How to copy data from Android to Xiaomi: the full guide 2026

Introduction: Why Data Transfers to Xiaomi Need a Special Approach

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but transferring data from a previous Android device can turn into a real headache. Unlike the iPhone, where the migration process is standardized through Quick Start, the Android ecosystem offers dozens of ways, from official utilities to manual methods. And Xiaomi has its own nuances: proprietary MIUI software blocks some of the standard Android features, and the built-in Mi Mover application does not work with all brands.

In this article, we will look at 7 proven ways to transfer data, from contacts and photos to messages and applications, taking into account the peculiarities of Xiaomi. You will learn how to circumvent the limitations of MIUI 14/15, what file formats are supported, and why some methods (for example, via Bluetooth) are categorically not suitable for large volumes.

1.Official way: Mi Mover app from Xiaomi

The most reliable and fast method is the use of the proprietary utility Mi Mover, preinstalled on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones. The application supports porting from most Android devices (including Samsung, Huawei, Realme), but there are critical limitations:

• 📱 Only works when the new Xiaomi is first enabled (after system setup)
• 🔌 Requires a USB-C → USB-C or OTG- adapter for older Micro-USB devices
• 🚫 Does not tolerate applications and their data (only contacts, photos, videos, music, messages)
• ⚡ Transmission speed: ~500 MB/min (depending on version MIUI)

How to use Mi Mover:

1. On the new Xiaomi, when you first start, select Data Transfer → Android.
2. Connect both phones with a cable. The old device will request to install Mi Mover (download from Google Play if it doesn’t automatically offer).
3. On your old phone, select data to transfer (you can mark everything or select selectively).
4. Confirm the transmission on both devices and wait until the cable is completed (don’t turn off!).

⚠️ Warning: If Android 12+ is installed on your old phone, you may need to allow Debugging on USB in Settings → About Phone → Version MIUI (7 times click on version, then return to Additional → For Developers).

Charging both phones > 50%|The cable supports data transfer (not just charging)|On the old phone enough free space (minimum 1 GB)|Disabled. VPN firewalls-->

💡

If Mi Mover doesn’t see the old device, try rebooting both phones and using the original Xiaomi cable – cheap counterparts often don’t support data protocol.

2. Transfer through Google Account (for contacts, calendar, notes)

If you only need to migrate contacts, calendar, Google Keep notes, or saved passwords, syncing through a Google account is the most versatile way, and it works on any Android device and requires no additional apps.

Instructions:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Accounts → Google and enable sync for the data you need (contacts, calendar, etc.).
2. On the new Xiaomi, add the same Google account to Settings → Accounts and Sync.
3. Turn on sync and wait until it is completed (may take up to 10 minutes).

You can use Google Photos to transfer photos and videos via Google:

• 📸 On your old phone, turn on autoload in Google Photos → Settings → Backup and Sync.
• 🔄 On the new Xiaomi, log in to the same account and wait for media files to load (it can take hours with a large volume).
• ☁️ 15GB of cloud storage is available for free (a Google One subscription is required for more).

Google account |Mi-account | Cloud services (Yandex, Mail.ru) | Manual transfer via cable | I do not sync-->

3. Transfer over OTG cable and file manager

If Mi Mover doesn’t work (for example, on very old Android devices), you can manually transfer data via the OTG- adapter or direct cable USB-C → USB-C. This method is suitable for photos, videos, music and documents, but not for applications or system data.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the old device to the new Xiaomi via the OTG- adapter (or directly if the ports match).
2. On the new phone, open Files (Xiaomi File Manager app) and select "USB- device".
3. Copy the desired files (for example, the folder DCIM with a photo) to internal memory or to the SD- card.

⚠️ Warning: When copying large files (>4 GB), use the exFAT or NTFS file system on a flash drive. Standard FAT32 does not support files larger than 4 GB.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔧 Does not require Internet or cloud services.
• 📁 You can selectively copy only the right folders.
• 🔄 Works even on devices with corrupted firmware (if MTP- mode is enabled).

Disadvantages:

• ⏳ Slower than the Mi Mover (speed ~200-300MB/min).
• 🚫 Does not tolerate applications, settings or SMS.
• 🔌 Requires a OTG- adapter for devices with different connectors.

4. Transfer applications and their data (without root)

Official methods (Mi Mover, Google account) do not transfer installed applications and their data (for example, save games or WhatsApp settings).

Method 1: APK Extractor App + Manual Installation

If you only need to transfer APK- files (without data):

1. On your old phone, install APK Extractor.
2. Export the APK of the desired applications to the folder on the memory card.
3. Transfer files to the new Xiaomi (via OTG, cloud, or Mi Mover).
4. Install APK on your new device by allowing installation from unknown sources (Settings → Applications → Special Access → Install Unknown Applications).

Method 2: Swift Backup (requires unlocking the bootloader on Xiaomi)

Swift Backup is suitable for porting applications along with data (for example, progress in games), but on Xiaomi you need to:

• 🔓 Unlock the bootloader (officially via the Mi Unlock Tool).
• 📱 Install Magisk to obtain root rights.
• 🔄 Create a backup on an old phone and restore it to a new one.

⚠️ Warning: Unlocking a bootloader on Xiaomi resets all data on the device and may take away warranty. On some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13T or Redmi Note 12 Pro+), the process takes up to 72 hours due to checks by Xiaomi's server.

💡

Without root rights, only APK- application files can be transferred. Application data (e.g., game saving) requires unlocking the bootloader and using specialized tools.

5. Alternative cloud services (Yandex Disk, Mail.ru Cloud)

If you have slow internet or little space in Google Photos, you can use Russian cloud services, which offer more free space and are often synchronized faster in Russia:

How to transfer data through Yandex Drive:

1. On your old phone, install Yandex Drive and enable autoloading of photos/video in the settings.
2. On the new Xiaomi, log in to the same Yandex account and download files to local storage.
3. Use Wi-Fi instead of mobile internet to speed up.

The advantages of cloud services:

• ☁️ Data is accessible from any device.
• 🔄 Automatic synchronization (no cables required).
• 📁 Only the right files can be selectively downloaded.

Disadvantages:

• ⏳ It can take several days to download large volumes (e.g., 50GB photos).
• 🔒 Some files (e.g. video in the 4K) may shrink.
• 💰 Free space is not always enough (for example, WhatsApp backup will require ~10-15 GB).

6. Computer Transfer (for large amounts of data)

If you need to move tens of gigabytes (like a movie collection or WhatsApp backup), the most reliable way is to use a PC or Mac as an intermediary, which is also useful if one of the phones has a damaged USB-C connector.

Instructions for Windows:

1. Connect your old device to your computer via USB and select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Copy the desired folders (for example, DCIM, Download, WhatsApp) to the hard drive of the PC.
3. Turn off the old device and connect the new Xiaomi.
4. Transfer files from your PC to your new phone.

For Mac, you will need additional software:

• 🖥️ Install Android File Transfer (the official utility from Google).
• 🔌 Connect your phone via USB-C (new MacBooks may require an adapter).
• 📂 Copy files through the program interface (which is slower than Windows).

⚠️ Warning: On Xiaomi with MIUI 14/15, when you first connect to a PC, you need to allow access to files in the "Allow Data Access?" window that appears. If the window does not appear, check notifications or reconnect the cable.

💡

To speed up copying through your PC, use USB 3.0 (blue connector) and a cable that supports high data rates. Cheap cables often limit speeds to USB 2.0 (~40 MB/s).

7. Transfer of specific data (SMS, calls, Wi-Fi)

Some types of data require special tools:

SMS and call history

To transfer messages and call logs, use:

• 📱 SMS Backup & Restore (saves to XML, restores to a new phone).
• 🔄 Mi Mover (transfers SMS only when first switched on).
• ☁️ Google Messages (synchronizes SMS through a Google account, but doesn't work on all Xiaomi models).

Wi-Fi passwords

Xiaomi does not transfer Wi-Fi passwords through standard methods.

• 📋 Write down passwords manually (by looking at them on your old phone in Settings → Wi-Fi → [click on network]).
• 🔐 Use the WiFi Password Viewer app (requires root on your old device).
• 📷 Take a picture of the QR-network code (on your old phone, open your Wi-Fi Settings → [network] → Share and scan the code on the new Xiaomi).

Application settings (such as WhatsApp)

To transfer WhatsApp chats:

1. On your old phone, back up your WhatsApp → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup copy.
2. Copy /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases to your new phone (via OTG or PC).
3. Install WhatsApp on the new Xiaomi, confirm the number and wait for the offer to restore chats.

💡

To transfer WhatsApp data between Android devices, be sure to use the same SIM- card and Google account as on your old phone. Otherwise, you will not be able to restore chats.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data portability to Xiaomi