How to Transfer All Files from Xiaomi to Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Buying a new smartphone is always a thrill, but it also poses a major technical challenge: moving all the information stored from the old device to the new one quickly and without loss, and in the Xiaomi ecosystem, this process is as automated as possible thanks to built-in tools that allow you to clone the contents of internal memory in minutes.

Modern models of the Chinese manufacturer, whether it is a budget Redmi Note or flagship Xiaomi 14 Pro, work on the basis of the shell. MIUI So, what that means is that the logic of the system applications is the same, which makes migration much easier. IT-to cope with this task, as the developers have provided several scenarios for different situations.

In this article, we will take a look at all the available ways to copy data, the Mi Mover application, cloud services and manual methods, and understanding the nuances of each method will allow you to choose the best option and avoid common mistakes during migration.

Preparation of devices before the migration

Before you start the copying process, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps, which is a critical step, ignoring which can lead to a connection break or incorrect display of files on the new gadget.

It is desirable that both devices be charged at least 60-70%, the active Wi-Fi Direct process that most methods use consumes a significant amount of power, and if one of the devices turns off at a critical moment, the procedure will have to start again.

  • πŸ”‹ Make sure that both smartphones have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled.
  • πŸ“‚ Free up space on the receiving device by checking the available amount of internal memory.
  • πŸ”’ Unlock the screens of both phones and allow geolocation access if the system requests it to run Wi-Fi.

It’s also worth making sure that both devices have the latest version of the operating system installed.While compatibility is usually maintained between different versions of Android, having fresh updates minimizes the risk of software conflicts. β†’ The phone.

β˜‘οΈ Checklist of preparations

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Use the Mi Mover app for a full copy

The most efficient and quick way to transfer files from xiaomi to xiaomi is to use the built-in Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on all smartphones of the brand and is specifically designed to migrate between devices of the same ecosystem, and creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices, which allows high speed transfer without the use of Internet traffic.

To get started, open the app on both devices, it can be in the Tools folder or in the settings section of the "Additional" option. On the old smartphone, select the "Sender" role, and on the new one, the "New phone", the system will automatically start searching for available devices.

Once the phones find each other, the new device will appear on the screen. QR-Scan it with the camera of the old phone to establish a secure connection.

⚠️ Warning: Do not exit the Mi Mover app or block smartphone screens during transmission. Interrupting the process can damage the archives with data.

In the data selection phase, you'll see a detailed list of categories, you can migrate contacts, messages, call history, system settings, images, videos, music and documents, and you can also cloning installed applications with their data.

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When you transfer banking-type applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff), the data inside them may not be copied for security reasons.

Once you select categories, click send. The speed of copying will depend on the volume of data and the number of files. Small files like contacts are transmitted instantly, whereas gigabytes of photos can be copied for several minutes.

Set up Mi Account and sync through the cloud

The alternative to direct transfer is to use Mi Cloud cloud storage, which is ideal for those who already use the Xiaomi ecosystem and want to have a backup in case of loss or failure of the device.

To activate the function, log in to your Mi Account on your old device via the Settings menu. β†’ Mi Account: Enable synchronization for the desired categories: Gallery, Contacts, Notes, Recorder and Calendar. The system automatically uploads selected data to the server.

Type of dataFree storage limitSynchronization speed
Contacts and SMSIncluded in the base 5 GBInstantly.
Photos and videosIt requires a free space.Depends on the speed of Wi-Fi.
System settingsIncluded in the base 5 GBA few minutes.
Recorder recordingsIncluded in the base 5 GBTall.

On the new smartphone, just log in to the same Mi Account. When you set up the system initially, you will be able to recover data from the cloud, and you can choose which backups to deploy on the new device.

The advantage of this method is that your data is always safe in the cloud, and even if you lose both phones, you can access your contacts and notes via i.mi.com from any computer.

What to do if the cloud is full?
If you run out of free 5GB space, you can either delete some of your old photos from the server via the web interface or subscribe to an extra amount, and you can temporarily disable the synchronization of heavy videos, leaving only contacts and settings.

Manual transfer of files via computer

Sometimes wireless methods are unstable because of network interference or specific drivers, and in these cases, the old-fashioned PC copying method comes to the rescue, allowing you to visually control the process and sort files before downloading to a new device.

Connect your old smartphone to your computer using USB-In the notifications on the phone screen, select the mode of operation. USB Β«File transferΒ» (MTP). Open My Computer on your PC, find the device, and copy the folders you want (usually.) DCIM, Pictures, Download, Music on the hard drive.

Then turn off the old phone and plug in a new one. Copy the saved folders from your computer into the internal memory of the new device, keeping the directory structure in mind, a technique that is particularly good for carrying large volumes of video files, since the cable provides a stable speed without jumping.

  • πŸ’» Use original cables or high-quality analogues with support for high data rates.
  • πŸ“ Create separate folders on your computer for different types of media so you don’t get confused when backup is done.
  • πŸ”Œ Do not remove the cable until all write operations are completed to avoid damaging the file system.

It’s worth noting that Wi-Fi system settings and passwords cannot be transferred this way, and this method is only suitable for user-generated content: photos, documents, music and videos.

πŸ“Š What kind of file transfer do you prefer?
Mi Mover (fast and convenient)
Through the cloud (reliable)
Through computer (process control)
Bluetooth (for a pair of files)
I can't stand it, I'm buying it all over again.

Transferring messages, contacts and call history

If you use a standard Messages app and a Xiaomi call, Mi Mover will do it perfectly, but if you use third-party solutions or messengers, the situation needs clarification.

For instant messengers like WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber, there are internal backup mechanisms: WhatsApp requires you to log in to the same Google Drive or iCloud account that was used on the old device before transferring to the new phone, and the app will offer to restore your correspondence history from the cloud when you first log in.

Contacts and phone numbers are the easiest to store in a Google account. Make sure that the old phone has Google sync in its contact settings, and then when you type in Gmail on the new Xiaomi, all the numbers will appear automatically in a couple of seconds.

⚠️ Note: Telegram's history is stored on messenger servers, and you just need to install the app and log in to your account, all the chats will be downloaded by yourself, you don't need to manually transfer anything.

Call history and SMS, if not automatically copied, can be used by specialized applications from the Play Market, such as SMS Backup & Restore, which create a file archive that you can transfer to a new phone and restore through the same application.

Solving problems and errors when copying

Users may experience a variety of difficulties migrating, and often the problem is that one device doesn't see the other, in which case you might try temporarily shutting down mobile internet (4G/5G) on both smartphones, leaving only Wi-Fi.

Another common problem is space shortage. Before starting the procedure, be sure to check that the amount of free memory on the receiving device exceeds the size of the data transmitted. If there is not enough space, some files can be temporarily moved to the SD memory card, if the phone model supports this function.

If the process is stuck at a certain percentage, don't panic. Give the devices 10-15 minutes. If progress is not shifting, interrupt the operation, restart both smartphones and try to run the Mi Mover again, selecting only the categories that have not been copied.

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The main cause of transfer errors is unstable connections or energy-saving modes. Turn off Energy Saving Mode during migration.

Also, keep in mind that Android versions are compatible, and when you switch from a very old version of Android (like 6.0) to the latest HyperOS, some older file formats or system settings may not be supported, so you’d better only transfer media files and contacts manually.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I transfer data if the old phone is not from Xiaomi?
Yes, the Mi Mover app is available for installation on any Android 5.0 or higher smartphones, you can download it from Google Play to an old phone (even if it’s a Samsung or Huawei) and use it to transfer data to the new Xiaomi.
Will keyboards and passwords from Wi-Fi remain?
When using Mi Mover and selecting System Settings, most settings, including passwords from stored Wi-Fi networks and alarm settings, will be moved, but passwords stored in Google Password Manager or third-party password managers require separate sync through a Google account.
What to do with bank applications if they don’t work after the transfer?
For security reasons, financial applications often require re-assignment of the device, after transferring you will need to re-enter the bank application, possibly confirm the login via SMS or call, in some cases you will need to reconfigure the biometrics (Face ID or fingerprint) inside the application itself.
Should I take it out? SIM-pre-transfer?
No, take it out. SIM-No card required. SIM-Cards in an old phone can be useful if you need to confirm your phone number to log in to some apps or accounts while you are setting up your new device.