Changing a smartphone is often perceived as a stressful situation, especially when you need to save all the important contacts, photos and correspondence history. Owners of Samsung flagships moving to Xiaomi devices may face the issue of integrating ecosystems, since the software of brands is different. However, having a single Google account makes this process much easier, allowing you to automate the transfer of most information without the use of complex third-party programs.
The basic mechanism is based on cloud synchronization, which is standard for the Android operating system. This means that your data is not tied rigidly to the hardware of a particular manufacturer, but is stored in a secure profile. The key to successful migration is to have a stable Internet connection on both devices during the initial setup, and only if this requirement is met will the cloud server be able to correctly process the request for the transfer of access rights and files.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the steps in preparing and performing the transfer, paying special attention to hidden settings that are often overlooked. You will learn how to properly set up an old phone so that it gives all the data, and how to get the new smartphone to accept it in full. Following the instructions will avoid common mistakes, such as losing call logs or shifting the layout of icons on the desktop.
Preparing a Google account on a Samsung device
The first and most important step is to carefully check the sync settings on your current Samsung smartphone. Many users mistakenly believe that data is saved automatically in the background, but it often happens that the sync sliders for certain types of files are disabled. To make sure the backup is up to date, you need to manually initiate the save process.
Go to the settings menu and find the account section. The path may vary slightly depending on the version of the One UI shell, but the logic remains the same. You need to go to Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Account Management. Here, select your Google profile and make sure all switches are active.
- 📞 Contacts – make sure that the checkmark is in front of the Contacts item so that the numbers are saved in the cloud.
- 📅 Calendar – synchronization of events will not lose important meetings and reminders.
- 📝 Notes – Google Keep’s standard notes also require separate inclusion.
- 📸 Google Photos – a separate application for backing up media files.
⚠️ Note: If you use Samsung’s proprietary Notes app, your records may not sync with Google by default.They need to be exported separately or use the dedicated Mi Mover app for this type of data.
After checking the switches, force the sync to be triggered, and in the account menu, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Sync" and wait for the spin indicator to disappear, signaling the successful completion of the data transfer to the corporation's servers.
Setup of system and application backup
Beyond personal files, it’s critical to keep the system structure and list of installed apps. Android allows you to create a full cast of settings, which will then be deployed on a new Xiaomi device, which will save you from having to reconfigure Wi-Fi passwords, alarm clocks and language preferences.
To create a full backup, go to the backup section of your phone’s settings. In modern Android versions, this path looks like Settings → Google → Backup. Here you will see the date of the last saved copy and a list of data that will be moved.
The system will offer to save data of applications that support this feature, which means that progress in games or settings on social networks can be restored automatically when you first log in to a new gadget.
☑️ Checklist before migration
Make sure the backup is on and done recently.If the last date is listed as "Never" or refers to a few months ago, click "Start Copy" button.The process can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes depending on the amount of information accumulated and the speed of the Internet connection.
Xiaomi’s Initial Activation Process
Once the old phone is ready, you can start setting up a new Xiaomi smartphone. Turn on the device and select the interface language. During the Wi-Fi connection phase, make sure you use the same network as the old device, although this is not strictly mandatory, but can speed up some local transmission processes if you choose to combine them.
System system MIUI or HyperOS will ask you to copy apps and data, which is a key point where you need to choose the right source. QR-code if your goal is to use Google's capabilities. You need to find the option "Restore from the cloud" or similar wording, depending on the firmware version.
Enter your Google account login and password. Once you have successfully logged in, the system will suggest you select the device you want to recover your data from. Select your Samsung from the list of available backups, based on date and device model.
- 📲 Select a copy with the most current date of creation.
- ✅ Confirm the restoration of contacts and calendar.
- 📲 Check the boxes of the applications that need to be downloaded.
- 🔐 Accept the terms of use of Google services for activation of synchronization.
⚠️ Warning: Don’t interrupt the initial setup process, even if the phone seems to be getting stuck. Downloading and installing dozens of apps at once can temporarily slow down the interface.
Once the selection is confirmed, the apps will automatically download from the Play Store. You can watch the progress on the lock screen or on the desktop, where the icons will appear as you install. The background process can take a long time, so it is recommended to connect the phone to the charger.
Working with Multimedia and Google Photos
Photos and videos take up the lion’s share of the memory of a modern smartphone, and transferring them through standard contact synchronization is impossible. For this purpose, Google Photos is used, which is integrated into the Android system by default, and this is the most reliable way to save memories when changing a brand.
On the old Samsung, make sure the Google Photos app has Autoboot and Sync enabled. Check the download quality: Save Space will allow you to upload more photos by compressing them, whereas Original Quality will take up space in your Google storage but retain full permissions.
Cloud storage nuances
On the new Xiaomi, it’s easy to log into the Google Photos app under the same account. All your images will appear in the feed automatically, even if they’re not already uploaded to your phone’s memory. You can select a photo or album at any time and click Download to Device so they’re available offline.
It is important to note that folders from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) are often hidden by default. To transfer them, go to the settings of Google Photos on your old phone, select Backup, and enable synchronization for the folders of the device, finding the directories of messengers there.
Transfer of messages and call logs
Text SMS and call history are more complicated, as standard Google tools don’t always explicitly display this data when recovering, especially when switching between different Android shells.
When you restore from Google backup at the setup stage, Xiaomi will ask if you want to restore SMS and MMS. If you missed this step, don't panic. The data may tighten up later, but you need to check your sync settings to do so.
Go to Settings. → Google → Settings for applications → Google SMS-Messages (or a similar path depending on the Android version) Make sure that backup is enabled. On the new phone, follow the same steps and click Restore if the button becomes active.
| Type of data | The method of transfer via Google | nuance |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Autosynchronization | Instant transition, requires only login to the account |
| Photo/Video | Google Photo | Requires cloud space or a choice of compressed quality |
| Annexes | Play Market | Only free versions are downloaded, logins need to be re-entered |
| SMS/MMS | Backup copy of Android | It may not work for some third-party messengers. |
For instant messengers like WhatsApp and Telegram, the situation is different. Telegram stores all the history in the server cloud, so just type in a phone number. WhatsApp requires you to back up exactly to Google Drive through the settings inside the app itself on the old phone.
Solving common synchronization problems
Despite the fact that Android is working well, sometimes things can go wrong, and users often find that contacts don't show up or apps don't want to be installed, and most of the time is out of sync or Google Play cache.
If the data doesn't come in, check the date and time on both devices. Even a few minutes difference can cause security certificates to fail, and the server will refuse to transmit the information. Set up automatic timing over the network.
Another common problem is the lack of space in the cloud: if the 15GB limit is exhausted, the synchronization of new data (especially photos) will stop, in which case, free up space or temporarily disable the synchronization of heavy files, leaving only contacts.
⚠️ Note: When resetting a new Xiaomi phone for a second migration attempt, old backups in Google Drive can be overwritten.Always check the backup creation date before starting the process.
Two-factor authentication is also worth mentioning.If it is enabled on your Google account, make sure you have access to your phone number or backup codes, as the system may request sign-in confirmation from a new Xiaomi device.
Alternatives and additional tools
While the issue was about porting through Google, it’s worth mentioning that a hybrid approach is often required for full migration: Xiaomi’s Mi Mover (or “Mi Transfer”) app can work in tandem with Google, but also has its own Wi-Fi Direct data protocol, which is significantly faster for large file volumes.
Using Mi Mover is justified if you want to migrate files that Google ignores, such as the contents of internal memory in specific folders, voice recorder records or specific settings of the Samsung system. However, for basic account and contacts settings, the method through Google remains the cleanest and most stable.
💡
Save a backup to Google Drive manually before selling your old phone. Once you reset your settings to Samsung, it will be impossible to recover data.
By combining Google’s cloud-based contacts and apps with fast local transfer for heavy media, you’ll get the perfect result: Xiaomi’s new smartphone will be a full functional extension of your digital workspace without losing important information.
Remember that full indexing of all services on a new device can take up to 24 hours, during which time the phone can warm up more or consume the battery faster - this is a normal process of system optimization and downloading content.
💡
Using Google’s ecosystem to migrate data provides cross-platform compatibility, making it easy to upgrade to any other Android smartphone in the future without being brand-bound.