How to Transfer Data from the Old Xiaomi to the New: A Complete Guide

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting moment, but with the joy of updating the gadget comes a headache: how to transfer all the data from the old device without loss? Contacts, photos, messages, apps and even settings — all this has been accumulating for years, and no one wants to lose valuable information.

Fortunately, Xiaomi offers several proven ways to migrate data, from cloud services to wired connectivity. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, their pros and cons, and give tips on how to avoid typical errors. Whether you move from the Redmi Note 10 to the Xiaomi 14 or from the old Mi A2 to the POCO F6, the instructions will be suitable for any model of the brand.

We'll focus on portability, data security and compatibility between different versions of MIUI. For example, did you know that when using Mi Mover over cable, some applications may not migrate due to Android limitations? And cloud backup through Mi Cloud sometimes forgets to save call history? We'll tell you how to get around these nuances.

1. Preparing an Old Xiaomi Phone for Data Transfer

Before you start migrating, make sure to prepare an old device, which is a step that many people miss, and it depends on how smoothly the process goes.

First, check the space available on both smartphones. If your old phone has less than 10 percent of the memory available, the system may start to "glut" while you're backing up, delete unnecessary files or transfer them to a memory card, especially for models with 64GB of internal memory, where every megabyte counts.

Second, update MIUI to the latest version. Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update and install all available patches. This is important because older firmware versions may lack critical features for data portability (e.g. Mi Mover support for new models).

• 🔄 Update. MIUI on both devices before the current version
• 📱 Check the space available (at least 1GB on your old phone)
• 🔋 Charge both smartphones to at least 50% (preferably up to 80%)
• 📶 Connect to stable Wi-Fi (for cloud-based ways)

⚠️ Note: If the old phone has Application Protection enabled (in Settings) → Annexes → Block applications, disable it before transferring. Otherwise, some data (for example, save in games) may not be copied.

Charging both phones > 50%|Updated firmware MIUI|Freely. ≥1GB on an old phone|Application lockdown disabled|Sustainable Wi-Fi (for cloud-based methods)-->

2. Method 1: Transfer over Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi's proprietary cloud storage, which is ideal for transferring data between the brand's devices, and the main advantage of the method is that you don't have to physically connect your phones to each other. It's all over the Internet.

To take advantage of this method:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Enable synchronization for all the necessary categories: Contacts, Notes, Photos, Records, etc.
3. Wait for the download to be completed (time depends on the amount of data and Internet speed).
4. On the new phone, log in to the same Xiaomi account and enable sync in the Mi Cloud.

The disadvantage of the method is the restriction of free storage (5 GB). If you have a lot of photos or videos, you will either have to buy additional space (from 100 GB for ~ 300 rubles / year), or use another method. Mi Cloud does not carry installed applications - only their data (for example, save in games).

⚠️ Note: If you have used dual applications (functions) MIUI For cloning messengers, their data is not synchronized with the Mi Cloud, you have to transfer them manually or through third-party utilities.

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Before syncing, check if your old phone has traffic savings enabled in Settings → Connections → Traffic Savings. It can interrupt the upload of data to the cloud.

Method 2: Direct Cable Transfer (Mi Mover)

The fastest and most reliable way is to use the built-in Mi Mover utility, which works on the principle of "phone-to-phone" via a USB-C/OTG cable (or an adapter for older models with Micro-USB), the main advantage is that even installed applications (unlike the cloud) are portable.

Step instructions:

1. Connect both phones to charge (the transfer consumes a lot of power).
2. On the new phone, when you first turn on, select Data Transfer (orlater go to Settings → More → Mi Mover).
3. Select I am the sender on the old phone and I am the receiver on the new one.
4. Connect your phones with a cable (you may need to). OTG-adapter).
5. On your old phone, select data to transfer and confirm the start of the process.

Mi Mover automatically detects firmware compatibility and warns if some data cannot be transferred due to differences in MIUI versions. For example, if you switch from Redmi Note 8 (Android 10) to Xiaomi 13 (Android 13), some system settings may not migrate.

• ⚡ Speed: ~1-2 GB for 5-10 minutes (depends on cable)
• 🔌 Requirements: Cable USB-C/OTG or adapter for Micro-USB
• 📱 Compatibility: Works for all Xiaomi MIUI 9 and newer
• 🚫 Restrictions: Does not transfer data of some banking applications (Tinkoff, SberBank, etc.)

⚠️ Warning: If a warning "Unknown Device" appears on the screen during the transfer, check if the antivirus (such as Avast or 360 Security) is blocking the connection.

4. Method 3: Transfer through a Google Account

If you prefer the Google ecosystem, you can use the built-in Android tools, which are universal and work for other brands, but there is a caveat: not all data is ported correctly (like call history or MIUI settings).

How to transfer data via Google:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Google → Backup.
2. Enable Backup in Google Drive and select an account.
3. Click Create a backup now and wait until it is completed.
4. On the new phone, when you set up, select Recover Data and log in to the same Google account.

What is carried over Google:

• 📇 Contacts (if saved in Google, not in your phone’s memory)
• 📅 Calendar and events
• 📎 Some application settings (such as Chrome bookmarks)
• 📷 Photos and videos (if synced with Google Photos is enabled)

What's not tolerable:

• 📱 Established APK-file
• 📞 Call history and SMS (If you don’t use Google Messages)
• 🎵 Music and downloads (except those on Google Play Music)
• 🔧 Settings MIUI (themes, gestures, sounds)

⚠️ Note: If data encryption was enabled on the old phone (in Settings) → Security → Encryption, Google backup may not recover on the new device.In this case, use Mi Mover or manual portability.

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Google is suitable for basic mobile contacts and apps, but does not replace full migration via Mi Mover or Mi Cloud for Xiaomi devices.

5. Method 4: Transfer over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct

If you don't have cable or stable internet, you can use wireless technology, which is slower than most, but sometimes the only one available (e.g., if the USB connector on your old phone is broken).

Instructions for Wi-Fi Direct:

1. On both phones, turn on Wi-Fi and activate Wi-Fi Direct in the settings.
2. On your old phone, select files to transfer (photos, videos, documents) and click Send → Wi-Fi Direct.
3. Select a new device from the list and confirm the connection.
4. On the new phone, take the files.

Bluetooth is similar, but the speed will be even lower (~1-2 MB/s), which is only suitable for small files (contacts, notes, a few photos), for example, transferring 100 contacts will take ~1-2 minutes, and an album of 50 photos - up to 15-20 minutes.

⚠️ Note: When transferring via Bluetooth, turn off the Adaptive Battery feature on both phones (in Settings) → Battery: It can suspend data transmission to save energy.

Method 5: Manual transfer via computer

If you need to migrate sample files or data from non-standard formats (like saving games), the best option is to use a PC as an intermediary, a method that takes longer, but gives you complete control over the process.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old phone to your computer through USB-cable.
2. Select File Transfer (MTP) mode in the notification on your phone.
3. Copy the necessary folders on the PC: DCIM — Photos and videos Downloads – Music downloads, Movies – media files Android/data — Application data (root rights required)

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Transfer the copied files to the appropriate folders.

For the transfer of contacts and SMS, you can use specialized programs:

• 📇 My Phone Explorer for Contacts and Messages)
• 📱 Samsung Smart Switch (works with Xiaomi)
• 🔄 Dr.Fone – Phone Transfer (paid but supports all types of data)

⚠️ Note: When copying a folder Android/data without root rights, some apps (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) may not see the transferred data.

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To migrate game saves (such as Genshin Impact or Honor of Kings), use the cloud services of the games themselves. Most modern projects link progress to a Google, Facebook or miHoYo account.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when following instructions, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

1.Mi Mover doesn't see old device

• 🔌 Check the cable (must support data transmission).
• 🔄 Reboot both phones.
• 🛠️ Turn on Debugging. USB old-phone.

2.Mi Cloud space is missing

• 🗑️ Remove old backups in Mi Cloud → Storage management.
• 💾 Buy an extra seat (100GB is worth it) ~300 rubles per year).
• 📁 Transfer your photos/video via cable or Google Photos.

3.Appendices have not recovered after the transfer

• 📥 Check if sync is enabled in the Google Play Store → Settings → Auto-update.
• 🔍 Some apps (banking, instant messengers) block the transfer for security reasons.

4.The transfer was interrupted by half

• 🔋 Charge both phones to 100% and connect to the network.
• 📶 If you use Wi-Fi, go closer to the router.
• 🛑 Do not lock the screen during transfer (in the screen settings, increase the time before disconnection).

⚠️ Warning: If after transferring on the new phone lost wallpaper or notification sounds, check the theme settings in Settings → Registration → My themes. Sometimes they're dropped because of variations in versions. MIUI.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions