Changing your smartphone to a model from another manufacturer often raises fears of losing important data, especially when moving between ecosystems. However, modern technology allows you to migrate from Samsung to Xiaomi or Redmi as quickly as possible and without losing information. You do not need to be a technician to perform this procedure yourself in 15-20 minutes.
The migration process covers contacts, messages, photos, music, videos, and even installed applications. It is important to choose the right tool that guarantees file integrity and the correct operation of the system after the migration. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, from embedded utilities to cloud services.
Preparation of devices before the migration
Before you start the immediate copying process, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps, which will ensure the stability of the connection and prevent possible errors during the transmission of large amounts of information, ignoring this step can lead to interruption of the procedure.
Both smartphones should be charged at least 50-60%, as the migration process is actively consuming battery power. If the devices run out at a critical moment, the data may be damaged.
- 🔋 Charge both smartphones to levels above 60% to guarantee uninterrupted performance.
- 📶 Connect both devices to a stable Wi-Fi network if you plan to move to the cloud.
- 🧹 Clear the cache of unwanted apps on old Samsung to speed up work.
- 🔒 Unlock the screens of both phones and make sure they are in wake mode.
⚠️ Note: Do not try to migrate data over Bluetooth for large file volumes. This will take hours and can break down at any time without the possibility of restoring progress.
Special attention should be paid to accounts. Make sure you remember the password from your Google account, as it is the key to recovering synchronized data. On a new device, logging into the same account will automatically tighten contacts, notes and calendar.
Using the Mi Mover app for full cloning
The most effective and native way for Xiaomi and Redmi devices is to use the proprietary Mi Mover utility, which is designed specifically for migrating data from any Android device, including Samsung, and allows you to transfer almost all the contents of the phone.
To get started, install the Mi Mover app on both smartphones. On new Xiaomi models, it is often pre-installed in the Tools folder. If the app is not available, you can download it from Google Play or the official GetApps store.
The process of setting up the connection is by creating a local hotspot. The old Samsung phone connects to the Wi-Fi network that the new Xiaomi is building, which allows for high data speeds without using Internet traffic.
☑️ Algorithm of Mi Mover operation
Once connected, the device interfaces sync up, and you'll see a list of categories to migrate, and the system will offer the best settings, but the user can manually eliminate unnecessary folders, which is useful if you only need to move contacts and photos, ignoring system debris.
Google Account Setting up and Cloud Synchronization
Google's ecosystem is a universal bridge between any Android device, and if you've used Samsung before, most of your data is already in the cloud, and when you first turn on Xiaomi, you just need to type in the same username and password.
In your Google account settings on your new device, make sure that sync sliders for contacts, calendar and notes are activated. Photos and videos are restored through the Google Photos app if backup functionality has been enabled there.
- 📸 Photos are restored to their original quality if the original storage was used.
- 📞 Contacts appear in the phone book automatically a few minutes after entering.
- 📝 Notes from Google Keep and tasks from Google Tasks sync instantly.
- 📅 Calendar events are displayed in the standard appendix "Calendar" MIUI.
⚠️ Attention: Communications SMS and call history through a standard Google account is not always correctly transferred or requires a separate backup function in the settings of the old phone.
For users who are actively using Google Drive, this is the most convenient method. It doesn't require both phones at the same time, just log in to the new Redmi, and the data will come from the cloud.
Transferring Multimedia through Computer and Cable
If the volume of photos and videos is in the tens of gigabytes, the wired method through the PC will be the most reliable, the computer acts as an intermediate buffer, which eliminates the risk of interruption of the connection through the air.
Connect Samsung to your computer via USB-cable and select file transfer mode (MTP). Copy the folders. DCIM, Pictures, Download and Music to your hard drive. then plug Xiaomi in and move the files to the appropriate directories.
Structure of folders for copying:
/DCIM/Camera (Camera Photos and Videos)
/Pictures (Screenshots and images from messengers)
/Download (Downloaded files)
/Music (Audio files)Why is cable better than Wi-Fi for large files?
This method also allows you to structure files on a new device, so you can sort photos straight into folders or delete them before you even download them to a new smartphone, and it helps keep the MIUI file system in order from the start.
Comparison of data transfer methods
The choice of method depends on your priorities: speed, convenience or complete control over the process. Below is a table that will help determine the best option for your situation.
| Method | Speed. | Convenience | What's transferable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Tall. | Very convenient. | Everything (applications, settings, data) |
| Google Sync | Medium | Automatically. | Contacts, photos, calendar |
| PC + cable | Maximum | Demands a PC. | Files only (photos, videos, documents) |
| Bluetooth | Low. | Inconveniently | Individual small files |
As you can see from the comparison, Mi Mover is a winner in complexity, trying to copy even the layout of icons on the desktop, if the Android versions are compatible, but for system cleanliness, it is often better to migrate only personal files and install the applications again.
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The combined approach (Mi Mover for settings + Google for contacts) gives the best result and minimizes the risk of data loss.
Solving and eliminating errors
The migration process can be complicated by technicalities, and often the problem is the aggressive MIUI energy saving system, which can kill the transmission process in the background, and you have to give both applications full permissions.
If the transmission is stuck at a certain percentage, try to turn off mobile internet on both devices, leaving only Wi-Fi. It also helps to reboot both smartphones before trying again. Sometimes antiviruses on Samsung can block the connection.
- 🔄 Restart both phones if the process is stuck in the “Connection” phase".
- 🚫 Turn it off. VPN Proxies for the time of data migration.
- 📶 Make sure that the old phone is not enabled mode "Saving traffic".
- 🔐 Allow all requested file and memory access in both applications.
⚠️ Note: After transferring banking applications, they will have to be reauthorized. This is a security measure, and login data (login / password) is better to have at hand, since they are not portable for security reasons.