Previous articleBuy a new smartphone Xiaomi? 7 ways to transfer all the data from the old phone

You just unpacked the new Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or POCO F6, but the joy of buying is clouded by the thought: how to transfer all the data from an old phone? Photos from the past 5 years, hundreds of contacts, saved passwords, chats in messengers and even progress in games - you don't want to lose it. Fortunately, Xiaomi has several built-in tools for migration, as well as universal methods that work on any Android device.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to transfer data, from the official Mi Mover app to manually copying through your computer, and you’ll learn which method is the fastest, which stores the most information, and how to avoid common mistakes (like losing WhatsApp messages or crashing when transferring over Wi-Fi). And if you have an old phone not from Xiaomi, but on Android, no problem: we covered this case.

Spoiler: Transfer through cable OTG + adapter USB-C → USB-C It takes 3 times less time than Wi-Fi, but requires an additional accessory (costs) ~300₽). But everything in order.

1.Official method: Mi Mover - fast and lossless

Mi Mover is a Xiaomi-branded app that automatically transfers almost all data from the old phone to the new one, pre-installed on all of the brand’s modern smartphones (starting with MIUI 10), and the main advantage is that even system settings, wallpaper and social media accounts are saved.

How it works:

• 🔌 Connect both phones to charge (the process can take 30-90 minutes).
• 📱 On the new Xiaomi, select Data Transfer when you first enable it → Mi Mover.
• 🔄 On your old phone, download Mi Mover from Google Play (if it’s not there) and run it.
• 📶 Select the type of connection: Wi-Fi Direct (wireless) or Cable (needed) OTG-adapter).

What is carried over the Mi Mover:

⚠️ Note: If your old phone is running Android 8.0 or lower, Mi Mover may not see some apps.In this case, update the firmware of the old device first.

2.Transfer via OTG cable: maximum speed

If you have OTG-adapter (or cable) USB-C → USB-C), This method will work 2-3 times faster than Wi-Fi, suitable for transferring large amounts of data (for example, 100).+ GB photo and video).

Step-by-step:

1. Buy a USB-C (male) → USB-C (female) adapter (if both phones have a Type-C connector).
2. Connect your old phone to your new phone via an adapter.
3. On the new Xiaomi, select Settings → About Phone → Data Transfer.
4. Follow the instructions of the master – the system will determine the connected device.

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ Transmission speed up to 500 MB/s (against) ~50 MB/s on Wi-Fi).
• 🔒 There is no risk of connection breakdown (as in wireless transmission).
• 📁 Even hidden files and folders are transferred (for example,.nomedia).

⚠️ Warning: If the new phone doesn’t see the old phone when connecting the cable, check if the old device has File Transfer mode enabled (MTP) customized USB.

Suitable OTG-adaptor USB-C → USB-C|

Charging both phones at least 50% |

Free space on the new Xiaomi (10-15% more data portable)|

Unplugged. VPN (can block the transmission)-->

3.Cloud portability: Google Drive vs Mi Cloud

If you don't have cable or Wi-Fi is unstable, you can use cloud services. Xiaomi offers its Mi Cloud, but it has a limitation of only 5 GB for free. Google Drive (15 GB free) is better for large volumes.

Comparison of services:

How to transfer data via Google Drive:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Google → Backup.
2. Enable Backup in Google Drive and wait until it’s done.
3. On the new Xiaomi, when setting up, select Restore from backup and log in to the same Google account.

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Before backing up to Google Drive, clear your cart and unnecessary files – this will save space and speed up the process.

4. Portability of applications and their data: why it is difficult

The biggest headache of migration is apps and their data, and Android doesn't allow you to just copy the installed data. APK-files from one phone to another, and even if they do, app data (such as saves in games or chats in Telegram) is likely to be lost.

What can be done:

• 🎮 For games: use the link to your Google Play Games or Facebook account.
• 💬 For messengers: WhatsApp: backup in Google Drive (settings) → chat → Telegram: cloud storage (all chats are synced automatically). Viber: Settings → Account. → Backup copy.
• 📱 For other applications: check if they have a data export/import function (e.g., in the 1Password or Evernote).

⚠️ Note: Some banking applications (such as SberBank Online or Tinkoff) block the work on a new device if you just copy their files.

5. Manual transfer via computer: for full control

If you only need to transfer certain files (like documents or music), the easiest way to do so is via a PC, which is also useful if you have slow internet or Wi-Fi issues.

Instructions:

1. Connect your old phone to your computer via USB and select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Copy the folders you need (DCIM for photos, Download for downloads, etc.) on your PC.
3. Disable the old phone, connect the new one and transfer the files back.

Which folders should be copied:

• 📷 DCIM/Camera — photo-and-video.
• 🎵 Music, Podcasts - audio files.
• 📄 Documents, Download – Documents and Downloads.
• 📱 Android/data — Data from some applications (but not all!).

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Manual transfer over a PC is the only way to selectively copy only the right files without affecting system data.

6.Moving from iPhone to Xiaomi: features and pitfalls

If you’re switching from an iPhone to Xiaomi, the process is complicated by ecosystem differences.Apple doesn’t allow you to directly export data to Android, but there are workarounds.

Modes of transfer:

• 🌐 Move to iOS: Not working, but you can use Google Drive: On your iPhone, install Google Drive and upload photos, contacts, calendars. On Xiaomi, log in to the same Google account and download files.

iTunes + computer

1. Sync your iPhone with iTunes on your PC.
2. Export contacts and calendars in.vcf and.ics formats.
3. Transfer files to Xiaomi via USB.
4. 📱 Converter applications: for example, Copy My Data (paid but supports Wi-Fi transmission).

Typical problems and their solutions:

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If the phone slows down after the transfer, check Settings → Applications → Application Management and clear the cache for system applications.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions