Switching to your new Redmi Note 13 Pro is exciting, and you definitely don't want to leave your photos, messages, and app data behind. The good news is, moving everything over is pretty straightforward with the tools built into MIUI and Android. I'd start with the cable method during setup, as it's the most reliable.
Use the MIUI Migration Tool During Setup
The absolute best time to move your data is when you first power on the phone. After selecting your language, you'll reach a "Mi Mover" or data migration screen. Tap to start the process. You'll be asked to choose your source device: another Android phone or an iPhone.
If you're coming from another Android phone, select that option. The tool will prompt you to either connect via a USB-C cable (the fastest way) or create a hotspot for a wireless transfer. For the cable method, you'll need a USB-C to USB-C cable or an adapter for your old phone's port.
Connect Phones with a Cable for a Fast Transfer
This is the method I recommend for a complete, one-shot move. Once the phones are connected by cable, your Redmi Note 13 Pro will scan the old device. You then get a checklist of everything you can bring over: contacts, messages, call logs, photos, videos, audio files, and even most of your installed apps and their data.
Just tick the boxes for what you want and hit transfer. It pulls everything directly from device to device, so you don't need Wi-Fi and it's much quicker than a cloud restore. This works great coming from most other Android brands.
Restore from a Google One Backup
If your old phone isn't with you, you can restore from a cloud backup. During the Redmi's setup, sign into your main Google account. The phone will check for existing backups associated with that account and show you a list, usually with the device name and date.
Pick the most recent backup from your old phone. This will restore your Wi-Fi passwords, call history, system settings, and a list of the apps you had installed. Those apps will then download automatically from the Play Store. Make sure your old phone was backing up: you can check in its Settings > Google > Backup.
Switching from an iPhone to Your Redmi
If you're moving from an iPhone, the process is a bit different but still built-in. On that same Mi Mover screen during setup, select iPhone as your source. You'll be instructed to download a "Mi Mover" app from the App Store on your iPhone.
Open the app on the iPhone and follow the prompts to connect. You can transfer contacts, photos, videos, and your calendar. Your text messages (iMessages) won't transfer. Remember, iOS apps don't work on Android, so you'll need to find and download their Android equivalents from the Google Play Store afterward.
Let Your Google Account Sync the Essentials
A lot of your core information syncs automatically just by being signed in. Once you add your Google account to the Redmi Note 13 Pro, your contacts, calendar events, Gmail, and Chrome bookmarks/history will populate on their own.
You can manage what syncs by going to Settings > Accounts & sync > Google and tapping on your account. This is a good way to double-check that everything important is set to sync over.
Move Your WhatsApp Chats
For WhatsApp, you need to use its specific transfer tool. On your old Android phone, open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat transfer. Then, on your new Redmi Note 13 Pro, install WhatsApp, verify your number, and you'll see a prompt to scan a QR code from the old phone to import your chat history.
If coming from iPhone, you'll need to use WhatsApp's "Move to Android" feature within the app, which requires a cable connection during the initial phone setup process. For other apps like Telegram or Signal, check their settings for chat backup or export options.
After Everything is Moved Over
Take some time to open your key apps and make sure your data is there. Log into any apps that require fresh authentication, like social media or banking apps. Since your Redmi Note 13 Pro runs MIUI, you might want to spend a minute in the Security app to disable promotional notifications under the settings menu there.
Once you're confident nothing is left on your old device, perform a factory reset on it before you pass it on or trade it in. This protects your personal information.