).
  • โŒ Manual copying of system files (e.g., system files) is required, SMS stored /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db).
  • โŒ Some folders need root rights to access.

5. Method 4: Manual transfer via computer

Using a PC or laptop as an intermediary is a reliable way to transfer data, especially if:

  • ๐Ÿ”Œ You don't. OTG-cable.
  • ๐Ÿ“ก There is no stable Wi-Fi.
  • ๐Ÿ“‚ You need to make a backup copy before transferring.

Instructions for Windows/macOS:

  1. Connect the old Xiaomi to your computer via USB-cable.

For SMS and call history:

  1. Install it on an old phone. SMS Backup & Restore from Google Play).

To transfer applications and their data:

  1. Use it. APK Extractor for extraction APK-file.
  2. For these applications, use Titanium Backup (root rights required) or Swift Backup.
  3. Move it. APK and data files on the new phone, then install the apps.

Warnings:

โš ๏ธ Note: When copying a folder Android/data Some apps (such as WhatsApp, Viber) may require re-authorization due to a change in the device ID.

โš ๏ธ Warning: Do not copy the folder MIUI completely, which can lead to setting conflicts on the new device).

6. Method 5: Cloud Services (Yandex Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive)

Cloud storage is convenient for transferring certain types of data, especially if you have slow internet or no cable.

Yandex Drive (up to 10GB free):

  • ๐Ÿ“ Ideal for photos, documents and archives.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Automatic uploading of photos (like in Google Photos).
  • ๐Ÿ”— You can create a shared folder for quick access from a new phone.

Dropbox (2GB free):

  • ๐Ÿ“‚ Convenient for synchronizing working files.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ There is a function of the "loading camera" for automatic backup of photos.

OneDrive (5GB free):

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Integrated into Windows 10/11 โ€” It is convenient if you have a PC on this OS.
  • ๐Ÿ“ Supports file versioning (you can restore the old version).

Instructions for transfer through the cloud:

    Comparison of cloud services:

    ServiceFree seatMax. File size.Autoloading photoLoading speed
    Yandex Disc.10GB50GBYes.High (servers in Russia)
    Google Drive15GB5 TBYes (via Google Photos)Medium
    Dropbox2GB50 GB (for free accounts)Yes.Low (capacity limitation)
    OneDrive5GB100GBYes.Medium

    ๐Ÿ’ก

    To speed up your upload to the cloud, turn off video sync (unless itโ€™s critical) and upload your photos in a compressed format. For example, in Yandex Drive, you can select โ€œTraffic Savingsโ€ in your autoload settings.

    7. Transfer of specific data (WhatsApp, Telegram, games)

    Some applications require a special approach to data portability because of the protection of user information.

    WhatsApp:

    1. On your old phone, open WhatsApp. โ†’ โ‹ฎ โ†’ Settings โ†’ chat โ†’ Backup copy.
    2. Back up your Google Drive (make sure youโ€™re logged in to the correct account!).
    3. On the new phone, install WhatsApp, log in to the same account and restore chats from the backup.

    Telegram:

    • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Chat sessions are synchronized automatically when you log in to your account.
    • ๐Ÿ“ Media files from chats can be exported through Settings โ†’ Data and memory โ†’ Warehouse.
    • ๐Ÿ”‘ Don't forget to move secret chats - they don't sync! Use the "Export Chat History" feature".

    Games (Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile, Honkai: Star Rail):

    • ๐ŸŽฎ Most modern games are linked to an account (miHoYo, Google Play, Facebook).
    • ๐Ÿ“‹ Before transfer, check the account binding in the game settings.
    • ๐Ÿ“‚ For offline games (such as Minecraft) copy the folder with the world (games/com.mojang/minecraftWorlds).

    Xiaomi Cloud (Mi Account):

    • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Transferring contacts, notes, SMS, call-up.
    • ๐Ÿ”„ Synced automatically when you log in to your Mi Account on your new phone.
    • ๐Ÿ“ Free Storage Limitation โ€“ 5 GB.
    How to transfer the saves of Genshin Impact?
    1. Log in on your old phone and link your account to your email in Settings โ†’ Account. 2. On the new phone, install the game, select โ€œAlready have an accountโ€ and log in via email. 3. If the game doesnโ€™t offer recovery, delete it, clear the Google Play cache, and install it again. 4. To transfer screenshots and videos from the game, copy the folder Pictures/Genshin Impact.

    8. Frequent errors and their solutions

    Even when you follow the instructions, you have problems.-5 errors and ways of eliminating them:

    1. Mi Mover doesn't see the old device:

    • ๐Ÿ”„ Reboot both phones.
    • ๐Ÿ“ก Connect to another Wi-Fi network (e.g., a mobile access point).
    • ๐Ÿ”ง Turn it off. VPN Firewall (if you use it).
    • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Make sure that both phones have Wi-Fi Direct enabled.

    Annexes shall not be transferred:

    • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Install. APK Extractor and extract APK-manually.
    • ๐Ÿ”„ Use Google Play to re-install (some apps will automatically recover data).
    • ๐Ÿ“ System applications (Theme, Security) require manual copying of folders from /system/priv-app (root).

    3. Photos and videos are not displayed in the gallery:

    • ๐Ÿ”„ Restart your phone - sometimes MIUI Gallery does not update media base.
    • ๐Ÿ“‚ Check that the files are copied to the correct folder (DCIM/Camera).
    • ๐Ÿ”ง Open the gallery, press. โ‹ฎ โ†’ Update.

    4. Not recovering. SMS:

    • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Use it. SMS Backup & Restore for manual transfer.
    • ๐Ÿ”„ Make sure that the new phone has Google Messages app installed (not standard) MIUI Communications).
    • ๐Ÿ“ Check that the backup file has the.xml extension.

    5.The applications are departed after the transfer:

    • ๐Ÿ”„ Remove and install the app from Google Play.
    • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Clear the app cache in Settings โ†’ Annexes.
    • ๐Ÿ”ง Check the app's permissions (especially access to storage).

    ๐Ÿ’ก

    If after transferring data the phone began to brake - reset the cache in the recovery menu (Volume Up). + Power โ†’ It won't delete your data, but it will eliminate possible conflicts.

    FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

    Can you transfer data from Xiaomi to Redmi without the Internet?
    There are three ways to do this: use a cable. OTG To connect phones directly, to transfer data over a computer (copy files to a PC, then to a new phone), to use a local Wi-Fi network (create an access point on one phone and connect a second phone), the fastest method is a cable. OTG (speed).
    How to transfer passwords from Xiaomi browser to Redmi?
    Passwords from a standard browser MIUI Transferred via Mi Account: On an old phone, enable browser synchronization in Settings โ†’ Accounts. โ†’ Mi Account. โ†’ Sync. On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account and enable browser sync. For Google Chrome: Log in to your Google Account in the browser on both phones. Passwords are synced automatically through chrome://settings/syncSetup.
    Will the themes and wallpaper settings be transferred from Xiaomi to Redmi?
    Yes, but with reservations: ๐ŸŽจ Topics MIUI Transferred via Mi Account (enable theme synchronization in settings). ๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ Wallpaper can be transferred manually by copying files from MIUI/wallpaper. โš ๏ธ Always-on Display settings are not portable, you have to reconfigure them. If the theme doesn't apply on a new phone, check version compatibility. MIUI (Some topics only work on specific versions).
    How to transfer data from Xiaomi to Redmi if your old device is broken?
    If the screen is not working, but the phone is on: