Changing your smartphone, especially from one Android ecosystem to another, often raises concerns about losing important information. Xiaomi users who choose to switch to Samsung devices may face differences in the shells of MIUI and One UI. However, modern technology allows you to perform the migration with almost no losses and complications.
The transfer process involves not only copying contacts and photos, but also installing applications, calling history and even placing icons on the desktop, and it is important to choose the right method that will suit your situation: whether you have a Wi-Fi network, the number of gigabytes of information or need to transfer specific system settings.
In this article, we will discuss three main ways in detail: using Samsung’s proprietary Smart Switch app, Google cloud services, and Xiaomi’s specialized utilities.You will learn how to safely move archives, avoiding common mistakes that can lead to malfunctions in the new gadget.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before you start any manipulations, make sure that both smartphones are ready for active operation. Charge the battery of both devices to a minimum of 60-70%, as the process of transferring large amounts of data via Wi-Fi Direct or cable can be energy intensive.
Check for free space on your Samsung device. If you plan to migrate your entire media library and app cache, the amount of free memory you need to transfer should be 15-20% higher than the amount of data you transmit to make the system work properly, and it is also recommended to update the software on both phones to the latest available version.
⚠️ Warning: Do not start the transfer if the new phone already has a Google account set up with important personal information that you do not want to lose.In some cases, full sync can cause profile conflict.
Make sure both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled. Even if you use a cable, these modules are often used for initial handshakes and encryption keys exchange. Turn off power saving mode so the system doesn't limit background transmission processes.
☑️ Checklist of preparations
Method 1: Use Samsung Smart Switch
The most reliable and recommended method by Samsung is the Smart Switch app.It is designed specifically for migration from any platform, including Android, iOS and even old button phones. APK-file or find the app in the Google Play store, if it is available for your model.
Once installed, run the program on both smartphones. On Samsung, select "Receive data" and on Xiaomi, "Send data." The system will suggest whether to connect wirelessly or via a USB-C cable. The wireless method is more convenient, but the cable will provide a significantly higher speed of transferring gigabytes of information.
When the connection is established, a list of categories will appear on the screen to transfer, you can select only contacts and messages, or you can mark all items, including Wi-Fi settings, alarm clocks and home screen layout, which takes from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the volume.
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For maximum speed, use the original USB-C to USB-C cable, which supports fast data transfer standards, not just charging.
It is important to note that the Smart Switch may not migrate some system settings to the MIUI shell, as they are incompatible with the One UI. For example, specific control gestures or design themes may be reset to Samsung's standard values.
Method 2: Sync through your Google account
Google’s ecosystem is the link between any Android device. If you’ve been using the search giant’s Xiaomi services extensively, most of your data is already in the cloud. First, make sure that your old phone has all the necessary items synced in the Settings → Accounts → Google section.
Pay special attention to the Photos and Videos section of the Google Photos app. If you have Autoupload enabled, all your photos are already saved in the cloud. When you log in to the same Samsung account, the gallery will automatically upload all images without having to physically transfer files.
Contacts, Google Keep notes, calendar and passwords from the Chrome browser are also automatically restored. When you first set up a new Samsung phone, simply type in your Gmail address and the system will prompt you to restore a backup of apps and data.
| Type of data | Google's method | Smart Switch Method |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Autosynchronization | Direct transfer |
| Photo/Video | Google Photos (cloud) | Local transmission |
| Annexes | List only (download again) | APK-files (often) |
| SMS messages | Backup required | Direct transfer |
Method 3: Alternative methods and Mi Mover
Some users prefer to use Xiaomi’s native app, Mi Mover.Although it’s tailored to migrate to Xiaomi, some versions have a data export feature that you can try.However, compatibility with Samsung is not guaranteed here and often requires additional components to be installed.
A more versatile solution is third-party file managers or PC programs like AnyDroid or MobileTrans, which allow you to manage the file system of both phones connected to your computer and copy the data selectively, which is useful if you only need to move a specific folder with documents.
Also, don't forget the manual method via Bluetooth or Quick Share (the equivalent of AirDrop for Android), which is the fastest way to transfer small packages of documents or multiple photos, and doesn't require any additional software installation. Just highlight files, click Share, and select a device within range.
⚠️ Note: When using third-party software from a PC, make sure you download it from official developer sites to avoid getting malware on your devices.
Transferring WhatsApp and Viber messages
Messengers store their correspondence history locally or in their clouds, ignoring standard methods of syncing Android. For WhatsApp on Xiaomi, go to Settings → Chats → Backup and create a fresh backup on Google Drive. Make sure that the same Google account is used.
On the new Samsung, when the app is first installed, the messenger will find the backup and prompt you to restore the history. If the phone is already configured, you may need to remove and reinstall the application to trigger the recovery process successfully.
For Viber, the procedure is similar: back up your account settings.
What to do if a backup copy is not found?
Solving problems in transfer
A common problem is interrupting Wi-Fi Direct while using Smart Switch. This can be due to the aggressive MIUI energy saving policy, which "kills" background processes. Before starting the transfer, find the application in the list of working and prevent its battery optimization.
Another problem is that contacts are not displayed correctly after the transfer, and if numbers are written in a format other than international, or contain redundant characters, Samsung may not recognize them correctly, in which case exporting contacts to a.vcf file and re-importing them through Google contacts will help.
Sometimes apps don't open after the transfer, because APK files may have been corrupted or incompatible with the new version of Android on Samsung, and the best solution is to remove those apps and download them again from the Google Play Store.
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Aggressive battery optimization on Xiaomi is the main enemy of stable data connection.
Security settings after migration
When you successfully transfer data, the first thing you do is check your security settings, and on a new Samsung device, you need to set up biometric security, like a fingerprint or a face scan, and biometrics are never transferred from your old phone for privacy reasons.
Also check Find My Mobile, make sure it’s activated and linked to your Samsung account, allowing you to remotely lock your phone or erase data in case of loss.
Remember to update your browser and banking apps if you used the autocomplete feature on your old device. PIN-The screen unlock code for a new one known only to you.