How to copy data from your old phone to your new Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Shifting data from one smartphone to another is a challenge that every user faces when buying a new device. If you choose Xiaomi, the process can be greatly simplified thanks to the built-in tools of the brand. However, not everyone knows that there are other methods besides the standard Mi Mover: from cloud backup to manual transfer via the computer. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods, their pros and cons, and also give tips on how to avoid data loss.

Xiaomi has its own migration solutions that are optimized for the MIUI ecosystem, but what if you have an Android device from another brand or even an iPhone? We covered these cases, and it's also important to consider the amount of data: 10-20 GB of photos and videos will be suitable wireless, and 100+ GB better use a cable or a computer, then detailed instructions for each scenario.

1.Official method: transfer via Mi Mover

Mi Mover is a Xiaomi-branded app that automatically copies contacts, messages, photos, videos, music, and even some settings. It is pre-installed on all Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO smartphones with MIUI 9 and later. The main advantage is simplicity: it is enough to follow the on-screen prompts. But there are limitations: for example, not all apps are portable (only their data, if they support backup via Google or MIUI).

How it works:

• 📱 On the new Xiaomi, select Data Transfer when you first enable (if you missed it, find Mi Mover in the app menu).
• 🔗 On your old phone, download Mi Mover from Google Play (for Android) or App Store (for iPhone).
• 📶 Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network (or create an access point on the new Xiaomi).
• 🔄 On the old phone, select “Send”, on the new one – “Get”, then scan. QR-code.
• ✅ Select data types to transfer and wait until completion.

⚠️ Warning: If there is little space on your old phone, the Mi Mover may freeze during the pre-production phase.

Charging the battery of both phones >50%|Both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.|There is plenty of free space on the old phone.|Disabled. VPN firewalls-->

Mi Mover|Cloud backups|Cable OTG|Computer|Other-->

2. Wireless transfer via Google Account

If Mi Mover doesn’t work for some reason (like your iPhone or a very old Android device), the alternative is sync through Google Account, which is suitable for copying contacts, calendars, notes, some settings and photos (if backing up Google Photos is enabled), minus: apps and SMS are not portable, and free cloud storage is limited to 15 GB.

Step-by-step:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Accounts → Google and enable sync for the data you need (contacts, calendar, etc.).
2. In Google Photos (if you need to transfer media files), turn on backup: Settings → Backup and Sync.
3. On the new Xiaomi, add the same Google Account to Settings → Accounts.
4. Wait for the synchronization to be completed (it can take from a few minutes to hours depending on the amount of data).

To speed up the process, connect both phones to charging and 5GHz Wi-Fi (if supported). If there are many photos (thousands of pictures), it is better to use Google Photos in original quality (but this will quickly exhaust the free space). Alternatively, buy additional storage (from 100 GB per time) ~140 ₽/month).

3. Transfer via OTG cable or adapter

For large volumes of data (50+GB), wireless methods are ineffective, and the OTG cable (or USB-C to USB-C adapter, if both phones are modern) will help, which works with all Android devices, including Samsung, Huawei and others, and the transfer speed is 10-15 MB / s (2-3 times faster than Wi-Fi).

What you need:

• 🔌 Cable OTG (for older phones with a Micro-USB or adapter USB-C to USB-C (new).
• 📁 File Manager (e.g., built-in Explorer in the MIUI or Total Commander).
• ⚡ Charger (transfer of large volumes drains the battery).

Instructions:

1. Connect the OTG cable to the new Xiaomi and the other end to the old phone.
2. A notification will appear on the new device «USB-Device is connected. Click on it and select "File Transfer» (MTP).
3. Open the file manager on the new Xiaomi, find the folder of the old phone (usually displayed as a removable drive).
4. Copy the files you want (a DCIM photo, a Movies video, music from Music, etc.) to your new device’s memory.

⚠️ Note: Not all cables USB-C They support data transmission, some are just for charging. Check the labeling: there should be a logo. USB 2.0/3.0.

4. Computer backup and backup

If you have a PC or a Mac, you can use it as an intermediary, and it's universal, and it's even good for transferring data from your iPhone to Xiaomi, plus reliability (files are stored on your hard drive) and the ability to selectively copy. Cons: it takes time and additional hardware.

For Android phones:

• 🖥️ Connect your old phone to your computer through USB and select the File Transfer Mode (MTP).
• 📂 Copy all the folders you need (DCIM, Download, WhatsApp, etc.) to a PC drive.
• 🔄 Disable your old phone, connect your new Xiaomi and transfer files back.

For the iPhone:

• 🍎 Use iTunes (or Finder on Mac) to backup.
• 🔗 Install iMazing or AnyTrans on your PC to extract photos, contacts and messages.
• 📱 Transfer files to the new Xiaomi USB cloud.

*Apps are portable only if they are installed from Google Play and support backup.

💡

If you are transferring data from your iPhone, first disable iMessage in the settings, otherwise SMS may not come to the new Xiaomi.

5. Transfer of applications and their data

The hardest part is to migrate the installed applications and their data (e.g. save in games, chat in instant messengers), there is no universal solution, but there are several working methods:

For apps from Google Play:

• 📲 Use Google’s built-in backup feature: Settings → System system → Backup (enable copying of application data).
• 🔄 On the new phone, when the application is first launched, the data will be automatically restored (if the application supports this function).

For messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber):

• 💬 WhatsApp: Backup your Settings → chat → Backup, then restore to a new phone on the first run.
• 📎 Telegram: All chats are synced through the cloud automatically (linked to a phone number).

For games and user data:

• 🎮 If the game supports Google Play Games or Facebook authentication, saves are automatically synced.
• 🔧 For manual transfer, use applications like Helium (requires root rights) or Swift Backup.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. banking) prohibit backups for security reasons, and will have to be reconfigured.

💡

To migrate your application data, always check if it supports cloud sync, and it will eliminate manual work in 90% of cases.

6. Transfer data from the phone to Xiaomi without loss: expert advice

If your old phone has two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled for accounts, be sure to disable it or save backup codes before porting, otherwise you may lose access to services after changing your device.

Additional recommendations:

• 🔋 Before starting the transfer, charge both phones to 100% or connect to the network – the process can take several hours.
• 📡 To speed up wireless transfer, use 5GHz Wi-Fi (if supported) or connect to the router via an Ethernet adapter (for PCs).
• 🗃️ Check Hidden Folders: Some Apps (e.g, VK or Instagram) store cache and downloads in /Android/data/ — They should be copied too.
• 🔍 After the transfer, check your privacy settings: the new Xiaomi may have other permissions for apps.

If you are porting data from your iPhone, please note that the video format (.MOV) and photo format (.HEIC) may not be supported on Android. Use converters (e.g. iMazing HEIC Converter) or enable photo saving in JPEG (Settings → Camera → Formats) in your iPhone settings.

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions, you can have problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If neither of these methods worked, try resetting your settings on the new Xiaomi (via Settings → About Phone → Reset) and repeat the port from a clean device.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions