How to Transfer All Data from Your Old Phone to Xiaomi Redmi: From Contacts to Apps

Introduction: Why migrating data to Xiaomi Redmi requires a special approach

The transition to the new Xiaomi Redmi smartphone is always a joyous event, but it is also a headache: how to save all the data accumulated over the years? Contacts, photos, correspondence in messengers, game progress — it is impossible to lose. Fortunately, Redmi has several unique tools for migration that other brands do not have.

Xiaomi's main feature is its own MIUI ecosystem, which offers both standard solutions (like Mi Mover) and hidden features for power users. But there are nuances: for example, when you migrate from an iPhone to Redmi, some of the data may not be copied due to the difference in the file system. And if you move from another Android device, it's important to consider the firmware version — to MIUI 14 and the newer migration algorithm has changed, and the old instructions do not work.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways, from the official Mi Mover to manual transfer over a PC, and how to avoid common mistakes, such as why you shouldn’t use Bluetooth to transfer large amounts of data or how to properly log in to Mi Account so you don’t lose your backups.

Method 1: Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s official tool for fast transfer

Mi Mover is a Xiaomi-branded app that is pre-installed on all Redmi devices and designed to migrate data from other devices, and works on a point-to-point (without intermediaries like a PC) principle and supports porting:

• 📞 Contacts (including those linked to Google and Mi accounts)
• 📷 Photo and video (in original resolution)
• 💬 Communications (SMS/MMS and chat rooms of some messengers)
• 🎵 Music and documents
• 📱 System settings (wallpaper, sounds, brightness, etc.)

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

1. On the new Redmi, when you first turn on, select Data Portability. If your phone is already configured, look for the Mi Mover app in the menu.
2. On an old phone, download Mi Mover from Google Play (for Android) or the App Store (for iPhone).
3. On both devices, select the role: the new phone is “Receiver”, the old one is “Sender”.
4. Scan it. QR-The code from the screen of the new Redmi old phone.
5. Select the data types to transfer and wait for the process to be completed.

⚠️ Note: If you are porting data from your iPhone, Mi Mover will not be able to copy notes from Apple Notes or call history.

Charging the battery of both phones > 50%|Both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.|On the old phone enough free space (at least 10% of the volume of data transferred)|Disabled. VPN firewalls|Updated firmware MIUI last-minute-->

Method 2: Transfer over Mi Account (Xiaomi Cloud Storage)

If you already have a Mi Account, you can use the Xiaomi Cloud to back up and restore data.

• 🔄 You change phones frequently and want to have an up-to-date backup.
• 🌍 You don’t have physical access to your old phone (for example, it broke).
• 📲 You transfer data to Redmi from another Xiaomi device.

Instructions for transfer via Mi Cloud:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Mi Account → Xiaomi Cloud.
2. Turn on sync for the desired categories (contacts, notes, photos, etc.).
3. On the new Redmi, log in to the same Mi Account.
4. Go to Settings → Mi Account → Xiaomi Cloud → Restore and select the latest backup.

Xiaomi Cloud automatically compresses photos when you exceed the quota, so it is better to use other methods to transfer a large archive. Also note that some applications (such as WhatsApp or Viber) are not backed up in the Xiaomi cloud - they need separate backups for them.

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Before recovering from Xiaomi Cloud, disable two-factor authentication in Mi Account for 10 minutes, which will speed up the sync process.

Method 3: Using an OTG cable or adapter to directly copy

If you do not have Wi-Fi access or want to transfer data as quickly as possible, you can use the data. OTG-cable (for Android devices) or Lightning-to-USB adapter (for iPhone) is suitable for the use of a mobile device:

• 📁 Large amounts of data (tens of gigabytes of photo / video).
• 🔌 Phones with a discharged battery (power goes through the cable).
• 🛡️ Confidential files (data does not pass through the cloud).

Step-by-step:

1. Buy it. OTG-cable (e.g. Xiaomi) USB-C to USB-C OTG for the new Redmi).
2. Connect your old phone to your new Redmi via cable.
3. On your new phone, open Explorer (or download File Manager+ from Google Play).
4. In the Devices section, select your connected phone and copy the files you want to use to Redmi memory.

⚠️ Note: When connecting your iPhone to Redmi via an adapter, you will need to additionally install the Files by Google or iMazing app to access the iOS file system.

OTG transmission speeds can reach 40MB/s (versus 5-10MB/s over Wi-Fi), but there are limitations:

• 🚫 Not all apps (e.g. Telegram or Signal) allow you to copy your data through a Explorer.
• 🔋 The connection can be interrupted if the battery on one of the phones is discharged below 15%.
• 📂 The folder structure on iPhone and Android is different – after copying you will have to manually sort files.

Mi Mover|Xiaomi Cloud|Cable OTG/PC|Google Account|Other-->

Method 4: Computer Transfer (the most reliable method)

Using a PC or laptop is the most versatile method that is suitable for any combination of phones (including iPhone → Redmi or Android → Redmi).

• 🖥️ Complete control of processes (specific files can be selected).
• 🔄 Ability to convert formats (e.g, HEIC iPhone-to-phone JPG).
• 📦 Support for large volumes (up to 256 GB and more).

You'll need:

• USB-C/USB-A cable (for Redmi)
• Cable for old phone (Lightning, Micro-USB, etc.)
• Synchronization software: Mi PC Suite (official), Syncios or Dr.Fone.

Instructions for Windows:

1. Connect both phones to the PC.
2. On your old phone, turn on file transfer mode (MTP for Android or unlock iTunes for iPhone).
3. Copy data from an old phone into a folder on your PC (for example, D:\Redmi_Backup).
4. Transfer files from your PC to the new Redmi.

MacOS will require additional software, such as Android File Transfer, as the Finder does not support the application. MTP-default.

Method 5: Sync with Google Account (for contacts, emails and calendar)

If you used Google on an old phone, it takes only a few minutes to transfer contacts, mail and calendar to Redmi, and this method works regardless of the phone model and Android version.

What can be transferred through Google Account:

• 📇 Contacts (including groups and tags).
• 📅 Calendars (events, reminders).
• ✉️ Gmail (letters, tags, filters).
• 📍 Google Maps data (saved locations, history of movements).
• 🎮 Progress in gaming (if games are tied to Google Play Games).

How to sync:

1. On your old phone, check that sync is enabled: Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync.
2. On the new Redmi, add the same Google account to Settings → Accounts and Sync.
3. Turn on synchronization for the desired categories.
4. Wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 10 minutes).

⚠️ Warning: If your old phone had Power Saving Mode on, sync with Google may not work properly.

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Not tolerated. SMS, Calls and notes (unless saved in Google Keep).
• 📷 Photos and videos are synced only if they were previously uploaded to Google Photos.
• 🎵 Music and documents are not automatically transferred.

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Syncing through Google Account is the fastest way to migrate contacts, but it's not suitable for multimedia and apps. For a full migration, combine it with other methods.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even with proven methods, users face problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions.

Another common mistake is that you don't log in to Mi Account, and if you forget your password or you've attached an old phone number, it's going to be hard to get backups backed up.

• 📧 Email activity linked to an account.
• 📱 Relevance of phone number for two-factor authentication.
• 🔐 Availability of backup recovery codes.

If some applications don’t work properly after transferring to Redmi (for example, they crash or don’t open), try:

1. Clear the app cache in Settings → Apps.
2. Update the application to the latest version.
3. Reinstall it from the official store.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions