Changing the Android ecosystem is always stressful for users, because they fear losing important contacts, their correspondence history or precious photos. The transition from Samsung to Xiaomi Redmi devices is no exception, but modern technology allows you to do this process as quickly and painlessly as possible. Unlike the old days, when you had to manually interrupt numbers, today there are several proven methods of synchronization, each of which has its own characteristics.
The choice of the particular method depends on the amount of information, the speed of the Internet connection and the personal preferences of the owner of the gadget. You can use cloud storage, local Wi-Fi channel or even a wired connection. The key is to properly prepare both devices before starting the procedure to eliminate possible errors and freezes of the system.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the migration options available, paying special attention to the nuances of working with the One UI and MIUI shells (or HyperOS), you will learn how to transfer not only basic data, but also passwords, application settings and the location of icons on the desktop.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before you start any transfer process, you need to make sure that both smartphones are ready to work. The basic requirement is that you have an adequate battery level, since transferring large amounts of data can take from 15 minutes to several hours, it is recommended to connect both devices to a power source or make sure that the charge is at least 60%.
The second important step is to update the system software. Manufacturers often release patches that improve the stability of communication modules and Bluetooth. On Samsung, check for updates in Settings → Software Update, and on Xiaomi, go to Settings → About Phone.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to interrupt the file transfer process after it has started, which may damage the contact database or cause system applications to work incorrectly on the new device.
It’s also worth freeing up space on the new Redmi smartphone, and while the system will alert you to memory shortages, it’s best to delete unnecessary files beforehand or clear the cache. Make sure both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, as most methods use these protocols to create a communication channel.
Use the Mi Mover app for full synchronization
The most effective and “native” way for Xiaomi users is to use the Mi Mover utility. This application is designed specifically for data migration and is able to transfer contacts, messages, call logs, photos, music, videos, documents and even installed applications.
The process starts with installing the app on both smartphones. On newer Redmi models, it is often pre-installed in the Tools folder. If it is not available, it can be downloaded from Google Play or GetApps. Once launched on the old Samsung, you need to select the role of “Sender” (Old phone), and on the new Xiaomi, you need to select the role of “Recipient” (New phone).
The devices will find each other via Bluetooth or QR-Once you connect, you'll see a list of data categories that are available for portability. It's important to note that sending messengers like WhatsApp may require separate confirmation inside the messenger app itself.
☑️ Check before launching the Mi Mover
Transfer speeds depend on the number of files. During the process, device screens may go out, but it is better not to switch to other applications. Once completed, a report on successful transfer will appear on Xiaomi, and application icons will begin to appear on the desktop.
Transfer through Google Account and Cloud Services
Google’s ecosystem allows you to synchronize your core data without third-party apps, which is ideal for those who want to cleanly and neatly migrate contacts, calendars, and notes. On Samsung, make sure that Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Account Management activates synchronization of all the items you need.
Once synchronization is enabled, the data is uploaded to the cloud. When you first turn on Xiaomi Redmi, you just need to enter the same email address and password. The system automatically prompts you to restore data from Google's backup.
However, this method has limitations: it will not transfer photos in full resolution unless the autoboot and sync function is enabled in Google Photos, and alarm settings, voice recordings and files from internal memory that are not related to system categories will not be transferred.
| Type of data | Google Account | Mi Mover | Bluetooth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Automatically. | Yes. | Yes (limited) |
| Photos and videos | Through Google Photos | Yeah (originals) | No (too slow) |
| Annexes | Only a list. | Yes (APK + data) | No. |
| SMS messages | Backup required. | Yes. | No. |
For users who value privacy, this method may seem the most secure, as data passes through secure servers of the corporation, and not directly transmitted over the local network, where theoretically possible interception.
Multimedia migration via PC and cable
If you have tens of gigabytes of photos and videos, wireless methods can be too long, and then the most reliable option is to use a computer as an intermediary. USB-cable and select file transfer mode (MTP).
Copy DCIM, Pictures, Download, and Music folders to your computer’s hard drive. Then disconnect your old phone, plug in Xiaomi, and transfer the data to the appropriate directories, a method that ensures file metadata (film date, geolocation) is saved.
⚠️ Note: When copying through a PC, the folder structure may change slightly. After moving the gallery to Xiaomi, it may take time to index new media files.
The alternative is to use OTG-cable, if you have a flash drive with support USB Type-C. You can flip data from Samsung to a flash drive, and then plug it into Redmi. MIUI without problems recognizes the external drive and offers to move files to internal memory.
Why can’t the computer see all the files?
This method requires more physical actions, but it is indispensable if the Wi-Fi router is unstable or files weigh a lot.
Nuances of the transfer of messages and messengers
The hardest part of migration is the history of correspondence. Standard SMS and MMS are usually carried over Mi Mover or Samsung backup tools. However, popular messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) store data in different ways.
Telegram has no problem at all: just enter a phone number, and all cloud chats sync instantly. Secret chats are not portable for security reasons. WhatsApp is more complicated: when switching between different Android brands (even within the same OS), sometimes you need to create a local backup.
In WhatsApp on Samsung go to Settings → chat → Backup chats and click "Create." Make sure the copy is created in Google Drive. When you install WhatsApp on Xiaomi, select recovery from Google backup. If this method doesn't work, you can use the "Chat Transfer" feature inside WhatsApp itself (Settings). → chat → Transfer of chats that will create QR-code-scanning.
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Before you delete WhatsApp from your old phone, make sure you remember the password from the two-factor authentication, if it was set. Without it, it will be impossible to restore an account on the new device.
Some users prefer to do a full backup through the Samsung Smart Switch on PC and then restore it, but this only works when switching to another Samsung.For a cross-platform transition (Samsung → Xiaomi) reliance on Google Drive and built-in export features of the apps themselves is the most reliable path.
Frequent problems and ways to solve them
It can be difficult for users to migrate, and Mi Mover can often fail to see the device or the transmission is 99% off, and most of the time it's energy-saving, and Samsung needs to turn off the power saving mode and allow the Mi Mover app to run in the background without restrictions.
Another common problem is incorrect contact display (for example, instead of names, numbers), which is solved by importing contacts from a.vcf file or re-synchronizing through a Google account on a new device, sometimes helping to clear the cache of the Contacts app on Xiaomi.
If apps don’t open after the transfer, they need to be updated via Google Play, which is because only installation files are transferred during the migration, not the latest updates needed to work correctly on the new version of Android or the MIUI shell.
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The main cause of port failures is aggressive battery optimization on Android, and turn it off for migration time for both phones.
Also worth considering is the difference in screen resolutions and aspect ratios: Some older apps may not display correctly on modern Redmi widescreens. MIUI has a Full Screen Apps section where you can force the image to stretch.