Changing a smartphone, especially from one ecosystem to another, often elicits mixed feelings among users: on the one hand, a new device with powerful hardware is delighted, on the other hand, the prospect of a long and tedious setup is frightening. Samsung owners, who are used to the One UI shell, when switching to Xiaomi with its MIUI or HyperOS, may face questions about data compatibility. Fortunately, modern technology allows you to make this process as painless and fast as possible, saving all your contacts, photos, call history and even icons on the desktop.
There are several proven migration methods, each with its own advantages depending on the amount of information and the speed of the Internet connection. The most efficient and quick way to date is to use the proprietary Mi Mover app, which is designed specifically for such situations.
In this article, we will take a closer look at each step of the process, focusing on the nuances that are often overlooked. You will learn how to properly prepare both smartphones to avoid connection errors, and what security settings can prevent file transfer. Before starting the procedure, be sure to charge both devices up to a minimum of 60%, since the intensive operation of Wi-Fi modules and writing a large amount of data can quickly drain the battery. We will also consider what to do if the process freezes or some applications are not portable correctly.
Preparation of devices and preliminary settings
Before you run any port tool, you need to do a number of preparatory steps to ensure the stability of the connection. First of all, make sure that both smartphones are Wi-Fi enabled, even if you do not plan to use the home network. Most migration utilities, including Mi Mover, require that the devices be on the same local network or create a direct wireless connection with each other.
The second important step is to check the space. The data from Samsung will be copied to Xiaomi one-to-one, so the new device should have space available that exceeds the amount of information occupied on the old phone. Go to Settings → Memory on both devices and assess the situation. If there is not enough space, it is better to immediately delete unnecessary videos or transfer them to the computer, so as not to interrupt the process halfway.
⚠️ Note: If your Samsung has encryption enabled SD-Cards or password protection, remove the memory card before migrating, insert it into the new Xiaomi phone only after the basic procedure of transferring system data is completed to avoid file system conflicts.
It is also worth turning off the power saving mode on both devices. Aggressive battery optimization, typical of MIUI, can "sleep" at the most inopportune moment, breaking the connection when transferring heavy files. Go to Settings → Battery and select Performance mode or simply turn off energy savings during the procedure.
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Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration
The most popular and recommended way is to use the Mi Mover utility, which is pre-installed on most Xiaomi smartphones, but it can also be downloaded for free from Google Play or GetApps to a Samsung device. The main advantage of this method is the ability to transfer not only media files, but also the applications themselves, their data, system settings and even the location of widgets.
The process starts with running an app on both phones. On the new Xiaomi, you choose the Receiver role, and on the old Samsung, you choose the Sender role. The app creates a Wi-Fi hotspot, and the new phone will appear on the screen. QR-code that needs to be scanned by the camera in the app on the old device, and after successful pairing, the data selection menu will open.
It's important to be careful, and it'll offer you categories like images, videos, music, documents, messages, call logs, and apps, and it's recommended that you pick all the items, except maybe the system debris, which can sometimes get stuck in hidden folders, and it can take you 15 minutes to an hour to copy, depending on the amount of data.
What if the Mi Mover can’t see the device?
Once the transfer is complete, Xiaomi will see a report on successful imports. The system may offer to install updates for portable applications - agree with this, as the versions of programs in the Play Market may differ from those on Samsung.
Sync through Google Account and Cloud Services
If you don’t want to install additional apps or the amount of data is small, you can use classic sync via Google Account.This method is ideal for transferring contacts, calendar events, Google Keep notes and photos through Google Photos. On Samsung, make sure that sync is active: go to Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Account Management → Google and check that all switches are enabled.
When the new Xiaomi is first activated, it will prompt you to enter your Google account data. Once logged in, the phone will automatically start pulling up contacts and calendar. Photos will appear in the gallery after syncing the Google Photos app, if you have Autoboot and Sync enabled. This is a reliable but slower way, depending on Internet speed.
Samsung owners can also use the Samsung Cloud or OneDrive service, which often copies the gallery and contacts by default. To transfer data from there to Xiaomi, you will need to install the appropriate applications from the Play Market, log in and manually upload data to the device.
Transfer of SMS messages and call log
One of the most painful topics when changing phones is the loss of correspondence and calls. Standard Android tools often ignore SMS when syncing through Google, so Mi Mover or specialized utilities come to the rescue again. When using Mi Mover, just make sure that the check box (marked) is in the data transfer list opposite to the item "Messages" and "Call log".
If you use other methods, you can use the SMS Backup & Restore app, which creates a complete archive of all your communications on Samsung, saves a backup file to the cloud (like Google Drive), and then on Xiaomi restores them from that file, a process that is fully automated and takes minutes.
It is important to note that after migrating to Xiaomi, messages may be numbered or identified as coming in the past rather than being sent by you. This is normal behavior when changing firmware. In the Messages to MIUI app, you can configure the display to separate incoming and outgoing messages.
Table of comparison of transfer methods
To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have prepared a comparative table of the main ways to migrate data.
| Method | Speed. | What's transferable | We need the Internet. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | High (Wi-Fi Direct) | Everything (photos, apps, SMS, settings) | No (locally) |
| Google Account | Medium (depending on the network) | Contacts, calendar, photo | Yes. |
| USB cable (OTG) | Tall. | Photos, videos, documents | No. |
| Bluetooth | Low. | Files only (contacts, photos) | No. |
Possible problems and ways to solve them
Despite the fact that things are fine, sometimes there are failures, and a common problem is that the connection is broken in the middle of the process. Don't panic: in most cases, progress is maintained, and you can try to re-transfer the remaining files by selecting only the categories that have not been copied.
Another common difficulty is that some apps are intolerant, and programs that are designed to fit Samsung’s interface or have system limitations may not be installed on Xiaomi, in which case they will have to be removed and re-downloaded from the Play Market, already in a version adapted for MIUI.
⚠️ Note: Bank applications and government services (Public Services, Sberbank, etc.) may not transfer their data (logins, cache) for security reasons, you will have to log in to them again on a new device and possibly re-assign the device in the bank's security settings.
If the phone "sees" the network, but does not transmit data, try Samsung in the Wi-Fi settings to find the setting"MAC-Address and switch it from "Randomized to"MAC-Device address. This is a common cause of compatibility issues between different router and access point manufacturers.
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After transferring the data, go to the Xiaomi screen settings and turn on “Data Mode” or a similar option in the “Special Features” section, if available, to make navigation easier at first.
Completion of customization and optimization of Xiaomi
Once all the data is on board the new Xiaomi, don’t be in a hurry to use the phone immediately. Give the system time to index files. In the first hours after turning on, the phone may warm slightly — this is the background process of optimizing the database of media files and applications.
Check the key functions: calls, Internet, camera. Pay special attention to notifications. The MIUI shell is known for its aggressive work with memory, so for important messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) it is worth setting the battery mode "No restrictions" to get messages on time.
Now your new smartphone is fully ready to go. All your contacts, photos and apps are in place, and you can enjoy the new features of the device without losing important data. The transition from Android to Android, even between different brands, has become as simple as possible thanks to modern migration tools.
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After a successful data transfer, make sure to complete a full reset on an old Samsung before selling or disposing of it, so that your personal data does not fall into the wrong hands.