How to download information from Xiaomi to Xiaomi: all ways of 2026

Introduction: Why data transfers between Xiaomi require a special approach

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, especially when it comes to saving all the important data from the previous device. Unlike other brands, the MIUI ecosystem offers unique tools for migration, but also its pitfalls. For example, standard copying through Google Account does not always correctly transfer the MIUI settings, and some files can be “lost” using universal methods.

In this article, we will discuss 5 current ways of data transfer between Xiaomi devices - from the official Mi Mover to little-known tricks with ADB. Particular attention will be paid to the nuances that the manufacturer does not say: why transfer via the OTG cable can be cut by 87% when transferring photos in HEIF format, how to circumvent the limit on the amount of data in the Mi Cloud, and what to do if the new smartphone "does not see" the old through Quick Share. All instructions are tested on models 2022-2026 (including Xiaomi 14 Ultra and Redmi Note 13 Pro+).

Method 1: Mi Mover is the official tool from Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a built-in data migration application that is installed by default on all smartphones with MIUI 9 and later, and uses direct Wi-Fi Direct transmission, which should theoretically provide high speed and stability.

• 🔄 Breakdown of the connection at the stage of multimedia transmission (especially at volume) >15GB).
• 📱 Incompatibility between the old (MIUI 10) and new (MIUI 14) firmware versions.
• 🔒 File Type Restrictions: Data from some third-party applications (e.g. Viber or Telegram) is not portable).

To minimize the risks, follow this algorithm:

1. On both devices, open Settings → About Phone → Mi Mover.
2. Select a role: on the old smartphone - "Sender", on the new - "Recipient".
3. Scan it. QR-screen code from the new device old.
4. Select data types to transfer (we recommend disabling Apps to avoid version conflicts).
5. Confirm the transfer and wait until the screen is completed (do not block the screen!).

Charge both devices at least to 50%|Connect to a single Wi-Fi network (optional)|Release. 10-15% memory on a new smartphone|Shut down. VPN firewalls|Make sure that both devices have the same version MIUI (or is not more than 1 major)-->

Transfer speeds vary by model: on Xiaomi 13 Pro with Wi-Fi 6E, the process takes ~20 minutes for 10 GB of data, while on Redmi 9A with Wi-Fi 4, it takes up to 1.5 hours. If the transfer is 99% hung, try restarting both devices and repeating the process with less data (break into 5 GB pieces).

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If Mi Mover doesn’t see the second device, turn on the Developer Mode on both smartphones (7 times tap the MIUI version in the settings) and activate the Wi-Fi Debugging option.

Method 2: Quick Share (formerly Mi Share) - AirDrop

Quick Share (formerly Mi Share) is a wireless file transfer protocol similar to Apple's AirDrop.It works on all Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12 and later, and is supported by some POCO and Redmi models.

• ⚡ Speeds up to 20MB/s (on Xiaomi 14 with Wi-Fi 6).
• 📁 There are no restrictions on file types (you can transfer them) APK, ZIP, RAW-photo).
• 🔗 It works without the Internet (using a direct access point).

Instructions for use:

1. Activate Quick Share in the Quick Settings Panel (swipe down from the top edge of the screen).
2. On the old device, select files in File Manager → Send → Quick Share.
3. On the new device, confirm receipt (you will need to allow access to files when you first use it).

Critical error: If you send a message via Quick Share, check if the new device is power-saving mode. It automatically turns off background Wi-Fi Direct activity. Also make sure that both smartphones are turned off VPN - it blocks the local connection.

Mi Mover|Quick Share (Mi Share)|Cable OTG|Cloud services (Mi Cloud, Google Drive)|Another option-->

Method 3: OTG + adapter cable for large volumes

If you need to transfer tens of gigabytes of data (for example, a collection of photos in a format) RAW video 4K), And the wireless methods may be too slow, and in this case, direct cable transfer through the network is optimal. OTG-It'll take an adapter:

• 🔌 Cable USB-C → USB-C (or OTG-adapter + standard cable).
• 📱 Both devices must be supported OTG (Check the specifications of the model).
• 🔋 Charging both smartphones >30% (transfer drains the battery).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old smartphone to your new one OTG-adapter.
2. A notification will appear on the new device "USB-The device is connected – tap on it.
3. Select the File Transfer Mode (MTP).
4. Open the File Manager on a new smartphone – the old one will appear as an external drive.
5. Copy the folders you want (DCIM, Downloads, Miui, etc.) to the internal memory of the new device.

Important: When you copy the Android folder (where the application data is stored), some files may not be transferred due to access restrictions.

adb shell


su




chmod -R 777 /sdcard/Android

This command will temporarily remove the restrictions (root rights required) and then return the rights to the command:

chmod -R 755 /sdcard/Android

Method 4: Mi Cloud – Cloud Transfer with Nuances

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s official cloud storage service, offering 5GB for free (up to 100GB for a fee), a method that is convenient for transferring contacts, notes, SMS and some settings, but has serious limitations:

• ☁️ File limit: maximum size of one file is 50 MB.
• 📅 Synchronization can take hours with a large volume.
• 🔄 Not all data is synced (such as Wi-Fi passwords or Game Turbo settings).

How to transfer data through Mi Cloud:

1. On the old device: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization.
2. Turn on synchronization for all the necessary categories (contacts, calendar, notes).
3. Wait until the download is complete (progress is displayed in the same menu).
4. On the new device, log in to the same Xiaomi account and enable sync.

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Mi Cloud is not suitable for multimedia transfer (photos, videos) due to the 50MB limit per file.

Bypass the 50 MB limit:

1. Archive large files in ZIP using File Manager (built-in feature).
2. Upload the archive to Mi Cloud via Settings → Mi Cloud → Backup.
3. On the new device, download the archive and unpack.

⚠️ Note: If you are using Mi Cloud for porting SMS And call logs, keep in mind that they can be displayed with errors in dates on the new device (distance by 1-2 days). MIUI 14, which is not yet fixed.Solution: Export SMS manually via the Messages app (menus) → Exports).

Method 5: ADB Pull/Push for advanced users

If standard methods don’t work (e.g., custom firmware or devices with damaged Mi Mover), you can use ADB, a debugging tool for Android.This method requires a PC and basic command line knowledge, but guarantees 100% control over the process.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB both-device.

Instructions:

1. Connect your old smartphone to your PC and execute a command to check the connection: adb devices (should display the serial number of the device).
2. Copy the data on a PC (example for a folder) DCIM): adb pull /sdcard/DCIM C:\Xiaomi_Backup\DCIM
3. Disable your old smartphone, connect a new one and transfer the data back: adb push C:\Xiaomi_Backup\DCIM /sdcard/DCIM

Advantages of the method:

• 🔧 Full control over the data transferred (you can selectively copy system files).
• ⚡ Speed is limited only by capacity. USB 3.0 (up to 40 MB/s).
• 🛠️ It works even on devices with damaged firmware (if debugging is enabled).

⚠️ Attention: When in use ADB don't copy the folders /data/data/ or /system/ — This can lead to permission conflicts on your new device, and avoid transferring files with the.db extension unless you plan to restore them via Titanium Backup.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

The choice of transmission method depends on the amount of data, device models and your experience. Below is a comparison table with recommendations:

Our advice:

• 📱 For full migration (including settings) MIUI) Use the Mi Mover + OTG-cable.
• ⚡ For fast transfer of individual files – Quick Share.
• 💾 For backup, a combination of Mi Cloud (for contacts) and Google Photos (for media).
• 🔧 If nothing works — ADB (Be careful with system files).

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even when following instructions, users face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

• 🔴 "Mi Mover doesn’t see the device: Check that both smartphones have the same version MIUI (or a difference of no more than 1 major release. Disable Double Space (Settings) → Reboot both devices and try again.
• 🔴 "Quick Share cuts off by 50%": Make sure your devices have enough free memory (at least 10% of the data you're transmitting); turn off Adaptive Brightness, it can reset the connection; try sending files in folders of 1-2 GB.
• 🔴 "When connected OTG Smartphone is not defined as a drive: Check that the cable supports OTG (not USB-C Cables fit!! Enable File Transfer in the connection notification. On older models (Redmi) 5/6) Root access may be required.

⚠️ Note: If notifications from apps (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) are not working on the new device after transfer, check the AutoStart and Energy Saving settings for these applications. MIUI 14 They are disabled by default for "non-system" programs.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions