Moving to a new smartphone Xiaomi is always an exciting moment, but transferring data often turns into a headache. Even if both devices work on Android, the firmware features MIUI add nuances: somewhere standard Google tools do not work, and somewhere Xiaomi’s own solutions are unstable. This article will help you avoid losing contacts, photos, messages and even application settings - with detailed instructions for different scenarios.

We will consider 5 migration methods: from the official tool Mi Mover to manual transfer via a computer, taking into account the features of the latest versions. MIUI 14/15. We will pay special attention to transferring data between devices with different versions of Android (for example, from Android 11 to Android 14)where compatibility problems often arise. If you are afraid of losing progress in games or messenger settings, you will find solutions here.

Before you start, check two key points: free space on a new device (transferring 64 GB of data to a 128 GB smartphone can take up to 2 hours) and battery charge both phones (the process consumes a lot of energy). And don’t forget about Settings → Xiaomi account → Synchronization —some data (for example, notes or a calendar) can be saved in advance in the cloud.

📊 What method of data transfer do you usually use?
Official tools (Mi Mover, Google Backup)
Manual transfer via computer
Cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud)
I have never transferred, I’m setting up from scratch

1. Official method: Mi Mover from Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a proprietary solution for transferring data between Xiaomi devices that works without a computer. The tool is built into the firmware MIUI (starting from version 8) and supports the transfer of contacts, messages, photos, videos, audio, applications and even some system settings. However, there are limitations: for example, not all third-party applications are transferred correctly (especially if they use their own authorization mechanisms).

To use Mi Mover, follow these steps:

  • 📱 Make sure that on both phones enabled Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (transfer is over the local network).
  • 🔄 On your old phone, open Settings → About phone → Data transfer (Mi Mover).
  • 📲 On a new device, when you turn it on for the first time, select "Data transfer" or find this item in the settings.
  • 🔗 Confirm the connection between devices via a QR code or PIN.
  • ✅ Select the types of data to transfer and wait for completion (time depends on the volume).

An important nuance: if an account has already been set up on the new phone Mi Account, Mi Mover it may require a reset to factory settings. This is due to the security policy Xiaomi —data is transferred only to a “clean” device. Also, the tool Battery charge > 50% on both phones|Free ≥10 GB on the new device|VPN and power saving modes are disabled|Both phones are connected to same Wi-Fi network|There is no important data on the new phone (reset is possible)--> does not support transferring data from devices of other brands (for example, from Samsung to Xiaomi).

Battery > 50% on both phones|≥10 GB free on new device|VPN and power saving modes disabled|Both phones connected to the same Wi-Fi network|No important data on new phone (reset possible)-->

What to do if Mi Mover does not see the old device?

1. Restart both phones.

2. Turn on the "Access Point" mode on the old phone and connect the new one to it.

3. Check that Airplane Mode is disabled on the new device and Wi-Fi Direct is enabled (Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi Direct).

4. If used MIUI 12+, try disabling the "Smart Assistant" function in the battery settings - it may block background activity of Mi Mover.

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

If you use services Google, some data can be transferred via the cloud. This method is universal and works even between devices of different brands: applications are not transferred completely (only the list for. installations via Google Play), and media files take up space in Google Photos (only 15 GB are free).

Transfer instructions:

  • 🔄 On your old phone, open Settings → Google → Backup and enable automatic synchronization for contacts, calendar and application data.
  • 📸 For photos and videos, use Google Photos: open the application → click on the avatar → "Photo settings" → "Backup and synchronization."
  • 📱 On a new phone, when you first start it, sign in to the same Google account or add it to Settings → Accounts.
  • ⬇️ Wait for synchronization to complete (may take from several minutes to hours depending on the speed Internet).

Please note: SMS messages and call logs via Google are not transferred - they will require a separate solution (for example, SMS Backup & Restore from Play Market). Also, some applications (for example WhatsApp or banking apps) require separate backup through their settings.

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If you have a slow Internet, before transferring photos to Google Photos, select "High Quality" instead of "Original" - this will save space in the cloud without significant loss of quality.

3. Manual transfer via computer (the most reliable method)

If the amount of data exceeds 50 GB or you want to transfer all files without exception (including hidden application folders), the best option is to use a computer. This method takes more time, but guarantees 100% control over the process and no data loss due to cloud service failures. You will need a USB cable (preferably original) and a app for working with files (for example, Total Commander or standard Explorer Windows).

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Connect your old phone to the computer in mode Transfer files (MTP) (when prompted on your phone, select this option).
  2. Copy all data from internal memory to a folder on your computer. Be sure to check hidden folders:
    • Android/data — application settings are stored here;
    • DCIM — photos and videos;
    • Downloads — downloaded files;
    • WhatsApp/Media — media from chats (if you use WhatsApp).
  • Disconnect the old phone and connect a new one in the same mode MTP.
  • Transfer data from the computer to the new phone, maintaining the folder structure.
  • Install applications manually via Google Play (lists of installed apps can be exported using App Backup & Restore).

    • The advantage of this method is that you see all files can choose what exactly to transfer. For example, you can skip the application cache (folder Android/obb), which takes up a lot of space, but is restored automatically when you first launch games. some applications (for example, instant messengers) may require re-authorization, even if their data has been copied.

    💡

    Manual transfer via a computer is the only way to guarantee saving data for applications that do not support cloud backup (for example, some games or local databases data).

    4. Transfer via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi cloud)

    Mi Cloud - a cloud service from Xiaomithat offers 5 GB of free space (expandable to 100 GB for a fee), it is better integrated with MIUI . transfer SMS, call logs, notes and even themes. However, for large amounts of data (for example, 4K video) there may not be enough space.

    How to transfer data via Mi Cloud:

    • ☁️ On an old phone open Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud and enable synchronization for the desired categories (contacts, messages, gallery, etc.).
    • 🔄 Wait for the download to complete (you can check the progress in the "Synchronization" section).
    • 📱 On the new phone, log in to the same account Mi Account and enable synchronization in Mi Cloud.
    • ⬇️ Select the data to download (for example, "Gallery" or "Notes") and wait for completion.

    Important restrictions:

    • 🚫 Applications are not transferred - only their data (for example, game saves, if they support Mi Cloud).
    • 📶 Upload/download speed depends on your Internet connection (on slow channels the process can take hours).
    • 🔒 Some data (for example Wi-Fi passwords) is not synchronized for security reasons.
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    If you have little space in Mi Cloud, clear unnecessary backups before synchronizing in the section Mi Cloud → Storage management. Old copies can be deleted, leaving only the last one.

    5. Transferring application data (games, instant messengers, banking apps)

    The most difficult part is the transfer application data, especially when it comes to progress in games, chat history or settings of work apps. There is no universal solution: each messenger or game uses its own backup mechanism. Let's consider the most common cases:

    Application Transfer method. data Nuances
    WhatsApp Local copy (Settings → Chat → Backup copy) + folder transfer WhatsApp via computer When you launch it for the first time on a new phone, WhatsApp will offer to restore chats from a backup copy. It is important that the phone number remains the same.
    Telegram Cloud synchronization (all data is stored on Telegram servers) Just log into your account on the new phone - chat history and media will be loaded automatically.
    Games (for example, Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile) Linking to a Google Play Games account, Facebook or developer service (for example, miHoYo) Without linking to an account, progress will be lost! Check the game settings on your old phone.
    Banking applications (SberBank, Tinkoff, etc.) Transfer is not possible - re-authorization is required For security reasons, banks prohibit copying data. device.
    Spotify, YouTube Music Synchronization via Google or Spotify account Playlists and downloads will be restored automatically upon first launch.

    For games and applications that do not support cloud saving, you can use specialized utilities like Titanium Backup (requires root access) or Swift Backup (works on some firmware without root). However, these methods are difficult for beginners and can lead to data loss if used incorrectly.

    How to transfer game saves without root access?

    Some games (for example, Brawl Stars or Clash of Clans) allow you to save progress through your account Supercell ID. To do this:

    1. open the game settings and link your account to your email.

    2. On a new phone, install the game, log into the same account - progress will be updated automatically.

    For games without this option, the only option is to manually transfer save files (usually they are located in /Android/data/[game package]/files), but this does not always work.

    6. Transferring system settings and personalization

    Few people think about transferring system settings, but they are the ones who make the phone “yours”: wallpaper, notification sounds, gestures, display options, etc. B MIUI some of this data can be exported via Mi Account, but not all. Here's what you can do:

    • 🎨 Wallpapers and themes: Synchronized via Mi Cloud (section "Theme").
    • 🔔 Notification and alarm sounds: The files are in /system/media/audio (transfer is possible only with root access) or to /sdcard/Notifications (if you installed custom sounds).
    • ⚙️ Gestures and buttons settings: Exported via Settings → Advanced → Backup and reset → Local backup (created file .mibackupthat can be transferred to a new phone).
    • 📱 Icon location on the desktop: There is no built-in export, but you can use third-party launchers (for example, MIUI there is no built-in export, but you can use third-party launchers (for example, Nova Launcher) with a backup function.

    If you used developer mode or changed hidden settings (for example, interface animation), they will have to be configured again. To speed up the process, you can take a photo of the screen with all activated options in Settings → For developers.

    💡

    Local backup in MIUI (.mibackup) transfers only system settings, but not application data. It should be used as an addition to other methods.

    7. Solving problems when transferring data

    Even if you follow the instructions exactly, errors may occur. Here are the most common problems and ways to solve them:

    • 🔌 Mi Mover does not connect to the old phone:
      • Check that VPN is disabled on both phones energy saving mode.
      • Reboot both devices and try connecting via access point (on the old phone, turn on Wi-Fi distribution, connect the new one to it).
      • If is in use MIUI 13+, try disabling the function Settings → Connections → Special permissions → Auto-connect to Wi-Fi.
    • 📱 Applications are not restored on the new phone:
      • Make sure you are signed in to the same account Google Play.
      • Open Play Market → "Library" → "Installed" - here there will be a list of applications from the old phone.
      • If applications do not appear, check if they are hidden in the Google account settings (myaccount.google.com → Data and personalization → Application settings).
    • ⚠️ Not enough space on the new phone:
      • Before transferring, clear the application cache on the old phone (Settings → Applications → Clear cache).
      • Use Google Photos in "High Quality" mode to save space.
      • Transfer only the necessary data (for example, you can skip downloaded movies or music, which can be easily downloaded again).
    💡

    If contacts are missing on the new phone after the transfer, check if they are duplicated in different accounts (Google and Mi Account). (Samsung, Honor, etc.)? Contacts → Settings → Accounts and disable unnecessary sources.

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about transferring data to Xiaomi

    Is it possible to transfer data from Xiaomi to another brand (Samsung, Honor, etc.)?

    Yes, but not in all ways. Mi Mover works only between Xiaomi devices. Use:

    • Google Account for contacts, calendar and some applications;
    • Smart Switch (from Samsung) or Phone Clone (from Huawei) - these tools support transfer from Xiaomi;
    • Manual transfer via computer for media files and documents.

    Please note: some data (for example, MIUI settings) it will not be possible to transfer.

    Why do some applications not work after transferring via Mi Mover?

    This is due to:

    • Incompatibility of Android versions (for example, the application is compiled for Android 11, and on the new phone Android 14);
    • Lack of rights (some applications require permissions to be granted again);
    • Dependencies on Google services (on phones without GMS, for example, in China, there may be problems).

    Solution: update problematic applications via Play Market or reinstall them.

    How to transfer Wi-Fi passwords?

    Q MIUI there is no built-in way to export Wi-Fi passwords. Options:

    • Use the application WiFi Password Viewer (requires root access) to export a list of networks;
    • Take a photo of the QR codes of access points ( Settings → Wi-Fi → [click on the network] there is a "Share" option);
    • Manually connect the new phone to each network (convenient if there are few networks).
    Is it possible to transfer data from a phone that does not turn on?

    If the phone does not respond to charging or stuck on the logo, but the computer detects it, try:

    • Connect to a PC and copy the data via ADB pull (command line skills required);
    • Remove the memory card (if the data is on it) and read through the card reader;
    • Contact the service center to extract data from the internal memory (if the phone is physically intact).

    If the phone is completely dead (not detected by the computer), data recovery is possible only in specialized laboratories (cost from 5,000 ₽).

    How long does it take to transfer 100 GB data?

    Time depends on the method:

    • Mi Mover: 1–3 hours (depending on Wi-Fi speed);
    • Google Account: 2–5 hours (limited upload speed to the cloud);
    • Manual transfer via computer: 30–90 minutes (using USB 3.0);
    • Mi Cloud: 3–6 hours (due to speed limitations on the free plan).

    Tip: if there is a lot of data, start the transfer in the evening and leave the phones on night.