Mobile device change, especially the transition from one ecosystem to another, often causes users to worry about the safety of personal information. Samsung flagships, who decided to switch to affordable and functional smartphones in the Redmi line, face the need to migrate hundreds of gigabytes of data. Fortunately, modern technology allows you to perform this process as quickly as possible and without losing important files.
The process of migrating data from Samsung to Xiaomi has become much easier thanks to the development of cloud services and specialized utilities from manufacturers. You do not need to be an IT expert to successfully copy contacts, photos, messages and installed applications to a new gadget. In this guide, we will look at all the current ways of migration, from using the built-in Mi Mover tool to classic backup through Google.
Before action begins, it is essential to get both devices ready to go: Make sure that both the old Samsung Galaxy and the new Redmi are at least 60-70% charged; copying large amounts of data, especially high-resolution photos and videos, can be energy intensive, and discharging the device at a critical moment can interrupt the transfer of files.
⚠️ Warning: Do not start the transfer process if one of the devices is power-saving mode. It can limit the background activity of system services, which will lead to a connection error or a data stoppage in the middle of the process.
Preparation of devices and pre-checking
The first step in successful migration is to properly configure your environment, and both smartphones need to be connected to a stable Wi-Fi network if you plan to use cloud-based methods or wireless transmission, and while some utilities create their own access point, having the Internet is essential for synchronizing accounts and checking application versions.
On a Samsung device, free up some space by removing obvious debris, if the memory is full, this will speed up the system when creating an archive. On the Xiaomi side, make sure you have already completed the initial language and region setting, but are not logged into your main Google account yet if you plan to use the recovery method from a backup on your first run.
- 📱 Check the availability of space on the new Redmi: it should exceed the amount of data on the old Samsung.
- 🔌 Use original cables and chargers to maintain a stable charge level.
- 📶 Make sure that both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled.
- 🔒 Unlock the screens of both smartphones and allow all file access requests.
While current data protocols are generally compatible between different versions of Android, having up-to-date security updates minimizes the risk of software conflicts.
Using the Mi Mover application for wireless transmission
The most effective and recommended way by Xiaomi manufacturer is to use the proprietary Mi Mover application. This utility is specially designed for migrating data from Android and iOS devices to Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones. It allows you to transfer contacts, messages, call logs, notes, voice recordings, images, videos, music, documents and even installed applications.
To get started, install the Mi Mover app on a Samsung device. On new Redmi smartphones, it is often preinstalled in the Tools folder or available for download through GetApps. Once the application is launched on both devices, you must accept the terms of the user agreement and allow access to the necessary permissions, including location and files.
The Way to the Application: Tools → Mi MoverFollow the simple instructions for pairing devices: on the new Redmi smartphone, select the role "I'm a recipient" and on the old Samsung, "I'm a sender." QR-code or connect to the Wi-Fi network you have created. Once you have established the connection, you will see a list of data categories available for transfer.
- 📂 Select categories: tick contacts, messages, images, videos and apps.
- ⚡ Click Send on the sender device to start the process.
- ⏳ Wait for completion: Don’t switch to other apps during transfer.
⚠️ Warning: While Mi Mover is running, the screens may go out, but the process should not be interrupted.Do not force the smartphones to lock and keep them close to each other throughout the operation.
☑️ Checklist for Mi Mover preparations
The speed of data transfer depends on the number of files and the quality of the wireless connection. Large video files can be copied the longest, and after the process is completed, the system will suggest opening a transfer log, which will indicate which data was successfully transferred and which may require additional attention.
Synchronization through Google account
An alternative and equally reliable method is to use the Google ecosystem, which is ideal for those who want to save contacts, calendar, notes and settings in the cloud to access from any device. Before switching to Redmi, make sure that Samsung is fully synced.
Go to Samsung’s settings, select Accounts and Archiving or Users and Accounts, then click on your Google account. In the sync menu, make sure to activate the switches for contacts, calendar, Keep notes and other important data. Click Sync to make sure all changes are uploaded to the server.
When you first turn on the new Redmi, the system will prompt you to log in to your Google account. Once you enter your login and password, your smartphone will automatically prompt you to restore data from the last backup. You can choose which apps and data to download. This method is especially convenient because it restores not only files, but also desktop layout and passwords stored in Google Password Manager.
| Type of data | Google's method | Mi Mover Method | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Automatically. | Locally. | Google is more reliable for long-term storage |
| Photo/Video | Google Photo | Direct transmission | Google Photos Needs Space in the Cloud |
| Annexes | List of references | APK-file | Mi Mover is faster at heavy gaming |
| Messages (SMS) | Through Google One | Direct transmission | Requires inclusion in Android settings |
It’s important to note that syncing through Google can take considerable time if you have slow internet, as data will be downloaded from the cloud, while Mi Mover runs over a local network, which is often faster for large amounts of data.
What to do if your contacts are not synchronized?
Hand-over of multimedia and files
Sometimes, automatic systems may not properly process some types of files, especially if you're talking about specific messenger folders or hidden system directories. In these cases, manual copying comes to the rescue. You can connect both phones to your computer through a computer. USB-cable and copy the contents of folders DCIM, Pictures, Download and Documents.
Another effective way is to use Wi-Fi Direct technology or specialized file managers like Send Anywhere or SHAREit, which allows you to create direct communication channels between devices without the speed limit typical of Bluetooth. Just install the application on both smartphones, select files and scan the code to start transfer.
When you manually transfer, look at the folder structure. Photos from Samsung are usually in the DCIM/Camera folder, and screenshots are in Pictures/Screenshots. Keeping that structure on Redmi, find that the new phone gallery will properly sort images by date and album.
- 💾 Use your computer as an intermediate for sorting large archives.
- 📁 Keep the original folder structure for the gallery to work properly.
- 🔍 Check the folder. Android/media portability.
Don’t forget to check your download folders in messengers, too. For example, WhatsApp or Telegram’s correspondence history may require a separate approach. For WhatsApp, it’s best to use the built-in backup feature on Google Drive on an old device and restore it on a new one.
💡
For fast transfer of heavy video files without compression of quality, use a USB-OTG cable and flash drive, this is especially true if the Wi-Fi network is overloaded or unstable.
Nuances of application portability and settings
Switching from Samsung’s One UI shell to MIUI or Xiaomi’s HyperOS can cause some inconvenience in the familiar layout of items. Although most applications will reinstall automatically, their settings are often reset to factory ones. Banking applications, enterprise clients, and two-factor authentication programs will require re-entry and configuration.
Special attention should be paid to security and access applications. Google Authenticator or similar code generators should be ported with extreme caution, preferably using the function of exporting accounts within the application itself or backup, if supported. Losing access to these codes can block your accounts.
Also worth considering are differences in background processes. MIUI is known for its aggressive power saving system that can unload applications from memory. After transferring data, go to the battery settings and allow important messengers and email clients to work in the background so that notifications come in a timely manner.
⚠️ Note: Apps dependent on Google Play services (GMS), However, Samsung specific features like Samsung Health or Bixby won’t be portable or will work with restrictions.
Completion of migration and initial setup
Once all the data has been moved, don't rush to delete the information from the old Samsung. Give yourself a couple of days to run the new Redmi. Check if all the contacts are in place, if photos are opening, if the apps are working. SIM-maps and mobile network settings, as parameters APN Sometimes manual adjustments are required.
Calibrate the screen and adjust navigation gestures that may differ from those in MIUI. Set up your fingerprint and facial recognition again, as biometrics are not transferable between devices from different manufacturers for security reasons.
If you’ve used the app cloning feature (like second or just instant messenger cloning), reconfigure them. Make sure the theme and fonts are customized to your preferences, as Xiaomi’s standard themes are visually different from Samsung.
💡
It takes an average of 3-5 days to fully adapt to the new interface. Don't panic if you're not used to it in the first hours, muscle memory will quickly reset.