Why is Google Transfer the Most Reliable Way?
Switching to a new Xiaomi smartphone shouldn’t be a headache. If you want to keep all apps, settings, contacts, and even progress in games, syncing through a Google account will remain the most versatile solution. Unlike the Mi Mover branded tool, which often glitches on new versions of MIUI, Google’s cloud backup works steadily on any device, regardless of model or firmware region.
The main advantage of this method is that it's fully automated, so you don't have to manually reinstall every application or copy files over Bluetooth, and the system will restore it itself.
- 📱 List of installed applications (including their data if the developer supports backup)
- 📞 Contacts, call log and SMS (if synchronization is enabled)
- 📁 Photos and videos (via Google Photos, if there is space in the cloud)
- ⚙️ System settings (Wi-Fi networks, wallpaper, screen brightness, etc.)
- 🎮 Progress in games (if the game supports Google Play Games)
There are nuances, however, such as some Chinese apps (such as Mi Fit or Mi Home) that don’t sync through Google, but you’ll have to customize them separately, and you’ll also need to consider that Google’s free cloud only gives you 15GB, so you may need to have a temporary Google One subscription to transfer a large amount of photos or videos.
Preparing the old Xiaomi smartphone for the transfer
Before you start the transfer, make sure your old Xiaomi is ready to back up.
- Update your firmware. Go to Settings → About Phone → Update your system and install the latest patches. This minimizes the risk of backup errors.
- Connect your Google account. You can check this in Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google. If you don't have an account, add it and enable sync for all points.
- Clear the cache. Go to Settings → Apps → App Management, select Google Play Services and click Clear Cache. This will eliminate any conflicts.
- Check the cloud. Open Google One and make sure there's enough space for a backup.
Pay special attention to the backup settings. In MIUI, the path to these may vary depending on the version:
- 📱 MIUI 12/13: Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset → Backup of data
- 📱 MIUI 14: Settings → The phone. → Backup and reset → Google Drive
Google account synchronization enabled|Updated firmware to the latest version|Cleared cache of Google Play Services|Freely. ≥15 GB in Google Drive|Disabled. VPN/Proxies (can block backup)-->
⚠️ Note: If you have root or custom firmware installed on your old smartphone, the backup through Google may not work. In this case, use alternative methods like Titanium Backup (requires superuser rights).
Creating a backup copy: step-by-step instructions
Now, to the backup process, your job is to back up the backup so that it captures as much data as possible.
- Activate backup to Google: Settings → Google → Backup Enable the “Backup to Google Drive” switch and click “Create Backup Now.”
- Select the data to save. The system will tell you what to backup: 📱 Annexes and their data (required!) 📞 Call log and SMS ⚙️ Settings of the device
Photos and videos
Google Photo
Wait for completion
Check the backup.
Google Drive
To transfer photos and videos, open the Google Photos app separately, go to Settings → Backup and Sync, and turn on the feature. Select the quality “Original” (if the location in the cloud allows) or “High quality” (free, but compression).
| Type of data | Where the backup is turned on | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annexes | Settings → Google → Backup | Not all applications support backup data (e.g. banking) |
| Contacts | Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact Synchronization | Contacts should be saved in a Google account, not on SIM |
| Photo/video | Google Photos appendix | With “High quality” photos are compressed to 16 MP, video up to 1080p |
| SMS and call log | Settings → Google → Backup | Restores only to a new smartphone when first turned on |
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If the backup is stuck in the "Waiting to boot" phase, check the Wi-Fi connection and turn off the power saving mode. Sometimes it helps to reboot the smartphone.
Transfer data to the new smartphone Xiaomi
When the backup is ready, you can start setting up the new device, and it's critical that you don't miss the recovery phase when you first turn on. If you've already set up a new Xiaomi, you'll have to reset to the factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset).
Instructions for the new smartphone:
- Turn on the device and select a language. During the Wi-Fi connection phase, make sure you use the same network as your old smartphone.
- Log in to the same Google account that was used for the backup. If you have multiple accounts, select the main one.
- In the “Copy Data” phase, select “Restore from Backup” → “Google Drive” and the system will show the available backups – choose the latest one.
- Select data to recover, and we recommend that you mark all items except those that may cause conflicts (for example, Mi Account settings).
- Wait until it's finished. The new smartphone will reboot, and then you'll start installing apps in the background.
To speed up the process, follow these steps:
- Reboot your smartphone after you complete the recovery. This will clear the cache and start the system from the "clean sheet".
- Turn off unnecessary background processes: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Autorun Disable Autorun for underutilized applications.
- Clear the Google Play cache: Settings → Apps → Google Play Store → Storage → Clear the cache
- Update all apps through Google Play, even if they have been restored from the backup.
If some apps don’t open or crash after the transfer, try:
- 🔄 Reinstall them manually through Google Play.
- 📥 Clear the application data in Settings → Annexes.
- 🔒 Check permissions (some applications lose access to storage or camera after recovery).
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The first 24 hours after recovery, the smartphone can warm up and discharge quickly. This is a temporary phenomenon - wait for the background processes to complete.
Alternative ways to transfer data (if Google is not suitable)
If for some reason the backup through Google didn’t work (for example, there is not enough space in the cloud or data is not restored), consider these methods:
| Method | Pluses | Cons | When to use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover (branded Xiaomi tool) | It also supports MIUI system settings. | Frequently glitched, requires OTG cable | If both devices are on MIUI 12+ |
| Titanium Backup (requires root) | Stores data from all applications, including system | Hard to set up, risk of error | For experienced users with root rights |
| ADB Backup (via computer) | It doesn’t require root, it works on any Android. | You need skills to work with the command line | If Google Backup Has Not Recovered |
| Local backup via TWRP | Maintains a complete image of the system | Requires an unlocked bootloader | For enthusiasts who are ready for risk |
For use with Mi Mover:
- Download the app on both smartphones from Google Play or the MIUI App Store.
- On the old device, select “I am the sender” and on the new one, “I am the receiver.”
- Connect your smartphones via an OTG cable (you need an adapter if you have a new USB-C smartphone, but on an old microUSB).
- Select the data to transfer and wait for completion.
⚠️ Note: When transferring over the Mi Mover, do not interrupt the process, even if it is 99% frozen. On some models (for example, the Redmi Note 10 Pro), this can take up to 1 hour.