Transferring data from the old Xiaomi to the new phone: 5 proven ways

Contents

• Why migrating data to Xiaomi is easy
• Method 1: Mi Mover is the official migration app
• Method 2: Backup through Google Account
• Method 3: Xiaomi Cloud – synchronization without limits
• Method 4: Transfer over a computer (for large volumes)
• Method 5: Manual transfer – when automation doesn’t work
• Typical Problems and How to Solve Them
• FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Moving to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but transferring data from an old device can seem like a daunting task, especially if you’re talking about years of accumulated photos, messaging, or unique system settings. Fortunately, the Xiaomi ecosystem offers several reliable ways to migrate, and we’ll take a look at each of them, from automated solutions to manual methods for power users.

In this article, you will find step-by-step instructions for all current models, from the flagship Xiaomi 14 to the budget Redmi Note 12 and POCO X6. We took into account the features of the latest versions of MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS, and added tips for migrating data from devices to Android 13/14. If you are afraid of losing important information or do not know where to start, this guide is for you.

Method 1: Mi Mover is the official migration app

Mi Mover is a Xiaomi-branded tool that allows you to transfer almost all data from your old phone to your new phone wirelessly. The app is pre-installed on all devices with MIUI and HyperOS, so no additional downloads are required. The main advantage is that it supports the transfer of even data that other services ignore (for example, the settings of the themes or data from system applications).

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

1. Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both phones.
2. On the new device, run Settings → About Phone → Data Transfer (Mi Mover).
3. On your old phone, open the same app and select the role of “Sender”.
4. Scan it. QR-code from the screen of a new phone or connect manually through device search.
5. Select data types for transfer (contacts, messages, photos, apps, etc.) and confirm the start of the process.

The speed of the transfer depends on the amount of data and the stability of the connection. On average, 10 GB transfer takes 15-30 minutes. If the process is interrupted, try restarting the application or using an alternative method.

Charging the battery of both phones >50%|Both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.|On the old phone enough free space (minimum 1 GB)|Disabled. VPN and energy-saving regimes-->

⚠️ Note: If your old phone has custom firmware installed or the bootloader unlocked, the Mi Mover may not work properly.

Method 2: Backup through Google Account

If you prefer universal solutions, Google Account is your best assistant, and it's not just for Xiaomi, but for any Android device, and the main advantage is that data is stored in the cloud and available at any time, even if the old phone breaks, and the disadvantage is the 15GB free storage limit, which may not be enough for a full backup.

Instructions for transfer via Google:

• 📱 On an old phone: Settings → Google → Backup → Turn on “Google Drive Backup” and click “Create a copy now".
• ☁️ Wait until the process is complete (may take minutes to hours depending on the amount of data).
• 📱 On a new phone: when you first turn on, select "Copy Data" and log in to the same Google account. If the phone is already set up, go to Settings → System system → Backup and restore data.

Through Google Account transfer:

• 📞 Contacts, calendars, notes;
• 📷 Photos and videos (if synced with Google Photos is enabled);
• 🎮 Data from certain applications (e.g. progress in games);
• 🔧 Wi-Fi settings, wallpaper and language preferences.

Note that SMS/MMS messages and call logs are not always portable, depending on the Android version. For reliability, use additional tools like SMS Backup & Restore.

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Before backing up, check which data is already taking up space on your Google Drive.Remove unnecessary files (like old copies from other devices) to free up space.

Method 3: Xiaomi Cloud – synchronization without limits

Xiaomi Cloud is an alternative to Google Drive, designed specifically for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices. Unlike Google, there are no strict storage limits (although there are tariffs for some regions), the main advantage is automatic synchronization of contacts, notes, calendar entries and even some system settings.

How to transfer data through Xiaomi Cloud:

1. On your old phone: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → turn on sync for all the right categories (contacts, gallery, posts, etc.).
2. Wait until the data is uploaded to the cloud (progress is displayed in the same menu).
3. On the new phone, log in to the same Xiaomi account and enable sync in the Mi Cloud.
4. Go to Settings → About Phone → Data Recovery and select backup from the cloud.

Important nuances:

• 🔄 Synchronizing the gallery can take a long time – pre-connect your phone to charging.
• 🔒 Recovery of messages and call logs requires separate confirmation.
• 🌍 In some countries (e.g. the EU), Xiaomi Cloud may be restricted due to the GDPR. In this case, use VPN or.

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Xiaomi Cloud is the best choice for transferring system data (themes, settings, messages), but for multimedia it is better to combine with Google Photos or Mi Mover.

Method 4: Transfer over a computer (for large volumes)

If you have more than 50GB of data, or you want to have full control of the process, PC porting is the most reliable option, and it's also useful if your old phone has a damaged screen or Wi-Fi is not working. USB-cable (preferably original) and computer running Windows, macOS or Linux.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old phone to your PC in File Transfer mode (when you request your phone, select MTP).
2. Copy all the necessary files (photos, videos, documents) into a separate folder on your computer. → DCIM and Pictures; Downloads: Internal Storage → Download; Music: Internal Storage → Music; WhatsApp/Telegram: Internal Storage → Android → media → com.whatsapp (similar to other messengers).

MTP

Transfer the copied files back to the new phone to the appropriate folders.

To transfer contacts and SMS via PC:

• 📇 Export contacts on your old phone to.vcf (Contacts) → Settings → Exports).
• 💬 For SMS Use applications like SMS Backup & Restore (saves backup in.xml format).
• Copy these files on your PC and then import them on your new phone.

⚠️ Note: When copying messenger folders (such as WhatsApp), do not change their structure. Otherwise, the application may not recognize the backup. Also make sure that the new phone has the same version of the messenger installed on the old one.

Method 5: Manual transfer – when automation doesn’t work

Sometimes automatic data transfer methods fail: Mi Mover can't see an old device, for example, and cloud services can't sync the files they need, and in such cases, manual transfer is the only way out, and it takes longer, but it ensures that you don't lose important information.

What can be transferred manually:

• 📎 Documents and Files: Use a file manager (e.g. Mi File Manager) to copy through the file manager. OTG-cable FTP-server FX File Explorer).
• 🎵 Music and podcasts: copy the Music and Podcasts folders to an external drive or to the cloud.
• 📱 Application settings: Some programs (such as Nova Launcher or Tasker) allow you to export configurations to a file.
• 🔐 Passwords: If you used Google Smart Lock or Xiaomi Password Manager, export them to an encrypted archive.

To migrate application data (e.g., game progress), check if the program supports cloud sync. If not, try:

1. Find the folder with the application data in Internal Storage → Android → data (root rights required).
2. Copy it to a new phone in the same location (again, root rights are required).
3. Restart the app.

If manual transfer seems too complicated, consider the Titanium Backup option, but remember that it requires an unlocked bootloader and superuser rights to work.

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To transfer game saves (for example, in Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail), use the binding to the miHoYo account or Google Play Games.

Typical Problems and How to Solve Them

Even with official tools, data portability can be difficult, and we've collected some of the most common errors and ways to fix them.

Problem 1: Mi Mover doesn't find the old device.

• 🔄 Restart Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both phones.
• 📶 Make sure both devices are connected to the same network (do not use mobile internet).
• 🔧 On the old phone, check the developer's settings: disable "Debugging by" USB" and "Certificate Verification" (Settings) → Additionally. → For developers).
• 📱 If nothing helps, try connecting through QR-code instead of automated search.

Problem 2: No photos or videos are transferred.

• ☁️ Check if there is enough space in Xiaomi Cloud or Google Drive.
• 📁 Make sure that files are not hidden or in restricted folders (e.g, Android/data).
• 🔄 Try to manually transfer media via Mi File Manager or PC.

Problem 3: Apps are not recovering on the new phone.

• 📥 Check if the "Application Recovery" option is included in Settings → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔒 Make sure that the new phone has enough space to install all the programs.
• 🛠️ If apps aren’t installed from a backup, download them manually from Google Play – data (like game progress) will pull up automatically if sync was enabled.

Problem 4: After the transfer, messages or contacts are lost.

• 📞 For contacts: check if sync is enabled in Settings → Accounts. → Google/Xiaomi.
• 💬 For SMS: Use third-party applications like SMS Backup & Restore for Re-Recovery.
• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes the data is not uploaded immediately.

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If none of the methods worked, try resetting the new phone to factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Resetting) and repeat transferring the data from scratch.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions