Changing mobile devices, especially from one popular ecosystem to another, always raises some concerns about the safety of personal information.Switching from Samsung to Xiaomi is one of the most common scenarios, and fortunately, the built-in mechanisms of the Android operating system make this process as painless as possible. Using Google Drive cloud storage and synchronizing through a Google account is the most reliable and time-tested method that does not require installing third-party apps or connecting to a computer.
The basic principle is that your data is not moved directly from phone to phone via cable, but is first uploaded to the Google cloud, where Xiaomi’s new smartphone can download it when it’s first set up, ensuring that even if there are disruptions in the transfer process, the original information on the old Samsung will remain intact until the procedure is completed successfully.
It is important to understand that the amount of data transferred depends on the speed of your Internet connection and free space in the cloud. Before starting active actions, you need to make sure that both devices are stable Internet and the battery is charged at least 50-60% to avoid sudden shutdown at a critical time of sync.
Samsung Preparing for Data Synchronization
The first and most important step is to get the old Samsung device ready, and it’s how well you collect and send data to the cloud that determines the outcome of the new phone, and start by checking the operating system version and updating all critical applications, especially Google Play services, as they are responsible for the backup mechanism.
Go to your device’s settings and find the account section. In modern Samsung models with a One UI shell, the path can look like this:
Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Account Management
Make sure your Google account is added to the system and has a Synchronized status.If you see warning icons or sync errors, they must be fixed before the transfer process begins.
💡
Use a Wi-Fi connection to download backups, as the amount of data (especially photos and videos) can be counted in gigabytes, which quickly exhausts the limits of mobile traffic.
The Android system allows you to flexibly configure what data will be sent to Google servers, you should not rely only on automatic settings, you should manually monitor each item so as not to lose important notes or calendars.
Set up backup in Google Drive
The main tool for creating a full copy of the system is Google Drive. On Samsung devices, it is often integrated deep into the system, but for guaranteed results, it is better to use the standard Google One app or backup settings in the system menu.
The process of starting a backup is as follows:
- Open the settings on your Samsung.
- Go to the Google section (usually at the bottom of the list or in the Google Services group).
- Select the item Backup.
- Click the Start Copy button or Create a Backup Now.
In this menu, you'll see a detailed list of what's going to be saved, and the system automatically prompts you to save the list of installed applications, the call history, SMS-Backup of device settings includes Wi-Fi passwords and display preferences, which greatly speeds up the initial setup of the new Xiaomi.
☑️ Checklist before copying
If you have a lot of photos and videos, they can be copied through a separate mechanism, Google Photos. Make sure that the Google Photos app has Autoload and Sync enabled, which allows you to divide the data stream: system settings go through Drive, and media content goes through Photos, which often happens faster and more reliable.
What is copied and what remains in the old place
Users are often misled into thinking that Google cloud sync is an absolute copy of a device’s cloning, and there are technical limitations to file formats and security policies that prevent them from migrating all data in this way.
Below is a table showing which data types are subject to migration through a Google account and which require separate attention:
| Type of data | Transfer status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Complete. | Synced instantly when logging into your account |
| Photos and videos | Complete. | Google Photos (requires a place in the cloud) |
| Annexes | Partial | Download the list, data inside the applications is not always saved |
| Files in folders | No. | Files from the Download or Documents folder must be transferred separately |
| Wi-Fi passwords | Complete. | Automatically pulling from saved networks |
In-app data is worth mentioning: Many modern programs, such as instant messengers or games, store progress and correspondence on their own servers or require a separate backup within the application itself. For example, WhatsApp needs to create a backup chat in advance exactly inside the messenger settings, selecting Google Drive as its destination.
Why are some apps not automatically installed?
Files stored in local memory folders, such as Internal Storage/Download, Bluetooth, or specific program folders (such as instant messenger voice messages in some configurations), do not enter the cloud automatically.
Xiaomi’s first launch and account login
When you first turn on a new Xiaomi smartphone, you will be greeted by the original setup wizard. The interface may vary depending on the version of the MIUI shell or HyperOS, but the logic of action remains the same. The key point comes after choosing a language and connecting to the Wi-Fi network.
The system will ask you if you want to copy apps and data. Select Next or Copy from the Cloud. You will be prompted to log in to the same Google account you used on Samsung, enter your login and password, and confirm login through two-factor authentication, if enabled.
After successful authorization, Xiaomi will contact Google servers and find the last available backup from your old device. You will see the date and time of creation of the backup. Make sure that the latest version you created during the preparation phase is selected.
On the recovery data selection screen, the system will offer a list of categories: apps, SMS, call history, device settings. You can deselect from those items that you do not need, but for maximum similarity to an old phone, it is recommended to leave everything on. The download process can take from 15 minutes to several hours depending on the number of applications.
Synchronization of contacts and calendar
The most important part of any phone for most users is contacts, if you followed the instructions and on Samsung, the contacts were saved in your Google account, not in memory. SIM-Maps or phone memory, they will appear on Xiaomi almost instantly after logging into your account.
You can check the synchronization status at any time:
- 📱 Go to the settings of the new Xiaomi phone.
- 👤 Click on Accounts and Sync (or simply “Users and Accounts»).
- 📧 Select your Google account from the list.
- ✅ Make sure the switch opposite the Contacts item is active and lit in blue.
If contacts don't show up right away, try clicking on the menu (three dots in the corner) and select "Sync Now." The same goes for calendar events: they will pull up automatically if you were doing business on your old phone in Google Calendar rather than on Samsung's proprietary calendar.
💡
Contacts stored in memory SIM-Maps that do not sync automatically through Google.Be sure to export them to your Google account through the Contacts app on Samsung before switching to a new phone.
In case you have duplicate contacts over the years, the new Xiaomi might suggest combining them.It’s a useful feature that cleans up the phone book by linking different numbers and email addresses to the same name.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
Even a well-functioning sync mechanism sometimes fails, and the most common problem is the lack of space in the cloud. Google's free limit is 15GB, and if your photos and backups take up more, the sync will stop, in which case the system will offer to vacate space or buy additional volume.
What to do if the applications are not downloaded?
Another common problem is desynchronizing Wi-Fi passwords. Although they should theoretically be ported, in practice Xiaomi can request the password from your home network again, a normal situation associated with the peculiarities of encryption of access keys in different versions of Android.
⚠️ Warning: If you use two-factor authentication for a Google account, make sure you have access to a backup phone number or recovery codes.Without this, you could lose access to an account on a new device if the old phone has already been reset.
Settings specific to Samsung’s One UI (such as Good Lock gestures or specific widgets) won’t be transferred to MIUI. The system will ignore incompatible settings by setting Xiaomi’s standard values.
⚠️ Note: Do not reset your old Samsung phone before the factory settings until you are fully convinced that all data on Xiaomi is working correctly and photos are uploaded in full resolution.
In some cases, the recovery process may be interrupted due to unstable Wi-Fi. If this happens, don't panic. Just wait for a stable connection, go to Google's settings and click "Restore" again - the system will continue to download from the stop or check the integrity of files already downloaded.