Changing one flagship device to another always elicits mixed feelings: joy from a new gadget and a slight anxiety for the safety of personal information. Owners of the Samsung ecosystem, who decided to switch to Xiaomi smartphones, often face the question of compatibility of the shells One UI and MIUI (or HyperOS). Fortunately, modern technology allows you to migrate almost without loss, preserving the structure of folders, Wi-Fi passwords and even the location of icons on the desktop.
The process of transferring data from Samsung to Xiaomi has become much easier in recent years thanks to the standardization of Android protocols and the advent of specialized utilities from manufacturers. IT-a specialist to successfully complete this operation, but knowing the nuances will help to avoid common errors, such as loss of message history or failure of account synchronization.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods, from using the regular Mi Mover app to manually copying through cloud storage, how to properly prepare both devices, which file formats require special attention, and what to do if the process is stuck in the middle.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before any manipulations begin, it is critical to properly prepare both smartphones. Don’t underestimate this stage, as this is the stage of preparation that most problems with connection interruption occur. Make sure that both the old Samsung and the new Xiaomi are charged at least 60-70%. The process of transferring large amounts of data (especially video and photos) can take from 30 minutes to several hours, and battery drain at this point is unacceptable.
The second important step is to update the software. Check for system updates on both phones. On Samsung, this is done through the Settings menu → Software Update, and on Xiaomi, through Settings → About the phone. New firmware versions often contain corrections for data protocol errors, which increases connection stability.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to transfer data if one of the devices is power-saving. The system may force the connection to break to save charge, which will lead to an error and the need to start the process again.
It is also recommended to free up space on the receiving device if it is not new. Although modern Xiaomi phones have a large amount of memory, there will be no need to check the free space.
- 🔋 Charge both smartphones to levels above 60% and connect them to a stable Wi-Fi network.
- 🔄 Update the Android operating system and shells to the latest available versions.
- 🧹 Clear the cache and delete unnecessary files on the receiving Xiaomi device.
- 🔒 Unlock the screens of both phones and allow display over other apps.
Using the Mi Mover app for fast transfer
The most efficient and preferred way to port is to use the proprietary Mi Mover utility, which is designed specifically for migration from other platforms, including iOS and Android, and it is pre-installed on most Xiaomi devices. If the new phone does not have one (which happens on global versions with pure Android), the application can be downloaded for free from Google Play or GetApps.
The process starts with a connection. On a new Xiaomi phone, launch Mi Mover and select "I'm the recipient" status. On an old Samsung, also launch the app (pre-installed from the store) and select "I'm the sender." The system will prompt you to scan. QR-code or connect via a Wi-Fi hotspot. The second option often works more stable and faster, creating a direct local connection between devices.
☑️ Check before launching the Mi Mover
Once you pair it successfully, you'll see a list of data categories to migrate to, you can pick contacts, messages, call logs, apps, photos, music, and even system settings, and the Mi Mover is that it tries to adapt the One UI settings to the MIUI interface, which greatly speeds up the initial setup.
⚠️ Note: When transferring apps, some apps may not automatically install if they are not available in your new account region or require specific Google Play Services services, which may be limited on some models.
It is important not to interrupt the process or switch between other applications on the phone during transfer. The speed of copying depends on the amount of data and the quality of the Wi-Fi modules in both smartphones. Once completed, you will receive a detailed report on how many files were successfully transferred and which caused errors.
Alternative methods: Google Account and Cloud Services
If Mi Mover is not possible or causes a failure, there is always a reliable backup option: sync through a Google account, ideal for transferring contacts, calendar, notes and installed app lists, and since both systems are running on Android, integration is native and almost without user involvement.
To implement this method on Samsung, you need to make sure that the sync is complete. Go to Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Account Management → Google and click Sync. Make sure that the boxes are ticked against all important items: Contacts, Calentar, Documents, Photos (via Google Photos).
Nuances of password synchronization
On the new Xiaomi, when you first turn on or through settings, just log in to the same Google account. The system will offer you to restore the backup. Choose the latest backup date. This method is especially good because it is "serverless" in terms of direct connections - data is taken from the cloud, which relieves the load on the Wi-Fi modules of the phones.
- ☁️ Perfect for contacts, calendar and app listing.
- 📸 Photos are best transferred separately through Google Photos to maintain quality.
- 🔐 Passwords and autocomplete data are restored instantly after login.
- 📱 Does not tolerate interface settings and specific data of bank applications.
Transfer of multimedia: photos, videos and music
The most voluminous content when moving is usually photos and videos, and if you have tens of gigabytes of media files, it can take days to transfer them over the cloud, in which case the most rational solution would be to use an external drive or a direct cable connection, if your models support USB OTG.
Use the USB-C to USB-C adapter (or USB-A if you have an old drive). Connect the flash drive to Samsung, copy the DCIM, Pictures, Download and Music folders. Then connect the drive to Xiaomi and move the files to the appropriate internal memory directories, which is the fastest and most reliable way, regardless of Internet speed.
| Method of transmission | Speed. | Reliability | Best for you. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover (Wi-Fi Direct) | Tall. | Tall. | Integrated transfer |
| Google Account | Medium | Very high. | Contacts and settings |
| USB Storage | Maximum | Maximum | Photos and videos of files |
| Bluetooth | Low. | Medium | Several documents |
Remember to check the integrity of files after copying. Open some random photos and videos on your new device to make sure they are not corrupted. Sometimes when you interrupt the transfer, large video files can be copied incorrectly, becoming unreadable.
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Use a file manager with folder comparison to make sure the number of files in the source and end folder matches, which takes a couple of seconds, but ensures that the archive is safe.
Features of message transfer and call log
Transferring SMS and MMS messages and call history is one of the most delicate tasks. Android standard tools are not always very willing to do this, especially when switching between different shells. Mi Mover claims to support this feature, but in practice success depends on the version of Android and access rights.
If the automatic transfer does not work, you can use a trusted third-party tool, such as an application. SMS Backup and Restore. It creates a complete XML-The archive of all your communications on Samsung, which you then transfer to Xiaomi (via the same local network or cloud) and restore, ensures that even old correspondence is saved for several years.
⚠️ Attention: When recovering messages from third-party backups, a new device may temporarily experience a high load on the processor. 10-15 minutes after recovery to index messages before drawing conclusions about the success of the operation.
The call log is simpler, because when you log in to a Google account, your call history is often automatically pulled up if your old phone has the option in your Google call settings, otherwise the SMS backup app can usually save calls.
- 📲 Use specialized backup applications SMS, if the standard methods are gagal.
- 📞 Call history syncs through Google, but may take time.
- 💬 Viber and WhatsApp have their own built-in backup features.
- 🗑️ Before recovery, remove old duplicate messages to avoid confusion.
Set up the new Xiaomi after the transfer
Once the data is moved, the work doesn't end. The MIUI shell (or HyperOS) has its own logic, different from One UI. First of all, it's worth checking the access rights for applications. Unlike iOS or pure Android, it often requires manually allowing auto-start and work in the background for instant messengers, otherwise notifications may not come.
Go to the battery settings and find the “App Management” or “AutoStart” section, and make sure that WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, and email clients have the appropriate permissions, a critical step that many people miss and then complain about the “glutty” of notifications.
If you used Samsung Pay, you will have to switch to Google Pay (if supported in the region) or Mi Pay. Link your bank cards again, as security tokens do not transfer between different payment ecosystems.
Visual customization is important, too. MIUI allows you to deeply customize the interface. Go through the topics, set up the notification curtain and control panel to make the new phone feel like your own. Xiaomi's ecosystem offers many widgets that can replace the functionality you're familiar with from Samsung.
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Proper setting of the background work of applications is a key moment for stable operation of messengers on the Internet MIUI/HyperOS. Don't ignore this stage.