Xiaomi Phone Cloning on Xiaomi: All Ways to Transfer Data

Shifting data from the old Xiaomi to the new one is a challenge that every user faces when buying a smartphone, but the term “clone” is often misunderstood here: It’s not about creating an exact copy of the device (as is the case with dd-commands for Linux), but about transferring user data, settings and applications while maintaining the binding to the Mi Account. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods, from the built-in Mi Mover to manual backup through the Mi Account. ADB, — We also reveal the nuances that even official guides are silent about.

It is important to understand that cloning through standard Xiaomi tools does not transfer data from some system applications (for example, Mi Fit or Mi Home), as well as files that are protected. DRM (If you want to save everything -- including your Mi Dialer call history or Game Turbo settings -- you'll have to combine several methods. Next, we'll take each of them apart, evaluate speed, reliability and limitations.

1. Official method: Mi Mover (quick but with limitations)

Mi Mover – a branded tool from Xiaomi, integrated into firmware MIUI (It allows you to transfer contacts, messages, photos, videos, music, documents and even some application settings wirelessly:

• 🔌 Requires both devices on MIUI (Does not work with other brands’ phones or custom firmware).
• 📱 Does not tolerate app data if they use their own backup mechanisms (such as WhatsApp or Viber).
• 🔒 Does not save Wi-Fi passwords if the new device has already configured the network.
• ⚡ Speed depends on version. MIUI: on old firmware (up to 12.5), 30 GB transmission can take up to 2 hours.

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

1. On the new phone, when you first turn on, select Data Transfer (or find Mi Mover in Settings). → The phone. → Data portability).
2. On the old phone, open Mi Mover and select the role of “Sender”.
3. Scan it. QR-code from a new device or connect via Wi-Fi Direct.
4. Select data categories for transfer and confirm the start of the process.

Charging both phones > 50%|Both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (unless used) QR-code)|There is plenty of free space on the new phone.|Disabled. VPN firewalls-->

💡

If the Mi Mover is stuck in the connection phase, restart both phones and try using Wi-Fi Direct instead. QR-code.

After the transfer is completed, check:

• 📞 Contacts in the App Contacts (sometimes duplicated).
• 📷 Photos in the Gallery (daddy) MIUI/MiMover).
• 🎵 Music and Documents in Files (Internal Storage) → MiMover).

Mi Mover|Google Account|Manual Cable Transfer |Cloud Services (Dropbox, Yandex Drive)|Another way-->

2. Alternative: Cloning through Google Account (universally but incompletely)

If you use Google, you can transfer some of your data through account sync, which works between any Android device, but it doesn't cover everything.

To activate synchronization:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings. → Accounts. → Google → Sync your account and turn on all switches.
2. On the new phone, add the same Google account and wait until sync is complete (it can take up to 24 hours).
3. Install applications from Google Play (the Library section).

⚠️ Note: If the old phone used Mi Account to backup notes or Mi Sound Recorder records, this data is not synced with Google.

3. Full cloning: backup via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi data only)

Mi Cloud – Xiaomi’s cloud storage that stores unique ecosystem data MIUI: Notes, call records, theme settings, Mi Fit data, and even Mi Browser history:

• 📁 5 GB free (expanding requires 200-600 to be paid) ₽/year).
• 🔄 Backup is created only over Wi-Fi and when connected to charging.
• ⏳ Full recovery can take hours (depending on Xiaomi server speed).
• 🔐 Some data (e.g. passwords from Mi Security) are not exported for security reasons.

Instructions for creating a backup:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on synchronization for all the necessary categories (required: Contacts, Messages, Notes, System Settings).
3. Click Backup and wait until it is completed (can take up to 1 hour on 10GB of data).
4. On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account and recover data from the Mi Cloud. → Recovery.

After recovery, check:

• 📝 Notes in Notes (sometimes missing attachments).
• 🎨 Theme and wallpaper (not always restored).
• 🔑 Wi-Fi passwords (if not moved, use WiFi Key Recovery from Google Play).

Manual cloning: ADB Backup (for advanced users)

If you need to migrate all application data (including game saves, Mi Home or Mi Fit settings), the only reliable way is to use the app. ADB Backup: This method requires an unlocked bootloader (on some models) and command line work, but gives you maximum control.

Advantages:

• 📦 Stores all application data (including cache and settings).
• 🔧 It even works on custom firmware.
• 💾 You can choose which applications to backup.

Disadvantages:

• 🛠️ Requires installation ADB and Fastboot Tools on PC.
• ⚠️ Some apps (like WhatsApp) block backup of their data.
• 🔄 Recovery can break app work if the Android versions on the old and new phone are very different.

Step-by-step:

1. Install ADB Tools on your PC.
2. Turn on the debugging. USB on both phones (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to unlock the developer menu, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
3. Connect your old phone to your PC and execute the command: adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f C:\backup.ab (where C:\backup.ab — backup).
4. Connect your new phone and recover data: adb restore C:\backup.ab

⚠️ Note: If the new phone is running a newer version of Android than the old one, recover through the ADB It could cause applications to crash, and in that case, only transfer data (-noapk), a Reinstall the apps from Google Play.

5. Data transfer: assistance applications

Some types of data require specialized tools, and here are proven solutions for the most common cases:

To transfer Mi Home (smart home):

• 🏠 Open the app on your old phone.
• Go to Profile. → Settings → Account management → Data portability.
• Generate. QR-code and scan it on your new phone.

💡

To transfer data Mi Fit or Zepp, be sure to use the same Xiaomi account. If you connect a new account, the statistics will zero!

Problems and Solutions: What to Do When Cloning Doesn't Work

Even when following the instructions, users encounter errors.

🔴 Mi Mover can't see old device

Causes and solutions:

• 📶 Different Wi-Fi networks: connect both phones to the same network (preferably 5 GHz).
• 🔄 Outdated firmware: Update MIUI on both devices until the latest version.
• 🔒 firewall/VPN: Turn off Avast, Kaspersky or NordVPN.
• 📱 Regional restrictions: If the phones are purchased in different countries (e.g. global and Chinese), use Wi-Fi Direct.

🔴 ADB Backup is an error called Unable to Open Backup File»

Decision:

1. Check that the path to the backup file does not contain Cyrillic (for example, C:\backup.ab, not C:\backup.ab).
2. Run the command line on behalf of the administrator.
3. If you use macOS/Linux, Add./ before the team:./adb backup -all -f ~/backup.ab

🔴 After the transfer, the application will fly out

Probable reasons:

• 📱 Different processor architectures (e.g. Snapdragon) → Mediatek).
• 🔄 Different versions of Android (such as Android 10) → Android 13).
• 🔒 No permission to access the storage (check in Settings) → Permits).

Solution: Reinstall problematic apps from Google Play and restore only their data through ADB restore --noapk.

7. Comparison of methods: which way to choose?

The choice of method depends on your priorities. Below is a comparison table:

Recommendations:

• 📱 If both phones are on MIUI 12+ → Use the Mi Mover + Mi Cloud.
• 🔄 If you need to transfer all the data of the application → ADB Backup (for experienced only).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions