How to copy the entire phone to the new Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Moving to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but transferring data from an old device can be a real headache if you don’t know the nuances. Even experienced users sometimes lose important files or settings due to the wrong copying method. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to transfer data from the official Mi Mover app to manual backup via your computer, and also tell you how to avoid typical errors when migrating to the Redmi Note 13 Pro+, POCO F6 or any other model from 2023 to 2026.

We will pay special attention to hidden traps: why some applications are not migrated through the cloud, how to save the call history without root rights, and what to do if the new Xiaomi “cannot see” the old device over Wi-Fi. You will also find a comparative table of methods for speed, reliability and supported data types – this will help you choose the best option for your situation.

1.The official way: Mi Mover by Xiaomi

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary wireless data transfer solution for the brand’s devices, preinstalled on all new smartphones (starting with MIUI 9) and supports contact, message, photo, video, apps, and even some system settings. The main advantage is that it does not require a connection to a computer or cloud services, working directly over Wi-Fi Direct.

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

• 📱 On the new Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select the option “Data Transfer” (if you missed it, find the application in the menu).
• 🔄 On your old phone, open Mi Mover (download from Google Play if not), select the “Sender” role).
• 📶 Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network or use an access point (on the new smartphone automatically creates a network). Xiaomi_XXXX).
• 🔍 Scan on your new phone. QR-code that will appear on the old device.
• ✅ Select data types to transfer and confirm the start of the process.

Charging the battery of both phones > 50%|Disabled. VPN firewalls|On an old phone, there is enough free memory (at least 10% of the data transfer volume)|Both devices are connected to a stable Wi-Fi network (not mobile Internet)-->

Transfer speeds depend on the volume of data and the model of the phones. For example, transferring ~20 GB (photo, video, apps) from the Redmi Note 11 to the Xiaomi 14 takes about 30-45 minutes. If the process is stalled during the Preparation stage, try:

⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the transmission during the "App Optimization" stage, this can cause the installation of transferred programs to fail. If the Mi Mover gives an error "failed to connect", restart both phones and try again, pre-enabled the aircraft mode for 10 seconds.

2. Transfer through Google Account (for contacts, calendar and part of applications)

If you have a Google account, most of the basic data is already synced automatically, a method that works for contacts, calendar events, notes (from Google Keep), Chrome bookmarks, and some app settings, but you have to transfer photos, videos, and SMS separately, either through Google Photos or third-party utilities.

How to set up synchronization:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync.
2. Activate the switches for all the necessary categories (required: Contacts, Calendar, Chrome).
3. On the new Xiaomi, when you first start, log in to the same Google account or add it to Settings → Accounts.
4. Wait for the synchronization to be completed (check in Settings → About Phone → Account Status).

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Not tolerated. SMS/MMS (need to be used SMS Backup & Restore).
• 🚫 Apps are not automatically restored, only their list in Google Play (you have to install manually).
• 🚫 Photos and videos are synced only if you have previously enabled autoloading in Google Photos.

To transfer SMS and call logs without root rights, use the SMS Backup & Restore app:

1. Install it on your old device and create a backup.
2. Save the file to Google Drive or copy it to a new phone via Mi Mover.
3. On the new Xiaomi, install the same app and recover the data (Restore).

3. Transfer via OTG cable or adapter (for large data volumes)

If you don’t have Wi-Fi access or need to transfer 50+GB of data (such as high-resolution movies or Adobe Premiere Rush projects), the most reliable way is to connect directly via an OTG cable.

• 🔌 USB-C OTG-Adapter (if on an old microUSB phone).
• 🔌 Cable USB-C — USB-C (If both phones are modern).
• 📁 File Manager (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).

Instructions:

1. Connect your old phone to your new one OTG-Adapter: The new Xiaomi will have a notification «USB-plug-in».
2. Select the File Transfer Mode (MTP).
3. Open the file manager on your new phone, and the old device will appear as a removable drive (such as the Samsung SM-A52).
4. Copy the folders you want (DCIM for photos, Downloads for downloads, etc.) into the internal memory of your new phone.

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ Maximum speed (up to 40 MB/s per USB 3.0).
• 🔒 No risk of data loss due to Wi-Fi disruption.
• 📂 Only the necessary files can be selectively copied.

⚠️ Note: If the new Xiaomi does not recognize the old device when connecting, check: OTG-Adapter (cheap Chinese adapters often don't support) MTP). — Is the developer mode and debugging enabled? USB on an old phone (Settings) → The phone. → Assembly number (7 taps) → Developer settings → Debugging by USB).

4. backup to the computer (for full control)

For users who want to fully control the process or transfer data from an iPhone/brand to Xiaomi, the best option is backup to a PC with subsequent recovery. This method takes longer, but ensures the safety of all files, including saving games, VPN settings and messenger data (if stored locally).

Step-by-step instructions for Windows:

1. Connect your old phone to your computer through USB-cable and select File Transfer Mode (MTP).
2. Copy all important folders to the hard drive: This computer\[phone name]\Internal memory\DCIM (photo/video) This computer\[phone name]\Internal memory\Downloads (downloads) This computer\[phone name]\Internal memory\Android\data (application data)
3. For backup of SMS and call logs, use SMS Backup & Restore (export to.xml file on PC).
4. Connect the new Xiaomi and transfer all files back, following the folder structure.

Mac owners will need to install Android File Transfer (the official utility from Google).

• 🖥️ folder Android\data It can be hidden – enable the display of hidden files in the file manager settings.
• 🔐 Some applications (for example, WhatsApp) encrypt backups – you need to use official messenger tools to restore them.

5 Third-party apps: When Mi Mover doesn't work

If Mi Mover refuses to port data (for example, due to incompatibility of MIUI versions or hardware limitations), third-party utilities will come to the rescue. We tested 5 popular applications and selected the best ones:

Recommendations for use:

• 🔗 For maximum speed, connect both phones to the same 5 GHz Wi-Fi network.
• 🔒 Disable the antivirus for the duration of the transfer – it can block the exchange of data.
• 📱 If the application requests permission to access Notices or Special Features, opt out – this is not required to transfer files.

💡

Before using third-party apps, check reviews from the past 2-3 months. Some utilities (such as SHAREit) have started adding hidden ads to the transmitted files.

6. Data transfer from iPhone to Xiaomi (features and pitfalls)

The transition from iPhone to Xiaomi requires a separate approach due to Apple’s closed ecosystem.

• 🍎 iMessage and FaceTime don’t work on Android – you can’t transfer your message history.
• 🎵 Music purchased on iTunes will not be played without DRM-conversion.
• 📱 Apps from the App Store will have to be re-installed (even if they are on Google Play).

Step-by-step algorithm:

1. Contacts and calendar: Sync through iCloud → export to.vcf and.ics → import to Google Contacts.
2. Photos and Videos: Use Google Photos (set on your iPhone and enable autoload) or transfer via your computer.
3. Notes: Export from Apple Notes to PDF and upload to Google Keep.
4. WhatsApp: Make a backup to iCloud, then use the paid iCareFone Transfer service to port to Android.

⚠️ Note: When transferring photos from iPhone to Xiaomi via Google Photos, check the file format. Apple saves photos to the user. HEIC, And not all Android apps support it. JPEG via iMazing HEIC Converter (free of charge).

7. What to do after the data transfer?

File porting is only half the battle, and to keep the new Xiaomi running smoothly, follow these steps:

• 🔄 Update. MIUI: Go to Settings. → The phone. → Update the system and install the latest patches.
• 🔒 Set up lock: Move fingerprints and pattern lock through Settings → Passwords and security.
• 📶 Check Networks: Import Wi-Fi settings from a backup or re-enter passwords.
• 🎵 Restore the Media Library: Open Google Play Music or Spotify to sync playlists.

If after the transfer it is noticed that:

• 🐢 Phone brakes - clear the cache in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Clear the cache.
• 🔋 Battery goes down quickly – disable autoload of unnecessary apps in Settings → Battery → Choice of applications.
• 📱 Notifications Are Not Working – Check App Permissions in Settings → Notifications.

💡

After transferring data, be sure to restart the new Xiaomi – this will help the system to correctly index files and avoid malfunctions in the application.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data portability to Xiaomi