Introduction: Why migrating data to Xiaomi Redmi requires a special approach
The transition to a new smartphone is always exciting, especially when it comes to Xiaomi Redmi. These devices are known for their performance and flexibility, but the transfer of data from Android to MIUI (the branded shell of Xiaomi) has nuances. Unlike the iPhone, where everything is synchronized through iCloud, or “pure” Android with Google Account, it runs its own ecosystem of Mi Account and the Mi Mover utility.
Many users are facing problems: apps are not restored from backup, contacts are duplicated, and photos lose original quality. In this article, we will discuss the unique portability methods that work for Xiaomi Redmi, including the Redmi Note 12/13, Redmi 10/11 and others. You will learn how to avoid data loss, save application settings and even migrate SMS without unauthorized programs.
Method 1: Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s official tool for fast transfer
Mi Mover is a built-in application from Xiaomi that automatically installs on all devices with the help of the device. MIUI. It allows you to transfer data over Wi-Fi directly between phones, without a computer or cables. APK-Application files that are not available on Google Play (for example, Chinese versions of software).
To take advantage of the Mi Mover:
- 📱 Make sure that both phones have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled.
- 🔄 On the old phone, select "Send data", on the new one - "Receive data".
- 🔗 Confirm the connection by entering the code from the screen of the new device.
- 📁 Select data types: Applications, Contacts, SMS, Photo/Video or Notes.
Important: Mi Mover does not carry data from some apps (such as WhatsApp or banking programs) due to security limitations, and the maximum size of the data transmitted is 4 GB, so it is better to use alternative methods for large volumes.
Charge both phones at least 50 times%|Shut down. VPN both-device|Make sure there is enough space on the new Redmi.|Sign out of your Mi Account on your old phone (if you use one account)-->
Method 2: Transferring through Google Account – a universal method for Android
If you've used Google on an old phone, most of the data is already synced to the cloud, which is a good way to migrate:
- 📇 Contacts (via Google Contacts)
- 📅 Calendars and reminders
- 📎 Photo/video (if autoload is enabled in Google Photos)
- 🎮 Game progress (via Google Play Games)
To restore data on the new Xiaomi Redmi:
- When you first turn on, select “Copy Data” and log in to the same Google Account.
- In the settings go to Accounts → Google → Synchronization and enable all the necessary options.
- For apps, open Google Play, click on the profile avatar → “App Management” → “Installed” → “Restore”.
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If contacts are not displayed after recovery, check in Settings → Annexes → Contacts → Contact Storage – Google Account should be selected, not SIM-map.
Limitations of the method:
⚠️ Note: Google does not retain SMS, Call history and Wi-Fi settings. Some applications (such as Viber or Telegram) require separate authorization even after recovery.
Method 3: Transfer over OTG cable or computer for large amounts of data
If you have hundreds of gigabytes of photos, videos or rare apps, wireless methods may not work, and physical connectivity may help.
Option A: OTG cable (for USB-C phones)
- 🔌 Buy it. OTG-adapter (stands) ~200₽) cable USB-C → USB-C.
- 📁 Connect your old phone as you do USB-drive-by.
- 📂 Copy files through Explorer (folders) DCIM, Download, Pictures).
Option B: Through a computer (for backup)
- Connect both phones to the PC.
- Copy data from an old phone into a folder on your computer.
- Transfer files to the new Xiaomi Redmi using File Transfer (MTP) mode.
How to turn on the developer mode to speed up the transfer
| Transfer method | Speed. | Max. Volume. | Supported data | PC required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Average (10-15 MB/s) | 4GB | Applications, contacts, SMS, photos | No. |
| Google Account | Low (depending on the internet) | 15GB (free) | Contacts, calendars, photos, applications | No. |
| OTG cable | High (40-60 MB/s) | No restrictions. | Any files. | No. |
| Computer | Very high (100+MB/s) | No restrictions. | Any files. | Yes. |
Method 4: Transfer WhatsApp and other messengers without losing history
Social networks and instant messengers require a special approach, for example, WhatsApp is not synced through Google or Mi Account – its backups are stored separately.
For WhatsApp:
- On your old phone, open WhatsApp. → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup copy.
- Create a copy in Google Drive (make sure you have the same account attached as your new phone).
- Install WhatsApp on the new Redmi, log in and restore chats.
For Telegram:
- 🔄 Use the “History Export” feature in the chat settings (available only for personal dialogues).
- 📁 Save the file to Google Drive or send it to yourself.
- 📥 On your new phone, import history through Settings → Additionally".
⚠️ Note: If you have used WhatsApp Business or Viber, their backups are not compatible with the regular versions, you will have to install the business version first, restore data, and then export the chats manually.
WhatsApp|Telegram|Viber|Another |Not using messengers-->
Method 5: Transfer data from iPhone to Xiaomi Redmi – features and life hacks
If you move from an iPhone to a Xiaomi Redmi, standard methods won't work.Apple uses a closed ecosystem, but there are workarounds:
Step 1: Transfer contacts and calendars
- 🍎 On iPhone go to Settings → [Your name] → iCloud and enable Contact Synchronization.
- 🌐 On your computer, open iCloud.com, export your contacts to a.vcf file.
- 📱 Transfer the file to Redmi and import through Google Contacts.
Step 2: Transfer photos and videos
- 📸 Use Google Photos on iPhone to Autoboot.
- 🔄 On Xiaomi Redmi, log in to the same Google account and wait for sync.
Step 3: Transfer of applications
Unfortunately, you can't directly migrate installed apps from iOS to Android, you have to manually install them from Google Play, but you can save the list of installed programs:
- On the iPhone, install the AppShopper or AppTracker app.
- Export the list to the.csv file.
- On Redmi, use this list as a checklist to install.
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To transfer notes from your iPhone to Xiaomi, use Google Keep or Simplenote – they support cross-platform synchronization.
Frequent Errors and How to Avoid Them When Transferring Data
Even when following instructions, users face problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:
1. Applications are not restored from backup
Reason: Xiaomi Redmi can default to a Google Drive recovery.
Settings → Accounts → Google → [Your account] → Sync → Enable “Data Backup”2.Photos lose quality after transfer
Reason: Google Photos compresses images by default. Solution: Before the penos, select "Original Quality" in the storage settings.
3 Mi Mover doesn't see old phone
Causes and solutions:
- 🔋 Battery charge below 30% → charge both devices.
- 📶 Different Wi-Fi networks → Connect both phones to the same access point.
- 🔄 An outdated version MIUI → Update the firmware through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
4. SMS and call history are not portable
Solution: Use third-party apps like SMS Backup & Restore (available on Google Play), which create backups in.xml format, which can then be restored to a new phone.