Moving to a new smartphone Xiaomi is always an exciting moment, especially when it comes to saving all the important data from the old device. Photos, contacts, messages, notes, and even application settings - all this can be lost if done incorrectly. Fortunately, owners Android devices have several reliable ways to transfer data, and most of them work without additional costs.

In this article we will look at 5 proven methods data migration to Xiaomi (including models Redmi, POCO and flagship series), compare them in terms of speed, safety and convenience, and also give step-by-step guide for each option. We will pay special attention to nuances that are often missed in standard guides - for example, how to transfer SMS/MMS without losses or why Mi Account may block some files.

Regardless of whether you are updating from Samsung, Huawei or another Xiaomi, here you will find a solution to suit your needs. And if you need to transfer data from iPhone we have a separate section in the FAQ with current methods for 2026.

1. Official method: Mi Mover from Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a proprietary application from Xiaomi, which is designed specifically for painlessly transferring data between devices. It supports transferring contacts, messages, photos, videos, audio, documents, applications (including their data) and even some system settings. The main advantage is does not require the Internet or a computeras it uses a direct connection via Wi-Fi.

The application is pre-installed on all new smartphones Xiaomi (starting from MIUI 9). If it is not there, download from Google Play or App Gallery (for models without Google services). On an old device (not Xiaomi), you may need to manually install the APK file from the official website.

  • 📱 Pros: Fast (up to 1 GB/min), preserves the folder structure, supports most Android devices.
  • ⚠️ Cons: Not all applications transfer their data (for example, WhatsApp requires a separate backup).
  • 🔄 Limitations: The maximum volume per session is 10 GB (for large volumes, break the transfer into parts).

Step-by-step guide:

  1. On the new Xiaomi when you turn it on for the first time, select Data transfer → Mi Mover. If the phone is already configured, open the application manually.
  2. On the old device, launch Mi Mover and select I am the sender.
  3. Scan the QR code from the new one Xiaomi or connect to its access point (the password will be displayed on the screen).
  4. Select the types of data to transfer and confirm the start of the process.
  5. Wait for completion (do not interrupt the connection!). On the new device, the data will appear in the same folders as on the old one.
⚠️ Attention: If data encryption is enabled on your old phone (Settings → Security → Encryption), Mi Mover may work unstable. In this case, use alternative methods from the following sections.

Charge both phones to at least 50%|Disable VPN and firewalls|Make sure that the new Xiaomi has enough memory|Check the compatibility of MIUI versions (on the Xiaomi website)

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2. Transfer via Google Account (for contacts, calendar and applications)

If you actively use services Google, this method will be the simplest solution for synchronizing basic data. It is suitable for transferring:

  • 📇 Contacts (including groups and tags)
  • 📅 Calendars and reminders
  • 📱 List of installed applications (without their data!)
  • 🔑 Passwords from Google Smart Lock
  • 📍 Data Google Maps (favorite places, history)

Important: photos, videos and files are not transferred through this method - for them use Google Photos (section 4) or physical copying (section 5). Also note that SMS/MMS are not synchronized via Google - they require a separate backup (see section 6).

How to transfer data:

  1. On the old phone, open Settings → Accounts → Google and make sure that synchronization is enabled for the desired categories.
  2. On the new Xiaomi when setting up, select Restore from backup and log in to the same account Google.
  3. Select the latest backup (the creation date can be seen in the list).
  4. Wait for the restoration to complete. Applications will begin to install automatically from Play Market.
Type. data Transferred? Notes
Contact ✅ Yes Including contact photos and linked accounts
SMS/MMS ❌ No Requires separate backup (section 6)
Photos ❌ No Use Google Photos or a physical copy
Applications ✅ Partially Only a list for installation, without data inside them
Chrome Bookmarks ✅ Yes If synchronization is enabled in browser
⚠️ Attention: If it was used on the old phone several Google accounts, on the new one Xiaomi during recovery, data conflicts may arise (for example, duplicate contacts). Before transferring, we recommend combining accounts or manually exporting data from each.

Mi Mover from Xiaomi|Google Account|OTG/PC cable|Cloud services (Google Drive, Yandex.Disk)|Another option

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3. Cloning a phone via OTG cable or computer

If you do not have access to Wi-Fi or the amount of data exceeds 10 GB, a physical connection will be the most reliable option. To do this you will need:

  • 🔌 OTG cable (for direct connection of phones) or
  • 💻 A computer with USB ports and cables for both devices.

The method is suitable for transfer any files (including hidden application folders), but requires more preparation time. The main advantage is that you control each stage and can selectively copy only the necessary data.

Instructions for connecting via a computer:

  1. Connect the old phone to the PC in mode File transfer (MTP).
  2. Copy all the necessary folders (DCIM for photos, Downloads for downloads, etc.) to the computer.
  3. Disconnect the old phone, connect new Xiaomi and transfer the files back.
  4. For applications: use APK Extractor on your old phone to save the APK files, then install them on the new one.

Instructions for direct connection (OTG):

  1. Connect the OTG cable to the new Xiaomi, and to it the old phone.
  2. On the new device, select File transfer in the connection notification.
  3. Open Explorer (for example, Mi File Manager) and copy data from the old phone.
What files cannot be copied via OTG?

Via direct connection OTG cannot be transferred:

- Application data (for example, game saves or instant messenger chats)

- System settings (language, wallpaper, sound profiles)

- SMS/MMS and call log

For these purposes, use specialized apps (section 6).

Advice for owners Mac: For correct operation of the MTPprotocol, install Android File Transfer from the official website Google. Without this, macOS apps will not see the phone's file system.

4. Cloud services: Google Drive, Yandex.Disk, Mi Cloud

Cloud storage is convenient if you have stable Internet and small amounts of data (up to 15–20 GB). Let's consider three popular options:

  • 🌐 Google Drive: 15 GB free, integration with Android. Suitable for backing up contacts, photos (via Google Photos) and documents.
  • 📁 Yandex.Disk: 10 GB free, high download speed in Russia. Convenient for backing up large files.
  • ☁️ Mi Cloud: 5 GB free, optimized for Xiaomi. Automatically synchronizes SMS, notes and MIUI settings.

How to transfer data via Google Drive:

  1. On your old phone, open Google Drive and click ➕ → Backup.
  2. Select data types (contacts, photos, videos) and run a backup.
  3. On the new one Xiaomi When setting up, select Restore from Drive and log into your account.

Features of Mi Cloud:

  • Automatically transfers SMS/MMS, call log i settings MIUI (wallpapers, sounds, themes).
  • To access the backup on a new phone, you need to use the same one Mi Account.
  • If you change the account region, some data (for example, payment methods) may not be restored.
⚠️ Attention: When using Mi Cloud for transfer SMS phones with Android 12+ may require additional permission to access messages. It must be issued manually in Settings → Applications → Mi Cloud → Permissions.
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If you have a slow Internet, archive folders with photos in ZIP before uploading to the cloud. This will reduce the amount of data by 10–30% without loss of quality.

5. Transferring SMS, call logs and application data Standard methods are often ignored (for example, game saves or chats). For these purposes, you will need specialized tools:

Standard methods are often ignored SMS/MMS, call log And data within applications (for example, game saves or chats Telegram). For these purposes you will need specialized tools:

  • 📱 SMS Backup & Restore (free, export to XML or JSON).
  • 🔄 Super Backup & Restore (supports SMS, contacts, applications).
  • 🎮 Swift Backup (to backup application data, requires root on some devices).

Instructions for SMS Backup & Restore:

  1. Install the application on the old phone and create a backup (Backup → SMS → Create).
  2. Transfer the backup file (for example, sms-20260520.xml) to the new one Xiaomi via any convenient method (cloud, OTG, email).
  3. Install the same application on a new phone and restore the data (Restore → Select file).

For transfer application data (for example, progress in games):

  • Use the built-in backup function in the application itself (if available). For example, in WhatsApp: Settings → Chat → Backup.
  • For games with support Google Play Games or Xiaomi Game Center synchronization occurs automatically when you log into your account.
  • For other applications, try Swift Backup (requires an unlocked bootloader on some models Xiaomi).
💡

To transfer chats WhatsApp be sure to use an official backup in Google Drive. Manually copying the folder /sdcard/WhatsApp will lead to the loss of message history!

6. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when following the instructions, users encounter common problems and their solutions. solutions:

Problem Cause Solution
Mi Mover does not see the old device Incompatible versions of MIUI or disabled Wi-Fi Direct Update MIUI on both phones or use an OTG cable
Photos are not transferred Folder DCIM hidden or damaged Check the folder via PC or use Google Photos
Applications are not restored from Google Account region mismatch Check the region in Google Settings → Account
SMS transferred, but without contact names Contacts are not synchronized with Google Export contacts to VCF and import on the new phone

Additional tips:

  • 🔋 Before transferring, charge both phones to 100% - some processes (for example, Mi Mover) consume a lot of energy.
  • 📡 If use mobile data for cloud backup, disable automatic application updates to save traffic.
  • 🔒 After transferring data, reset the old phone (Settings → Advanced → Reset) if you plan to sell it.
Is it possible to transfer data from iPhone to Xiaomi?

Yes, for this use:

  1. Move to iOS (reverse transfer): on Xiaomi install the application Move to Android from App Store (requires iOS 12+).
  2. iCloud: Export contacts and photos via iCloud.com, then upload them to Xiaomi.
  3. AnyTrans (paid): supports transferring music, messages and even notes.

⚠️ WhatsApp from iPhone to Android cannot be transferred - only through paid services like Backuptrans.

How long does it take to transfer 50 GB of data?

Time depends on the method:

  • Mi Mover (Wi-Fi Direct): ~30–50 minutes (speed ~1 GB/min).
  • OTG cable: ~20–30 minutes (speed depends on the USB version).
  • Google Drive: 1–3 hours (depending on Internet speed).

To speed up, disable background applications and use a cable USB 3.0 (blue connector).

Why are wallpapers and sounds not restored on the new Xiaomi?

These settings are transferred only through Mi Cloud or Mi Mover. If you used Google Account, they will not be restored. To return personalization: Google Account data-i="293">Settings → Wallpaper → My wallpaper

  1. Sign in Mi Account on a new phone.
  2. Go to Settings → Wallpaper → My wallpaper and select synchronized.
  3. For sounds, check the folder /MIUI/sound - sometimes files are copied but not applied automatically.
Is it possible to transfer data from a phone to Xiaomi without losing photo quality?

Yes, if you use:

  • Direct copying via OTG cable or PC (no compression).
  • Google Photos in Original quality (not High qualityas it compresses images).
  • Mi Mover —does not compress files during transfer.

⚠️ Avoid sending photos via instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) - they always compress images.

What to do if some contacts are missing after the transfer?

Reasons and solutions:

  • Contacts are linked to SIM card: import them via Contacts → Settings → Import/Export → Import from SIM.
  • Synchronization is disabled: check in Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact synchronization.
  • Duplicate contacts: use the application Contacts Optimizer to clear.

If contacts were stored only in the phone memory (not to Google/SIM), they can only be restored from a local backup (for example, via Super Backup).