Changing your smartphone is always an exciting process, especially when you move from one popular ecosystem to another. The switch from Samsung to Xiaomi is often driven by a desire for more modern functionality or better value for money, but users are always afraid of the prospect of data loss. SIM-The map or disappear in the digital space.
Fortunately, technology is making this a task as fast and painless as possible. Transferring data between Android devices is a long-established process that doesn’t require you to be a programmer, and there are several proven ways to ensure your digital life is safe, whether it’s an archive of work documents or a gallery of family photos.
In this article, we will take a look at all the methods available, from built-in manufacturer utilities to cloud services, how to avoid common mistakes and complete migration in minutes, and it is important to understand that the choice of method depends on the amount of information and speed of your Internet connection.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before you start the immediate copying process, you have to do a series of preparatory steps to ensure that the connection is stable and that you can avoid any failures in the middle of the procedure, and ignoring this step can cause the process to be interrupted by 90% and have to start over.
First of all, check the battery level on both devices. The battery charge should be at least 50-60% on each gadget. If one of the phones turns off during the transmission of a large amount of data, the file may be damaged or not copied at all.
- 🔋 Make sure that both smartphones are at least half charged or connected to a power source.
- 📶 Check the availability of free space on the new Xiaomi – it should be more than the data on Samsung.
- 🔒 Unlock the screens of both devices and keep them on throughout the process.
- 📡 Make sure that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are activated on both devices.
It is also worth freeing up RAM by closing the background applications on both devices, which will help the system focus on the transfer task and speed up the processor. On the old Samsung, it is advisable to turn off the power saving mode, which can limit the operation of network modules.
Using the Mi Mover app for direct transfer
The most efficient and quick way is to use Xiaomi’s native tool, Mi Mover.This app is specifically designed to migrate users from other Android devices, including Samsung, to Xiaomi smartphones.It allows you to transfer contacts, messages, call logs, photos, music, videos and even installed apps.
The process starts with installing an app. On the new Xiaomi, it's often already built into the system and it's in the Tools folder. On the old Samsung, you'll need to download Mi Mover from the Google Play Store. After installing it on both devices, run the program.
☑️ Checklist before Mi Mover launch
The interface is intuitive. On the new Xiaomi phone, select I'm a recipient, and on Samsung, I'm a sender. The app will create a Wi-Fi hotspot that the second device needs to connect to, and the transfer speed is much faster than Bluetooth, and it doesn't consume mobile traffic.
⚠️ Warning: Do not exit the Mi Mover app or lock smartphone screens until the process is complete.Stop connection may require devices to re-pair.
Once you connect the devices, you'll see a list of data categories to transfer, you can select all of them at once, or you can select only the right items, the system will estimate the amount of data and the approximate copying time, and for large volumes of photos and videos, this is the best solution.
What if devices can’t see each other?
Synchronization through Google Account
Google’s ecosystem is the universal bridge between any Android device, and if you’ve been using Google’s services on Samsung, most of your information is already stored in the cloud, ideal for transferring contacts, calendars, notes, and browser history.
First, make sure that the old Samsung is fully synced. Go to Settings → Accounts → Google and click Sync. Make sure that the ticks are in front of all the important items: Contacts, Calendar, Documents, Photos (via Google Photos).
| Type of data | Synchronization method | Demands the Internet. | Speed. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Google Contacts | Yes. | Instantly. |
| Photo/Video | Google Photo | Yeah (Wi-Fi) | Depends on the volume. |
| Annexes | Google Play Store | Yes. | Medium |
| Files. | Google Drive | Yes. | Medium |
On the new Xiaomi, when you first turn on or in settings, log in to the same Google account. The system automatically prompts you to restore data from the backup. You can choose which apps and settings to download. Backup through Google also saves Wi-Fi passwords and some system settings.
It’s important to note that photos and videos are best synced through a separate Google Photos app. Make sure Samsung has Autoboot and Sync enabled. After that, Xiaomi just open the Google Photos gallery and all your pictures will appear there.
Transfer of multimedia through USB-cable
If you don't have a stable Wi-Fi connection, or if you have hundreds of gigabytes of data, the most reliable method is to use a computer as an intermediate. USB-cable and free space on the hard disk of the PC.
Connect Samsung to your computer and select the MTP file transfer mode in notifications. Copy the DCIM (camera photos and videos), Pictures, Download and Music folders into a separate folder on your computer. Then turn off Samsung and connect Xiaomi.
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Use the original USB cables for both devices. Cheap cables can only support charging and not transmit data, which will lead to a connection error to the computer.
Copy saved folders from your computer into Xiaomi's internal memory. The folder structure on Android devices is standardized, so photos are automatically identified by the gallery and music by the player, and this is the most controlled way to sort out unnecessary garbage immediately before downloading to a new phone.
After copying, it is recommended to check the integrity of the files. Open a few random photos and videos on the new device to make sure they are not corrupted. Also be sure to check the Bluetooth or WhatsApp folder on Samsung if important media files are stored there.
Transfer of messages and call history
SMS messages and call logs are data that is often forgotten to be saved, but can be critical to confirm codes or communication history.Standard Android tools are not always willing to transfer this data between different brands without third-party assistance.
The Mi Mover app mentioned earlier does a great job of porting SMS and call history along with contacts. However, if you use the method with a Google Account, it’s worth knowing that SMS defaults may not sync depending on the Android version and Google One settings.
- 📱 Use Mi Mover to Guaranteed SMS and Call Logs Transfer.
- 💬 To transfer WhatsApp correspondence, use the built-in backup function in Google Drive inside the messenger itself.
- 📞 Call logs are best copied through direct device connection.
- 🔐 Make sure that the Samsung Messages app is updated to the latest version.
For WhatsApp users, the process is different. On Samsung, go to Settings → Chats → Backup and click Save. Make sure the backup is created on Google Drive. On Xiaomi, install WhatsApp, log in to your account, and when asked, restore the history from the backup.
⚠️ Note: Local WhatsApp backups (files in your phone's memory) won't be visible when you change device unless you copy them manually via PC.Always use cloud backup on Google Drive.
Solving and eliminating errors
Although processes are fine, there can be technical difficulties, and understanding the causes of errors can help to quickly resolve them, and most often problems are related to software failures or software version incompatibility.
One of the common problems is the "Not enough space" error, even when there is free space, which can be due to the file system or hidden system files, in which case try to transfer data in smaller portions, choosing not all categories at once, but only photos, then only applications.
If the transmission is stuck at a certain percentage, check if one of the devices is in "Energy Savings" mode. VPN-Services or antiviruses that can block local network connections between phones, and connection stability is a key success factor.
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If none of the wireless methods work consistently, use your computer as an intermediate storage device – this is the most reliable, albeit longer, option.
In rare cases, some specific Samsung settings may not display correctly on Xiaomi due to differences in the One UI and MIUI (HyperOS) shells. For example, alarm clock or calendar settings may reset, in which case it is recommended to manually check important settings after the migration is completed.