Changing a smartphone is always an exciting process, often overshadowed by the fear of losing important data accumulated over the years. A particularly critical issue is keeping a phone book, because the numbers of friends, colleagues and delivery services are needed daily. Fortunately, the transition from Samsung's Android device to Xiaomi's gadget is made as easy as possible today with built-in tools and cloud services. You don't need to be a technician to perform this procedure.
There are several proven synchronization methods, each with its own advantages depending on the amount of information and the speed of the internet. We’ll look at the most effective ways, including using the branded Mi Mover app, syncing through a Google account, and even the classic method through a Google account. SIM-You can choose the option that suits your situation, but the main thing is to take your time and follow the instructions carefully.
In this article, we will take a detailed look at each step to eliminate any errors and misunderstandings. You will learn how to avoid duplication of records and what to do if standard methods do not work. The fastest and most reliable way to transfer is using the Mi Mover application, which requires no Internet traffic consumption and works directly between devices. Let's start preparing your gadgets for data migration.
Preparation of devices before the transfer
Before you start the active phase of data copying, you need to make sure that both smartphones are ready to go.The first thing to check the battery level on both devices: it should be at least 50-60% so that the process is not interrupted halfway due to discharge. Also make sure that both phones are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, as they may be needed to detect devices with each other.
On a Samsung device, it’s worth cleaning up the phone book from unnecessary or erroneous entries so you don’t transfer “garbage” to the new device. This will also speed up the data transfer process. The new Xiaomi recommends freeing up some free space in memory, although this is not as critical for contacts as for photos or videos.
⚠️ Note: Do not start transferring if one of the devices is in power saving mode, as the system can force the wireless modules to be turned off to save power, which will interrupt the connection.
It is also important to update the software on both smartphones to the latest available version, ensuring that transmission protocols are compatible and that there are no bugs in the system applications. Check the updates in Settings → About Phone → System Update. After completing these simple steps, you can move on to the migration method.
Method 1: Use the Mi Mover application
The most effective and native solution for Xiaomi’s ecosystem is the Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on most new Xiaomi models and allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also messages, photos, apps and system settings. To get started, find this app on a new phone or download it from Google Play to both devices if it is not available.
Run the app on both smartphones. On a Samsung device, select the role of "Sender" (Sender), and on Xiaomi - "Receiver". QR-code or connect through device search. Once you have established the connection, you'll see a list of data types to transmit.
In the category list, look for Contacts and make sure you tick next to it. You can deselect from other categories if you only need phone numbers. Click Send and wait until the process is complete. The speed depends on the number of records, but it usually takes no more than a few minutes.
- 🚀 Speed: Transfers via local Wi-Fi, which provides high speed without using mobile Internet.
- 📱 Compatibility: Works on all versions of Android, starting at 4.4 and up, which covers almost all modern smartphones.
- 🔒 Security: Data is transferred directly between devices without access to third-party servers.
⚠️ Warning: While Mi Mover is running, do not switch to other apps or lock the smartphone screen, otherwise the connection may be severed by the system.
What if the Mi Mover can’t see the device?
Make sure that both phones are on GPS Sometimes it helps to restart the app or reboot both smartphones, and check if the antivirus does not block the local connection.> Method 2: Sync through Google account The Google ecosystem is the standard for the Android platform, and using cloud sync is one of the easiest ways to transfer. If your Samsung has enabled contact sync, then all numbers are already saved in the cloud. You just have to log in to the same account on the new Xiaomi. Check the sync status on the old phone by going to Settings → Accounts. → Make sure the switch opposite the Contacts item is active. If you just added numbers, manually press the sync button (usually three dots in the menu corner) so that the data is instantly sent to the server. On the new Xiaomi device, when you first set up or in the account menu, add the same Google account. The system automatically prompts you to restore data from the cloud. Select the option "Restore from copy" or just wait for the background synchronization, and the contacts will appear in the phone book. Local portability (Mi Mover) Google Synchronization High (depends on Wi-Fi) Average (depends on the Internet) Do you need the Internet No (required) The risk of data loss Minimum (data in the cloud) No one device is secure, even if you have a reliable copy in your phone. Method 3: Transfer through SIM-A classic method that is relevant if you do not have access to Wi-Fi or prefer offline solutions. SIM-The card has a limited storage and formatting, so it’s ideal for only transferring phone numbers and names, but won’t save photos, email addresses or extra numbers. On a Samsung smartphone, open the Contacts app, click on the menu (three dots or a hamburger) and select Contact Management or Import/Export Contacts. SIM-The system will warn you that some data may be lost (for example, long names or multiple numbers per contact), confirm the action. SIM-card to Xiaomi phone (if you changed the slot) or just go to import. On the new device, go to the Contacts app, select Import/Export and specify the source «SIM-Select all contacts and click “Import to your phone memory” or “Import to your Google account». ✅ Universality: Works on even the oldest models of phones without the Internet. ⚠️ Restrictions: Names may be cut to 10-15 symbols, the additional fields will disappear. 💾 Limits: Number of contacts limited by chip capacity SIM (usually 250-500 record). ⚠️ Note: Before exporting to SIM Make sure to back up your contacts to the cloud or phone, as the recording process is done on the phone. SIM-Solution: Duplicates and missing numbers After transfer, users often face the problem of duplicate records when the same contact is displayed twice or three times. This happens if you’ve used multiple methods at the same time, or if contacts have been saved in different places (on your phone, on SIM, and on Google). Xiaomi has a built-in tool to solve this problem. Open the Contacts app, click on the menu and select “Clean up Repetitive Contacts” (or “Combine Repeated Contacts”). The system will automatically find matches by phone number or name and offer to merge them into one card. This will only take a couple of minutes. If the numbers are gone, check the display filter. In the Contacts app, click on the display settings and make sure that the “all contacts are not deleted” filter is sometimes the correct one. Setting up display and sort on Xiaomi After a successful transfer, you should set up the phone book for yourself, since the interface MIUI HyperOS may be different from One. UI You can change the order of sorting by name or by last name. For Russian-speaking users, it is often more convenient to sort by name, because in the phone book we often search for people by the first word. Go to the contact settings and find the item "Sort". You can also set up the format for displaying your name (for example, “Family Name” or “Family Name”). It is also recommended to check where the new numbers are saved by default – you should choose a Google account so that sync works automatically. ID. When moving through Google, photos are often saved, but when used SIM-Bluetooth or maps can be lost. You can download them from the gallery by editing each contact.Conclusion and final recommendations Transfer contacts from Samsung to Xiaomi is a procedure that takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on the method chosen. We recommend using the Mi Mover app for comprehensive porting or Google sync for maximum reliability and automation in the future. SIM-Now that your phone book is secure, you can use the new device, and check your sync settings regularly so that new numbers also get to the cloud. This simple action will save you from losing data in case of a breakage or loss of your phone? Contact photos are often not transferred through the SIM-If you've used Google sync, you have to upload photos automatically when you have the Internet, and if you don't, you have to add them manually from the gallery, editing each contact separately, and can you interrupt the transfer to Mi Mover? It is not recommended to interrupt the process, as it can lead to partial transfer or damage to the contact database. If the transfer is stopped, it is better to start the procedure again, having previously cleared the contacts on the new phone. Will the transfer of contacts take place in the Google cloud? Contact text data is negligible (kilobytes), so it has little impact on the 15GB quota provided by Google.