Changing your smartphone is always stressful, with the risk of losing important photos, contacts, and app settings. When a user moves from the Xiaomi ecosystem (MIUI or HyperOS) to Samsung devices (One UI), the process can seem complicated due to the differences in shells.
There are several proven ways to transfer information, from Google cloud services to specialized utilities from manufacturers, and the choice of a particular method depends on the amount of data, Internet connection speed and operating system version on both devices.
In this article, we will take a closer look at each step so you can safely upgrade to the new Samsung Galaxy while keeping your digital life intact. We will look at the nuances of working with messengers, passwords and system settings that are often lost during standard portability.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before starting the process, make sure both smartphones are ready to go ahead and charge Xiaomi and Samsung to at least 60-70%, as transferring a large amount of data over Wi-Fi Direct or cable consumes battery power significantly.
If the router is not available, make sure that both phones have Bluetooth and geolocation modules enabled, as they are used to detect devices and establish a secure communication channel.
Free up space on the receiving device. While Samsung usually offers a large amount of memory, pre-cleaning the cache or deleting unnecessary temporary files will speed up the process of writing data.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to interrupt the transmission process or unlock phone screens while copying large files.This can damage archives with photos or contacts.
Check for updates on both smartphones. Often older versions of MIUI or One UI contain bugs that interfere with the proper operation of migration tools. Updating to the latest available version is key to successful completion of the procedure.
Using Samsung Smart Switch for portability
The most reliable and official way is the Smart Switch app.It is preinstalled on all modern Samsung smartphones and is available for installation on Xiaomi through the Google Play Store or the Google Play Store. APK-file.
When you start the program, select the Receiver role on your new phone and the Sendor role on Xiaomi. The app automatically prompts you to choose the type of connection: wireless or via a USB-C to USB-C cable (or adapter).
You will be asked to access the Xiaomi screen, you must grant the application all the requested rights, including access to storage, contacts, call log and SMS. Without these permissions, Smart Switch will not be able to read data.
☑️ Check before launching the Smart Switch
Then you'll see a list of data categories to transfer, and the system will tell you what to copy: contacts, messages, images, videos, documents, home screen settings, and even alarm clock schedules.
- 📱 Contacts and call logs – transfer completely without loss.
- 📸 Gallery – photos and videos retain original quality and date of shooting.
- ⚙️ Settings – some Wi-Fi and Bluetooth system settings can be adapted to One UI.
- 📝 Notes - embedded notes MIUI Often require separate export or transfer through the cloud.
The copying process can take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of data. The progress bar will show the status, but you should not rely on it blindly - it is better to wait for the final message of success.
Google Account and Cloud Reservation Method
If third-party apps are not possible, standard Android tools are there to help, ideal for those who already use Google’s services to store contacts and calendars.
On the old Xiaomi, go to your Google account settings. Make sure sync is enabled for all the necessary items: Contacts, Calendar, Chrome (passwords and history), Drive (photo via Google Photos).
Settings → Accounts → Google → SynchronizationAfter forced synchronization, log in to the same account on the new Samsung, and when you first set up, the system will suggest you recover data from the cloud, which will take longer as the data will be downloaded over the Internet.
What to do if the synchronization is suspended?
Importantly, this method won’t transfer files lying in download folders or local storages of applications that don’t support the cloud, requiring manual transfer via PC or file manager.
Transfer of WhatsApp and messengers
Messengers require a special approach, since their correspondence history is stored locally or in specific clouds. WhatsApp on Android has an official method of transferring chats between different manufacturers, which is supported by the application itself.
When you first install WhatsApp on Samsung, after you enter your phone number, it will prompt you to restore your chat history. If you've used Smart Switch, the data may already be there. If not, use the built-in migration feature.
In the WhatsApp app on Xiaomi, create a local backup or make sure the latest copy is downloaded to Google Drive.When installed on a new phone, select Restore from Google Drive.
- 💬 Telegram – all data is stored in the cloud, just log in to your account by phone number.
- 📞 Viber – requires you to back up to Viber Cloud or Google Drive in your application settings.
- 📩 Signal – requires you to back up a file and manually transfer it, as there is no cloud storage.
⚠️ Note: When you move WhatsApp between different brands (Xiaomi) → Samsung's old local backups may not be automatically determined. Use the "Chat Transfer" feature in WhatsApp settings during the initial Samsung phone setup.
Two-factor authentication passwords are better written in advance or exported from Google Authenticator if you are not using cloud-based code synchronization.
Solving compatibility and format issues
Sometimes users find that some files are not opened or displayed incorrectly, due to differences in file system codecs or formats between MIUI and One UI.
For example, some Xiaomi system fonts or design themes won’t work on Samsung, they’ll have to be re-searched in the Galaxy Store, and desktop widgets may get lost because of the different grids in the workspace.
If the photos are displayed in black screen, it may have been saved in HEIC format or Xiaomi camera-specific.conversion may require third-party galleries apps.
| Type of data | Transfer method | Probability of success | nuance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Google Sync / Smart Switch | 100% | They can be duplicated, they need cleaning. |
| Photo/Video | Smart Switch / Cable | 98% | EXIF data and albums are stored |
| Annexes | Play Market | 95% | Paid applications are available for free |
| Wi-Fi passwords | Smart Switch | 90% | Requires confirmation on the old device |
To solve problems with duplicate contacts, use the built-in Samsung Contacts feature called Contact Management, which can combine similar entries.
Alternative methods: Mi Mover and manual method
While Samsung is pushing its solution, Xiaomi’s Mi Mover app also has a feature to send data to other Android devices, though it’s less stable in tandem with competitors.
For the manual method, you'll need a computer. Connect Xiaomi to a PC in file transfer mode (MTP), copy the DCIM, Download, Documents and Music folders. Then plug Samsung in and paste the data into the appropriate directories.
The good thing about this method is that you can see the structure of the files and you can sort the garbage right away, but it won't take away the application settings and system preferences.
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Use a USB-C cable on USB-C to connect phones directly.It's faster than Wi-Fi and doesn't require a computer or router on hand.
If you use microSD cards, just move the card from your old phone to your new one. Samsung reads file systems formatted in exFAT or FAT32 perfectly.
Completion of setup and optimization of the new smartphone
After the data is thrown, do not rush to delete information from the old phone. Use the new Samsung for a couple of days in a quiet mode, checking the operation of all applications and the availability of files.
Be sure to set up your biometrics (fingerprint, face) and Samsung Account services to be able to use the Search for My Device and cloud redundancy feature in the future.
Calibrate the screen and battery. Modern shells optimize their work after a week of use, but manual background checks will not hurt.
⚠️ Warning: Before selling or disposing of old Xiaomi, perform a full reset to factory settings (Wipe) Data/Factory Reset and extract SIM-memory-card.
Now your new smartphone is fully ready to go, keeping all the important digital footprints and settings you’re used to.
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The main secret of successful transfer is to use the cable connection via Smart Switch for the bulk of data and separately check the backup of messengers.
By following these steps, you minimize downtime and quickly settle into the new ecosystem of the Korean manufacturer.