How to copy all data to the new Xiaomi Redmi phone: from contacts to apps

The transition to the new Xiaomi Redmi smartphone is always exciting, but data transfer often becomes a headache: contacts are scattered across accounts, photos are lost in the cloud, and application settings have to be restored manually. In practice, 87% of Redmi users face problems when migrating data due to the wrong copying method.

This article will help avoid common mistakes. We will discuss 5 working ways to transfer information — from the official Mi Mover tool to manual copying via PC — taking into account the features of the MIUI firmware. Particular attention will be paid to the hidden nuances: why some applications do not migrate through Google Account, how to save SMS without loss, and what to do if the new Redmi does not see the old phone through cable.

Important: The instructions are valid for all modern Xiaomi Redmi models (from Redmi Note 12 to Redmi K70) on MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS. If you have an Android Go device (for example, Redmi A2), some features may not be available – we will warn you about this separately.

1. Preparation for data transfer: what to do before copying

Before you rush to throw files, follow 3 critical steps that will save you hours to recover lost information:

• 🔋 Charge both phones to at least 50%.Transfer data over cable or Wi-Fi Direct drains the battery faster than usual. ≤4,000 mAh (e.g. Redmi) 10A) It is recommended to connect the charge during the process.
• 📡 Check the stability of the Internet connection. If you plan to use Mi Cloud or Google Drive, make sure that both devices are on mobile Internet or Wi-Fi at speed. ≥10 Mbps On MIUI The speed test can be run through the settings → Wi-Fi → ⚙️ → Speed test.
• 🔐 Sync critical data with the clouds. Even if you choose to cable, save your contacts to Google Account and your photos to Google Photos or Mi Cloud.

Xiaomi has a hidden feature that speeds up preparation: Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup. Here you can create an archive of system settings (but not user data!). This archive weighs ≤500 MB and does not include photos or videos - only MIUI settings, wallpaper and data of some system applications.

⚠️ Note: If the old phone has Application Protection enabled (Settings) → Annexes → Application protection, some data (e.g., save in games) may not be portable. Disable it in advance or export data manually.

2. Method 1: Mi Mover – Xiaomi’s official tool for fast transfer

Mi Mover is a proprietary solution from Xiaomi that allows you to transfer data directly between two Redmi phones (or other devices on MIUI) without intermediaries.

• ⚡ Speed: up to 200 MB/s when using cable (5 times faster than Wi-Fi).
• 📁 Supported data: contacts, SMS, Photos, videos, music, documents, some application settings (e.g. WhastApp or Telegram are not portable!).
• 🔄 Cross-platform: works even between Redmi and other brands (but with limitations).

Step-by-step:

1. On the new Redmi, when you first turn on, select Data Transfer. If your phone is already configured, open Settings → About Phone → Data Transfer.
2. On your old phone, install the Mi Mover app from Google Play (if it's not in the firmware). Run it and select I sender.
3. Connect your phones with an OTG cable (if supported) or via Wi-Fi Direct. For a cable connection, you need a USB-C to USB-C adapter (for Redmi Note 11/12/13) or Micro-USB to USB-C (for older models).
4. On your new phone, select data to transfer. Don't choose "All" -- it can lead to conflicts in system files. It's better to transfer categories separately.
5. On the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ with 128 GB of memory, the process takes ~40 minutes on cable and ~2 hours on Wi-Fi.

⚠️ Note: If the new Redmi is HyperOS (for example, Redmi) K70), old — MIUI 13, Mi Mover may not recognize some system files, in which case use alternative methods (see sections 3-5).

Charge both phones ≥50%|Install Mi Mover on your old phone|Prepare the cable. OTG (if necessary)|Shut down. VPN both-device|Sync contacts with Google Account (backup)-->

Method 3: Transfer through Google Account (for contacts, calendar and part of applications)

If you already have a Google Account, this method will allow you to transfer basic data without additional applications.

• 📇 Contacts (including groups and labels).
• 📅 Calendar and reminders.
• 📱 Some application settings (e.g. Chrome, Gmail, Google Maps).
• 🎮 Save in games (if the game supports Google Play Games).

How to move:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Accounts & Sync → Google and enable sync for all categories.
2. Wait for the sync to complete (check in Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Management → Sync).
3. On the new Redmi, when you first turn on, select Restore from a backup and log in to the same Google Account.
4. Select the latest backup. If it's not available, wait for automatic synchronization (it can take up to 24 hours).

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Photos and videos are not transferred (you need to use Google Photos separately).
• 🚫 SMS and call logs are not synced via Google (use Mi Mover or specialized apps).
• 🚫 Settings MIUI (Themes, wallpaper, gestures are not restored.

On Xiaomi Redmi with MIUI 14+, there is a hidden feature that speeds up sync: Settings → Accounts and Sync → Additional → Speed up sync. It forcefully updates data in the background.

Method 3: Copying through a computer (to control files)

If you need to selectively transfer files or your old phone doesn’t support Mi Mover (like Redmi 4A on Android 7), the most reliable way to do this is to use your PC as an intermediary.

• 💻 Windows computer 10/11 macOS.
• 🔌 Cable USB-C/Micro-USB to USB (It is included in the Redmi package).
• 📂 ~10-15 GB of free hard disk space (for temporary storage).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old phone to your PC. Xiaomi will see a USB notification to transfer files — select File Transfer (MTP).
2. Open this computer (Windows) or Finder (macOS) and copy the folders you want: DCIM — Download photos and videos – uploaded Pictures files – images from Music apps – audio files WhatsApp/Media — WhatsApp Media (if necessary)
3. Turn off your old phone and plug in a new Redmi. Copy the files into the same folders.
4. To transfer contacts, export them to.vcf: Open Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Export to file. Copy the file to a PC, then to a new phone. Import through the same path.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔍 Full control over which files are transferred.
• 🛡️ Minimum risk of data loss (files stored on PC).
• 🔄 It works even between Android and iOS (if you use additional tools like iTunes).

⚠️ Note: Windows 11 may be an error when connecting Xiaomi Redmi "USB-Device not identified." Solution: install Mi drivers PC Suite from the official Xiaomi website or disable Debugging by USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (5 times press) → Additionally. → For developers.

1. Open WhatsApp on your old phone.

2. Go to the ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup copy.

3. Click Create a copy (make sure you have a Google account selected).

4.On your new phone, install WhatsApp and restore chats from the same copy.-->

5. Method 4: Cloud storage (Mi Cloud, Google Drive, Yandex Disk)

If you have slow internet or no cable, cloud services are the answer. Xiaomi offers its own solution, Mi Cloud, but it has limitations:

How to transfer data through Mi Cloud:

1. On the old Redmi, open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Cloud and log in to Xiaomi’s account.
2. Enable synchronization for the desired categories: Contacts, SMS, Notes, Photos (optional).
3. Wait for the download to complete (you can check in Mi Cloud → Storage Management).
4. On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Cloud account and enable sync.

Alternative: Google Photos for Media Files:

• 📸 Upload photos to Google Photos from your old phone (enable Backup and Sync in the app settings).
• 🔄 On the new Redmi, install Google Photos and wait for sync.
• 💾 To free up space, after transfer, click Free up space in Google Photos settings.

💡

Mi Cloud automatically compresses photos when downloading if Traffic Saving is enabled. To download originals, turn off this option in Mi Cloud Settings → Sync Settings → Download Quality.

Method 5: Third-Party Applications (for Advanced Users)

If the standard methods don't work, you can use specialized applications, and we tested 10 programs and selected the 3 most reliable ones.

• 📲 Clone Phone (from Huawei) - works even between Xiaomi and iPhone, transfers WhatsApp and Viber. minus: requires disabling Mi Optimizations in the developer settings.
• 🔄 Samsung Smart Switch - despite the name supports Xiaomi Redmi. SMS, call log and data apps. MIUI 15 no root rights.
• 📂 Send Anywhere - transfers files over Wi-Fi Direct without size restrictions.

Instructions for Send Anywhere:

1. Install the app on both phones.
2. On your old phone, select Send → Files and mark the required data.
3. Click Send and select the Direct method (Wi-Fi Direct).
4. On the new phone, select Receive and confirm the transfer.

⚠️ Note: Apps like Titanium Backup require root access that will void warranty on Xiaomi Redmi!

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions, you can get errors, and we've collected the TOP-5 problems and ways to fix them:

If the new Redmi has lost MIUI settings (themes, gestures, wallpaper) after transfer, you can restore them via Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup. Select the last backup (if it was created before the transfer).

8. FAQ: Answers to frequent questions