How to transfer everything from the old smartphone to the new Xiaomi Redmi: 5 proven ways

Why migrating data to Xiaomi Redmi requires a special approach

The switch to a new smartphone is always exciting, especially when it comes to Xiaomi Redmi, where standard data porting methods may not work the same way as other Android devices, and the main problem is that the manufacturer is actively modifying MIUI, so classic tools like Google Account or Samsung Smart Switch don’t always work correctly here.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods for data transfer — from the official Mi Mover to manual methods for advanced users. Let’s pay attention to the nuances: why the Redmi Note 12 can not see the old iPhone through the cable, how to circumvent the MIUI restrictions on background file transfer and what to do if the transfer is frozen by 99%. All instructions are relevant for models 2023-2026 (Redmi 13C, Note 13 Pro+, K70, etc.).

If you have Redmi with global firmware (e.g. EEA), the algorithm may be different from the Chinese version (CN), due to the restrictions of Google Mobile Services (GMS) in China. You can check the firmware version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.

Method 1: Mi Mover is the official tool from Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a proprietary solution for transferring data between Xiaomi devices, works on a point-to-point basis over Wi-Fi Direct, without clouds or the Internet.

• 📞 Contacts (including groups and contact notes)
• 📷 Photo and video (in original resolution)
• 🎵 Music and audio files
• 📄 Documents (PDF, DOC, XLS etc.)
• 📱 Annexes (only) APK-files, no data)
• 🔧 System settings (wallpaper, sound circuits, brightness)

How to use:

1. On the new Redmi, select Data Transfer → Mi Mover when you first turn on.
2. On an old phone, download Mi Mover from Google Play (for Android) or the App Store (for iOS).
3. Scan it. QR-code from a new phone or connect via Wi-Fi Direct.
4. Select data categories for transfer and confirm the operation.

Battery charge for both phones > 50%

VPN and energy saving modes are disabled

There is plenty of free space on your old phone (Mi Mover creates temporary files)

Both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (if you have a Wi-Fi connection). QR-code doesn't work)-->

Critical feature: Mi Mover does not transfer application data (for example, save in games or chats in Telegram).

⚠️ Warning: If the transfer is stuck in the Preparation phase, restart both phones and try again. MIUI. On Redmi with MIUI 14+ It is recommended to use a quick start instead of Mi Mover.

Method 2: Transfer to Google Account (for Android)

If you have both Android phones, the most reliable way is to sync through a Google Account, which works even if one of the phones is not Xiaomi.

• 📇 Contacts (automatically synchronized)
• 📅 Calendars and events
• 📧 Letters from Gmail
• 📁 Google Drive files (if you have previously done a backup)
• 📱 System settings (Wi-Fi passwords, wallpaper, language preferences)

Step-by-step:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Accounts → Google and enable sync for all the right categories.
2. Wait for the sync to complete (check in Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync).
3. On the new Redmi, when you first turn on, select Copy Data → From the Cloud and log in to the same Google Account.
4. Select categories for recovery and confirm.

To transfer photos and videos, use Google Photos separately:

1. On your old phone, install Google Photos.
2. Enable autoboot in Settings → Backup and Synchronization.
3. On the new Redmi, log in to the same Google account and the photos will appear automatically.

Mi Mover by Xiaomi|Google Account|Cable OTG|Cloud services (Yandex Disk, Dropbox)|Other-->

Method 3: Transfer from iPhone to Xiaomi Redmi

The transition from iPhone to Xiaomi Redmi requires a special approach because of the difference in ecosystems.

• 🚫 iCloud is not synced directly to MIUI.
• 🚫 iMessage and FaceTime are not portable.
• 🚫 Apple Music will not be available (you need to download tracks in advance).

The solution is a combined approach:

Step 1: Transfer of contacts

1. On iPhone, go to Settings → [Your name] → iCloud and enable Contact Sync.
2. On your computer, open iCloud.com, select Contacts → ⚙️ → Export vCard.
3. Copy the resulting.vcf file to the new Redmi (via email, Telegram or cable) and import it into the Contacts app.

Step 2: Transfer photos and videos

Use Google Photos or iCloud for Windows:

• 📱 Install iCloud for Windows on PC.
• 📁 Sync photos with iCloud to your computer.
• 📲 Connect Redmi to USB And copy the files to the folder. DCIM.

Step 3: Transfer of Music and Documents

For music:

• 🎵 Use Apple Music for Android (if you had a subscription).
• 🎧 Or copy files via iTunes to your PC and then to Redmi.

For documents:

• 📄 Export from Files or Pages to PDF/Word.
• 📎 Send yourself to an email or upload to Google Drive.

⚠️ Warning: When transferring from iPhone to Android, do not disable iMessage until the process is complete! SMS, Send from your iPhone to your new number. Turn off iMessage after full transition: Settings → Communications → iMessage.

Method 4: Manual transfer via OTG cable or computer

If wireless methods don't work (for example, because of slow Wi-Fi), use a direct connection.

• 🔌 Cable OTG (Connecting an old phone like a flash drive).
• 🖥️ Or a computer with a USB-port.
• 📁 File Manager (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).

Instructions for connection via computer:

1. Connect your old phone to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Copy the required folders (DCIM, Downloads, Pictures, etc.) to the computer.
3. Connect the new Redmi and transfer the files back.
4. For applications, copy the Android/obb folder (game data) and Android/data (app cache).

For connection via OTG:

1. Buy it. OTG-Adapter (e.g. Xiaomi) USB-C to USB-A).
2. Connect your old phone to your new phone via an adapter.
3. On the new Redmi, open the files. → USB-drive and copy the data.

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If the phone is not defined as USB-drive, check the developer's settings. USB and select mode MTP In Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Configuration USB (On some Redmi models, this item is hidden).

Method 5: Cloud Services (Yandex Disk, Dropbox, Telegram)

If the data volume is small (up to 10-15 GB), it is convenient to use cloud storage.

• 🌐 Works on any device (Android, iOS, PC).
• 🔒 Data is encrypted during transmission.
• 📲 You can transfer data in parts.

Step-by-step algorithm:

1. Install a cloud service app on your old phone: 📁 Yandex Disk (10GB) free of charge) 📦 Dropbox (2GB) free) ☁️ Mail.ru Cloud (8 GB free)

Upload files to the cloud (photos, videos, documents).

Redmi

For Telegram (if you need to transfer chats or files):

1. Open the desired chat on the old phone.
2. Click on the message → forward → Save to “Favorites”.
3. On the new phone, log in to the same Telegram account - the files will be in the Favorites.

⚠️ Note: When uploaded to the cloud, photos and videos in their original quality can take up a lot of space. For example, 1 minute of video in a video format. 4K weight ~300-400 MB. Before downloading, check free space in the cloud or archive files in the cloud. ZIP.

What to do if data transfer fails

Even with detailed instructions, problems can arise. Consider typical errors and their solutions:

Problem 1: Mi Mover is 99% frozen

Causes and solutions:

• 🔋 Low battery power – connect both phones to charge.
• 📶 Weak Wi-Fi signal – go to a room with better coverage or use a cable.
• 📱 Conflict of versions MIUI — Update the firmware on both devices to the latest version.
• 🗑️ Damaged files – try to transfer data in parts (for example, first contacts, then photos).

Problem 2: New Redmi doesn’t see old phone through cable

Check it out.

• 🔌 Do you use the original cable (non-Chinese cheap cables often do not support data transmission).
• 🔄 Switch the mode. USB On an old phone to Transfer Files (MTP).
• 🛠️ On Redmi, turn on Debugging by USB developer-setting.

Problem 3: SMS or call logs are not portable

Decision:

• 📱 Put it on an old phone. SMS Backup & Restore.
• 📤 Create a backup and save the file to Google Drive.
• 📥 On the new Redmi, restore the backup through the same app.

Problem 4: Applications are not restored

If after the transfer applications do not appear:

• 🔄 Reboot the new phone.
• 📥 Check if the automatic installation of applications is enabled in Settings → Google → Application recovery.
• 🛠️ If the apps are not from Google Play (APK), Allow installation from unknown sources in Settings → Annexes → Special rights.

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If none of these things worked, try a clean transfer: reset the new Redmi to the factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Reset) and repeat the procedure from scratch, which solves synchronization problems in 80% of cases.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data portability to Xiaomi Redmi