How to quickly transfer data from Samsung to Xiaomi

The transition to a new smartphone is always accompanied by excitement and expectation of improvement, especially when you change the popular Samsung ecosystem to a more affordable or functional Xiaomi platform. However, the biggest headache for many users is not the choice of model, but the question of preserving all accumulated digital life. You do not need to worry about losing important contacts or family photos, since modern technology allows you to migrate data with almost no losses.

The process of transferring information between Android devices has become much easier in recent years, but it still has its own nuances that not everyone knows about. Samsung smartphone owners are often used to the proprietary One UI shells, while Xiaomi offers its MIUI or HyperOS interface, which can cause confusion when initially configured. In this article, we will take a detailed look at all the available methods, from cloud services to local copying via Wi-Fi, so you can choose the best option for your situation.

Before you start taking action, make sure that both devices have sufficient battery life, as the process can take from 15 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of information.It is also recommended to check the availability of free space on the Xiaomi receiving device to avoid errors in the middle of the procedure.

Preparing devices for data migration

Successful file transfer is directly dependent on the correct preparation of both devices. The first step is to update the operating system on both devices to the latest available version to eliminate software conflicts when transferring data packets. On a Samsung device, check for updates in the settings menu, and on a new Xiaomi phone, do the same immediately after turning on.

The second important step is to connect both smartphones to the same Wi-Fi network. This is critical for methods that use local wireless transmission, since the copy speed through the router is much faster than over the mobile Internet. If you do not have access to the home network, some applications can create their own access point, but this will require switching Wi-Fi modules in the process.

Don’t forget to also free up space on your old device by removing clearly unnecessary files, messenger cache and temporary files that you don’t need in the new place.This will not only speed up the process, but also allow you to transfer only really important information without clogging the memory of the new gadget Redmi or Poco.

⚠️ Note: Before any transfer operation is initiated, it is strongly recommended to back up the most important data to an external medium or to the cloud in case of unforeseen software failures.

Using the Mi Mover app for Samsung

The most effective and “native” way to switch to the Chinese manufacturer’s devices is to use the proprietary utility Mi Mover. This application is designed specifically for migrating data from any Android device, including Samsung Galaxy, to the MIUI platform. It allows you to transfer contacts, messages, call logs, photos, music, videos, documents and even some system settings.

The process starts with installing the app on both smartphones. On the new Xiaomi phone, it is often preinstalled in the Tools folder, but if it is not, download it from the Google Play Store. On the old Samsung, the app also needs to be downloaded from the Play Store. Once launched on both devices, you must accept the terms of the user agreement and provide all the requested permissions to access files and contacts.

Next, select Reciever on the new device and Sender on the old one. QR-You can either use the code or connect to the Wi-Fi network you've created, and when you connect, the interfaces sync up, and you'll see a list of data categories that you can transfer. You can choose all at once or manually mark only the sections you want, like leaving heavy videos in the old place.

• 📱 Supports the transmission of contacts, messages SMS/MMS and call logs without loss of numbering.
• 🖼️ Copy photos and videos in original quality, storing metadata about the shooting date.
• 📲 Transfers installed applications (APK files, although the data inside some banking applications will have to be reauthorized.
• ⚙️ Stores Wi-Fi network settings and some user system preferences.

It is important to note that the transfer speed depends on the number of files and the power of the Wi-Fi modules in both phones.During the process, the device screens should not go out, so it is better to turn off autolock or periodically touch the display.Once completed, you will receive a detailed report on how much data was successfully moved.

Transfer through Google Account and Cloud Services

If you’ve been using the Google ecosystem on your Samsung, half of the work on data porting is done automatically. When you first set up a new Xiaomi smartphone, it will prompt you to log in to your Google account, the most reliable way to synchronize contacts, calendar events, Google Keep notes and passwords stored in the password manager.

For photos and videos, Google Photos is the best service to use. Make sure your old device is synced (“Shoot and Sync”) and wait until the process is complete. Once you log in to the same account on your new phone, all your pictures will appear in the gallery, taking up minimal space thanks to the “Savings of Space” feature, which stores the originals in the cloud.

However, the limitations of Google’s free rate, which provides 15 GB of space shared by mail, disk and photos, should you buy more space, or use a hybrid method: contacts through Google, and heavy files in other ways, and through Google Play, you can restore the list of previously installed applications by simply clicking the “Install All” button.

Using cloud services is ideal for those who do not want to mess with cables or complex Wi-Fi Direct settings. The main thing is to have a stable Internet connection, preferably unlimited, so as not to exhaust mobile operator traffic when downloading large amounts of data to a new Xiaomi device.

Local transmission via Wi-Fi Direct and Bluetooth

For users who prefer not to download unnecessary apps or do not have access to the Internet, there are built-in Android features. Wi-Fi Direct technology allows you to create a direct connection between two devices without bypassing the router. On Samsung, this feature is often built into the Share or Quick Share menu, and on Xiaomi, the analog is Mi Share.

To transfer files this way, open a gallery or file manager on your old phone, select the desired objects and click Share. Your new smartphone should appear on the list of available devices. Once you confirm your request, you will start sending data quickly, a method that is good for transferring individual large files, such as an hour-long video or folders with documents.

⚠️ Note: When transferring large numbers of small files (thousands of photos) over Wi-Fi Direct, the process can take significantly longer due to the overhead cost of establishing a connection for each file.

Bluetooth is a last resort for multiple contacts or small documents. Bluetooth transmission speeds are extremely low (often less than 1-2 Mbps in real life), so copying even one movie takes hours. However, for an emergency transfer of one document, this method remains universal and works even on very old models.

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Use Do Not Disturb mode on both phones during transmission so that incoming calls do not interrupt the Wi-Fi Direct connection.

Transferring WhatsApp and Viber messages

The best way to do this is to migrate messages in messengers, as standard methods often don’t save your message history. For WhatsApp, the most reliable way is to create a local backup on your old device and restore it on a new one. On Samsung, go to Settings → Chats → Chat Backup and click “Create a Backup”.

It is important that the new device has the same phone number and preferably the same Google Drive account if you use cloud reservation.When you first launch WhatsApp on Xiaomi, the app will automatically detect the backup and prompt you to restore your message history. This method works flawlessly 99% of the time when you switch between Android devices.

The procedure is similar for Viber: you need to back up to Settings → Account → Viber Backup. The file is saved in your phone’s memory or on Google Drive. Once you install the app on your new phone and confirm the number, follow the on-screen instructions to restore data from the previously created copy.

• 📱 Make sure that the WhatsApp version on both devices is up to date to read database files correctly.
• 💾 Local copies take up space in memory, remember to delete them after successful transfer.
• 🔒 For additional security, you can enable encryption of backup copies in the messenger settings.

Solving problems in transfer

Despite the fact that processes are fine, users may encounter errors. Often, there are situations where the transmission is suspended at a certain percentage, in which case it is recommended to interrupt the process, restart both devices and try again, selecting a smaller amount of data to transfer, sometimes helping to turn off the power saving on both smartphones during the procedure.

Another common problem is the lack of some apps after the port, which is because some programs installed on Samsung from third-party sources or regional stores may not be compatible with processors or Android versions on Xiaomi.

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If the transfer is interrupted all the time, try dividing the process into stages: first contacts and photos, then applications and heavy files.

Also worth considering are the differences in file paths. On Samsung, some system folders may be called differently than on MIUI, so check the gallery and file manager after the transfer to make sure all files are in their places.