Changing a mobile device, especially the transition from one Android ecosystem to another, is often perceived by users as a stressful situation. The owner of a Xiaomi smartphone, accustomed to the MIUI interface and specific shell functions, when buying the flagship Samsung Galaxy S20 FE faces the need to migrate a huge amount of information.
Fortunately, modern technology allows this process to be done as smoothly as possible without losing important files. Samsung has developed a powerful Smart Switch tool that takes the lion’s share of the work on portability. However, there are alternative methods, including the use of cloud storage and specialized utilities from Xiaomi, which can be useful in specific scenarios.
In this article, we will discuss each of the available methods in detail, paying special attention to the nuances of data transfer between different Android shells. You will learn how to save the folder structure, transfer Wi-Fi passwords and ensure the integrity of the multimedia library. Proper preparation during the migration phase will save you hours of manually configuring a new device.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before starting any copying process, it is critical to properly prepare both smartphones. On a Xiaomi device, you need to make sure that the operating system is updated to the latest available version, as older versions of Android may have vulnerabilities or limitations in data protocols. S20 FE, which must be charged at least on 50-60%.
Both devices need to be connected to a stable Wi-Fi network if you plan to use a wireless transmission method.While wired connection is considered more reliable for large amounts of data, wireless mode is convenient in that it does not require a search for adapters.Make sure that Bluetooth and geolocation are enabled on both smartphones, as these modules are often used to initially detect devices from each other.
⚠️ Note: Before starting the transfer, it is strongly recommended to make a full backup of data from Xiaomi to an external drive or to the cloud in case of unforeseen errors in the migration process.
Special attention should be paid to cleaning up unnecessary debris on an old device. It makes no sense to transfer gigabytes of temporary files and cache, it will only increase the operation time. Use the built-in cleaning tools in Settings → Memory to free up space and speed up the system before migrating.
☑️ Ready for transfer
Use Samsung Smart Switch Mobile
The main and most recommended tool for Samsung app owners is the Smart Switch app. On new models such as the S20 FE, it is often preinstalled, but on a Xiaomi device it must be downloaded from the Google Play Store. This application is specifically optimized to work with the One UI shell and is able to convert some settings from other Android systems.
The process starts with running the app on both devices. On the new Samsung, you need to select the "Get Data" option, and then specify the source, "Android." The system will offer two options for connecting: wireless or cable. Wireless connection is convenient but can be slow when transferring large video files, while the USB-C cable to USB-C provides maximum speed and stable connections.
Once the connection is established, the app will scan the Xiaomi device and prompt you to select data types to transfer. You can choose all at once or manually specify categories: contacts, messages, call logs, applications, device settings, home screen and media. It is important to note that some MIUI system settings may not have direct counterparts in One UI and will be skipped.
- 📱 Contacts and messages: Transferred almost always without errors, maintaining the structure of correspondence.
- 📷 Photo and video: Copyed in original quality, occupying the appropriate place in the Samsung Gallery.
- 📲 Apps: App list will be downloaded from Google Play, but the data inside the games may not be saved without a Google Play Games account.
- ⚙️ Settings: Basic settings, such as alarm clocks and some accessibility settings, can be moved.
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Use the original USB-C cable from the Samsung S20 FE set for wired connectivity – this guarantees better data transfer speeds compared to third-party cables.
Alternative method: Mi Mover and cloud services
If the standard method doesn’t work for some reason, you can use the Mi Mover utility, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones. Although it is designed to migrate to other Xiaomi devices, in some versions it allows you to back up in a format compatible for manual recovery.
Google One service or standard Google account synchronization is a universal bridge between any Android device. On Xiaomi, you need to go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google and make sure that you have enabled synchronization of contacts, calendar and application data. Photos are best done through Google Photos by enabling the function "Autoboot and Sync".
When you first set up the Samsung S20 FE, it will suggest you restore data from a Google backup, which is good because it is independent of the cable type or Bluetooth version. All you need is to enter your email address and password. However, it is worth considering that it can take a long time to restore applications and photos depending on the speed of the Internet connection.
⚠️ Note: When using cloud methods, make sure that there is enough free space on your Google account, otherwise the synchronization of photos and videos may not be completely complete.
For users who are actively using the Xiaomi Cloud ecosystem, it is worth remembering that there is no direct sync application with Samsung, data from which will have to be uploaded via the miui.com web interface to a computer, and then transferred to a new smartphone. This is a longer journey, but it allows you to save specific notes and voice recordings that do not always fall into standard sync Google.
Nuances of WhatsApp and messengers transfer
The migration of messengers, particularly WhatsApp, deserves special attention. Unlike contacts, WhatsApp’s correspondence history is stored locally or in the cloud of the linked account, but the backup structure varies across devices. On Xiaomi, backups are often stored on Google Drive, but can be tied to a specific Google account.
To successfully migrate chat history to the Samsung S20 FE, you need to do the following on your old device: open WhatsApp, go to Settings → Chats → Backup Chats and click Backup. Make sure the copy is created on Google Drive, not locally. When you install WhatsApp on a new Samsung and log in to the same account, the app will automatically prompt you to restore the history from the cloud.
It is also possible to transfer via a local file if the cloud method does not work. To do this, Xiaomi needs to find a backup file in the /sdcard/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases or /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases folder, copy it to a computer, and then transfer it to a similar folder on Samsung before installing the application.
- 🔐 Two-factor authentication: Don’t forget to know PIN-The code installed for WhatsApp, otherwise you will not be able to restore correspondence.
- 📞 Telegram and Viber: These messengers store history in the cloud, so just log in to download all chats.
- 💬 SMS and MMS: Standard messages are transferred over Smart Switch without additional settings.
What if WhatsApp doesn’t see a backup?
Comparison of transfer methods: Characteristics table
The best method depends on your priorities: speed, data volume or availability of additional equipment. Below is a comparative table that will help determine the way you migrate. Each method has its advantages and limitations, which should be considered before starting the process.
Wireless methods via Smart Switch remain the gold standard for users looking to migrate absolutely everything, including home screen layout and Wi-Fi passwords. Wireless methods are convenient but can be unstable when a poor signal is in place. Cloud synchronization is ideal for those who don’t want to mess with cables and are willing to wait for data to load.
| Method | Speed. | Equipment required | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Switch (Cable) | Tall. | USB-C to USB-C cable / Adapter | Very high. |
| Smart Switch (Wi-Fi) | Medium | Absent. | Medium |
| Google Account | Depends on the Internet. | Stable Wi-Fi | Tall. |
| Hand (PC) | Low. | Computer, cables. | Tall. |
It is worth noting that with wired methods, the risk of interruption is minimal. If you are carrying more than 100 GB of data, cable is the only right solution that will allow you to complete the process in a reasonable time without overloading the wireless communication channels in your home.
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Wired connection via Smart Switch provides maximum speed and reliability, especially when transferring large volumes of video and photos.
Solving and completing the setup
Once the transfer process is complete, it may turn out that some applications do not work correctly or that there are no icons. This is normal, since switching between different shells (MIUI to One UI) can cause file path conflicts. It is recommended to restart the new Samsung S20 FE after the migration so that the system correctly indexes all files and updates the paths to resources.
In MIUI, aggressive energy saving often blocks application backgrounds, and these settings may not be transferred or, conversely, not be correctly transferred. Go through the list of important applications and make sure that they are allowed to work in the background and display notifications in the Settings → Applications menu.
⚠️ Note: After transferring banking applications, re-authorization and possibly re-binding of the device for security reasons will be required.
The final step will be to set up biometrics and payment services, where fingerprints and facial data are not transferred between devices for security reasons, they must be re-registered, and you will need to re-add the cards to Samsung Pay or Google Pay, since payment data tokens are tied to specific hardware.
Be sure to check the camera and the quality of the images. Sometimes, after the migration, the camera settings may be reset to standard. Do a test shooting in different modes to make sure that the S20 FE is working correctly and ready for full operation.