Why you need a Mi Mover and when it will be useful
The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but transferring data from an old device can become a headache if you don’t know the nuances. Mi Mover is a company tool that is designed to make this easier. It allows you to transfer contacts, messages, photos, videos and even installed applications between two devices of the brand in a few clicks. But how to use it correctly so that you do not lose important information?
Many users mistakenly believe that it is enough to simply connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network and the process will go automatically. In practice, Mi Mover requires pre-configuration of both devices, and in some cases (for example, when switching from the old model to the new series), compatibility errors may occur.
Preparation of devices for data transfer
Before you start the Mi Mover, you need to make sure that both smartphones are ready for the procedure.
- 📱 Update your firmware. Go to Settings. → The phone. → Update the system and install the latest version MIUI. This minimizes the risk of error.
- 🔋 Charge the battery, charge level should be at least 50% on both devices, with low charge, the process can be interrupted.
- 📶 Connect to Wi-Fi. Use a stable network at good speed. Mobile Internet is not suitable!
- 🗃️ Clear unnecessary files. Delete temporary data in Settings → Warehouse → Cleaning to speed up transfer.
The new smartphone (receiver) also has its own nuances. If the device is just unpacked, start the initial setup and go to the "Data Transfer" stage. If the phone is already configured, reset it to factory settings via Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset. This is a prerequisite for the Mi Mover to work correctly!
⚠️ Note: If the old phone has enabled the "Data Protection" function (in some firmware) MIUI), It must be turned off in the settings. → Confidentiality → Special permissions, otherwise Mi Mover won't be able to access files.
Step-by-step: transfer via Mi Mover
Now, let's get to the process. Follow the instructions carefully, because the order of the action is important.
- Run Mi Mover on both phones. Open the Mi Mover app on your old device (if not, download it from Google Play). On your new phone, select the Data Portability option during initial setup or find the app in the menu.
- Choose the roles of the devices. On the old smartphone, click "I am the source", on the new one, "I am the receiver", and make sure the models match the roles you have chosen.
- Scanner. QR-The new phone will appear on the new one. QR-Scan it with an old device. If the camera doesn't work, enter the code manually (it shows under the code). QR).
- Select data to transfer. On the screen of your old phone, tick the data types: contacts, messages, photos, videos, apps, etc. Pay attention to the amount of data you take in, if there is not enough memory on your new phone, the transfer will not start.
- Confirmation and waiting. Press "Transfer" and wait until it's done. Don't leave the app and lock the screen! It can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the amount of data.
Both phones are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.|The new phone has enough free memory|Old device charged at least 50 times%|Disabled. VPN firewalls|QR-code scanned correctly-->
Once the transfer is complete, the new smartphone will automatically restart, make sure all the data is in place, and sometimes Mi Mover can't handle Wi-Fi passwords, it'll have to be re-entered.
What data can be transferred and which can not
Not all types of information are supported by Mi Mover, and the table below provides a complete list of limitations:
| Type of data | Supported | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts | ✅ Yes. | Only contacts stored in the phone's memory are transferred, and contacts from Google Account are synchronized separately. |
| Communications (SMS/MMS) | ✅ Yes. | Messages from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.) are not transferred. |
| Photographs and videos | ✅ Yes. | The maximum size of one file is 2 GB. Files in cloud storage (Google Photos, Mi Cloud) are not portable. |
| Annexes | ⚠️ Partially. | Only transferred APK-Data within applications (e.g. saved in games) - no. |
| System settings | ✅ Yes. | You can transfer wallpaper, notification sounds, some interface settings, Wi-Fi passwords only on devices with MIUI 12 and later. |
| Notes and calendar | ❌ No. | Use separate sync via Mi Account or Google. |
If you need to migrate data that Mi Mover does not support (such as WhatsApp chats or game saves), use alternative methods: backup to the cloud or manual transfer via your computer.
💡
If photos are not displayed on the new phone after transfer, check the MIUI/Backup/AllBackup folder – sometimes files are saved there instead of the standard gallery.
Common mistakes and their solution
Even with the correct instructions, users face problems, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:
- 🔄 "Unable to connect to device" Check that both phones are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (not mobile data!). VPN If the problem persists, reboot the router.
- ⏳ "The transfer is 0% or 100% suspended. This could be due to a large amount of data or an unstable connection. Wait 10 to 15 minutes. If the process is not moving, restart Mi Mover on both devices.
- 📵 "I can't see. QR-"Make sure the brightness of the screen is sufficient." QR-No code appears, try to re-select the role of the devices.
- 🚫 "Lack of memory on new phone" Free up space by deleting unnecessary files or apps. Alternatively, move data in parts (contacts first, photos later, etc.).
⚠️ Note: If you have an error "Incompatible Version" when you port apps to your new phone, it means that the device's firmware is very different. MIUI Or transfer only data without APK-file.
What if the Mi Mover doesn’t start at all?
Alternative ways of data transfer
If Mi Mover doesn’t work for some reason, there are a few other ways:
- ☁️ Cloud services Sync your contacts, photos and calendar through Google Account or Mi Cloud. → Accounts and sync on both devices.
- 💻 Connect both phones to your PC, copy files (photos, videos, music) to a folder on your computer, and then move them to a new smartphone. PC Suite.
- 📁 Local backup On an old phone, create a backup in Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset, save the file to a memory card or cloud, and then restore it to a new device.
- 🤖 Third-party apps like Clone Phone, SHAREit or Xender can also transfer data between Android devices, but they can collect personal information — use it at your own risk.
Each of these methods has its pros and cons, like cloud services, which are convenient but require a stable Internet connection, and computer transfer takes longer, but it's more reliable. You can choose the method according to your priorities.
💡
Mi Mover is the fastest way to transfer between Xiaomi devices, but if it doesn’t work, the combination of cloud sync (for contacts) and manual copying (for media files) will give a similar result.
Features of transfer to new models (Redmi Note 12, Xiaomi 13/14, etc.)
With the release of new Xiaomi and Redmi series (such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi Note 13), some users are facing compatibility issues, as new devices often run on a more recent version of MIUI, which may not support older Mi Mover protocols.
Here's what to consider:
- 📲 MIUI 14 and newer requires that the old device is on the version not lower MIUI 12 If your old smartphone is running on MIUI 11 or older, upgrade it or use alternative methods.
- 🔒 Data protection on new models can block the transfer of certain types of files (for example, screenshots or screen recordings). → Confidentiality.
- 🔄 Optimized transfer - in MIUI 14 has a Quick Start feature that automatically prompts you to move data when you first turn on. It's faster than the classic Mi Mover.
If you migrate data to a flagship model (such as the Xiaomi 13 Ultra), note that some camera or performance settings may not be portable.