How to sync Xiaomi Redmi phone with another Android device: a complete guide to data portability

Why you need synchronization between Xiaomi phones

Moving to a new smartphone is always an exciting process, especially when it comes to saving all the important data from the previous device. Xiaomi Redmi owners face this task more often than others: the brand regularly releases updated models with improved characteristics, and users want to transfer to them the usual digital environment – from contacts and messages to the history of calls and app settings. But how to do it quickly, safely and without loss?

Synchronization between two Android phones (including Redmi Note 12/13, Redmi 10/11 or POCO X5) can be done in several ways, from cloud services to direct Wi-Fi Direct or cable connections. Each method has its own nuances: for example, Mi Account saves most data, but requires authorization, and Bluetooth is suitable for small files, but works slowly. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, their pros and cons, and also give recommendations for choosing the best option depending on the amount of data transferred.

Special attention will be paid to the unique feature of Xiaomi — “Cloning applications” (App Clone), which allows you to transfer not only files, but also settings of programs, including authorization in social networks and instant messengers. This solution is not available in standard Android and makes the migration process to the new Redmi as comfortable as possible.

Preparing phones for synchronization: what to do before transfer

Before you start transferring data, it is important to make sure that both devices are ready for the procedure.Neglecting preparation can cause crashes, loss of files, or even damage to system settings.

• 🔋 Charge both phones to at least 50%. Data transfer is energy-intensive, especially when using Wi-Fi Direct or cable.
• 📶 Check the stability of the Internet connection (if you plan to use the cloud). Mobile Internet is enough for Mi Account, but for large volumes it is better to connect to Wi-Fi.
• 🗃️ Clear unnecessary files on both devices, for example, messenger cache or duplicate photos can take up extra space.
• 🔐 Turn off the screen lock (PIN, pattern lock) at the time of synchronization - this will speed up the process of confirming actions.

For Xiaomi Redmi devices, it is also recommended to update the firmware to the latest version of MIUI. This ensures compatibility of synchronization functions. You can check the relevance of the software in the Settings menu → About phone → System Update. If an update is available, install it before you start transferring data.

⚠️ Note: If you use Redmi with an unlocked bootloader or custom firmware, some synchronization functions (such as Mi Mover) may not work properly. OTG or cloud services.

Method 2: Sync with Mi Account (Xiaomi Cloud)

The easiest and most reliable way to transfer data between Xiaomi phones is to use the branded Mi Account cloud service.

• 📇 Contacts and call log
• 💬 Communications (SMS/MMS)
• 📷 Photo and video (optional)
• 📱 System settings (wallpaper, sounds, labels)
• 🎮 Data from certain games (if supported)

To use this method, follow the following steps:

1. On your old phone: Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud and enable sync for the desired data categories.
2. On new phone: Sign in under the same Mi Account (or create a new one if you don't have one). In the same Mi Cloud menu, enable sync and select data to recover.
3. Wait for completion: The process can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour, depending on the amount of data and internet speed.

The advantage of this method is automation: after logging in to the new Redmi, most settings and files will be available without additional actions.

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If you don’t have enough space in Mi Cloud, delete old backups in Mi Cloud → Storage Management before syncing, and you can also buy extra space temporarily (from 50 GB for ~$1 per month).

Method 2: Direct Wi-Fi Transfer (Mi Mover)

For Xiaomi Redmi owners, MIUI has a special tool called Mi Mover, which allows data to be transferred directly between phones over a local Wi-Fi network, without using the cloud, and is ideal for carrying large volumes (for example, tens of gigabytes of photos and videos) or when there is no Internet access.

Instructions for using Mi Mover:

1. Install the Mi Mover app on both phones (available on Google Play or App Gallery) and can be pre-installed on new Redmi models.
2. On the old phone, select the "Send" option, on the new one, "Receive".
3. Scan it. QR-code from the screen of a new device with an old phone for pairing.
4. Select data categories for transfer (contacts, messages, multimedia, applications) and confirm the start of transfer.

Wi-Fi Direct transmission speeds can reach 10-15 MB/s, which is 2-3 times faster than Bluetooth.

⚠️ Note: If the new phone has an older version MIUI, Mi Mover may refuse to carry some system data. Update the firmware before starting the process!

Install Mi Mover on both phones|Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network|Charge phones to 70%+|Free up space on a new phone (at least 10% of the data transfer volume)|Shut down. VPN (can block the connection)-->

Method 3: Using an OTG or USB-C cable

If you need to transfer a lot of data (such as movies, archives or app backups), the most reliable way is to connect your phones directly via an OTG or USB-C cable. This method works even without the Internet and is independent of MIUI versions.

You'll need:

• 🔌 Cable OTG (If one of the phones does not support USB-C to USB-C).
• 📱 File Manager (e.g., built-in in the MIUI Or Solid Explorer).
• ⚡ Sufficient battery power (connecting via cable discharges the phone faster).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your phones with a cable. On the screen of the old device, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. On your new phone, open the file manager and go to the section "USB-device" (or similar).
3. Copy the folders you want (DCIM for photos, Download for downloads, etc.) to your new device.
4. To transfer applications, use backups (.apk + data) via Titanium Backup or Swift Backup.

The advantage of this method is the maximum speed (up to 40-50 MB / s on USB 3.0) and the absence of volume restrictions.

5. Method 4: Synchronize via Bluetooth (for small files)

Bluetooth is the most versatile, but also the slowest way to exchange data between phones, and is suitable for transferring small files (up to 50-100 MB), such as:

• 📄 Documents (.pdf,.docx)
• 📇 Business cards (contacts in.vcf format)
• 🎵 Musical tracks (if not critical speed)

How to transfer files over Bluetooth:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both phones (Settings → Connections → Bluetooth).
2. Make your devices visible to others ("Device Search" or "Visibility").
3. On the sender phone, select a file, click Share → Bluetooth and select the target device.
4. Confirm the file reception on the second phone.

The transmission speed over Bluetooth 5.0 (there is in Redmi Note 11/12/13) reaches 2 MB / s, but in practice it is usually lower - about 500-800 KB / s.

⚠️ Note: When you transfer contacts via Bluetooth, they can be duplicated if the new phone already has a record with the same name!

6. Method 5: Manual Transfer via Google Account (for universality)

If you don’t want to depend on Xiaomi services or if you plan to switch from Redmi to a phone from another brand (such as Samsung or Realme), sync through Google Account will be a universal solution.

• 📇 Contacts (in Google Contacts)
• 📅 Calendars and events
• 📍 Google Maps data (selected places, history)
• 📝 Notes on Google Keep
• 🎮 Progress in games (if supported by Google Play Games)

How to transfer data via Google:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Accounts → Google and enable sync for the right categories.
2. On the new phone, log in under the same Google account and wait for the sync to complete.
3. Use Google Photos to transfer photos and videos (up to 15 GB of high quality free of charge).

The main advantage of this method is cross-platform: data will be available on any Android device.

• ❌ Not tolerated. SMS/MMS (a separate application is required, for example SMS Backup & Restore).
• ❌ Settings MIUI (topics, gestures) not retained.
• ❌ Apps are only ported via Google Play (without user data).

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Google Account is the best choice if you are planning to change your smartphone brand or want to have a backup of your data outside of the Xiaomi ecosystem.

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even with all the instructions, Xiaomi Redmi users sometimes experience sync problems, and here are the most common errors and ways to fix them:

If none of these methods work, try alternative solutions:

• 🖥️ PC Transfer: Connect both phones to your computer and copy files manually.
• 🌐 Cloud Services: Upload data to Google Drive, Yandex.Disk or Dropbox, then download to a new device.
• 📦 Backup through TWRP: For advanced users – creating a full system backup (requires an unlocked bootloader).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions