How to Flip Data to Xiaomi with Xiaomi: A Complete 2026 Guide

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but the process of data transfer often turns into a headache. Even between devices of the same brand, users face lost contacts, “broken” photos or hours of waiting for synchronization. In practice, you can transfer everything important from the old Redmi, POCO or Mi to a new device in 10 to 30 minutes – if you know the nuances of each method.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 working ways to transfer data between Xiaomi smartphones, from the official Mi Mover tool to the secret MIUI features that aren’t written about in the instructions. You’ll learn how to transfer not only photos and music, but also system settings, messaging and even game data without loss, and what mistakes users often make and how to avoid them.

Important: The methods are suitable for all models based on MIUI 12-14 (including Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5, etc.), but there are critical differences for devices with HyperOS - they are highlighted separately.

1.Official way: Mi Mover - fast, but with pitfalls

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary data migration tool, which is set by default to all of the brand’s smartphones. It allows you to migrate almost everything from contacts to call history, but it doesn’t work perfectly. The main advantage is that it doesn’t require a computer and transfers data directly over Wi-Fi. The disadvantage is that not all models support app transfer (only their data), and the algorithm has changed to HyperOS.

To take advantage of the Mi Mover:

• 📱 Make sure that both smartphones have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled (even if connected to the same network).
• 🔋 Battery charge on both devices – at least 50% (at low charge, the process will be interrupted).
• 📦 On your new smartphone, when you first turn on, select Data Portability. If the phone is already configured, find the Mi Mover app in the menu.
• 🔗 On the old device, open Mi Mover, select “I am the sender” and scan. QR-code from the new phone.

Close all background apps on both phones|Connect both devices to charging|Make sure that the new phone has enough memory.|Turn it off. VPN and energy-saving regimes-->

It takes 5 to 40 minutes, depending on the amount of data you have, and what you're carrying is what you're doing.

⚠️ Note: If the new smartphone already has a Mi Account other than the old one, contact and note data may be duplicated. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud.

OTG Cable Transfer: Reliable, but not for all models

Method by using USB-cable OTG (Xiaomi adapter is suitable for transferring large amounts of data, for example, if you need to move 100+ GB of photos and video. Transfer speeds are 2-3 times faster than Wi-Fi, but there are nuances:

• 🔌 Cable required USB-C — USB-C (for new models or MicroUSB — USB-C (old).
• 📱 On some smartphones (for example, POCO X5) I need to get the debugging on. USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI — press 7 times).
• 🔒 When connecting, select the "File Transfer" mode" (MTP), Not Charging".

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old smartphone to your new one OTG-cable.
2. On the new device, open Files and select "USB-device".
3. Copy the right folders (DCIM for photo, download, etc.) to internal memory or SD-mapping.
4. To transfer contacts, export them to the.vcf file via the Contacts app.

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If the phone doesn't recognize the connected device, try restarting both smartphones and using the original Xiaomi cable. OTG-Adapters often do not support data transfer modes.

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ Transfer speeds up to 40 MB/s (versus 5-10 MB/s over Wi-Fi).
• 🔒 No risk of data loss when a connection breaks.
• 📁 You can selectively transfer only the necessary folders.

⚠️ Note: Do not turn off the cable while copying – this can cause file damage, especially if you are transferring video in format HEVC or 4K.

Mi Mover|Cable OTG|Cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud)|Other-->

3. Cloud Services: Mi Cloud vs Google Drive - Which is Faster?

If you have slow internet or little space on your phone, cloud services are a lifeline. Xiaomi offers two main options: Mi Cloud (5 GB for free) and Google Drive (15 GB).

Mi Cloud is integrated into MIUI and automatically syncs:

• 📇 Contacts, notes, calendar.
• 📷 Photo and video (if Autoload function is enabled in the Gallery).
• 🔄 Call log and SMS (Chinese-only firmware).

How to transfer data through Mi Cloud:

1. On your old phone: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization – turn on all the necessary items.
2. Wait until the loading is complete (may take hours with a large volume).
3. On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account and enable synchronization.

Google Drive is easier to move:

• 📁 All files (not just multimedia).
• 🎮 App data (if they support backup on Google).
• 🔄 Android settings (wallpaper, Wi-Fi networks, etc.).

Instructions for Google Drive:

1. On an old phone: Settings → Google → Backup – create a backup.
2. On the new phone, when you set up, select “Restore from backup” and specify your Google account.

4. Computer Transfer: For Those Who Like Control

If you prefer a manual approach, or you want to migrate data from specific folders (like saving games or.apk files), the computer method is the most reliable.

• 💻 PC or laptop Windows/macOS.
• 🔌 Two. USB-cables (preferably original).
• 📂 10-15 minutes of free time.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old smartphone to your PC and select File Transfer mode.
2. Copy the required folders to the computer: DCIM — Photos and videos. Download - downloads from the browser. Android/data — Application data (root rights required). MIUI/Backup — backup MIUI.

Disable the old phone, connect the new one and transfer the files back.

.vcf

Contacts → Management → Exports

Advantages of the method:

• 🔍 Full control over the data transferred.
• 🛡️ No risk of data loss due to Wi-Fi failure.
• 📁 You can edit files before transferring (e.g., delete duplicate photos).

⚠️ Attention: Folder Android/data It contains application data, but without root rights, you can't copy it completely. To transfer game saves (such as Genshin Impact or Honor of Kings), use the built-in backup features in the games themselves.

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Transferring over a computer is the only way to save files in their original quality (without compression, as in cloud services).

5. Specificity of the transfer to HyperOS: what has changed?

With the release of HyperOS (starting with Xiaomi 14 and Redmi K70), the data transfer process has changed.

• 🔄 Mi Mover is now called Data Transfer and integrated into the Initial Configuration wizard.
• 📱 Support for application portability (APK-files are disabled - only their data is transmitted.
• 🔒 To transfer system settings (wallpaper, sounds, brightness) requires the same version of HyperOS on both devices.

How to transfer data to HyperOS:

1. When you first turn on your new phone, select “Move from Android”.
2. On your old phone, open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Data Transfer.
3. Connect to the new phone’s access point (password will appear on its screen).
4. Select the data to transfer and wait for completion.

If you have different firmware versions (e.g. MIUI 14 and HyperOS), use:

• 🖥️ Transfer over a computer (the most reliable option).
• ☁️ Cloud services (Google Drive or Mi Cloud).

6.Hidden Data Transfer: Messages, Passwords, Game Settings

Even after successful transfer, users often find that WhatsApp messages, game saves, or Wi-Fi passwords have not moved, and let's see how to transfer that data.

Messages in messengers:

• 💬 WhatsApp: Use the built-in backup in Settings → chat → Backup. Important: phone number must be the same.
• 📱 Telegram: Data synced automatically through the cloud, but secret chats are not portable.
• 💬 Viber: Backup is created in Settings → Account. → Backup copy.

Wi-Fi passwords:

• 📶 Use the WiFi Password Viewer app (requires root) or transfer the file wpa_supplicant.conf from /data/misc/wifi/ (Only for experienced users).
• 🔑 Alternative: Take a picture QR-Network codes from old phone (Wi-Fi settings) → Share).

Preservation of games:

• 🎮 Genshin Impact/Honkai: Star Rail: Link your account to your mail and sign in on your new device.
• 🎮 PUBG Mobile/Call Use login via Facebook or Google Play Games.
• 🎮 Local saves: copy the folder Android/obb computer.

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To transfer passwords from apps and sites, use Google Password Manager (synchronized through a Google account) or export data from Mi Browser to.csv.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even the most experienced users have problems with data portability. TOP-5 mistakes and their solutions:

1. Mi Mover is 99% stuck, MIUI version conflict or memory shortage Solution: Free 2 to 3 GB on your new phone and restart the process. If it doesn't work, use an OTG cable.
2. Photos moved but not displayed in Gallery Reason: Files copied to the wrong folder or have an incompatible format (.HEIC for MIUI below 12.5).Solution: Move files to DCIM/Camera and restart the phone.
3. Contacts duplicated Reason: Simultaneously enabled sync via Mi Cloud and Google. Solution: Disable contact sync in Settings → Accounts and leave only one source.
4. Applications are not restored Reason: HyperOS has disabled APK portability. Solution: Download apps again from Google Play and restore data through the backup.
5. Wi-Fi does not connect after the transfer Reason: Network settings are not moved. Solution: Use QR-codes to connect or enter passwords manually.

⚠️ Warning: If after the transfer the phone began to overheat or discharge quickly, check the background activity of applications in Settings → Battery → Battery use, often to blame for incorrectly restored messenger backups.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions