How to transfer all data from the old Xiaomi to the new: 5 proven ways

Moving to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but data porting often becomes a headache. Contacts, photos, messages, app settings all need to be saved and ported correctly. Fortunately, Xiaomi has several built-in tools that make it easier to migrate, but not all of them work equally well, and some methods can even lead to data loss if you don’t follow the key rules.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to transfer information between Xiaomi devices – from the official Mi Mover to manual backup through the phone. ADB. You will learn what method is suitable for your model, how to avoid typical errors (for example, a transmission interruption over Wi-Fi) and what to do if the data is not transferred completely. MIUI, which speed up the process by 2-3 times.

If you are switching from Redmi Note 11 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra or just changing the firmware, this guide will help keep everything lossless. And for owners of older models (before MIUI 12), we have prepared separate recommendations - many features in new versions work differently.

1.Official way: Mi Mover is fast, but not perfect

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary app for data migration between devices, preinstalled on all MIUI smartphones, and supports transferring contacts, messages, photos, videos, apps (including their data), and even some system settings, but it has limitations that few people know about.

The app works point-to-point over Wi-Fi Direct, meaning that data is transmitted directly between phones without the cloud, which is a plus for privacy, but a minus for stability: if communication is interrupted, the process will have to start again, and Mi Mover does not carry Wi-Fi passwords, data from some banking applications and files from secure folders.

How to use Mi Mover:

1. On both phones, open the Mi Mover app (the new one may call it Data Transfer).
2. On the old device, select “I am the sender” and on the new one, “I am the receiver.”
3. Scan it. QR-code from the screen of a new phone or connect manually via Wi-Fi.
4. Select data types to transfer and confirm the start of the transfer.

Speed depends on the amount of data: 10 GB of photos can be transmitted up to 30-40 minutes. If the process is frozen by 99%, do not panic, this is a typical MIUI error. Just wait 5-10 minutes or restart the application.

Charging the battery of both phones >50%|Both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (unless Direct is used)|There is plenty of free space on the new phone.|Disabled. VPN and ad blockers-->

⚠️ Note: If the old phone has data encryption enabled (Settings) → Additionally. → Encryption), Mi Mover may not see some files.Decrypt the device before transferring!

2. Cloud-based migration via Xiaomi Cloud is reliable, but not for everyone

If you have a Xiaomi account (which is created automatically when you first turn on your phone), you can use Xiaomi Cloud to back up and restore data, a method that is suitable for transferring to a new device or even after resetting.

The benefits of the cloud:

• 🔄 Data is available from any Xiaomi device.
• 🛡️ Server-side encryption (but not for all file types).
• 📱 Contacts, notes, calendars, photos (in the Xiaomi Gallery) and even SMS.

How to make a backup in Xiaomi Cloud:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Cloud → Backup.
2. Select data types (e.g., “Contacts”, “Messages”, “System settings”).
3. Click "Create a backup" and wait until it is completed.
4. On the new phone, log in to the same Xiaomi account and recover data from the cloud.

Note that there is only 5GB of space for free, and if you have a lot of photos, you will either have to clean the cloud or buy additional space (from 100 rubles / month for 50GB).

3. Transfer through Google Account – universal, but with limitations

If you don't want to depend on Xiaomi services, you can use Google Account, which works on any Android smartphone, but it doesn't carry everything, for example, SMS and calls are synced only through third-party apps, and photos will have to be uploaded to Google Photos separately.

What is automatically transferred:

• 📇 Contacts (via Google Contacts).
• 📅 Calendar and reminders.
• 📍 Google Maps data (selected places, history of visits).
• 🎮 Progress in games (if they support Google Play Games).

How to set up synchronization:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Accounts → Google.
2. Turn on synchronization for the desired categories (contacts, calendar, etc.).
3. On the new phone, log in to the same Google account – the data will be downloaded automatically.

For photos and videos, use Google Photos:

• Install the app on both phones.
• On the old device, turn on "Backup and Synchronization".
• On the new phone, wait for the download of media files (may take hours with a large volume).

⚠️ Note: If the old phone has Google Photos compression enabled (High Quality option), the originals will not be saved! → Settings → Backup.

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If you have a lot of photos, connect your phone to Wi-Fi and charging before uploading to Google Photos. Traffic restrictions may occur when you transfer over the mobile network.

4. Manual transfer via computer - for full control

If you need to transfer all files without exception (including hidden folders, game data or work documents), the best way is to connect both phones to a PC and copy the data manually.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 Cables. USB (preferably original).
• 📁 External drive (flash drive or flash drive) HDD), if the data is more than 50 GB.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the old Xiaomi to your computer and turn on the File Transfer mode (in the notification curtain).
2. Copy all important folders: Internal Storage/DCIM/ – photos and videos Internal Storage/Download/ – downloads Internal Storage/WhatsApp/ – WhatsApp Internal Storage/Android/ – some application data
3. Disable the old phone, plug in a new one, and paste the copied files into the same folders.
4. For applications: If you need to migrate game data (e.g., progress to Genshin Impact), use ADB Backup (instruction below).

To speed up the process, you can use programs like Xiaomi PC Suite (official software) or Syncthing (for synchronization over the local network), but they do not always work correctly with the latest versions of MIUI.

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Manual portability is the only way to save data from password-protected folders (Private Folder in MIUI), cloud services and Mi Mover ignore them.

5. data transfer applications (games, instant messengers, banks)

Many applications (like WhatsApp, Telegram, banking) store data in their cloud storage, but some require manual backup.

WhatsApp and Telegram:

• 💬 On WhatsApp, go to Settings → chat → Backup and create a backup in Google Drive.
• 📱 In Telegram, all chats and media files are synchronized automatically when you log in to your account.

Games (Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, etc.)

• 🎮 Most games are linked to a miHoYo, Google Play or Facebook account.
• 🔄 For local saves (for example, in Minecraft), copy the folder /games/ manually.

Banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff, etc.):

• 🏦 Most banks prohibit backup of data through ADB cloud.
• 🔑 You will have to re-enter your account and set up biometrics (print / face).

For advanced users: if the application does not have a cloud backup, you can try to transfer its data through ADB. For example, to back up WhatsApp without Google Drive:

adb backup -f whatsapp.ab -apk com.whatsapp

And then restore it to a new phone:

adb restore whatsapp.ab

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. SberBank Online) block the work on rooted devices. If you used Magisk to get root, make unroot before transferring your bank data!

6. Transfer system settings and hidden data

Even if you've moved all the files and applications, the new device may not behave like the old one, and it's about the system settings that don't always copy automatically.

Synchronization of MIUI settings:

• ⚙️ Turn on the settings. → Xiaomi Cloud → Synchronize settings on both phones.
• 🔄 Move: wallpaper, themes, lock screen settings, some gestures.

Manual transfer:

• 📶 A list of stored Wi-Fi networks can be exported through the WiFi Password Viewer app (root required).
• 🔊 The sound settings (the volume of the alarm clock, notifications) will have to be adjusted again.
• 📱 Gestures and buttons (Settings) → Additionally. → Buttons and gestures are not portable – take a picture of their settings on your old phone.

To transfer SMS and call history without Mi Mover, use the SMS Backup & Restore app:

1. Install it on your old phone and create a backup.
2. Copy the backup file (.xml) to your new phone.
3. Recover the data through the same application.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Data transfers between Xiaomi are usually smooth, but there are a few pitfalls to know about.

Problem 1: Mi Mover is 99% frozen

• 🔄 Restart the app on both phones.
• 📶 Turn it off. VPN Advertising blockers (they may interfere with the transmission).
• 🔋 Check the battery power – if it is below 20%, the process may be interrupted.

Problem 2: The Gallery photos are not transferred

• 🖼️ Make sure your old phone has hidden folders on (Gallery) → Settings → Show hidden files).
• 📁 Check the folder. DCIM/.thumbnails — Sometimes miniatures interfere with copying.

Problem 3: Apps have not recovered

• 📱 The new phone may be disabled from unknown sources (Settings) → Annexes → Special access).
• 🔄 If apps are downloaded but not installed, clear the Google Play Store cache.

Problem 4: Banking application data is not transferred

• 🏦 This is normal – banks block backups for security reasons.
• 🔑 Just log in again and set up the biometrics.

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If the phone is slowing down after the transfer, clear the system cache: Settings → About phone → Memory → Clear the cache. This will delete temporary files that may have been damaged during copying.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions