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

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but the process of data transfer often turns into a headache. Many users lose hours manually copying photos, restoring contacts or setting up applications from scratch. In fact, Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers several convenient migration tools that allow you to transfer almost 100% of information automatically – from SMS to call history.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to transfer data between Xiaomi phones, including official solutions (for example, Mi Mover and Mi Cloud) and alternative methods for cases where standard tools do not work. Particular attention will be paid to transferring data between devices with different versions of MIUI - there are nuances that are not written in the official instructions, you will also learn how to avoid data loss when resetting and which files are better to transfer manually.

Preparation for transfer: what to do before the start

Before you start migrating, take a few critical steps to avoid mistakes like interrupted transmission or loss of data.

First, check the MIUI version on both devices. If the difference between the versions is more than 2 years (e.g. MIUI 12 and MIUI 14), some portability features may not work properly. Update the firmware on the old phone via Settings → About Phone → System Update.

Second, make sure that there's enough free space on your new smartphone, for example, if you're carrying 64GB of data and the new phone has only 30GB left, the process will stop in the middle. Check the free space in Settings → Storage.

• 🔋 Charge both phones to at least 50% (preferably 80%).Transfer data via cable or Wi-Fi Direct severely drains the battery.
• 📶 Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network (if you plan to use wireless methods.
• 🔐 Turn off the screen lock (PIN, pattern lock on both phones.
• 📱 Make sure the initial setup is complete on the new phone (language selection, Wi-Fi connection, Xiaomi account login).

⚠️ Note: If the old phone has data encryption enabled (Settings) → Additionally. → Encryption and credentials, disable it before transfer, otherwise Mi Mover won't be able to read some files.

Method 1: Mi Mover is the official migration tool

Mi Mover is a built-in app from Xiaomi that allows you to transfer almost all data from your old phone to your new phone wirelessly, and it works on all devices with MIUI 9 and newer, including the Redmi, POCO and Black Shark models.

The main advantages of the method:

• 📲 Transferring contacts, SMS, Call histories, apps (including their data), photos, videos, music, and even some system settings.
• 🔗 It works without an Internet connection (using a local Wi-Fi network).
• 🛠️ Supports portability between devices with different versions MIUI (but not older than 2 years of difference).

Instructions for using Mi Mover:

1. On the new phone, select Data Portability during the initial setup (or find the Mi Mover app in the menu).
2. On your old phone, open Settings → Additional → Data Transfer (Mi Mover).
3. Select the role of the device: new phone - "New device", old - "Old phone".
4. Scan it. QR-code from the new phone on the old one (or enter it) PIN-manually).
5. Select data types to transfer and confirm the start of the process.

The speed of the transfer depends on the amount of data:

• 📎 Do 5 GB — ~10-15 minute.
• 📎 10-30 GB — ~30-60 minute.
• 📎 Over 50 GB – It can take several hours (better to use cable).

⚠️ Note: If the process is stuck in the Preparation phase, restart both phones and try again. If the error is repeated, try another method (for example, through Mi Cloud).

Charge both phones | Connect to one Wi-Fi network | Disable screen lock | Update MIUI on old phone |Free up space on new phone-->

Method 2: Mi Cloud - Cloud Transfer for Backups

If you have a Xiaomi account (Mi Account), you can use Mi Cloud to transfer data, a method that is handy when phones are in different locations or you want to back up before selling an old device.

Mi Cloud saves:

• 📇 Contacts, calendars, notes.
• 📸 Photo and video (if synchronization is enabled in the Gallery) → Settings → Synchronization with Mi Cloud).
• 📱 System settings (wallpaper, sounds, some interface parameters).
• 💬 SMS Call history (requires a separate inclusion in Settings) → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization).

How to transfer data through Mi Cloud:

1. On your old phone, log in to your Xiaomi account and enable synchronization of all the necessary data in Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Wait until the download is complete (you can check the progress in the Storage section in the Mi Cloud).
3. On the new phone, log in to the same Xiaomi account and enable sync in Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
4. Select "Restore" and provide backup from your old phone.

Note: Mi Cloud does not carry installed applications and their data (for example, save in games or setup messengers).

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If you have a lot of photos and videos, before syncing with Mi Cloud, reduce their resolution in the gallery (Settings → Download quality → Average). This will save space in the cloud and speed up the process.

Method 3: Transfer via OTG cable or adapter

If you don't have Wi-Fi access or data is too big for wireless transmission, you can use an OTG cable or a special adapter to connect phones directly, which works faster than Mi Mover, and is suitable for carrying tens of gigabytes of data.

You'll need:

• 🔌 Cable USB-C — USB-C (or micro-USB — USB-C, model-wise).
• 📱 adapter OTG (If there is no port on one of the phones USB-C).
• 📂 File Manager (e.g., built-in Explorer or Solid Explorer).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old phone to your new phone using a cable. On the screen of your old phone, select File Transfer (or MTP) mode.
2. On a new phone, open the file manager and find the connected old phone in the Devices section.
3. Copy the right folders: DCIM — Photos and videos. Downloads — downloads. Pictures, Music — media files. Android/data — Application data (not all applications support this way).

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Contacts → Settings → Exports

⚠️ Note: Not all applications work correctly after manually transferring their data (folder) Android/data). For example, WhatsApp or Telegram may require re-authorization. For instant messengers, it is better to use their built-in backup features.

5. Method 4: Transfer over a computer (for full control)

If you want to migrate data selectively, or you prefer to work over a PC, this method gives you the maximum flexibility, you can filter out unnecessary files, check them before copying, and even edit them.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
• 🔌 Two. USB-cable.
• 📂 Backup software (optional, for example, Xiaomi) PC Suite or Syncios).

Instructions:

1. Connect your old phone to your computer and select File Transfer mode.
2. Copy all the folders you need (DCIM, Downloads, Pictures, etc.) to your computer’s hard drive.
3. Turn off the old phone and plug in a new one. Move the copied files to the new device.
4. To transfer contacts and SMS, use programs like Mi PC Suite (official software from Xiaomi) or MobileTrans.

Advantages of this method:

• ✅ Full control over the data transferred.
• ✅ Ability to edit files before copying.
• ✅ It works even if the phones are not compatible. MIUI.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ It requires a computer and additional time.
• ❌ Not all data can be transferred (for example, system settings).

💡

Transferring over a PC is the best choice if you need to filter the data or transfer it to a device with another firmware (e.g., from MIUI to pure Android).

6. Method 5: Alternative methods (Bluetooth, NFC, third-party applications)

If the standard methods don't work, or you want to transfer only a fraction of the data, you can use alternative methods. They're less versatile, but sometimes they save you in non-standard situations.

Bluetooth:

• 📲 Suitable for transferring small files (up to 100 MB).
• 🐢 Very slow (speed) ~1-2 MB/s).
• 📎 You can send contacts, low resolution photos, documents.

Instructions: Settings → Bluetooth → Device Search → Connect → Send a file.

NFC:

• 📱 It only works on phones with support. NFC (Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12 Pro+).
• 🔗 Suitable for transferring contacts, links, small text files.
• ⚡ Faster Bluetooth, but limited in volume (up to 1 MB at a time).

Instructions: Enable NFC in Settings → Connections → NFC, then tap the phones with the back covers and select the file to transfer.

Third-party annexes:

• 📱 Shareit, Xender, Send Anywhere – Wi-Fi Direct.
• 🔗 CLONEit – a specialized application for migration (similar to Mi Mover).
• ☁️ Google Drive, Dropbox – Cloud Storage for Backups.

Example of the use of SHAREit:

1. Install the app on both phones.
2. On the old phone, select "Send", on the new one - "Get".
3. Select the files and confirm the transfer.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party applications, turn off mobile internet on both phones. Some programs (such as SHAREit) consume traffic to speed up transfers, which can lead to additional costs.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when using official tools, users are faced with problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

If none of the methods worked:

• 🔄 Reboot both phones and try again.
• 📱 Check if the power saving mode is on (it can block background data transmission).
• 🔧 Update the firmware on both devices to the latest version.
• 📞 Contact Xiaomi Support via Settings → Revocation.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions