How to transfer all data from old Android in 10 minutes

Why migrating data to Xiaomi requires a special approach

You just unpacked the new Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or POCO X6 Pro, and you’re faced with a challenge: how to transfer everything you’ve accumulated from your old phone — from contacts to call history — without loss or headache. Smartphone makers often make it easier, but Xiaomi has its own nuances to know about in advance.

The fact is that the MIUI ecosystem (branded shell Xiaomi) is integrated with Mi Account services, not just Google.This means that standard methods of transferring through Google Account may not cover all data — for example, notes from Mi Notes or theme settings. On the other hand, Xiaomi has its own solution — the Mi Mover application, which often works faster and more stable than universal tools.

In this article, we will discuss three proven ways to migrate data (including the hidden capabilities of MIUI 14/15), how to avoid typical errors when transferring over a cable or cloud, and give a checklist to prepare both devices, with special attention to porting SMS/MMS, call logs and application settings – the data that is most often lost when switching to a new phone.

Device Preparation: What to Do Before Data Transfer

Before connecting your phones to each other, follow a few critical steps, and ignoring them can cause crashes, data loss, or even Mi Account lock (if you’re transferring through official Xiaomi services).

On an old phone (whether it’s Samsung, Huawei or another Android):

• 🔋 Charge the battery to at least 50% – transfer data can take up to 30 minutes, and discharging in the process will interrupt the operation.
• 📶 Connect to stable Wi-Fi (if you plan to use the cloud) Mobile internet is not suitable due to traffic restrictions.
• 🔒 Make sure there is no screen lock on the device (PIN, Some transfer methods require an unlocked screen.
• 🗑️ Clear the app cache in Settings → Warehouse → Clear the cache. It'll speed up the scanning process.

On the new Xiaomi:

• 📱 Go through the initial setup until the system suggests that you move the data. Don't miss this step, it'll be harder to do later.
• 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version through Settings → The phone. → System update: Older versions of the Mi Mover may not work properly.
• 🔌 Prepare the cable. OTG (If you use a wired connection, Xiaomi is suitable for new models. USB-C to USB-C.

⚠️ Note: If your old phone runs on Android 8.0 or lower, some portability methods (such as Mi Mover) may not be supported.In this case, use Google Account or manual file copying.

Method 1: Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s official tool for fast transfer

Mi Mover is a Xiaomi-branded solution that allows you to transfer almost all data from your old phone to your new one without losing any of the data you’re using, and the advantage of this method is that it supports even data that isn’t synced with Google:

• 📞 Call log and SMS/MMS (including media files in messages).
• 📱 System settings (MIUI topics, sound profiles, shortcuts on the desktop).
• 📝 Notes from Mi Notes and Mi Calendar.
• 🎵 Music and video (if stored in your phone’s memory).

How to use Mi Mover:

1. On the new Xiaomi, when you first set up, select the option Data Transfer → Mi Mover.
2. On an old phone, download Mi Mover from Google Play (if it is not by default).
3. Run the app on both devices and choose which one sends data and which one receives.
4. Connect your phones via Wi-Fi Direct (wireless) or OTG (wired) cable.
5. Select the data types to transfer and wait for the process to be completed.

The speed of the transfer depends on the amount of data:

• 📎 Up to 5GB — ~10 minutes (Wi-Fi Direct).
• 📎 5-20 GB — ~20-30 minutes (cable is recommended).
• 📎 More than 20GB – Break it apart or use an external drive.

⚠️ Warning: If the transfer is interrupted during the transfer stage, do not turn off the phones or restart them. Wait for the error, then repeat the process from the beginning.

Method 2: Transferring your Google Account – universal, but with limitations

If you can’t use Mi Mover (for example, an old phone doesn’t support the app), the most reliable option is sync through Google Account, which works on any Android device, but has limitations:

• ✅ Transferred: contacts, calendar, mail, Chrome bookmarks, some application settings.
• ❌ Not tolerated: SMS, call log, files (photo/video), settings MIUI.

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 Management → Sync).
3. On the new Xiaomi, when setting up, select Restore from a backup and log in to the same Google Account.
4. Select the last backup and wait for the recovery.

To transfer photos and videos, use Google Photos:

• 📸 On your old phone, turn on autoload in Google Photos (Settings) → Backup and synchronization).
• 📱 On the new Xiaomi, install Google Photos and wait for the media files to download.

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If you have two-factor authentication enabled on your old phone in Google, check before perenosom data that you have backup codes. Signing in on the new device may require confirmation.

Method 3: Manual transfer via OTG cable or external drive

If you need to transfer large files (like video to 4K or game backups) and wireless methods are too slow, use a direct cable or microSD card connection.This method takes longer, but guarantees 100% control over the process.

You'll need:

• 🔌 Cable OTG (to connect phones directly or card reader (for microSD use).
• 📁 File Manager (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
• 🔋 Charging both devices (transferring large files drains the battery).

Instructions for transfer via OTG cable:

1. Connect your phones with a cable. On the old one, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. On the new Xiaomi, open Mi File Manager and go to the section USB-storage.
3. Copy the right folders: DCIM — Photos and videos. Downloads - downloads. WhatsApp/Media — messenger media.

SMS and call logs

SMS Backup & Restore

If you don’t have an OTG cable, use a microSD:

1. Copy files from your old phone to your memory card.
2. Insert the card into the new Xiaomi and transfer the data to internal memory.

To port WhatsApp:

1. On an old phone, back up chats in Settings → Chat → Backup.
2. Copy the WhatsApp folder (including Databases) to your new phone.
3. Install WhatsApp on the new Xiaomi and restore chats from local copy.

⚠️ Note: Some apps (like Google Authenticator) don’t support backup for security reasons.Be sure to transfer two-factor codes manually before resetting your old phone or link them to a new device.

What to do if data is not transferred or duplicated

Even if you follow the instructions correctly, you can have problems, and here are the most common ways to do that.

Problem 1: Contacts are duplicated

• 🔹 Reason: Data transferred from both Google Account and Google Account SIM-map.
• 🔧 Solution: Open Contacts → Contact management → Combine duplicates.

Problem 2: Photos and videos are not displayed in the gallery

• 🔹 Reason: Files are copied but not indexed by the system.
• 🔧 Solution: Restart your phone or manually update your media base via Mi File Manager (Settings) → Update media files).

Problem 3: Applications are not restored from backup

• 🔹 Reason: Automatic Recovery is disabled in Google Play settings.
• 🔧 Solution: Go to Settings → Google → Backup and enable Auto-Restore applications.

Problem 4: Mi Mover is suspended during the connection stage

• 🔹 Cause: Conflict with VPN, firewall or outdated version MIUI.
• 🔧 Solution: Turn it off VPN And the antivirus on both phones. MIUI Reboot both devices and try again.

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If none of these methods worked, try moving data piece by piece: first, contacts and SMS via Google, then files via cable, and apps manually installed from the Play Market.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Data Transfers to Xiaomi