Switching to a new smartphone is always an exciting process, with the expectation of an improved user experience, but also with the stress of moving a huge amount of personal information. When you change a device based on the MIUI shell to a pure One UI from Samsung, it is important to understand that the architecture of system files may differ, which requires a careful approach to the copying procedure. Modern tools allow you to make this process as automated as possible, minimizing the risk of losing important contacts, correspondence in messengers or photo gallery.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the most effective ways to migrate, including using Samsung’s proprietary Smart Switch app, Google cloud services, and Xiaomi’s dedicated utilities, learn how to properly prepare both devices, what nuances exist when transferring passwords and app settings, and how to avoid common errors that can lead to partial data loss or file corruption.
No matter how much gigabyte you have, a smart sequence of steps will allow you to get started on the Samsung Galaxy A52 with the same level of comfort you were used to on your previous gadget.We will look at both wired and wireless methods, assess their speed and reliability, so you can choose the best option for your particular situation and Internet connection speed.
Preparation of devices before the migration
The first and critical step is to properly prepare both smartphones, as ignoring the basic requirements can lead to interruption of the data transfer process.Make sure that both devices are charged at least 50-60%, since the active operation of the communication modules and the processor during the copying of files significantly consumes battery power.It is also recommended to free enough internal memory on the target device Samsung A52 to accommodate all the data from the old Xiaomi phone.
The second step involves checking the versions of the operating systems and having the necessary security updates. On both smartphones, you should go to the settings and make sure that the latest available patches are installed, since older versions of the software may contain bugs that prevent stable connection via Wi-Fi Direct or other devices. USB-In addition, you need to unlock the screens of both devices and keep them unlocked during the entire transfer process.
⚠️ Warning: Do not try to use damaged or too long USB-cables (longer than 1 meter) for wired connection, as this can lead to unstable data transfer and connection break at the most inopportune moment.
It’s also worth checking the list of installed apps on Xiaomi beforehand and understanding which ones you really need on your new device.This is the perfect time to digitally clean up and not carry the digital trash that has been accumulating in the memory of an old phone for years. Removing unnecessary programs before migrating will speed up the process and make the file structure on the new Samsung cleaner and more organized.
☑️ Checklist for transfer preparations
Using Samsung Smart Switch for wireless transfer
The most versatile and recommended way by Samsung is to use the Smart Switch Mobile utility.This application is available in the Google Play Market and pre-installed on most new devices of the Korean brand, making it the first candidate for use when switching from any other platform, including Android from Xiaomi.The main advantage of the method is its ability to transfer not only media files, but also system settings, calendars, notes and even the location of icons on the desktop.
To get started, you need to install the Smart Switch app on Xiaomi smartphone from the official app store. After running the program on both devices, you need to choose the role of each phone: on Xiaomi, you choose “Send data”, and on the Samsung A52 – “Receive data”. The system will suggest choosing the type of connection: wireless or via cable; for large volumes of data (more than 20-30 GB), you prefer to use cable, but Wi-Fi Direct also shows excellent results.
The process of scanning content on an old device can take several minutes, after which you will be asked to select specific categories of data to transfer. You can flexibly adjust the filtering, excluding, for example, system debris or app cache, which does not make sense to carry. Once the selection is confirmed, direct transmission will begin, the progress of which will be displayed as a percentage on the screen of both gadgets.
- 📱 Contacts and calls: Complete copy of the phone book, call and message history SMS/MMS format-free.
- 📸 Media Files: Transfer of photos, videos, audio recordings and documents from internal memory and from a card SD.
- ⚙️ System settings: Save Wi-Fi passwords, alarm clocks, screen settings and sound profiles.
- 📅 Organizer: Migration of calendar events, notes and voice recordings to native Samsung apps.
What if the Smart Switch can’t see the device?
Migration of data through Google account and cloud services
Google’s ecosystem is the link between any Android device, allowing you to synchronize key user data without having to physically connect your gadgets to each other. If you’ve been using the search giant’s Xiaomi services, most of your digital life is already stored in the cloud. When you first activate the Samsung A52, you just need to enter the same email address so that the phone automatically starts pulling up contacts, calendar events and a list of installed apps.
Special attention should be paid to syncing photos through Google Photos. On an old device, you need to open the application, log in to your account and enable the autoload and sync function. Depending on the volume of your media library and Internet connection speed, this process can take from a few minutes to several hours. Once completed on Samsung, you just need to install Google Photos or open a gallery to see all your pictures in full resolution (or in space saving mode, if the appropriate tariff is selected).
However, it’s worth remembering that not all app data is stored in the Google cloud. Many apps use their own backup mechanisms or require manual data uploading. For example, progress in games is often tied to Google Play Games, Facebook or internal developer accounts, so make sure you log in before resetting your old phone.
| Type of data | Synchronization method | Required user action |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Google Contacts | Enable synchronization in account settings |
| Photo/Video | Google Photo | Enable autoboot over Wi-Fi |
| Annexes | Google Play Store | Automatic installation when logging into the account |
| Passwords. | Google Passwords | Check the password manager's saving |
| Files. | Google Drive | Manual download or autoback folders |
Mi Mover Transfer and Local Copying
Xiaomi device owners often use the built-in Mi Mover utility, which allows you to create full backups of the system to external drives or to the Mi Cloud. While you can not directly restore the MiUI backup to Samsung through standard means, this method is useful for creating a local copy of important files before cleaning the phone. You can upload a backup to your computer and then manually transfer the desired files to a new smartphone.
An alternative and highly effective method is to use the Local Backup feature in Xiaomi settings.This tool creates an archive containing applications, system settings and user data. Once the archive is created, it can be transferred to a computer, and then, by connecting the Samsung A52, copy media and documents files to the corresponding folders., the MIUI system settings will not apply on One UI, but the application files will be available for manual installation.
For users who prefer full control of the file system, manual copying through a computer is a good option. By connecting Xiaomi to a PC in file transfer mode (MTP), you can copy the contents of the DCIM, Download, Documents and Music folders. Then, by connecting Samsung, you need to move this data to similar directories, which ensures that no bytes of information will be compressed or changed during the transfer.
⚠️ Note: When manually copying photo folders, keep an eye on directory structure, as some galleries on Samsung may not see images if they are in a root pack or folders with non-standard names.
If you’ve used specific MIUI features like Second Space or hidden albums, be sure to manually transfer data from them before you start migrating, as standard porting tools may ignore them.
💡
Use a USB-C to USB-C cable to transfer data directly between phones without a computer – this is the fastest way for large files.
Message transfer nuances and WhatsApp history
The most delicate part of migration for many users is to save the history of correspondence in messengers, especially WhatsApp. Standard WhatsApp backup methods are tied to the Google Drive account and phone number. To transfer the story, on the old Xiaomi you need to go to the chat settings, select “Backup” and click “Backup” on Google Drive.
When you install WhatsApp on the new Samsung A52, it is critical to use the same phone number and Google account that was used to create the backup. When you initially set up the app, it will automatically detect a local or cloud copy and prompt you to restore your message history. If you miss this moment and click “skip”, it will be extremely difficult to restore chats later without reinstalling the app.
For the transfer of normal SMS-Messages and call history are best used by the previously mentioned Samsung Smart Switch, as it is able to correctly convert databases of messages from Xiaomi format to a format understandable by Samsung. SMS without specialized software can cause messages to become unreadable or lose their link to contacts.
- 📲 WhatsApp: Requires a mandatory backup on Google Drive before changing your device.
- 💬 SMS/MMS: Best carried over cable and smart switch.
- 📞 Call log: Synced through Google account or Smart Switch app.
- 🔐 Two-factor authentication: Make sure that the code retrieval number is available if SIM-map-shift.
💡
The main secret to success with WhatsApp is not to click “Miss” when offering to restore a backup on a new phone.
Completion of the setup and verification of data integrity
Once the transfer process is complete and the progress bar has reached 100%, do not immediately start actively using the new smartphone. You need to conduct a thorough audit of transferred data. Go through the contact book to make sure that the numbers are not confused with the names, check the gallery for “broken” thumbnails or missing albums. Pay special attention to the files that were in the process of downloading at the time of transfer.
The next step is to check the application performance. Some high-security banking applications and programs may require re-authorization or additional verification via SMS. It is also worth checking the notification settings, as they may work differently in One UI than in MIUI, and require manual re-configuration for important contacts.
The final touch is to clean up the old device.Be sure to complete a factory reset before selling or transferring Xiaomi to a new owner (Settings → Advanced Settings → Restore and Reset → Resetting).This ensures that your personal data, passwords and photos don't fall into the wrong hands.Make sure you log out of all Google and Mi Account accounts before resetting so as not to activate the activation lock.