How to transfer everything from your old phone to your new Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Xiaomi’s new smartphone is always a joy, but the process of transferring data from an old device can become a headache if you don’t know the nuances. Do you spend time finding contacts, recovering lost photos or reconfiguring applications? This problem is familiar to many: according to statistics, 68% of users lose some data when they move to a new gadget. Fortunately, Xiaomi offers several official and third-party tools to make the migration smooth — from the branded Mi Mover to the cloud services of Google and Mi Cloud.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to transfer data – from the fastest (via cable) to universal (via the cloud), and also tell you how to avoid typical errors. For example, did you know that when using Mi Mover, some Xiaomi models require you to disable the screen lock on both devices? or that transferring through Google Account does not keep history. SMS, If synchronization is not enabled, backup SMS We've put all these life hacks together in one place.

Whether you’re switching from another Xiaomi, Android device, or even an iPhone, here you’ll find step-by-step instructions tailored to the firmware features. MIUI 14/15. And if you only need to migrate certain types of data (such as WhatsApp or Wi-Fi settings), go straight to the relevant section.

1.Move over Mi Mover: the official way from Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a proprietary application from Xiaomi that allows you to transfer data directly over Wi-Fi Direct or via cable. OTG. This method works for most models (beginning with the MIUI (9) and supports the transfer:

• 📞 Contacts, call log and SMS
• 📷 Photos, video and audio files
• 📱 Applications (including some of them, such as WhatsApp)
• 🔧 System settings (Wi-Fi, wallpaper, sound profiles)
• 📅 Calendar and notes

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

1. Device Preparation: Make sure both phones have the latest version installed MIUI (Update through Settings → The phone. → System Update: On your old phone, turn off the screen lock (PIN, graphical).
2. Launch Mi Mover: On the new Xiaomi, select Data Portability when you first turn on. If the phone is already configured, find the Mi Mover app in the menu or through search.
3. Choice of how to connect: 🔗 Wi-Fi Direct: Choose this option if you don’t have a cable OTG. Phones will create a local network. 🔌 Through cable. OTG: Connect your old phone to your new phone via an adapter USB-C/OTG (It's sold separately, and it's faster and more stable.

Selection of data

Data applications (such as games or instant messengers) may not be fully portable – separate backup is required

Confirmation

"Start transfer"

The speed of transfer depends on the amount of data. For example, 30 GB of photos and videos can be transmitted from 20 minutes to 1.5 hours. If the process is stalled during the Preparation stage, try restarting Mi Mover or changing the connection method.

⚠️ Note: If you are migrating data from your iPhone, Mi Mover only supports contacts, photos and videos. For the rest of the data, use Move to iOS (but in the opposite direction) or cloud services.

2.Move over Google Account: a universal method for Android

If you’ve used Google services on your old phone, most of the data is already synced to the cloud, which is suitable for transferring to Xiaomi from any Android device (including Samsung, Huawei, etc.), as well as from your iPhone (subject to setting up Gmail and Google Photos).

What can be transferred through Google Account:

• 📞 Contacts (if saved in Google Contacts)
• 📅 Calendar and Tasks (Google Calendar)
• 📷 Photos and videos (if sync is enabled in Google Photos)
• 📝 Notes (Google Keep)
• 🎵 Music and books (if you bought them on Google Play)
• 📱 Some system settings (language, Wi-Fi networks, wallpaper)

Instructions for transfer:

1. Sync check on old phone: Open Settings → Accounts. → Google. Make sure you have synced for Contacts, Calendar, Google Photos and other services. For photos: open Google Photos, go to Settings → Backup and sync and enable the option.
2. Add an account on the new Xiaomi: When you first turn on, select "Login to Google Account." If your phone is already set up, go to Settings → Accounts. → Add an account → Google.

Data recovery

• When you first start up, the system will suggest you restore the data from the backup. Select the last backup.
• If you missed this step, open the Settings. → System system → Backup → Recover data.

💡

If your old phone doesn’t have enough space to sync photos in Google Photos, temporarily free up memory by deleting unnecessary files, or use the “Saving Space” quality in your backup settings.

The main advantage of this method is that you do not need to connect the phones to each other, SMS Call history requires a separate backup on Google Drive).

3.Move over Mi Cloud: Cloud Storage from Xiaomi

Mi Cloud is the equivalent of iCloud for Xiaomi devices, which allows you to back up your old phone and restore it to a new one, which is convenient if both devices are from Xiaomi and you used the Mi Account. The cloud provides 5 GB for free (for photos and videos, this is not enough, but enough for contacts, SMS applications).

What can be transferred through Mi Cloud:

• 📞 Contacts, SMS call-book
• 📝 Notes and calendar
• 📱 List of applications (without data)
• 🔧 System settings (sound, display, networking)
• 📁 Files from the folder MIUI/Backup (If you've been manually backup)

Step-by-step:

1. Backup on your old phone: Settings → Mi Account. → Mi Cloud → Backup of the device → Backup: Select data to save and wait until it is completed. Time depends on the volume (e.g, 1 GB is copied ~5-10 minute).
2. Sign in to Mi Account on the new Xiaomi: When you first turn on, select "Login to Mi Account." If your phone is already set up, go to Settings → Mi Account. → Come in.

Data recovery

Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup of the device → Restore

Select the latest copy and confirm the recovery.

Please note: Mi Cloud does not save photos and videos automatically – you need to use Google Photos or manually transfer them. MIUI Restore (for example, custom gestures or Game Turbo settings will have to be reconfigured).

⚠️ Note: If you used Mi Account on an old phone but don’t remember the password, restore it before you buy a new device.

4. Transfer over OTG cable or computer: for large amounts of data

If you have tens of gigabytes of photos, videos or music and cloud services are too slow, transfer over the cable. OTG It's a method that works for all devices (including iPhones) but requires additional accessories:

• 🔌 adapter OTG (direct-to-phone connection)
• 💻 USB-cable and computer (for intermediate copying)
• 🗄️ External drive (flash drive or flash drive) SSD, if the data is more than 100 GB)

Method 1: Direct connection via OTG

1. Buy an adapter. USB-C OTG (or micro-USB OTG, If your old phone has a Micro-USB connector).
2. Connect your old phone to your new phone via an adapter.
3. On the new Xiaomi, open Explorer (the Files app "USB-The storage device you will see files from your old phone.
4. Copy the folders you want (DCIM for photos, Download for downloads, etc.) into the internal memory of the new device.

Method 2: Through a computer (Windows/macOS/Linux)

1. Connect your old phone to your computer through USB and select the "File Transfer" mode (or MTP).
2. Copy the data (for example, a folder) DCIM\Camera for photo) on the computer.
3. Connect the new Xiaomi and transfer the files to the appropriate folders.

💡

When copying through a computer, do not change the folder structure (for example, photos should remain in the folder). DCIM, Music is in Music, otherwise some apps (like a gallery) may not see the files.

Advantages of this method:

• ⚡ Maximum speed (up to 40 MB/s when used) USB 3.0).
• 📁 Full control over the transferred files.
• 🔄 There are no limits on volume (unlike cloud services).

Disadvantages:

• 🛠️ Additional accessories (cable, adapter, computer) are required).
• ⚙️ Applications and data will have to be installed separately.

5. Specific data transfer: WhatsApp, SMS, play.

Some types of data require special attention because they are not carried in standard ways. Let's look at the most popular cases.

📱 WhatsApp and other messengers

To bring WhatsApp chat history:

1. On your old phone, back up: WhatsApp → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup Select Create a copy and wait until completed (file saved to the /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases).
2. Copy the WhatsApp folder to your new phone (via Mi Mover, cable, or cloud).
3. Install WhatsApp on your new phone, confirm the number and wait for the offer to restore chats.

📜 SMS call-book

If you haven’t used Google Backup, use third-party apps, for example, SMS Backup & Restore:

1. Install the app on your old phone and create a backup.
2. Transfer the backup file to your new phone (via cloud or cable).
3. Install the same app on your new phone and restore the data.

🎮 Games and their progress

To keep progress in the games:

• 🔗 Link the game to your Google Play Games account, Facebook or your own developer account.
• 📱 Install the game on your new phone and log in to the same account – progress will pick up automatically.
• ⚠️ For offline games (such as Minecraft), copy the save folder (usually /Android/obb or /Android/data).

🔑 Passwords and browser data

If you have used Google Chrome or Mi Browser:

1. Sign in to the same Google Account on a new phone – passwords and bookmarks are synced automatically.
2. For Mi Browser, check the sync settings in Mi Account.

💡

To transfer data from Telegram, you just need to log into your account on a new phone - all chats and media files will be downloaded automatically from the cloud. For Viber, you need to manually create a backup in the application settings.

6. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when using official tools, users are faced with problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

What to do if the transfer is interrupted?

• 🔄 Restart Mi Mover or another portable tool.
• 📶 Check Wi-Fi connection (when airborne).
• 🔋 Make sure that the phones have enough charge (minimum 30%).
• 🗑️ If the process is hanging on 99%, wait 10-15 minutes or restart both devices.

⚠️ Note: If you are migrating data from your iPhone to Xiaomi, use the Move to iOS app in reverse order: install it on your iPhone, select the option “Transfer data to Android” and follow the instructions. This method will transfer only contacts, photos and videos – for the rest, use cloud services.

7.Optimize the new Xiaomi after data transfer

After the successful data transfer, we recommend following several steps to ensure that the new phone is fast and stable:

🧹 Cleaning up unnecessary files

• Open the Settings. → Memory. → Clean and remove cache and debris.
• Check the Download folder – often unnecessary files accumulate there.
• Use the built-in Security app for deep cleaning.

🔧 Set-up of autoload

Many applications start automatically and consume the battery after the transfer, to turn off the autoboot:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application and turn off the "Out-Start" option.

🔋 Optimizing the battery

After transferring the data, the battery can discharge faster due to the background activity of the applications.

• Enable Battery Mode in Settings → Battery.
• Turn off sync for unnecessary accounts (Settings → Accounts).
• Use Game Turbo to optimize your games.

🛡️ Security check

After transferring the data, update the security settings:

• Update MIUI to the latest version (Settings → About Phone → System Update).
• Set up a screen lock (PIN, faceprint ID).
• Check permissions for applications (Settings) → Confidentiality → Permits).

💡

After transferring the data, restart the new Xiaomi – this will help the system optimize the work with new files and applications.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data portability to Xiaomi