Transferring data from Android to Xiaomi Redmi Note: a complete guide to comparing all methods

Introduction: Why Data Transfers to Xiaomi Need a Special Approach

The transition to the new Xiaomi Redmi Note is always a joyous event, but the process of migrating data from an old Android device can turn into a headache. Unlike the iPhone, where the Apple ecosystem tightly controls the process, Android devices offer dozens of ways to transfer — from standard Google tools to Xiaomi’s branded solutions. However, not all methods are equally effective: some lose data, others work too slowly, and others are not supported at all on new versions of MIUI.

The Redmi Note (whether Note 10 Pro, Note 12 or earlier) features a MIUI shell that has its own limitations, such as Xiaomi’s standard Mi Mover that may not recognize files transferred through third-party apps, and Google Account sometimes “forgets” to sync notes or SMS. In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to transfer data to 2026, including hidden settings and workarounds for problem cases.

Before you start, answer the key question: what data do you need to transfer?

1.The official way: Mi Mover by Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a Xiaomi app that is designed to wirelessly transfer data between devices, preinstalled on all Redmi Notes and supports contact, message, photo, video, music and even some applications.

• 📱 It only works between devices on MIUI Android 5.0+ (But not with all custom firmware).
• ⚡ The transmission speed depends on the application version: MIUI 14 the process has accelerated by 30% compared to MIUI 12.
• 🚫 Does not transfer data of certain applications (for example, WhatsApp or banking programs).
• 🔄 Requires connecting both devices to the same Wi-Fi network (or creating a direct connection).

How to use Mi Mover:

1. On Redmi Note, open the Mi Mover app (you can find it in the Tools folder or search it).
2. Select I get the data → Android.
3. On an old phone, install Mi Mover from Google Play (if not) and select I send data.
4. Scan it. QR-code from the Redmi Note screen or connect via Wi-Fi Direct.
5. Select data types to transfer and wait until it is completed (can take 5 to 30 minutes).

⚠️ Note: If the old phone has a modified recovery firmware installed (for example, TWRP), Mi Mover may end with a Failed to Connect error.

Charge both phones at least 50% | Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (or use a mobile hotspot) |Close all background apps on both devices |Check the free space on Redmi Note (should be 20% more data portable) |Disable VPNs and firewalls

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2. Google Account Transfer: Reliable, but not universal

Syncing with a Google Account is the most reliable way to transfer contacts, calendars, notes (from Google Keep) and photos (via Google Photos), but this method has critical limitations:

• 📁 Photos and videos are synced only in compressed quality (unless you pay for Google One).
• 📱 Applications are only transferred to their list for installation (data inside – no).
• 💬 SMS calls are not automatically synced (you need to use separate applications such as: SMS Backup & Restore).
• 🔒 Some data (such as Google Smart Lock passwords) may not be portable due to regional restrictions.

Step-by-step:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Accounts → Google and enable sync for all the right categories.
2. Wait for the sync to complete (check in Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Management → Data and Personalization → Synchronization).
3. On Redmi Note, add the same Google Account and enable sync.
4. To transfer photos, install Google Photos and activate autoload.

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If contacts do not appear on Redmi Note after sync, check your contact settings: go to Contacts → Settings → Accounts and select the contact display from Google Account.

3. Direct transmission via OTG cable: fast and lossless

If you have an OTG cable (or a USB-C to USB-C adapter for the new Redmi Note), you can transfer data directly, like from a flash drive.

• 📸 Large volumes of photos / videos (without compression!).
• 🎵 Music, documents, APK-file.
• 📁 Backups of applications (e.g. Titanium Backup).

How to transfer data through OTG:

1. Connect your old phone to the Redmi Note via OTG-cable.
2. Redmi Note will be notified USB-The drive is connected - click on it.
3. Select File Transfer (MTP).
4. Open Explorer on Redmi Note and copy the files you need from your old phone’s memory.

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi Note models (e.g. Note 9 Pro on the MIUI (13) may not recognize OTG-128GB storage drives due to file system limitations FAT32. Break the transfer into parts or use exFAT.

4. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct: When there is no cable

If you don’t have a cable or Wi-Fi, you can use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct, which are suitable for transferring small files (up to 1 GB), but have serious limitations:

• 🐢 Transfer speed via Bluetooth – everything ~2 MB/s (Redmi Note 11 with Bluetooth 5.2).
• 📶 Wi-Fi Direct is faster (~10 MB/s, but not all phones support it.
• 📁 You can’t transfer folders – only individual files.
• 🔋 Highly drains the battery (up to 20% per hour of continuous transmission).

Instructions for Bluetooth:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both phones.
2. Connect devices (on Redmi Note, go to Settings → Bluetooth and select the old device).
3. On an old phone, select files to send (via Explorer or Gallery) and click Send → Bluetooth.
4. Confirm acceptance on Redmi Note.

For Wi-Fi Direct:

1. On Redmi Note, open Settings → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct.
2. On your old phone, activate Wi-Fi Direct and connect to the Redmi Note.
3. Use Explorer or Gallery to send files.

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Bluetooth is only suitable for transferring a few photos or contacts. For large amounts of data, use an OTG cable or cloud services.

5. Cloud services: Dropbox, Yandex Drive, Telegram

If you have slow internet or no cable, you can upload the data to the cloud and then download it to Redmi Note.

How to transfer data through Yandex Drive:

1. On an old phone, install Yandex Drive and upload files to the folder.
2. On Redmi Note, log in to the same Yandex account and download files.
3. To automatically upload photos, turn on the option Autoboot in the application settings.

⚠️ Note: When you upload to Google Drive via a mobile network, the operator may block traffic as “suspicious” (especially if the volume is greater than 5 GB.

6. Application and Data Portability: Titanium Backup and Alternatives

Standard methods (Mi Mover, Google Account) do not carry data inside apps – for example, save in games, WhatsApp settings or Telegram history.

• 🔧 Titanium Backup (requires root rights on old phone).
• 📱 Swift Backup (works without root on some firmware).
• 💬 App Backup & Restore (Saves) APK + Data, but not for all applications).
• 🎮 Helium (old but suitable for older versions of Android).

Instructions for Titanium Backup:

1. Install Titanium Backup on your old phone and provide root access.
2. Select Backup/Restore → Tag the Apps you want → Tap Launch.
3. Move the Titanium Backup folder to Redmi Note (via OTG or cloud).
4. Install Titanium Backup on Redmi Note, provide root and recover data.

For rootless apps, use App Backup & Restore:

1. Create a backup on your old phone.
2. Move the.apk and.obb files to Redmi Note.
3. Install. APK-Manually copy the files and copy the data (.obb) to /Android/obb/[packet].

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If you only need to migrate WhatsApp, use the built-in backup feature in Google Drive: WhatsApp Settings → Chat → Backup. On your new phone, install WhatsApp and restore chats from the same Google Account.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions