Changing your smartphone is always an exciting process, often marred by the fear of losing important data, especially when you need to transfer information between devices from different ecosystems, for example, from Samsung to Xiaomi, and fortunately, modern technology allows you to do it as quickly and without loss, even if you have never used a Chinese brand technology before.
In this article, we'll look at all the current methods of migrating a phone book, from cloud services to specialized applications. It only takes a few minutes to move contacts, if you know the right sequence of actions, and you can save not only numbers, but also email addresses, photos and posts associated with them.
Don't worry about file format compatibility or the complexity of settings. Android has unified the data exchange process, making it transparent to the user regardless of the device manufacturer. We'll look at both wired and wireless solutions so you can choose the most convenient option for your situation.
Using the Mi Mover application for direct transmission
The most efficient and quickest way to migrate data is to use the Mi Mover tool, which is designed specifically for migrating users to Xiaomi and Redmi devices, providing data transfer over a local Wi-Fi channel without using Internet traffic, and the copy speed with this method is much faster than with Bluetooth or cloud services.
To get started, you need to install the app on both devices. On the new Xiaomi smartphone, it is often pre-installed in the Tools folder. On the old Samsung, you need to download it from Google Play. Once you start, select the role of the device: "I am the recipient" on the new phone and "I am the sender" on the old one.
The connection process takes place through scanning. QR-A local connection ensures that your personal data does not leave the perimeter of your gadgets and is not transferred through third-party servers.
- 📲 Install Mi Mover on both smartphones from official sources.
- 🔗 Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network or create an access point via Mi Mover.
- ✅ Select the "Contacts" data type and click the "Send" button".
- ⏳ Wait for the process to be completed without turning off the device screens.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure both devices are on GPS and permissions to access contacts, otherwise Mi Mover will not be able to read the phone book.
Synchronization through Google account
The most reliable and classic method is synchronization through the Google cloud, which, if you’ve been using Samsung actively, is likely to have your contacts already saved to the cloud, ideal because it doesn’t require any additional software to be installed and works automatically when you sign in.
Check on your old device if sync is enabled. To do this, go to settings, find the Accounts section and select your Google account. Make sure the switch opposite Contacts is activated. If it was turned off, turn it on and wait for the sync to end.
On the new Xiaomi, just log in to the same account when you first set up or through the settings menu. Autoload will happen in the background, and after a few minutes all the numbers will appear in the phone book. This is especially convenient if you change your phone not for the first time.
It’s important to understand the difference between on-premises storage and the cloud. If numbers are only stored in Samsung phone memory without an account binding, this method won’t work without exporting them beforehand. Android allows you to flexibly manage storage sources.
Export and import via VCF file
The VCF file method (vCard) is a universal solution for all situations, including the lack of Internet. VCF file is a standard format that is supported by all modern smartphones and allows you to store not only the number, but also additional contact information.
On a Samsung device, open the Contacts app, go to the management menu (usually three bars or dots) and select Contact Management. Click on Import/Export Contacts and select the export option. SD-map.
The resulting file can be transferred in any convenient way, whether via messenger, email or simply copying to a computer. On Xiaomi, the process is reversed: contact, select import and specify the path to the file. Mass import will allow you to download thousands of numbers in one operation.
The Way to Samsung Menu: Contacts → Menus. → Contact management → Exports of contactsThe thing about this is that it's autonomous, you don't need Wi-Fi, you don't need mobile Internet, you don't need special cables, and a.vcf file weighs very little, even if it's thousands of records, so it's easy to transmit even over Bluetooth, if other methods are not available.
Transfer with SIM-maps: the old proven method
Despite the development of cloud technologies, SIM-The card remains a popular medium for the phone book, and it's a method that makes sense if you don't have Internet access or want to create a physical backup of numbers.
The main disadvantage is the limitation on the number of symbols. SIM-The card usually stores only the name and number, cropping long names and ignoring additional fields such as email, address or photo. So after transferring, you may have to manually edit some of the records.
The process is simple: on Samsung, select "Copy Contacts on the Internet". SIM-map, wait until the end, then paste the card in Xiaomi and select Copy with SIM-This is a basic level of data backup that every user should know.
| Method | Speed. | We need the Internet. | Saves a photo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Tall. | No. | Yes. |
| Google Account | Medium | Yes. | Yes. |
| SIM-map | Low. | No. | No. |
| VCF file | Tall. | No. | Yes. |
☑️ Pre-transfer check
Solving Duplicate Contact Problems
A common problem with changing phones is the appearance of duplicates, which occurs when the same number is stored simultaneously in the memory of the phone, on the phone. SIM-Xiaomi and Samsung handle source priorities differently, leading to confusion.
To solve this problem, the MIUI shell (and the new HyperOS) has a built-in cleaning tool. Go to Contacts, click on the menu, and find Contact Organizer or Remove Duplicates. The system will automatically analyze the database and suggest combining the repeated records.
You can also use the Google Contacts app, which has a powerful merge feature. If you see two identical numbers, click on them, select "Merge," and the system will create one full card, collecting data from all sources.
⚠️ Before mass removal of duplicates, be sure to make a backup copy so that you do not accidentally delete important unique numbers that the system mistakenly considered copies.
Using Samsung Smart Switch to migrate
While Smart Switch is Samsung’s native app, it has a limited but useful feature of exporting data to transfer to other Android devices.You can back up contacts in a format compatible with other phones, or use it for initial setup if Xiaomi supports importing from Samsung backups (a feature rare but worth a try).
A more reliable option within the Samsung ecosystem is to export through the Samsung Cloud, if available in your area, followed by importing the file to Xiaomi.However, given the gradual closure of some Samsung services in favor of Microsoft, this method may be less stable than direct export to the file.
If you use a USB-C to USB-C cable to connect phones to each other, the Smart Switch can offer direct portability.In some cases, Xiaomi will recognize a connected Samsung device and run its migration wizard using Smart Switch protocols to retrieve data.
Configure the display of contacts after transfer
Once you have successfully re-posted contacts, it is important to properly configure their display. MIUI By default, contacts with SIM-maps or only select groups to be displayed. To see the entire phone book, go to the contact display settings.
Choose All Contacts or All Phones, and you can also customize your first or last name sorting, which is especially true when you move from Western firmware or Samsung specific settings, and filtering lists helps you find the right people in a crowded database faster.
Check which account is set to save new numbers by default. It is recommended to choose a Google account so that in the future, any change of phone does not have to go through the manual transfer procedure again, which will ensure data security in the long run.