Why Xiaomiโs standard data port doesnโt always work
You bought a new Xiaomi smartphone and want to transfer all the data from the old device of the same brand to it? It would seem that the process should be simple โ but in practice users face a lot of nuances. The official Mi Mover feature (built into the MIUI firmware) often refuses to work due to incompatibility of software versions, connection errors or limitations on the amount of data transferred. And attempts to use Google Account for synchronization lead to loss of folders, lack of message history in messengers and other problems.
In this article, we will discuss 5 We have proven ways to fully transfer data between Xiaomi smartphones, from contacts and photos to app settings and game saves, learn how to circumvent the limitations of Mi Mover, what settings you need to change in advance, and why transmission over the cable. OTG maybe 10 This is faster than Wi-Fi Direct. We will pay special attention to the nuances for models with a high-speed speed. MIUI 14/15 HyperOS, where migration algorithms have changed.
Preparation of devices before data transfer
Before migrating, there are several critical steps to take on both smartphones, which can lead to data loss, transmission failures, or incomplete data transfer.
On the old device (data source):
- ๐ Charge the battery to minimum. 50% โ When transmitting over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, energy consumption increases in the 2-3 once.
- ๐ถ Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (if you plan to use the cloud or Mi Mover) Mobile Internet is not suitable due to traffic restrictions.
- ๐ Make sure there is no fingerprint or pattern lock lock on the device โ some portability methods require a password to be entered.
- ๐ Clear the app cache in the Settings section โ Annexes โ Clear the cache. It will reduce the amount of data that's being transmitted to the 10-15%.
On the new device (receiver):
- ๐ฑ Go through the initial setup before the Wi-Fi connection stage, but donโt create a Mi Account in advance โ this can block the Mi Mover feature.
- ๐ Update your firmware to the latest version through Settings โ The phone. โ System update. Version differences MIUI โ main cause of failures in transfer.
- ๐ก Enable the Developer Mode and activate Debugging by USB (need to be transmitted through cable).
โ ๏ธ Note: If the old smartphone has enabled data encryption (Settings section) โ Additionally. โ Encryption, disable it 24 hours before transfer, otherwise files may be transferred in an unreadable format.
Method 1: Mi Mover is the official tool of Xiaomi
Mi Mover is a built-in solution from Xiaomi for migrating data between devices to MIUI or HyperOS. It supports the transfer of:
- ๐ Contacts, call logs and SMS
- ๐ธ Photos, videos and audio files
- ๐ฑ Applications (including settings and cache)
- ๐ฎ Game saves (for supported games)
- ๐ System settings (wallpaper, sounds, brightness)
However, this method has limitations:
| Parameter | Mi Mover (Wi-Fi Direct) | Mi Mover (OTG cable) |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission speed | 5-8 MB/s | 20-30 MB/s |
| Max, volume of data | 50GB | 128GB |
| Supported versions of MIUI | 10 and newer | 12 and newer |
| Internet is required | No. | No. |
| Preserving folder structure | Yes. | Yes. |
Step-by-step:
- On the new smartphone, at the setup stage, select Data Transfer โ Mi Mover.
- On the old device, open Settings โ Additional โ Mi Mover.
- Select the role of the device: the new smartphone is the โRecipientโ, the old one is the โSenderโ.
- Connect to a single Wi-Fi network or use Wi-Fi Direct (automatically created access point).
- Select the data to transfer and confirm the start of the process.
โ ๏ธ Warning: If the Mi Mover is stuck in the Prep phase, check if the old smartphone is power-saving. It limits the background activity of the apps.
Shut down. VPN both-device|Close all background applications|Make sure the same version is in place. MIUI|Connect charging to a new smartphone|Check the free space (should be 1.5 times the amount of data transmitted)-->
Method 2: Transfer over Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)
The Mi Cloud service allows you to synchronize data between Xiaomi devices over the Internet, which is suitable if:
- ๐ You have a stable Wi-Fi connection (the amount of data can exceed 10 GB).
- โณ You are in no hurry โ the speed depends on your internet speed.
- ๐ You only need to transfer contacts, notes, photos and settings (applications are not transferred).
How to set up Mi Cloud:
- On your old smartphone, go to Settings โ Xiaomi Account โ Mi Cloud.
- Enable synchronization for all the categories you need (Contacts, Gallery, Notes, etc.).
- Wait until the data is uploaded to the cloud (it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours).
- On the new device, log in to the same Mi Account and enable synchronization.
Advantages of the method:
- ๐ Data is available on any device with a Mi Account.
- ๐ก๏ธ Backup is stored in the cloud (can be restored if you lose your phone).
- ๐ฑ It is also supported by older models (starting with the MIUI 6).
Disadvantages:
- ๐ซ Installed applications and their data are not transferred.
- ๐ Only 5GB is available for free (you have to pay for more).
- โฑ๏ธ The process can take hours with slow internet.
๐ก
If Mi Cloud doesnโt sync photos, check the file format. the service doesnโt support.HEIC (used on iPhone) โ convert them to.JPG through the Gallery app before downloading.
Method 3: Transfer data via OTG cable (fastest method)
Using an OTG cable (or USB-C to USB-C adapter) is the most reliable and fastest way to transfer large amounts of data (up to 128 GB), transfer speeds up to 30-40 MB / s, which is 5-8 times faster than Wi-Fi.
What you need:
- ๐ Cable USB-C to USB-C (for new models; or OTG-adapter + USB-cable (for old ones).
- ๐ฑ Both smartphones with support OTG (checks in the settings โ The phone. โ Specifications).
- ๐ Charging for a new device (port) USB-C It does not always provide enough food).
Instructions:
- Connect your old smartphone to your new one via an OTG cable.
- A notification will appear on the new device "USB-The drive is connected - click on it.
- Select File Transfer Mode (MTP).
- Open Explorer on a new smartphone and copy the desired folders (DCIM, Downloads, Pictures, etc.).
- Use Titanium Backup (root rights required) or App Backup & Restore to port applications.
โ ๏ธ Note: When you copy the Android folder (where app data is stored), some files may not be transferred due to Android restrictions on access to the app. /data/data/. Root rights are required for full transfer.
How to transfer saving games without root rights?
Method 4: Use of third-party applications (without limitation)
If Xiaomiโs built-in tools fail, third-party apps come to the rescue, offering flexible settings, support for all types of data, and often run faster than Mi Mover.
Top.-3 data-transfer applications:
| Annex | Speed. | Supported data | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xender | 10-15 MB/s | Photos, videos, music, applications, contacts | It works without the Internet, supports cross-platform transfer (Android-iOS) |
| SHAREit | 8-12 MB/s | All File Types + Wi-Fi Direct Transfer | Sometimes blocked by antiviruses due to advertising |
| Send Anywhere | 5-10 MB/s | Files of any size, folders, contacts | You can send data via 6-digit code. |
How to transfer data through Xender:
- Install Xender on both smartphones from Google Play.
- On the old device, click "Send", on the new one - "Receive".
- Connect to a single Wi-Fi network or create an access point on one of your phones.
- Select the files to transfer and confirm the beginning.
- On the new device, save the received data to the desired folders.
Advantages of third-party applications:
- ๐ There are no limits on the amount of data (unlike the Mi Cloud).
- ๐ฑ Works on all versions of Android (including custom firmware).
- ๐ ๏ธ Support selective transfer (you can select only the desired folders).
๐ก
To transfer SMS and call logs, use the SMS Backup & Restore app, which stores.XML messages that can then be restored to the new device without losing formatting.
Method 5: Manual transfer via computer (for power users)
If you want complete control of the process or you work with large amounts of data (over 100 GB), the best option is to use a PC as an intermediary, which takes longer, but guarantees 100% lossless transfer of all files.
What you need:
- ๐ป Computer with Windows, Mac or Linux.
- ๐ Two. USB-Cables (preferably original from Xiaomi).
- ๐ Backup software (optional: Titanium Backup, Helium).
Step-by-step:
- Connect your old smartphone to your computer in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
- Copy all important folders (DCIM, Downloads, Movies, etc.) to the hard drive.
- To port applications, use ADB (Android Debug Bridge): adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab This command will create a full backup on the PC.
- Connect a new smartphone and transfer the copied files to the appropriate folders.
- To restore applications, use: adb restore backup.ab
Warnings:
- ๐ซ Not all applications support recovery through ADB (especially banking and messengers).
- ๐ To work with ADB I need to turn on the debugging. USB Confirming trust in the computer.
- ๐ฑ New Xiaomi models (with HyperOS) may require additional permission in Settings โ Additionally. โ Special access permits.
Frequent mistakes and their solutions
Even when following instructions, users have problems with data transfer.-5 errors and ways of correcting them:
1 Mi Mover does not find the device
- ๐ Reboot both smartphones.
- ๐ถ Make sure that both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled.
- ๐ Check if the Energy Saving mode is on (it blocks background processes).
2.The data has been moved, but the applications are not working
- ๐ฑ Reinstall problematic apps from Google Play.
- ๐ Check if permissions have been reset in Settings โ Annexes โ Permits.
- ๐ Update your applications to the latest versions.
3.Photos and videos are not opened
- ๐ผ๏ธ Check the file formats โ Xiaomi does not support.HEIC (Use the Gallery to convert to.JPG).
- ๐ Make sure the files are copied to the correct folders (DCIM/Camera photo).
- ๐ Restart the device โ sometimes the media scanner doesnโt update the library right away.
4. SMS and call log are not portable
- ๐ Use it. SMS Backup & Restore to create backup.
- ๐ Check if Google Messages is blocked (turn it off while you migrate).
- ๐ฑ On the new versions MIUI The call log is synced only through the Mi Cloud.
5. space on the new device has been lost after the transfer
- ๐๏ธ Remove duplicate files with Files by Google.
- ๐ Transfer heavy files (video, movies) to SD-map.
- ๐ Clear the app cache in Settings โ Warehouse โ Clear the cache.