Changing a smartphone, especially switching to an ecosystem Xiaomi from another Androiddevice, often raises concerns among users about the safety of personal information. Nobody wants to manually transfer thousands of photos, restore contacts, or re-set up instant messengers. Fortunately, modern technologies make it possible to automate this process with minimal user intervention.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available methods for migrating content to Redmi i POCOdevices. You'll learn about built-in tools, cloud services, and manual methods that can help you transfer data safely and quickly.
Preparing devices for information migration
Before you start any software transfer process, you need to make sure that both devices are in working order and ready to synchronize. Start by checking the battery level on both smartphones. It is advisable that the battery be charged at least 50-60%, since active transmission of large amounts of data, especially via Wi-Fi, consumes a significant amount of energy.
Free up space on your new device. If you plan to transfer all the contents of your old phone, make sure that the built-in memory Xiaomi Redmi can accommodate this volume. Go to Settings → About phone → Memory and evaluate the free space.
It is also critical to check the operating system version. Outdated software on an old device may cause conflicts when transferring specific files or application settings.
⚠️ Attention: If custom firmware is installed on an old device or received root access, standard transfer methods may not work correctly or be unavailable.
☑️ Preparing for the transfer
Using the built-in Mi Mover application
The most effective and fastest way, developed specifically for the ecosystem Xiaomi, is the utility Mi Mover. This application is preinstalled on all modern smartphones of the brand and is optimized for working with the shell MIUI or HyperOS. It creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices, which provides high transfer speeds without using mobile traffic.
Launch the application on both gadgets. On the new one Redmi select the role “I am the recipient”, and on the old one - “I am the sender”. The old phone will scan the QR code that will appear on the screen of the new device, after which the pairing process will begin.
Once the connection is established, you will be asked to select the types of data to transfer. The system allows you to flexibly customize the selection, excluding unnecessary files.
- 📱 Contacts, SMS and call log
- 🖼️ Photos, videos and audio recordings
- 📲 Applications and their settings
- 📝 Notes and voice recorder files
The process can take from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the amount of information. During the transfer, do not minimize the application and keep the devices close to each other.
What to do if Mi Mover freezes?
If the process freezes at a certain percentage, try turning off the mobile data on both devices, leaving only the Wi-Fi module on. It also sometimes helps to reboot both phones and try again, selecting only one type of data (for example, only photos), and then the rest.
Mi Mover uses a direct Wi-Fi connection, so the transfer speed does not depend on the speed of your home Internet or mobile operator.
Synchronization via Google account
An alternative method that is universal for any pair Androiddevices is to use a cloud profile Google. This method is ideal for transferring system settings, contacts and application history, but may be slower when downloading media content.
On an old smartphone, go to the Settings → Accounts and synchronizationsection. Select your Google account and make sure that the switches next to the desired items (Contacts, Calendar, Drive, etc.) are activated. Click the “Synchronize” button to upload the latest changes to the cloud.
When setting up a new one for the first time Xiaomi the system will prompt you to log in to your existing Google account. After entering your login and password, the phone will automatically offer to restore data from the latest backup.
| Data type | Recovery speed | Network dependence | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact | Instant | Internet required | High |
| Photo (Google Photos) | Depends on volume | Wi-Fi required | High |
| Applications | Average | Internet required | Average |
| System settings | Fast | Internet required | High |
Please note that some specific shell settings MIUI, such as themes or control gestures, may not be transferred through the standard Google profile, as they are tied to the account Xiaomi.
Local backup and recovery
In the shell MIUI i HyperOS there is a powerful tool for creating a complete local copy of the system. This method is useful if you don't have access to fast internet or want to create an exact copy of the condition of your old phone before selling it.
On your old device, follow the path Settings → About phone → Backup and restore. Select to create a new backup and check all the required sections. After the process is completed, the backup file will be saved in the internal memory in the folder MIUI/backup/AllBackup.
Next you need to physically transfer this file to the new smartphone. This can be done via a computer by connecting both phones via USB, or by sending the archive via fast file transfer. On the new device, go to the same settings section, select the “Recovery” tab and specify the path to the transferred file.
⚠️ Attention: Local backup of applications may not work if the Android versions on the old and new devices are significantly different (for example, transferring from Android 9 to Android 14).
Transferring data via a computer and USB cable
For users who prefer complete control over the process, the classic method of connecting to a PC remains one of the most reliable. It allows you to manually sort files and avoid transferring “garbage” accumulated over years of using your old smartphone.
Connect the old phone to the computer with a cable and select the USB “File Transfer” (MTP) operating mode. Copy the folders DCIM (photos and videos), Download, Music and Documents to the computer's hard drive.
Then connect a new one Redmi and transfer the saved folders to the appropriate directories in the internal memory. This method is especially effective for transferring heavy video files that take a long time to transfer over the air.
When transferring folders with media files, the directory structure will be preserved, which will allow the new phone's gallery to automatically recognize albums and shooting dates.
Use a USB 3.0 or higher cable and connect it to a USB 3.0 port on your computer - this will increase the speed of copying large files to 3-4 times compared to standard cables included in the kit.
Solving common problems during transfer
Despite the streamlined processes, users may encounter technical failures. Often the problem lies in power saving settings that aggressively shut down background data transfers.
If transfers are interrupted, check to see if one of your devices is in Airplane or power saving mode. It is also worth disabling VPN services that can block the local network connection between phones.
In some cases, banking applications or instant messengers (for example, WhatsApp) require a separate transfer of correspondence history through their internal settings, since system utilities may not have access to the encrypted databases of these apps.
⚠️ Attention: The menu interface and item names may vary slightly depending on the version MIUI or HyperOS. If you do not find the item you need, use the search in the settings.
Why are Wi-Fi passwords not transferred?
Passwords for Wi-Fi networks are often tied to your Google account and are restored automatically when you log into your profile. However, if your old phone used a third-party application to manage Wi-Fi, this data may not be included in the system backup.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to transfer data if the old phone is broken and the screen does not work?
If the screen does not respond, but the phone turns on, you can try connecting a USB mouse to it via an OTG adapter for control. If USB debugging mode is enabled, you can use apps like ADB to upload data to your computer. Otherwise, it is extremely difficult to restore data without turning on the screen.
Is it safe to transfer banking applications through Mi Mover?
The application itself will be transferred, but for security reasons you will have to re-authorize in each banking application on the new device. Biometric data (fingerprint, face) are not transferred and require re-configuration on the new phone.
What to do if, after transfer, contacts are displayed in duplicate?
This is a common situation when using several synchronization methods at the same time (for example, Google + SIM card + Mi Account). Go to the Contacts application, select settings and find the option “Merge duplicates” or “Clear duplicates”.
How long does it take to transfer 100 GB of data?
When using Mi Mover and a stable 5 GHz Wi-Fi connection, the speed can reach 20-40 MB/s. Thus, 100 GB of data can be transferred from 40 minutes to 1.5 hours. Through the Google cloud, this process may take several days in the background.