How to transfer all data from Samsung to Xiaomi

Changing a smartphone is always a little stressful, not so much the loss of a familiar device as the need to transfer accumulated gigabytes of information to a new gadget. Samsung ecosystem owners who decide to switch to Xiaomi often face the question of how to quickly and without loss to transfer contacts, photos and applications. Fortunately, modern technology allows you to do this in minutes using built-in tools or cloud services.

In this article, we will look at all the current migration methods that ensure the safety of your data. Data transfer can be done over Wi-Fi, wired connection or cloud storage, and each method has its own nuances. You will learn which folders require special attention, how to keep your correspondence history and why standard Android tools may not cope with specific One UI files.

Before you start the process, you need to do basic training for both devices, which will save you from possible errors in the middle of the procedure and reduce the latency. Be sure to charge both smartphones to at least 70% or connect them to a power source before starting synchronization. Interrupting the process on a low battery charge can lead to file damage or malfunction of the system on the new device.

Preparing devices for migration

The first step is cleaning and checking the original Samsung device. Make sure the phone has enough free space to create temporary archives if you plan to use local copying methods. It's also worth checking the relevance of the Android operating system version, as older versions may not support some of the data protocols used by new Xiaomi smartphones.

The host side, the new Xiaomi, also has a number of actions to do. When you first turn on, the system will suggest you configure the device, and that's where the most common suggestion is to import data. If you've already set up the phone as new, you'll either have to reset the settings or use third-party apps that run on top of the main system. MIUI and HyperOS have great integration with portable tools, but they work best on a clean system.

The important thing is to have a Google account, because both operating systems are Android-based, syncing through a Google account is fundamental. Without it, you can't automatically restore contacts, calendar and installed app lists from the Play Store. Make sure that the old device is synchronizing all the necessary partitions.

⚠️ Note: If your Samsung has a custom shell with strong system changes or there are applications for data encryption, standard methods of transfer may not see some of the files.

Don’t forget to also turn off the lock screen or remember the password./PIN-code, as some data transfer programs require confirmation of access to the file system of both devices, this is a security measure to prevent unauthorized access to your personal information.

Use of the Mi Mover app

The most effective and recommended way Xiaomi manufacturer is to use the proprietary application Mi Mover.This tool is specially designed for migration from other platforms, including iOS and Android from other vendors.The application allows you to transfer contacts, messages, call logs, photos, videos, music, documents and even some system settings.

The process starts with installing the app on both smartphones, and on the new Xiaomi, it's often pre-installed in the Tools folder. On Samsung, it needs to be downloaded from Google Play or scanned. QR-The code that will appear on the screen of the new phone, and after the application is launched on both devices, you need to select the role of each phone: "Sender" (Old phone) and "Receiver" (New phone).

And then they connect over a local Wi-Fi network that one of the smartphones creates, and that's a high data rate, without using mobile traffic, and you'll need to confirm the connection by scanning it. QR-Once connected, Mi Mover will analyze the contents of the old phone and suggest selecting data categories to transfer.

When choosing data, pay attention to the size of the archive being transferred. It can take a considerable amount of time to transfer large amounts of data, such as 100 GB of photos and videos. At this point, you should not switch to other applications or block the screen so as not to interrupt the connection. MIUI is optimized to receive this data and automatically distribute it to the corresponding folders.

The peculiarity of working with Samsung is that Mi Mover may not migrate some specific One UI settings, such as themes or widget location. However, basic data, including WhatsApp (when you properly configure the backup inside the messenger itself before launching the Mi Mover), will be saved.

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When transferring large amounts of data through Mi Mover, keep your phones close to each other and don’t run heavy apps in the background to keep the Wi-Fi module speed down.

Synchronization through Google account

The classic method that works on any Android device is that all your data is stored in the Google cloud, and when you log in to a new Xiaomi device, it automatically downloads it, and it’s the most reliable way to save contacts, notes, calendar events and app lists.

To start with, you need to go to the settings on your Samsung phone and select Accounts and Archiving or simply Accounts. Make sure your Google account is active and synced for all important items: Contacts, Calendar, Drive, Photos (via Google Photos). By clicking on the sync button, you force the latest changes to the cloud.

On the new Xiaomi, when you first set up, the system will ask you to enter Google's login and password. Once you enter credentials, the phone will prompt you to restore data from the backup. You will see a list of devices from which you can recover data. Choose your Samsung and tick what you need to restore. Google Drive will take over the main work of the background loading of applications and their data.

It is worth noting that photos and videos are better synced separately through the Google Photos app. In the app settings on your old phone, turn on "Shoot and sync." After that, all media files will appear in the cloud and will be available on the new phone immediately after installing the app and logging in to the acca.

This frees up space on the device and guarantees safety even in the event of loss of the phone.

The advantage of this method is its independence from the brand. Even if you decide to change Xiaomi to another brand in the future, your data will remain safe in your Google account. However, for a full copy of the system, including call settings and SMS, this method may not be enough without the use of additional backup tools.

Transfer over cloud services and PCs

If the data is too large and Wi-Fi speeds are too low, a personal computer comes to the rescue, a technique considered the “gold standard” for transferring heavy files such as video to a computer. 4K Or huge archives of documents, by connecting Samsung to a computer through a computer. USB-cable, select file transfer mode (MTP) on the phone screen.

Copy DCIM (camera photos and videos), Pictures (screenshots and images from social networks), Download and Documents to your computer hard drive. Then connect Xiaomi and move these folders to the appropriate directories of the internal drive of the new smartphone. The folder structure in Android is standard, so there should be no problems with displaying files in the gallery.

For cloud storage users like Yandex.Disk, Dropbox or Samsung Cloud, the process is also simplified: Install a cloud service app on both phones. Upload files from your old device to the cloud, then open the app on the new Xiaomi and download data. Samsung Cloud may require you to install a separate app on non-Samsung devices to access files or use the web version.

⚠️ Note: When copying via PC, do not remove the cable during the writing process.This can lead to logical errors of the file system and loss of some data, especially if many small files are copied.

Using a PC also allows you to audit data. While the files are on your computer, you can remove unnecessary debris, duplicate photos or heavy videos that are no longer relevant, thereby saving space on the new Xiaomi device.

Features of transfer of messengers

Messengers deserve special attention, as they store correspondence not in the general store of contacts, but in their secure databases. For WhatsApp, the process of transferring from Samsung to Xiaomi has become easier thanks to the built-in chat migration function. On the old phone, in WhatsApp settings, select Chats → Backup Chats and create a copy in Google Drive.

When you install WhatsApp on a new Xiaomi and type in the same phone number, the system will find a backup in Google Drive and offer to restore the message history. It is important to use the same Google account that was on the old device. Telegram and Viber process is even easier: these messengers store the entire history in the cloud, so just log in to the account and all chats will be downloaded automatically.

Banking applications and Google Pay (now Google Wallet) can be difficult to handle. Banking applications require re-authorization and device binding. Some banks may request confirmation via SMS or call center to unlock access from a new device.

For authentication applications such as Google Authenticator, be sure to use the account export feature before resetting your old phone" → "Export accounts, scan the accounts QR-Without this step, you could lose access to accounts protected by two-factor authentication.

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Always back up the messengers inside the apps themselves before transferring, as common migration tools may not save the chat database correctly.

Addressing common problems

Users may encounter various difficulties in migrating, such as the contacts may be displayed twice after the transfer. SIM-maps and once from your Google account. To fix this, open the Contacts app on Xiaomi, go to settings and select "Joint Duplicates" or turn off the contact display from SIM-map.

Another common problem is the lack of notifications from applications. MIUI and HyperOS aggressively manage power consumption and can kill background processes of unusual applications. Go to the battery settings, find the problem application and select No Limits mode. Also add the application to boot.

If some apps don't open or work properly, they may not be optimized for screen resolution or Android version on the new Xiaomi.Try updating them via GetApps (the Xiaomi brand store) or Play Store.In extreme cases, removing and re-installing the app solves the cache problem.

Don’t ignore system updates on a new phone right after you buy. Often the first service packs contain important security patches and compatibility improvements that can critically affect the stability of your experience after data migration. Check for updates in Settings → About the phone.