Shifting data from one smartphone to another often becomes a headache: contacts are lost, photos are not copied, and application settings are reset. Xiaomiβs Phone Clone solves this problem in a few minutes β but only if you know where to look. Many users are faced with the fact that the application is either hidden in the depths of MIUI, or not at all in the list of programs. In this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios, from the standard location to alternative ways to launch on different models Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO.
It's important to understand that the location of the Phone Clone depends on the MIUI firmware version, regional software, and even the device model. For example, on the Xiaomi 13 Pro with global firmware, the app can lie in one place, and on the Redmi Note 12 with the Chinese version it can lie in another. We analyzed all the current options (June 2026) and put together a checklist for a quick search. If you don't find the application where it "s supposed to be" - don't panic: most likely it's just hidden or requires pre-setting.
1. Standard Phone Clone location in MIUI
In most cases, the Phone Clone is installed on the default smartphone, but does not appear on the home screen.
- π± Menu of all apps: swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or click on the icon "dots" in the dock bar) and type in the search box Phone Clone.
- π§ Tools folder: on some firmware (MIUI 13-14) The application is grouped with other utilities in a folder called Tools, Utilities or Mi Services.
- π Fixed to the notification bar: Swipe down from the top edge of the screen and check for quick switches - sometimes there's a shortcut to Clone or Transfer.
If the menu search didnβt give results, try an alternative path:
- Open the settings β About the phone β version of MIUI.
- Tap 5-7 times on the line with the firmware version until the notification appears You became a developer!
- Back to Settings β Additionally. β For developers.
- Activate the option to Show hidden applications.
After that, Phone Clone should appear in the general list of programs. If not, move to the next section.
2 Why Phone Clone is not on the menu and how to get it back
There are several reasons why the app may βdisappearβ:
| Reason. | How to check | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Removed by user | Check the list of remote applications in Settings β Applications β Application Management | Install from Mi App Store or Google Play (link below) |
| Hidden by firmware | Go to Settings β Apps β Show all apps and find com.miui.phoneclone | Unblock APK from system files (requires root) |
| Regional restrictions | Check out the MIUI version in Settings β About Phone (if there is China or India) | Change the firmware region or download APK manually |
| Conflict with Google Services | Check if there are Settings β Accounts tied to Mi Account | Unplug your Google account and reload your phone |
Critical information: On devices with firmware for the European Union (EEA), Phone Clone can be blocked due to GDPR. In this case, the only way out is to install APK from an official source (link in section 4).
If the app has been removed, you can restore it through the Mi App Store:
- Open the Mi App Store (if it is not available, download from the official website).
- Type in the Phone Clone search.
- Install the app with the official icon (developer β Xiaomi Inc.).
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Before installing the APK, manually check the MIUI version in the settings. If you have MIUI 14+, download the latest version of Phone Clone (4.1.0 or later), or compatibility errors may occur.
3. Alternative ways to launch Phone Clone
If the standard methods didnβt work, try these workarounds:
- π Through Settings: Go to Settings β Additionally. β Data portability. Some models (POCO F4, Redmi K50) There's a Phone Clone launch hiding here.
- π² With help. USSD-code: enter in the dialer number ##6484## (work MIUI 12-13 china-fix).
- π₯οΈ Through PC: connect the phone to the computer, open This computer and enter in the address bar \\192.168.x.x\phoneclone (where x.x β IP Your device on the local network).
For models with MIUI 14 Global (for example, Xiaomi 13 Lite) there is another way:
adb shell am start -n com.miui.phoneclone/.ui.HomeActivityThis command must be entered through ADB (the instructions for setting up ADB are in the FAQ).
How do you know? IP-telephone address for local network connection?
4. Download Phone Clone APK: Official and Secure Sources
If the application is not in the system, it can be installed manually. Importantly, download APK only from trusted sources to avoid viruses.
- π Global version: Mi App Store (requires Mi Account).
- π± Google Play: Phone Clone in Play Market (not available in all regions).
- π¨π³ Chinese version: AppGallery (for firmware China) ROM).
Before installation of APK:
1. Allow installation from unknown sources (Settings β Applications β Special Rights β Installation of Unknown Applications)
2. Check the MIUI version in Settings β About Phone (must be at least 11)
3. Remove old Phone Clone versions (if any) via Settings β Apps
4. Connect to stable Wi-Fi (data transfer requires high-speed internet)-->
Note: on some models (POCO X3 Pro, Redmi 9A) APK installation may be blocked due to conflict with the pre-installed Mi Mover.
- Remove Mi Mover via ADB: adb uninstall --user 0 com.miui.mimover
- Reboot the phone.
- Install the downloaded APK Phone Clone.
5. Step-by-step instructions for data transfer via Phone Clone
Once the app is found and installed, it is left to use correctly, and letβs look at the process of transferring from iPhone to Xiaomi 14:
- Preparation: π Both phones must be charged at least 50 times%. πΆ Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network (or use an access point). π Unlock the screen on both phones.
- Running on an old phone: On iPhone: download Phone Clone from the App Store. On Android: open the app from the menu.
- Device pairing: On Xiaomi, select I'm a new phone. On an old phone, select I'm an old phone. Scan. QR-Xiaomi screen code with an old phone.
- Select data: Tick Contacts, Photos, Videos, Applications. Click Start Transfer.
Note: if the transfer is suspended during the Preparation stage (more than 10 minutes), do not interrupt the process!
β οΈ Warning: For a long period of time, check if it is switched off. VPN Is there enough free space on Xiaomi (requires at least 20% of the data you carry) or does Power Saving Mode block the application (disable it in Settings)? β Battery. If the problem persists, restart both phones and re-pair.
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The Phone Clone supports data porting from iOS, Android and even some feature phones (like older Nokias), but for Windows Phone or BlackBerry OS devices, alternative methods (such as via PCs) will be required.
6. Common mistakes and their solutions
Even with the right setup, users face problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:
| Mistake. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Can't connect. | Block ports by router | Switch to a mobile access point or change the DNS to 8.8.8.8 |
| Lack of memory | The target device has less than 10% free space | Clean the cache through Settings β Storage β Cleanup |
| Unsupported format (when transferring photos/video) | Files in HEIC or ProRes format | Pre-convert files to JPEG/MP4 on your old phone |
| Application is not responding | Conflict with other synchronization services | Turn off Mi Cloud and Google Sync in account settings |
Errors are especially common when migrating from iPhone to Xiaomi due to differences in data formats, such as Apple Notes notes that are not directly transferred to PDF via email and then imported into Mi Notes.
If Phone Clone is constantly crashing during the Data Check phase, try:
- Disable MIUI Optimization for the Application: Settings β Applications β App Management β Phone Clone β Battery β Without Limitations
- Clear the app cache: Settings β Apps β Phone Clone β Storage β Clear the cache
- Install an older version of the APK (e.g. 3.0.5 instead of 4.1.0).
7. Phone Clone Alternatives for Xiaomi
If Phone Clone is not working or not, use these tools:
- π± Mi Mover: pre-installed on older models (Redmi Note 8, Mi 9) works on the same principle, but with reduced functionality.
- βοΈ Mi Cloud: synchronize contacts, notes and photos through the cloud, suitable for backup, but not for full portability.
- π₯οΈ Xiaomi PC Suite: a program for Windows/macOS, It allows you to manage your phone files through your computer.
- π Google Drive/OneDrive: It's a universal way of moving through cloud storage, suitable for all devices, but it takes a long time.
- π Smart Switch (Samsung): Despite Samsungβs ownership, it supports a transfer to Xiaomi via cable OTG.
To transfer WhatsApp and other messengers, it is better to use specialized tools:
- WhatsApp β Settings β Chat β Backup (saves history in Google Drive).
- Dr.Fone β WhatsApp Transfer (paid but reliable)
Note: When using third-party programs (such as ShareIt or Xender), disable Mi Protect in the security settings, otherwise they may be blocked as βsuspicious.β