How to sync Samsung phone with Xiaomi Redmi

Moving from one Android device to another often raises questions about privacy, especially when manufacturers’ brands differ. Owners of the popular Galaxy ecosystem, who choose to switch from a smartphone to a Xiaomi or Redmi model, face the need to migrate contacts, photos, messages and app settings. Fortunately, modern operating systems provide powerful tools to migrate data without losing important information and unnecessary complexity.

The synchronization process between Samsung and Xiaomi can be implemented in several ways, from using Google cloud services to specialized utilities for direct file transfer. The choice of method depends on the amount of data, the speed of the Internet connection and the version of the operating system on both devices. In this article, we will discuss in detail the most effective algorithms of actions that ensure the successful transfer of all digital life to the new gadget.

It is important to understand that the direct data protocol between devices of different brands works most stable when you have Android 8.0 and higher on both devices. Before starting the procedure, make sure that both phones are charged at least 50%, as active operation of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules can significantly consume battery power.

Preparing devices for data migration

The first step to successful synchronization is to properly prepare both smartphones, and on a Samsung device you need to make sure that all important data is up to date, and on Redmi, the initial system setup is performed, and special attention should be paid to accounts, as they are the key to content management in the Android ecosystem.

Both smartphones must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network to ensure maximum data transfer speed. If using a router is not possible, some methods allow for the creation of an access point directly from one of the phones, but this can lead to increased traffic consumption and battery charge.

• 🔋 Charge both devices to at least 60% to prevent sudden shutdown.
• 📶 Connect phones to a stable high-bandwidth Wi-Fi network.
• 🆔 Make sure you have access to a Google account that will be used for syncing.
• 💾 Free up enough memory on Xiaomi’s new device to receive files.

Don’t forget to also update the system software on both gadgets to the latest available version. Manufacturers regularly release security patches and enhancements for embedded migration tools, so the relevance of firmware can be a crucial factor in the event of connection errors.

Use of the built-in Mi Mover application

The most efficient and quick way to transfer information is to use the proprietary utility Mi Mover, which is pre-installed on most modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones.This application is designed specifically for migrating data from any Android device, including Samsung, and allows you to transfer contacts, messages, call logs, photos, music and even installed applications.

To get started on the new Xiaomi phone, run the Mi Mover app through the settings menu or find it in the Tools folder. You will be asked to select the role of the device: click “I’m receiver.” On the old Samsung smartphone, you need to download and install a similar application from the Google Play Store, then select the role of “I’m sender”.

After selecting the roles, the receiver will generate the QR-Scan this code with the camera of the old device or connect to the created network manually. Once the connection is established, the application interface will suggest selecting data types to transfer. You can choose all at once or mark only the necessary categories, for example, only the gallery and contacts.

The copying process can take anywhere from minutes to an hour depending on the amount of information. During the transfer, do not switch to other applications or block device screens to avoid interrupting the connection. The system will automatically create the corresponding folders on the new device, keeping the file structure as close as possible to the original.

⚠️ Attention: When transmitting large amounts of data (over 20 GB), the device can heat up significantly.This is a normal reaction of the processor and Wi-Fi module to high load, but it is recommended to remove protective covers for better heat sink.

Synchronization through Google account

The classic and most reliable method of storing personal data is synchronization through Google’s cloud services, which is ideal for transferring contacts, calendar events, notes and settings, and since both smartphones run on Android, integration with the search giant’s services is native and does not require additional software installation.

On a Samsung device, go to Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Account Management. Select your Google account and make sure the switches opposite Contacts, Calendar and Chrome Data are active. Click Sync to force the cloud to update data before changing your device.

On a new Xiaomi phone, when you first activate it or enter the settings menu, log in to the same Google account. The system automatically prompts you to restore data from the backup. You can select the date of creation of the backup and the list of applications that you need to download. This method is especially convenient in that it allows you to restore even the placement of icons on the desktop if you use the standard Google launcher.

• 📇 Contacts and phone numbers are saved in the “Google Contacts” section».
• 📅 Calendar events and reminders are synced through Google Calendar.
• 🔑 Passwords saved in Chrome will be available immediately after logging in to your account.
• 📸 Photos and videos can be synced through Google Photos by enabling autoload.

Keep in mind that free space on Google Drive is limited to 15 GB. If your photo and video archive exceeds this limit, some of the data may not sync or need additional storage.

Manual transfer of multimedia and documents

For heavy files like 4K video, document archives or music folders, it is often more convenient to use a direct connection or a computer as an intermediary. Android’s built-in tools allow files to be transferred over Bluetooth, but the speed of this connection is extremely low and is not suitable for gigabytes of data.

A more effective solution is to use the Surrounding Sharing feature (formerly Nearby Share), which is available on both smartphones.This tool uses a combination of Bluetooth for detection and Wi-Fi Direct for transmission, providing high speed. On both devices, enable Bluetooth and geolocation, then select files in the gallery or file manager, click Share, and select the recipient device from the list of available.

The alternative is the use of USB-Connect Samsung to a PC, copy folders. DCIM, Download and Documents to your hard drive. Then connect Xiaomi and transfer the data to the appropriate directories.This method guarantees maximum reliability and allows you to check the integrity of files before writing to a new device.

When you manually copy, it's important to keep the folder structure, especially for media files. DCIM/Camera, So that they can be displayed correctly in the gallery and synced with cloud services, and you can put music files in the Music folder, and downloads in Download.

💡

Use the File Manager Explorer on Xiaomi to sort files. It has a built-in duplicate cleaning feature that will help clean up after transferring data from your old phone.

Transfer of messages and call logs

One of the most delicate tasks is to transfer the history of SMS correspondence and call logs. Google’s standard tools often do not save text messages, relying on third-party solutions or backup of the manufacturer. In the case of a transition from Samsung to Xiaomi, the Mi Mover application becomes the main tool again, as it knows how to retrieve and transfer the database of messages.

If you can't use Mi Mover, you can use SMS Backup & Restore, install it on both phones, back it up on your old device, save it to the cloud, or transfer it to your new phone. On your Redmi device, start restoring the file you created. This method ensures that all dialogs, including nested MMS, are saved.

For messengers like WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber, the procedure is different. Telegram and Viber store their correspondence history on their servers, so it is enough to simply log in to an account on a new device. WhatsApp needs to create a backup in Google Drive on the old phone (Settings → Chats → Backup) and restore it when the application is first installed on the new smartphone.

⚠️ Note: When restoring WhatsApp, make sure you use the same phone number and Google Drive account as you used on your old device.

The call log is usually automatically transferred along with the contacts if synchronization is selected via Google. SIM-The number of cards is limited, and it is recommended to copy all contacts with the SIM-Phone memory cards before the migration.

Solution and troubleshooting

There can be technical difficulties in synchronizing between devices from different manufacturers. One of the common problems is breaking the Wi-Fi Direct connection when using the Mi Mover. This can be due to energy-saving MIUI algorithms that aggressively disable background processes. To avoid this, add the Mi Mover application to the battery exclusion list and allow it to work in the background.

Another common situation is the absence of some applications after recovery, which is due to the fact that some programs preinstalled on Samsung may not be compatible with the MIUI shell or simply not in the user's region, in which case the system will offer to find analogues in the Google Play Store.

If files are transmitted slowly or with errors, try restarting both devices and disabling VPNs or proxy servers that can interfere with the local connection, and check if one device is running a Traffic Saving mode that limits background network activity.

• 🔄 Reboot both smartphones if the process is stuck in the “Connection” stage».
• 🚫 Turn it off. VPN Anti-virus firewalls during transmission.
• 🔋 Turn off the power saving mode on both devices.
• 📡 Make sure that the phones are not enabled "Flight" mode».

In rare cases, network settings may need to be reset. Go to Settings → Connection & Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth.This action will remove stored Wi-Fi passwords, but often solves device detection problems.

💡

Connection stability is more important than speed: if Mi Mover is constantly breaking down, try the method with Google Photos for pictures and manual copying of documents, breaking the process into stages.

Set up a new smartphone after the transfer

After successful data migration, it is important to finalize the new device, make sure that all contacts are displayed correctly and photos are opened without errors. Pay special attention to the notification settings, as they may work differently in the MIUI shell than in a pure Android or One UI from Samsung.

It is recommended to immediately configure biometric protection (fingerprint or face unlock) and add payment cards to Google Pay or Mi Pay. Also, be sure to install the necessary banking applications that may not be automatically transferred due to security restrictions.

Check geolocation and configure permissions for applications. MIUI shell is known for its strict security policies, so some applications may request permissions again or require manual autorun to work properly with notifications.

Now your new Xiaomi or Redmi is fully ready to go, keeping all the important data and usage habits. Regularly back up your new device to make the procedure of changing the gadget even faster and easier in the future.