How to switch from Samsung to Xiaomi: The Complete Migration Guide

The transition to a new smartphone always brings mixed feelings: on the one hand, the joy of fresh technology and an improved camera, on the other – the prospect of reconfiguring the entire environment is frightening, especially when you change the ecosystem within the same operating system, for example, switch from Samsung One UI to the branded shell of Xiaomi. It seems to be everywhere Android, but the devil lies in the details of the interface and the logic of the application.

Many users are afraid of losing important contacts, photo archives or messaging history, but modern migration tools make this process as painless as possible. IT-And the key is to know what tools to use and where to look for the right settings.

In this article, we will discuss a step-by-step algorithm that will help you quickly adapt to a new device. We will look at the work of regular utilities, the nuances of porting WhatsApp and Viber, and also discuss the key differences in system management. It is critical to create a full backup of data before starting any transfer operations, even if you use cloud services, this will save you from losing information in the event of a network failure or software error.

Preparing the old Samsung for the move

Before you pick up a new phone, you need to get your old phone in order. First of all, check if you have enough space in Google Photos cloud storage or on Samsung Cloud servers. If you plan to use a Mi Account for backup, make sure you have a stable Wi-Fi connection, as data transfer can take a considerable time.

It's also worth reviewing installed apps. Samsung smartphones often have a lot of software pre-installed that you don't use, and it'll take too much time and space to move them, remove unnecessary software, clear the cache, and make room for temporary migration files.

Make sure to sync your contacts and calendar with your Google account.This is a basic step that ensures that the most important information is safe. Go to Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Account Management and select your Google profile. Make sure that the sliders opposite Contacts, Calendar and Notes are activated and lit in blue.

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Take screenshots of the main screens and app folders on Samsung before resetting, which will help you recreate the familiar structure on the new Xiaomi faster by placing the icons in a similar way.

Data portability tools: Mi Mover vs Smart Switch

Samsung has developed a great Smart Switch app, but it is not suitable for switching to competitors’ devices. In the Xiaomi world, the Mi Mover utility (or “Mi Move” in Russian localization) is the king of migration. This native application is already pre-installed on most of the brand’s new smartphones and optimized for fast data transfer over a local Wi-Fi network.

The process starts with installing the app on both devices if it's not on the old phone. Unlike Bluetooth, Mi Mover uses a direct Wi-Fi connection, which allows you to copy fast, and you can transfer not only media files, but also system settings, alarm clocks and even the location of icons on your desktop.

However, it is worth considering that the application port may not be perfect, and some programs that are tied to Google services or specific Samsung features may require re-authorization, and the table below shows a comparison of the capabilities of standard migration tools.

Step-by-step: set up the new Xiaomi

When you turn on your new smartphone, you'll be greeted by a welcome screen. Choose a language and connect to your Wi-Fi network. When you log in to your Google account, enter the same data you would have on your old device. The system will suggest you recover data from a cloud copy or from another device, and that's where you need to be careful.

If you're using Mi Mover, run the app on both phones. On the new device, select "I'm the recipient" and on the old one, "I'm the sender." Scan. QR-code the camera of the new phone to establish the connection. Next, select the data categories to transfer: images, videos, documents, applications and system settings.

The copying process can take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of data, do not interrupt the connection and keep the device screens unlocked, and once completed, the phone can restart to apply new settings.

⚠️ Note: During the migration process, do not open other heavy applications or leave the Mi Mover menu. Interrupting the transfer of large files (for example, video archives) can cause them to be damaged or incorrectly displayed in the gallery.

Nuances of transfer of messengers and passwords

The most sensitive part of the transition is chats on WhatsApp and Viber. Simply porting an app file is not enough, since the correspondence history is stored separately. For WhatsApp on Android, the best thing to do is use the built-in backup feature on Google Drive. On the old Samsung, go to Settings → Chats → Backup Chats and click on "Backup".

On the new Xiaomi, WhatsApp will offer to restore your history from the cloud when you install it. Make sure you use the same phone number and Google account. For Viber, the procedure is similar: create a backup in Viber settings on the old device, and when you log in to the new one, select a recovery from Google Drive.

As for passwords, if you've used Google Password Manager or Samsung Pass, the process may be different.Samsung Pass passwords don't always automatically sync with other Android devices as smoothly as Google's standard manager.It's a good idea to export important passwords in advance or make sure they're saved in aka!unt Google Chrome.

Adapting to MIUI and HyperOS: the difference from One UI

Once you've moved the data, you'll come across a new interface philosophy: MIUI shells and the new HyperOS are very different from Samsung's One UI. There's no default app menu (although it can be enabled), and notification and control is different. Swipe on the bottom left opens notifications, and on the right, a curtain with switches.

Pay special attention to power settings. Xiaomi is known for aggressive battery optimization, which can kill background processes of messengers. To get notifications on time, you need to go to the application "Security" → "Battery" → "Restrictions for applications" and set for important programs (WhatsApp, Telegram, Mail) mode "No restrictions".

It’s also worth mastering the “Second Space” – a unique feature of Xiaomi that allows you to create a completely isolated profile on one phone.It is convenient for separating work and personal life, which Samsung implemented through the “Secure Folder”, but Xiaomi is a separate full-fledged system with its own applications and gallery.

Don’t forget to set up navigation gestures. Unlike Samsung, where buttons or gestures are set in one place, Xiaomi has additional sensitivity and return settings. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Full-screen mode to get used to new finger movements.

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The main task after installation is to set up auto-start and work in the background for instant messengers, otherwise you risk missing important notifications due to aggressive system energy savings.

Typical Problems Resolving After Transition

Early days of use can reveal minor inconsistencies, and users often complain about the lack of notifications or fast battery drain, and 90% of the time, this is solved by properly configuring permissions and removing background activity restrictions, as discussed above. It is also worth checking whether the "Flight" mode is included for individual SIM-maps.

Another common problem is incorrect font or interface scale display. MIUI/HyperOS has a separate text and display size setting that may conflict with Android availability settings. If the interface looks "got," reset the zoom to Settings → Additional settings → Text size to default.

⚠️ Note: When transferring data through third-party PC programs (not Mi Mover), file access rights are often violated. If the application writes "Storage Access Error", delete it and reinstall it via Google Play, providing all the requested permissions when you first start.

If you encounter a contact sync problem (duplicate or no), check in the Contacts app which account is chosen to display by default. Often, old contacts are hung on a Samsung account and new ones are written on Google. Combine them or set up a display filter.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)