How to transfer all data from Android to Android Xiaomi Redmi

Changing your smartphone to a new model of the Xiaomi Redmi line is always an exciting process, but it can turn into a real headache if you do not know how to properly organize the migration of user information. Many owners of older devices are afraid of losing important photos, contacts or correspondence history when switching to the MIUI ecosystem or the new HyperOS. Fortunately, modern technology allows you to perform this procedure as quickly as possible and without losing file quality, regardless of which brand was used before.

In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods, from Xiaomi’s regular tools to proven third-party solutions, learn how to migrate Wi-Fi settings, passwords, and even desktop icon settings, and look at the nuances of working with large amounts of data and suggest which method will be most effective for your situation.

Before you start, make sure that both old and new devices have sufficient battery life, preferably over 50%.This is critical, as the process of transferring large amounts of gigabytes can significantly consume energy.

Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration

The most effective and native way for Xiaomi owners is to use the built-in Mi Mover app, which is designed specifically for seamless integration into the MIUI shell and allows you to transfer data over a local Wi-Fi network without using Internet traffic, while transferring speeds can reach tens of megabytes per second, which is much faster than standard Bluetooth.

To start working on the new Redmi smartphone, find the app in the Tools folder or search in the settings. When you first start, ask to specify which device you are currently, the sender or the recipient. On an old phone, if it’s not Xiaomi, you’ll need to install a separate app from Google Play or scan it. QR-code that will appear on the screen of the new gadget.

After connecting devices through scanning QR-If you use a code or manual password, you will be asked to select data categories to copy. Mi Mover's algorithm allows you to flexibly customize the sample, eliminating unnecessary debris or system files that are incompatible between different versions of Android.

⚠️ Note: During the transfer process, do not turn off device screens or turn off the application, as this may break the connection and interrupt file copying.

The Mi Mover is trying to migrate installation files (APKs) and their data whenever possible, but banking applications and some secure services (such as Google Pay or enterprise customers) will require re-authorization or a complete reinstallation for security reasons.

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If you have a lot of photos (over 10,000), break the process down into stages: first contacts and messages, then media files, so as not to overload the clipboard.

Synchronization through Google account

The classic and most reliable method that works on any Android device is using Google One, a cloud service. If you’ve used a pure Android phone or other shell, your data is likely already stored in the cloud. When the new Redmi is activated, the system will prompt you to restore data from the backup.

To make sure all important data is saved, on your old device, go to Settings → Google → Backup. Here you will see a list of apps and data that will be saved. Make sure the switches are active for contacts, calendar, Google Keep notes and call history.

On the new Xiaomi smartphone, when you first set up, type the same Gmail address. The system will automatically tighten contacts and calendar. To restore applications and their settings (if the developer supports this feature), select Recover from the Cloud during the setup process.

An important benefit of using the Google ecosystem is that your photos in Google Photos and documents in Google Drive will be available immediately after you sign in, without the need for physical file transfer, which is especially useful if you plan to change your phone again in the future.

Manual transfer via computer and USB-cable

For users who prefer full control of their files or have a very large amount of data (for example, hundreds of gigabytes of video in 4K), the optimal solution is to use a personal computer, which eliminates the risk of losing connection through the air and allows you to structure files before downloading to the new Redmi.

Connect your old smartphone to your computer through USB-cable and select the mode of operation File transfer (MTP) In the notifications, copy the folders. DCIM (Photos and videos, Download, Documents and Music on your PC hard drive, and the Android folder structure is standardized, so you don't usually have any trouble finding it.

Then plug in a new Xiaomi smartphone and transfer the stored data to the appropriate internal memory directories. If you use a file manager like MI File Manager or Total Commander, you can immediately see the changes in the gallery and media player.

Structure of folders for manual copying:


/DCIM/Camera - Camera photos




/Music - Musical tracks




/Download - Downloaded files from the browser




/WhatsApp/Media - Media Files of the messenger

It's worth noting that this doesn't take into account system settings, Wi-Fi passwords, and installed applications, and you'll have to manually install software from the Play Market and reconfigure your environment, but for a media library, it's the cleanest and most reliable option.

⚠️ Note: When copying large amounts of data through USB Use the original cable and port USB 3.0 on your computer to avoid connection breaks and archive damage.

Transfer of contacts through SIM-map and Bluetooth

In situations where you only need to transfer the basic data set (phone numbers), you can use the good old methods that do not require the installation of additional software or the availability of the Internet. SIM-card is still a universal carrier for contacts, although it has restrictions on the number of characters in the name and the absence of additional fields.

To export contacts on your old phone, go to the Contacts app, select settings and click Import/Export. SIM-Once completed, insert the SIM into the new Redmi and import into your phone memory or Google account.

The alternative is Bluetooth transmission, which is suitable for transferring individual files, documents, or a small number of photos if you don't have a cable or a Wi-Fi router on hand, but it can be a lifesaver for critical documents in PDF or DOCX.

To send a file via Bluetooth, turn on the device's visibility in the settings, find the target smartphone in the list of available devices, and confirm pairing on both screens. The files will automatically be saved to the Bluetooth folder in the internal memory of the receiving device.

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Use of the SIM-Maps are the easiest way to transfer contacts, but it doesn’t save numbers written in international code format and loses additional email addresses.

Specificity of data transfer messengers

Special attention should be paid to transferring the history of correspondence in popular messengers such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber. These applications store data in different ways, and simply transferring files through Mi Mover may not save the history of messages, although the applications themselves will be installed.

For WhatsApp, it's critical to back up chats in Google Drive on an old phone before you switch. On a new device, when you install the app and type in the same phone number, the system will suggest you recover your message history from the cloud. Without this step, the chats will remain on the old device.

Telegram works differently: all the correspondence history is stored on the company's servers, you just need to install the application on the new Redmi, enter the phone number and confirmation code. All secret chats (Secret Chats) are not portable, because they are tied to a particular device.

In the case of Viber, it also requires backup on Google Drive. It is important that both devices use the same Google account, otherwise recovery will not be possible.

⚠️ Warning: Two-factor authentication in messengers may require the input of code that comes into the app. SMS or generated in an authentication application. SIM-The card is already inserted into your new phone or you have access to recovery codes.

Possible problems and solutions

Although processes are fine, there may be errors when transferring data between different versions of Android or different brands, and users often experience some applications crashing or not working properly after transfer, due to incompatibility of cache or system libraries.

If you notice that the gallery on the new Redmi doesn’t see all the photos, try clearing the Media Scanner app cache or restarting the device. Sometimes it takes up to a few hours for the system to index all the new files, especially if they number in the thousands.

If Mi Mover is stuck at a certain percentage, don't rush to interrupt the process. Often, the application just handles the corrupted file. If waiting doesn't help, try to exclude the folder with video files from the sample and transfer them separately, manually.

Another common problem is the lack of notifications from applications. On the MIUI shell, an aggressive energy saving system can "kill" the background processes of ported applications. Go to the battery settings and allow auto-start for important messengers and email clients.