How to quickly copy data from one Xiaomi to another: all ways 2026

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting moment, especially when it comes to saving all the important data from the old device. Contacts, photos, messages, notes and even app settings can all be transferred without loss, if you know the right methods. In 2026, Xiaomi users have at least 5 reliable ways to copy data between devices, and we will analyze each of them in detail.

The main mistake most users make is trying to transfer everything manually through Explorer or messengers. This not only takes hours, but also risks losing some files (for example, hidden application folders or chat backups). In this article, you will find step-by-step instructions for all current methods, including Xiaomi’s official solution, the Mi Mover application, as well as alternative options for various scenarios, from a full backup to selective transfer of individual files.

We’ll focus on transfer speeds, model compatibility (including older MIUI 10-12 devices and newer ones on HyperOS) and data security. For example, few people know that some files (such as screenshots) may not sync automatically when using Xiaomi Cloud storage, and read more about this and other nuances.

1.Official method: transfer via Mi Mover

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s signature app, which is installed by default on all of the brand’s smartphones (starting with MIUI 9), allowing you to transfer almost all data from your old device to your new one without loss and without using a PC. The main advantage is support for direct transmission over Wi-Fi Direct, which is 10 times faster than via Bluetooth.

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

• 📱 On your new smartphone: when you first turn on, select Data Portability from the settings menu. If the device is already configured, search for Mi Mover via Settings.
• 🔄 On an old smartphone, open Mi Mover and select Send. On the new device, select Receive).
• 📶 Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network (or use the hotspot on your old device). QR-code on your new smartphone and scan it from your old one.
• 📁 Select data types to transfer: contacts, messages, photos, videos, applications (including their data) and even system settings.

The speed of transfer depends on the amount of data and device model. For example, transferring 30 GB of photos from the Redmi Note 10 Pro to the Xiaomi 14 takes about 20-30 minutes. Importantly, if the old smartphone has MIUI 12 or older and the new one has HyperOS, you may need to update the Mi Mover via Google Play.

Charge both devices > 50%|Both phones are connected to Wi-Fi|On the old smartphone, there is enough free space (minimum 1 GB)|Disabled. VPN firewalls-->

⚠️ Note: If the new device already has a Xiaomi account that is different from the account on the old smartphone, contact and note data may not be transferred, in which case, first log out of the account on the new phone or use the method of sync over the cloud (section 3).

2. Transfer via OTG or USB-Type-C cable

If you don’t have access to Wi-Fi or data is too voluminous (like a 4K video collection), the most reliable way is to use a USB OTG cable or a special Type-C to Type-C adapter. This method works on all Xiaomi models, including POCO and Black Shark, and does not require an Internet connection.

You'll need:

• 🔌 Cable USB OTG (For older models with Micro-USB or Type-C to Type-C adapter (for newer models).
• 📂 File Explorer (e.g., standard Files from Xiaomi or Solid Explorer).
• ⚡ Adequate battery charge (recommended) > 70%), as the process can take up to an hour.

Instructions:

1. Connect the OTG cable to the new smartphone and the other end to the old one (or use the adapter for a direct Type-C-Type-C connection).
2. On the new device, open Files and select the USB tab or Portable Device.
3. Copy the folders you need (DCIM for photos, Download for downloads, MIUI for backups) to the internal memory of the new smartphone.
4. To port applications, use backups through Settings → Apps → Backup (not available on all models).

The advantage of cable is that it has the highest speed and no Internet dependency, but there are also disadvantages: you can't transfer application data (for example, save in games or set up instant messengers), and you can also transfer system files, you have to use Mi Mover or the cloud.

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If the OTG cable is not recognized, try enabling File Transfer (MTP) mode in the USB settings on your old smartphone. To do this, deploy the notification panel after you connect and select the appropriate option.

3. synchronization through Xiaomi Cloud

Xiaomi Cloud cloud storage is a convenient way to transfer data if you have a stable Internet, it automatically synchronizes contacts, notes, photos and even some system settings, the main advantage is access to data from any device, even if your old smartphone broke or lost.

How to move data through the cloud:

1. On the old smartphone, open Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Enable synchronization for the desired categories: Contacts, Gallery, Notes, Records.
3. Wait until the download is complete (time depends on the speed of the Internet).
4. On the new device, sign in to the same Xiaomi account and enable sync in Mi Cloud.

Please note the limitations:

• 📸 Photos are synced only in original quality if you have a Mi Cloud Premium subscription (5GB free).
• 📱 Application data (such as WhatsApp message history) is not portable – it requires separate backup.
• ⏳ Synchronization of large volumes (for example, 10)+ GB photo can take several hours.

⚠️ Note: If you used the gallery Hidden Albums feature on your old smartphone, these photos are not synced to the cloud. To transfer them, first export the hidden files to a regular folder or use the cable method.

4. Transfer via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct

If you don't have cable or internet access, you can use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct, a method that is suitable for transferring small files (up to 1-2 GB), such as individual photos, documents or music tracks, and for large volumes, it is inefficient because of its low speed.

Instructions for Bluetooth:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both devices (Settings → Connections → Bluetooth).
2. Conjugate the devices (click on the name of the second smartphone in the list of available).
3. On an old smartphone, select files to transfer (for example, in the Gallery, click Share → Bluetooth).
4. Confirm the acceptance of files on the new device.

For Wi-Fi Direct:

1. Activate Wi-Fi Direct in Settings → Wi-Fi → Additional → Wi-Fi Direct.
2. Connect to the sender device from a new smartphone.
3. Use any file manager to transfer data over a local network.

Bluetooth transmission speeds typically do not exceed 1-2 MB/s, and Wi-Fi Direct transmission speeds up to 5-10 MB/s (depending on the model), which is convenient for emergency transfer of multiple files, but is not suitable for full migration.

5. Transfer over a computer (PC or Mac)

If you need to not only copy files but also sort them before transferring them (such as removing duplicate photos or archiving old chats), the best way to use a computer is to use a computer. SIM-maps or wifi.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
• 🔌 Two. USB-cable (or single cable) + OTG-adapter).
• 📂 Backup program (optional: Xiaomi) PC Suite, Dr.Fone or Syncios).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect both smartphones to your PC via USB. On your phones, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Open This Computer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) – both devices will appear as removable drives.
3. Copy the folders you need from your old smartphone to your PC (e.g. DCIM, Pictures, Download).
4. Transfer files from your PC to your new smartphone.
5. To transfer applications and their data, use programs like Dr.Fone – Phone Transfer (paid) or Xiaomi PC Suite (free).

Advantages of this method:

• 🔍 Ability to view and edit files before transfer.
• 🛡️ Backup remains on the PC (in case of data loss).
• 🔄 Suitable for devices with damaged screen (if) USB-debugging was included in advance).

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Use a computer if you want to transfer data from Xiaomi to another brand device (such as Samsung or iPhone), in which case Mi Mover and Xiaomi Cloud will not work.

6. data transfer applications (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.)

Conventional copying methods (via Mi Mover or cable) don’t always carry app data — like WhatsApp chat history, game saving, or Telegram settings — and require special backups.

How to transfer WhatsApp chats:

1. On your old smartphone, open WhatsApp → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup copy.
2. Create a backup in Google Drive (Google account required).
3. On the new device, install WhatsApp, log in to the same account and restore chats from Google Drive.

For Telegram:

• 📱 Chat sessions are synced automatically when you log in to your account on a new device.
• 💾 Media files (photos, videos) can be exported through Settings → Data and memory → Warehouse.

For games and other applications:

• 🎮 Use built-in sync via Google Play Games or Xiaomi Game Turbo.
• 🔄 For applications without cloud backup (for example, some banking programs), data transfer is impossible – you will have to configure again.

⚠️ Note: If you use WhatsApp Business, chat backups are not compatible with regular WhatsApp.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data transfer between Xiaomi