How to copy data from your phone to your Android phone Xiaomi: all the ways of 2026

Transferring files between Xiaomi smartphones can seem like a trivial task — until you face restrictions on speed, compatibility or data volume. In 2026, users have at least 7 working methods, but not all of them are equally effective. For example, classic Bluetooth is suitable for transferring a couple of photos, but it will be a nightmare when transferring 50 GB of video in 4K resolution. On the other hand, the branded service Mi Share (formerly Mi Drop) promises speeds up to 20 MB / s, but requires a stable Wi-Fi connection and often “gluts” on older models.

In this guide, we will analyze all the current methods - from wireless (Wi-Fi Direct, cloud services) to wired (USB-OTG, computer as an intermediary), taking into account the nuances of the MIUI 14/15 firmware. Particular attention will be paid to the hidden restrictions of Xiaomi on the transfer of system files (for example, SMS backups via Mi Account are blocked on some regional versions of the software). If you need to migrate not only media, but also application settings, call logs or passwords from Wi-Fi, there is a separate section with life hacks for full data migration.

1. Mi Share (formerly Mi Drop): a proprietary way from Xiaomi

Mi Share is a redesigned version of Mi Drop, integrated into MIUI since version 12, and uses Wi-Fi Direct technology to transfer files at up to 20MB/s (in practice 8-12MB/s due to interference), the main advantage is that it does not require an Internet connection and works even on an airplane.

To use Mi Share, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Open the Files app on both Xiaomi smartphones.
• 🔍 In the top menu, tap on the Mi Share icon (or Send it to the slate). → Mi Share in older versions).
• 📡 On the receiving device, select Receive files, on the sending device, Send files.
• 🔗 Confirm the connection on both phones (will appear) QR-code PIN check out).

Limitations of the method:

• ⚠️ Does not work on smartphones with custom firmware (for example, LineageOS).
• ⚠️ Maximum size of one file is 1 GB (no restrictions for batch transfer).
• ⚠️ On the Redmi Note models 8/9 older may require an update MIUI beforehand 13+.

Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices

Update the Files app to the latest version

Charge phones at least 30% (transfer drains the battery)

Delete unnecessary files if the volume exceeds 10 GB (risk of communication breakdown)-->

2.Wired method: USB-OTG + cable

If you need to move tens of gigabytes of data (like a WhatsApp backup or a video collection), wireless methods will be too slow. Here comes a USB-OTG cable (Type-C → Type-C or Micro-USB → Type-C, depending on the model), transfer speeds up to 40-60 MB / s (3-5 times faster than Mi Share).

Instructions:

1. Connect the USB-OTG adapter to the source smartphone.
2. Connect the second end of the cable to the receiving phone (it will display a USB notification for transferring files).
3. On the receiving device, select File Transfer (MTP) in the notification.
4. Open the file manager to the source and copy the data to the Internal Storage folder of the second phone.

Important nuances:

• 🔌 On some Xiaomi models, for example, POCO F3) need to be debugged USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times) → Additionally. → For developers.
• 📦 If the phone doesn't recognize the connection, try another cable, which is cheap. OTG-Adapters are often not supported MTP-protocol.

💡

If the transfer is interrupted on large files (>4 GB), break them down using an archiver (such as ZArchiver) or use the.zip format broken down into volumes.

3. Cloud services: Google Drive, Mi Cloud, Telegram

Cloud storage is convenient for transferring files if:

• 🌍 You have access to a stable internet (Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi) 5G).
• 📁 You need to transfer a small amount of data up to 15 GB).
• 🔄 Synchronization is important (such as contacts or notes).

Comparison of services for Xiaomi:

How to transfer data via Google Drive:

1. On the source phone, open Google Drive and click + → Download.
2. Select the files and wait for the download to be completed.
3. On the second phone, log in to the same Google account and download the files.

Google Drive|Mi Cloud|Yandex Disk|iCloud|Other|Not using.-->

4.Wi-Fi Direct: Mi Share alternative for older models

If Mi Share doesn’t work (like the Xiaomi Mi A1/A2 with pure Android One), you can use the standard Wi-Fi Direct protocol.It’s less stable, but supported by all Android 4.0+ smartphones.

Step-by-step:

1. On both phones, open Settings → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct.
2. On the receiving device, click Create a Group (or Connect).
3. On the sending phone, select the name of the second device from the list.
4. Confirm the connection on both screens.
5. Open File Manager, select files and select Send → Wi-Fi Direct.

Warnings:

⚠️ On some firmware MIUI If you transfer files over Wi-Fi Direct, your Internet connection may be lost. To get back online, reboot your phone or manually reconnect to Wi-Fi.

5. Transmission via computer (Windows/macOS/Linux)

If you have a PC or laptop on hand, this method will be the most reliable for carrying large amounts of data (100+ GB), speed is limited only by the capabilities of USB 3.0 (up to 100 MB / s) or Thunderbolt (up to 400 MB / s).

Algorithm of action:

1. Connect the first phone to the computer through USB-cable (select File Transfer Mode).
2. Copy the data into a separate folder on the PC.
3. Disable the first phone, connect the second and transfer the files back.

Challenges and solutions:

• 🖥️ Computer Can't See Phone: Install Mi Drivers PC Suite (official software from Xiaomi) or enable debugging by USB.
• 📂 Do not copy files with a dot at the beginning of the name (e.g..nomedia): These are Android system files, you can ignore them.
• 🔒 Requests unlock: Some models (Xiaomi 12 Pro) require a Mi Account password to access internal memory.

💡

Use the exFAT format for a flash drive or external drive if you are porting files >4GB. FAT32 does not support large files, and NTFS may not be readable on some smartphones.

6. Transfer of contacts, SMS and applications

Media files are easy, but how do you migrate contacts, call logs, or app settings? This is where the built-in MIUI function, Backup and Reset, helps.

Instructions for full migration:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Select data to save: Contacts, SMS, Call Logs, System Settings.
3. Click Create a backup and wait until it is completed (the file will be saved to MIUI/backup/AllBackup).
4. Transfer the backup file (.mbk) to the new phone in any convenient way (e.g., via Mi Share).
5. On your new phone, open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup → Restore.

Limitations:

• ⚠️.mbk backups are not compatible with other brands (e.g., can’t be restored on Samsung).
• ⚠️ Some apps (like WhatsApp or Viber) require separate backups through their settings.

To transfer applications and their data, use:

• 📲 Mi Mover (built-in) MIUI): Portable applications without data loss (only between Xiaomi).
• 🔄 Titanium Backup (requires root rights): Stores user data from applications.

7.Alternative applications: Send Anywhere, Xender, Snapdrop

If standard methods don't work, you can use third-party applications, which often offer faster speeds or a user-friendly interface.

Comparison of popular applications:

How to use Send Anywhere:

1. Install the app on both phones.
2. On the sending device, select the files and click Send.
3. 6-digit code is generated or QR-code.
4. On the receiving phone, enter the code or scan the QR.

💡

To transfer files between Xiaomi and iPhone, use Xender – it supports cross-platform transfer without loss of quality.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data transfer