Changing a mobile device often causes users to feel mixed feelings: on the one hand, the joy of a new gadget, and on the other – fears about losing important information. Switching from an Android smartphone from one brand to another device, for example, from Samsung to Xiaomi, seems to be a difficult process only at first glance. Modern technology allows you to clone almost all digital luggage in minutes, preserving the structure of folders and settings.
The challenge is that each manufacturer has its own unique shells and services. Samsung’s One UI and Xiaomi’s MIUI (or HyperOS) have different storage architectures. However, this is not a barrier to migration. There are several proven ways to ensure that your photos, contacts, messages, and even your desktop icons are safe.
In this article, we will take a look at all the current synchronization techniques, how to use embedded tools, cloud storage and third-party applications to make the transition as comfortable as possible, and it is important to properly prepare both devices before starting the procedure to avoid transmission errors or system freezes.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before any manipulations begin, make sure that both smartphones are ready to work, a basic step that can lead to interruption or loss of files, and charge Samsung and Xiaomi to at least 60-70%, as the active transfer of large amounts of data significantly consumes battery power.
Both devices must be connected to a stable Wi-Fi network. Using 3G/4G/5G mobile internet is not recommended, as traffic can be quickly depleted and the transfer speed will not be enough for gigabytes of photos. Make sure that Bluetooth and geolocation are enabled on both devices, as some methods use these modules to find devices.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to interrupt the transfer process by turning off the screen or closing applications.This can damage contact or message databases and be extremely difficult to restore.
It’s also worth freeing up space on a new device.While Xiaomi usually offers enough internal storage, checking the free space won’t be superfluous.Delete temporary files or apps you don’t plan on using so that the new phone works as quickly as possible once it’s turned on.
Using the Mi Mover app for full cloning
The most effective and native way for owners of Xiaomi equipment is to use a special application Mi Mover.This tool is designed specifically for migration from other platforms, including Samsung, and allows you to transfer contacts, messages, call logs, photos, music, videos, documents and even installed applications.
The process starts with installing the app on an old phone, and on the new Xiaomi models, it's already built into the system and it's in the Tools folder. On Samsung, you need to download Mi Mover from the Google Play Store or scan it. QR-code that will appear on the screen of the new phone when the function starts.
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If the app is not in the Play Market for your Samsung model, download it. APK-file from the official Mi Community website or a reliable repository, pre-authorizing installation from unknown sources.
Once you run the app on both devices, select the role of each phone. On Xiaomi, click "I'm the recipient" and on Samsung, "I'm the sender." QR-code or connect through device search. Once you have established the connection, you will see a list of data categories available for portability.
- 📱 Contacts and Messages: Complete copying of the phone book and correspondence history SMS/MMS.
- 🖼️ Multimedia: Photos, video files and audio recordings are transferred in original quality.
- 📲 Annexes: Installation APK-files, but data within applications (logins, game progress) may not be saved.
- ⚙️ System settings: Wi-Fi passwords, alarm clocks and some interface settings.
The main advantage of this method is speed: data is transmitted over a direct Wi-Fi channel between devices without loading the router or consuming Internet traffic, speeds can reach 20-40 MB / s depending on the distance and version of the Wi-Fi modules.
☑️ Check before launching the Mi Mover
Synchronization through Google Account
Google’s ecosystem is the link between any Android device, and if you’ve been using Google’s services on Samsung, most of your data is already in the cloud, ideal for anyone who wants to set up a new phone from scratch by automatically logging in.
On your old device, make sure sync is enabled. Go to Settings → Accounts → Google and check if the ticks are against contacts, calendar, notes and app data. Press the sync button to make sure all recent changes are uploaded to the server.
When you first turn on Xiaomi, the system will suggest you sign in to an existing account or create a new one. Enter the same data as you did on Samsung. During the initial setup, the phone will ask if you want to restore data from the backup. Choose the latest version available, and contacts, calendar events, and the list of installed applications will start to load.
⚠️ Note: Photos and videos are not always copied through standard account sync. For these, you need to separately check the status in the Google Photos app, making sure that the mode is "Autoboot and sync".
It is important to understand that this method will not transfer files from internal memory, such as downloaded documents, music or photos taken outside the folders of the system. For a full copy of media files, it is better to use Google Drive cloud storage or Google Photos, downloading the necessary files manually before changing the device.
Transferring multimedia via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct
If you only need to move a few files, videos or documents, there is no point in launching a full-scale migration. Android's built-in tools allow for fast data exchange. Bluetooth technology is versatile but slow, so it's only suitable for documents and contacts.
For large files like movies or photo archives, it’s better to use Wi-Fi Direct or third-party file managers with network transmission support. On Samsung, this feature is often built into a gallery or file manager (“Send Nearby”), while on Xiaomi, a similar feature is called “Mi Drop” or “ShareMe”.
The algorithm is simple: you pick files on an old phone, hit Share, and you pick a new device that you discover, you take a connection request on a new phone, and the speed is much faster with Wi-Fi Direct than Bluetooth, and it can go up to tens of megabytes per second.
Note that when you transmit via Bluetooth, there may be limitations on file size or content type, and some file formats may not open or transfer due to the limitations of the Android security protocol.
Comparison of data transfer methods
To make it easier for you to choose the best way, we have compiled a comparison table that will help you assess the pros and cons of each method depending on your goals and the amount of information you have.
| Method | Speed. | What's transferable | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Tall. | Everything (Contacts, Media, Applications, Settings) | Low. |
| Google Account | Medium | Contacts, Calendar, List of Appendices | Very low. |
| Bluetooth | Low. | Contacts, Files (small size) | Low. |
| Computer (USB) | Tall. | Files, Photos, Videos, Music | Medium |
As you can see from the table, Mi Mover is the leader in functionality and speed for this pair of devices. However, if you only need to move contacts, syncing Google will be faster and easier.
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For a full migration, while maintaining folder structure and application settings, use Mi Mover. Google Account is enough for contacts and calendar.
Data transfer via computer (USB-cable)
A classic method that never fails, especially when wireless connections are unstable: You'll need a USB cable and a computer. Connect Samsung to a PC, select MTP file transfer mode in the notification.
Copy the required folders (DCIM, Pictures, Download, Music) to your computer’s hard drive. Then disable your old phone, plug in Xiaomi, and transfer files to the appropriate directories. This method ensures that the original quality of media files does not suffer from the compression that is sometimes used in messengers or the cloud.
For users who are used to file managers, this method gives full control over the structure of the data, you can immediately sort files by folder on a new device, removing the junk accumulated over the years of using an old smartphone.