How to transfer data from Xiaomi to Samsung Galaxy

Changing a smartphone is always stressful, not so much with getting used to a new interface as with the risk of losing important information. The MIUI ecosystem owners who choose to switch to Samsung One UI devices often fear the complexity of migration. However, modern tools allow this procedure to be performed as quickly and safely as possible, preserving the folder structure and content of applications.

The process of transferring data from Xiaomi to Samsung has become much easier thanks to the presence of built-in utilities and cloud services. You do not need to be a technical specialist to copy contacts, photos, messages and even placement of icons on the desktop.

In this guide, we will take a look at all the current migration options, with a focus on the nuances of working with Samsung’s Google account and proprietary software, and properly preparing both devices before starting the procedure ensures that no important file is lost during the transition.

Preparing devices for data migration

Before any manipulations, you need to conduct basic training of both smartphones: make sure that Xiaomi and Samsung are charged at least 50-60% of the battery. The process of copying large amounts of data, especially through Wi-Fi Direct, can significantly consume energy, and suddenly turning off the device will interrupt the operation.

Both smartphones must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Connection stability is critical for transfer speed. If you have the option, use a router that supports 5 GHz bandwidth, as it provides higher bandwidth compared to the standard 2.4 GHz.

Also, make room on the receiving device, check if there is enough free memory on Samsung to accommodate all the files with Xiaomi, and if the data volume exceeds the available space, the process will end in error or only a part of the information will be copied.

⚠️ Warning: Before transferring, be sure to back up important data to Xiaomi in any convenient way. Although the risk of loss is minimal, the safety net is never superfluous when working with large amounts of information.

Don’t forget to check for system updates on both devices. Often, manufacturers will release patches that improve compatibility and stability of migration tools. Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update and make sure the latest available version of the software is installed.

Use Samsung Smart Switch Mobile

The most efficient and official way to transition is the Smart Switch app, a proprietary utility from Samsung designed specifically to migrate data from devices from other manufacturers, including Xiaomi, which allows you to transfer contacts, messages, photos, videos, music, notes, alarm clocks and even some system settings.

To get started, you need to install the app on both devices. On Samsung, it's often pre-installed in the Samsung folder or available in the Galaxy Store. On Xiaomi, the app is downloaded from the Google Play Market. Once installed, run the program on both smartphones.

• 📱 On your Samsung device, select “Get Data” and then specify the source «iPhone/iPad» Or Android (in this case, we choose Android).
• 📶 Select the connection method: “Wireless connection” for Wi-Fi Direct transmission or “Cable” for using the adapter USB-C to USB-C.
• 🔗 On Xiaomi, accept the connection request and confirm the creation of a secure connection between devices.

Once paired, Smart Switch will analyze the contents of the old phone, and you will be asked to select data categories to transfer, you can copy everything at once, or you can select only specific file types, such as only gallery and contacts.

Importantly, the wireless method is convenient with no wires, but can be slower when transferring gigabytes of video.Cable connection provides maximum speed and stability, which is especially true when you first set up a new phone.

Synchronization through Google Account

The basic migration level that every Android user needs to set up is sync through Google Account, which is ideal for transferring contacts, calendar, Google Keep notes and list of installed apps, and data is stored in the cloud and automatically appears on Samsung immediately after login and password are entered.

On Xiaomi, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google. Make sure the switches opposite Contacts, Calendar and other desired items are active. Click on three dots in the corner of the screen and select Sync to force the data to be updated before changing your device.

When you first activate Samsung, just type in the same email address. The system will prompt you to restore the backup. Select the last available save date. Once you have completed the initial setup, the phone will download the list of apps that were on Xiaomi and prompt you to install them.

Note that photos and videos through Google Photos may not sync instantly if you have a large archive, in which case it is better to use Smart Switch or copy media files manually through your computer.

Transferring media through Mi Mover and Mi Cloud

Xiaomi has its own Mi Mover utility, which is designed to send data. While it works best in Xiaomi-to-Xiaomi bundle, in some cases it allows you to back up in a format readable by other devices or upload data to the Mi Cloud.

However, to switch to Samsung, it will be more efficient to use Mi Cloud cloud storage as an intermediary: You can upload photos and contacts to the Xiaomi cloud, and then by logging in through a browser on your computer or installing the Mi Cloud app on Samsung (if available) or simply through a web interface, download them.

Alternatively, you can create a local backup on Xiaomi and transfer the backup file to your computer, and then try to unpack or use it to restore individual items, although full compatibility is not guaranteed due to the differences in the structure of MIUI and One UI.

The most reliable way for multimedia is direct copying via Smart Switch or using cloud services like Google Photos or Yandex.Disk, which are independent of the smartphone manufacturer.

Working with messages and call log

Transferring the history of SMS and call logs is one of the most delicate tasks, as this data is often not synced with the default cloud for privacy reasons. Here again comes the Smart Switch, which is able to pull this data directly from Xiaomi memory.

If you use Google Messages to exchange SMS with Xiaomi, then the entire history of correspondence is already saved in your Google account, just install the same application on Samsung, log in to your account and enable sync in the application settings.

If you use the standard Messages app from MIUI, the automatic synchronization may not work.

• 📩 Use the “Backup and Restore” feature in Xiaomi’s Settings to save SMS file.
• 💾 Move this file to Samsung and try to restore it through a similar tool if the formats are compatible.
• 🛠️ Use third-party utilities like this SMS Backup & Restore, which create a universal XML-A file readable on any Android. ⚠️ Note: When transferring messages through third-party apps, make sure you give the necessary permissions to access the information. SMS Without these rights, the program will not be able to read the history of correspondence. Call logs are usually transferred with contacts through Google Account, if the contact sync settings include the "Call log" option. → Google → The WhatsApp and Viber messengers and Viber store their correspondence history locally or in the cloud (Google Drive for Android). To successfully transfer chats to Samsung, you need to back up to Xiaomi directly inside the application. Open WhatsApp. → Settings → chat → Backup chats. Click Backup and wait for the process to be completed. Make sure the copy is created on Google Drive, not locally. On the new Samsung, WhatsApp will offer to restore the history from the cloud. With Viber, the situation is similar: More → Settings → Account. → Backup Viber.It's important to use the same phone number and the same Google Drive account on both devices. 💡Before removing WhatsApp from your old phone, make sure the backup in Google Drive is updated. → Backups and check the date of the latest version of the WhatsApp file.If you're using two-factor authentication in messengers, make sure you have access to the app. SIM-map SMS-You can't get your account back without the code. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Can Wi-Fi passwords be transferred to Android? Passwords from Wi-Fi networks are often linked to Google Account. If Xiaomi has Wi-Fi password sync enabled, when you log in to the same Samsung account, the phone can automatically connect to known networks. However, depending on the Android version and shell, this functionality may not always work smoothly when you switch between different brands. What to do if Smart Switch is suspended? If the process is suspended, try rebooting both smartphones. Make sure that screens do not go out (when the screens are set to the power settings, can not set up the time). Alarms and calendar events are best transferred through a Google account. The calendar syncs automatically if you use Google Calendar. Alarms can be transferred over Smart Switch, but sometimes they have to be reconfigured, especially if the system alarm structure is in place. MIUI one UI It's very different. Should I reset Samsung to factory settings before porting? No, Smart Switch can work on an already configured phone. It'll just add new data to the existing ones. However, if the phone is new and not yet configured, the migration process will start automatically during the initial setup, which may be more convenient for the user. 💡The most reliable way to fully transfer is a combination of Smart Switch for multimedia and settings, and Google Sync for contacts and applications.