Recovering data from Xiaomi Cloud on another phone: the full guide

Switching to a new Xiaomi smartphone doesn’t mean losing important data if you’ve used the Mi Cloud service. However, the process of recovering information on another device often raises questions about how to log in correctly, what data can be transferred, and why sometimes files don’t sync. This article will help you understand everything from basic settings to solving typical problems.

We will look not only at the standard way to restore your Settings → Mi Account, but also at alternative methods for cases where sync is suspended or data is partially missing, and we will focus on security: how to avoid leakage of personal information when transferring data between devices and what to do if your account is linked to another phone number.

Important: the recovery procedure may vary depending on the version of MIUI (12/13/14) and the smartphone model. This article provides universal instructions that are relevant to the Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12/13 and POCO F5/X5, but taking into account the characteristics of each generation.

1.Preparing for data recovery from Xiaomi Cloud

Before you start transferring data, make sure that the following key conditions are met:

• 📱 The new phone must be connected to a stable Wi-Fi or mobile network (3G/4G/5G). Recovery via mobile internet may require up to 5 GB of traffic.
• 🔒 Sync with Mi Cloud on the old device (check Settings) → Mi Account. → If synchronization is disabled for more than 30 days, data can be deleted from the servers.
• 🔄 Make sure the latest version is installed on the new phone. MIUI. To check, go to Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 📝 Write down the username and password from your Mi Account if you have logged in via Google or Apple. ID, You will need to link the phone number.

If you sell or dump an old smartphone without detaching your Mi Account, it will be impossible to recover data, in which case you can only contact Xiaomi with proof of ownership of the device (check or box).

2. Standard recovery method through Mi Cloud

This is the most reliable method that works for most data: contacts, messages, notes, photos, even some system settings.

1. Sign in to Mi Account on your new phone: Go to Settings → Mi Account. Enter your login (email or phone) and password. If two-factor authentication is enabled, confirm your login via SMS or email.
2. Activate synchronization: In the Mi Cloud section, turn on switches opposite the desired data categories (e.g. Contacts, Gallery, Notes). Click Sync and wait for the process to be completed (can take from 5 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of data).
3. Check the data recovered: Contacts will appear in the Contacts app, photos and videos in the Gallery (Mi Cloud folder), Notes in the Notes app (if preinstalled).

A critical caveat: if a new phone already has data (such as contacts), it may duplicate or conflict with cloud data, and it is recommended to back up local data before restoring it.

Ensure a stable Internet connection

Sign up for a username/password from Mi Account

Check the space available on your new phone (minimum 2 GB)

Shut down. VPN (It can block access to the Mi Cloud)-->

3.What data can be recovered from Xiaomi Cloud?

Not all types of information sync to the cloud, and the table below shows the categories of data, their support status and limitations:

If you need to restore call logs or app settings, standard sync through Mi Cloud won’t help, in which case you’ll need to use local backup (see Section 5) or third-party utilities like Titanium Backup (require root rights).

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Before restoring your photos from Mi Cloud, check the quality settings in Settings → Mi Cloud → Gallery → Synchronization Quality. If you select Traffic Saving, the images will be compressed to a resolution of 2048×2048 pixels.

4. Problems in recovery and their solutions

Even when set up correctly, users often encounter errors, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

• 🔄 Sync is 0% down: Check your internet connection (turn off) VPN). Reboot your phone and try again. Update the Mi Cloud app on Google Play.
• ⚠️ "Incorrect password" error when logging in: Reset password through the official Mi Account website. If an old phone number is attached, contact support with a photo of the purchase check.
• 📂 Photos recovered but not displayed in the gallery: Check the MiCloud folder in the file manager. Update the data in the gallery: open the app, pull down for updates.
• 🔕 Contacts are duplicated: Use the merge function in the Contacts app (menu) →"Conjoin Contacts. disable the synchronization of contacts with Google Account if it is enabled.

⚠️ Note: if you see a notification that says "Device is not supported" when you recover data, it means that your Mi Account is tied to a region other than the region of the new phone, for example, the account is created in China and the phone is purchased for Europe. Change your account region via the Mi Cloud web version (settings) →"Region").

5. Alternative methods of data transfer

If sync via Mi Cloud is not available or is not working properly, use one of the alternative methods:

5.1 Local backup via MIUI

This is a good option if you have physical access to your old phone:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Select the data for backup (contacts, messages, applications) and click Create backup.
3. Copy the backup file (located in /MIUI/backup/AllBackup) to your new phone via a USB cable or cloud.
4. On the new phone, in the same menu, select Restore and specify the copied file.

5.2 Transfer via Google Account

If you sync your data with Google, it can be easily transferred:

• Add the same Google Account on your new phone as on your old one.
• Enable sync in Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync.
• Contacts, calendars and some settings will be automatically downloaded.

5.3 Use of third-party applications

To transfer specific types of data (for example, call logs or messages from messengers) suitable specialized utilities:

• Clone Phone (from Xiaomi) – for wireless transfer between devices Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO.
• Samsung Smart Switch (works with Xiaomi) – for transferring multimedia and documents.
• Dr.Fone – Phone Transfer is a paid solution for cross-platform transfer (Android → iOS and back).

6.Security in data recovery

Transferring personal information between devices is always risky, and follow these rules to avoid data leakage:

• 🔐 Use two-factor authentication for your Mi Account, which will protect your data even if your password is compromised.
• 📵 Turn off automatic synchronization on public Wi-Fi networks (cafes, airports.
• 🗑️ Remove backups from your old phone after a successful transfer, especially if you are selling or transferring the device to another person.
• 🔄 Check the attached devices in Mi Account (web version) →"Device management. Remove old smartphones you no longer use.

⚠️ Warning: If you are recovering data to a hand-bought phone, be sure to reset to factory settings (Settings) → Additionally. → Reset settings) before logging into Mi Account, the previous owner may have left malware that steals data when synchronized.

If you suspect that your Mi Account has been hacked (for example, login notifications from unknown devices are coming), immediately:

1. Change your password through the recovery page.
2. Revoke access to all devices in the account settings.
3. Enable notifications for new entries in the "Security" section.

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Never share two-factor authentication codes (SMS or email) with third parties, even if they are considered Xiaomi support.

7. Frequent questions about Xiaomi Cloud data recovery