How to transfer data from one Xiaomi Redmi phone to another: the complete guide

Introduction: Why Transferring Data to Redmi Needs a Special Approach

The transition to a new Xiaomi Redmi smartphone is always exciting, but data porting often turns into a headache. Unlike the iPhone, where everything is synced via iCloud, or Samsung with Smart Switch, Redmi has its own nuances. For example, the Mi Mover app does not work with all models, and standard methods like Bluetooth or Google Account can ignore the settings of applications or messages in instant messengers.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to transfer data between Redmi phones in 2026, including hidden MIUI features, circumventing restrictions and solving common bugs. We’ll focus on the transfer of WhatsApp, Viber and Telegram, which is the data that is most often lost during the transition, and you’ll learn how to avoid duplicate files and why some methods may not work on models older than the Redmi Note 10.

Method 1: Mi Mover – the official solution from Xiaomi

Mi Mover (formerly Mi Migration) is a native tool for transferring data between Xiaomi devices. It is pre-installed on all smartphones with MIUI 9 and newer, but there are pitfalls: for example, Redmi 9A or Redmi 8 may need to update via Settings → About Phone → System Update.

How Mi Mover works:

1. On both phones, open the app (if not, download it from Google Play).
2. Select a role: on the old phone - "Sender", on the new - "Receiver".
3. Scan it. QR-code from the screen of a new phone or connect via Wi-Fi Direct.
4. Select data to transfer: contacts, messages, photos, videos, applications (but not their data!).
5. Confirm the transmission and wait for completion.

• ✅ Pros: retains the structure of folders, transfers SMS The call log does not require the internet.
• ❌ Cons: does not work with phones of other brands, can "hang" on large amounts of data (over 30 GB), does not tolerate the settings of applications.
• ⚠️ Restriction: Redmi Note 7 and older may need to disable Settings → Special facilities → MiGs for proper operation.

Charging both phones > 50%|Shut down. VPN mobile data|Make sure there is enough memory on your new phone|Sign out of your Mi Account on your old phone (if you plan to sell)-->

If Mi Mover can’t see the device, try:

1. Reboot both phones.
2. Enable Settings → Wi-Fi → Additional → Wi-Fi Direct manually.
3. Install the latest version of MIUI on both devices (even if the update is "non-critical").

Mi Mover|Google Account|Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct| OTG Cable or computer |Other way-->

Method 2: Google Account – Universal but Incomplete

Syncing through Google Account is the most reliable method for transferring contacts, calendars and parts of applications, but it has critical limitations:

• 📱 What is transferred: contacts, calendar events, Chrome bookmarks, some system settings (Wi-Fi passwords, wallpaper).
• 🚫 What's not tolerable: SMS, call log, photo/video (only if they are uploaded to Google Photos), instant messenger data, application files.
• ⚠️ Attention: if the old phone is disabled sync, the data may not be saved. → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of the account.

Step-by-step:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → System → Backup and enable Backup to Google Drive.
2. Wait for the copy to be completed (it can take hours with a large amount of data).
3. On the new phone, when you first turn on, select “Recover Data” and log in to the same Google account.
4. If the phone is already configured, go to Settings → System → Recovery and Reset → Data Recovery.

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If you use Google Photos to transfer media files, turn on the "Original Quality" option in the backup settings. In High Quality mode, photos are compressed and videos are limited to 1080p resolution.

Method 3: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct – Slowly but without Internet

Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct data transfers are suitable for small files (up to 1-2 GB), but are completely inefficient for full portability. Bluetooth transfer speeds to Redmi rarely exceed 2-3 MB/s, and Wi-Fi Direct can work unstable on older models (for example, Redmi 6 or Redmi 7).

How to transfer files via Wi-Fi Direct:

1. On both phones, turn on Settings → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct.
2. On an old phone, select files (for example, in the Files app), click "Send" and select a new phone.
3. Confirm acceptance on the new device.

• ⚡ Speed: up to 10-15 MB/s (Wi-Fi Direct) vs 1-2 MB/s (Bluetooth).
• 📁 Restrictions: you can not transfer applications or system data, only files (photos, videos, documents).
• ⚠️ Note: On the Redmi Note 8 Pro and similar models, Wi-Fi Direct may conflict with a connection to normal Wi-Fi.

Third-party applications can be used to speed up the process:

• 🔹 Xender – creates a local network between phones (speeds up to 20 MB / s).
• 🔹 Send Anywhere – generates 6-digit code to transfer files without connecting to a single network.
• 🔹 LocalSend – Open analogue of AirDrop for Android.

Method 4: OTG cable or computer for large volumes

If you need to transfer tens of gigabytes of data (for example, a collection of photos in the Internet) RAW video 4K), The best option is to use the cable OTG (It's a method that works for all Redmi models, including older ones (Redmi). 4X, Redmi 5A).

Option 1: OTG (Type-C to Type-C or Micro-USB) cable

1. Buy a cable. OTG supportive UMS (USB Mass Storage (costs 200-500) ₽).
2. Connect your old phone to your new one via OTG.
3. On the new phone, open the Files app and copy the data from the connected device.

Option 2: Computer (Windows/Mac/Linux)

1. Connect your old phone to your PC via USB (select File Transfer (MTP) mode).
2. Copy data (e.g. DCIM, Downloads, WhatsApp) to your computer.
3. Connect the new phone and transfer the files back.

• 💾 Pros: maximum speed (up to 40-50 MB / s with USB 3.0), no volume restrictions.
• ⚠️ Attention: Redmi with MIUI 12+ You may need to unlock the settings. → Password and security → Lockdown and protection → Allow access to files when blocked.
• 🔌 If your computer can’t see your phone, try another one. USB-On the Redmi Note 9 Pro and later, sometimes switching mode helps. USB notice-curtain.

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Use UMS-enabled OTG cables – cheap cables may not provide stable connectivity, especially when transferring files larger than 4GB.

Method 5: Transfer WhatsApp, Viber and Telegram – save correspondence

Messengers store data (messages, media files) in their folders, and standard methods of transfer ignore them.

WhatsApp:

1. On your old phone, create a backup: WhatsApp Settings → Chat → Backup.
2. Copy /sdcard/WhatsApp/ to your new phone (via OTG or computer).
3. Install WhatsApp on your new phone and restore chats from your local copy.

Telegram:

• 🔄 Telegram Cloud automatically syncs messages, but media files (photos, videos) are stored locally.
• 📁 Copy the folder. /sdcard/Telegram/ To a new phone, so as not to download files again.

Viber:

1. Make a backup in Settings → Account → Backup.
2. Transfer the backup file (viber.bak) to the new phone.
3. Restore data when you first start Viber.

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If you use WhatsApp Business, the backup is created in the /sdcard/WhatsApp Business/ folder. Don’t confuse it with the regular WhatsApp!

Method 6: Cloud Services – Dropbox, Yandex Drive, Mega

Cloud storage is convenient for transferring files if you have slow internet or don’t have an OTG cable. However, free rates are limited:

• 📁 Google Drive: 15 GB (shared with Gmail and Photos).
• 📁 Yandex Disk: 10 GB (when registering by phone number).
• 📁 Mega: 20GB (but download speed is limited after 5GB).
• 📁 Dropbox: just 2GB on free fare.

How to move data through the cloud:

1. Upload files from your old phone to the cloud (for example, through the Yandex Drive app).
2. On the new phone, download the files back.
3. Use Wi-Fi, not mobile internet, to speed up.

⚠️ Note: when you download a large number of small files (for example, folders with photos), cloud services can "hang". ZIP before loading.

Method 7: Root and Titanium Backup for advanced users

If you have root rights on both phones, you can use Titanium Backup to port all of your app data, including game settings, saved passwords, and cache, a tricky method, but the most comprehensive.

Step-by-step:

1. Install Titanium Backup on both phones.
2. On an old phone, back up all applications (Backage Action → Backup all custom apps).
3. Move /sdcard/TitaniumBackup/ to your new phone.
4. On the new phone, recover data via Titanium Backup.

• ⚠️ Risks: Incompatibility of Android versions or MIUI It can cause application failures.
• 🔧 Alternative: Swift Backup (more modern analogue, works without root on some firmware).

⚠️ Note: porting system applications (e.g. com.android.settings) may cause conflicts in the new version MIUI. Remove them from the backup.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions