The move to a new smartphone is always accompanied by a desire to keep all the important data and settings safe. Android ecosystem owners often change brands, for example, from Xiaomi to Samsung, but face the question of transferring information. Fortunately, modern operating systems provide powerful tools for migration, making the process as automated as possible.
There are several proven synchronization methods, each with its own advantages: you can use Google cloud services, specialized applications from manufacturers or a local Wi-Fi connection. The choice of the specific method depends on the amount of data and the speed of your Internet connection.
In this article, we will take a look at all the current portability options so you can choose the most convenient one, and we will look at the nuances of working with Mi Account and Samsung Account accounts, as well as ways to solve typical file transfer problems.
Preparation of devices before the migration
Before you start the transfer process, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps on both devices, this will avoid errors, freezes or loss of data at the most inopportune time, make sure that both smartphones are charged at least 50-60% of the battery, as active operation of the communication modules is significantly energy consuming.
Both phones must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Data transfer speed is directly dependent on the bandwidth of the router, so using mobile Internet (4G/5G) is not recommended due to the possible exceeding of the traffic limit and low stability.
Also, free up space on the receiving device if it has already been used.Remove unnecessary files or apps so that the new Samsung smartphone can seamlessly take in all the information from the old Xiaomi.
Using a Google Account for Basic Synchronization
The most reliable and versatile way to migrate contacts, calendars, and notes is to use Google cloud storage, and since both operating shells (MIUI/HyperOS and One UI) are built on Android, this method works flawlessly.
On an old Xiaomi phone, go to Settings → Google → Sync. Make sure the sliders opposite Contacts, Google Calendar and Google Drive are activated. Click Sync to make sure all data is uploaded to the cloud.
What to do if contacts are not displayed?
If no contacts have appeared after you logged in to your Samsung account, check the display settings in the Contacts app. Click on three dots in the corner, select Settings" → "Contacts to display and make sure you select the All Contacts option or specifically your Google account, not just your Google account. SIM-card.> After that, grab a new Samsung phone and log in to the same Google account when you first set up or through the Settings menu. → Accounts and archiving. The system will automatically tighten all the stored data. For photos, the best way to use the Google Photos app. Install it on Xiaomi if it is not available, log in to your profile and enable autoload. After checking for images in the cloud, simply download the app on Samsung and the library will be available instantly. Xiaomi has developed its own utility Mi Mover, which is usually preinstalled in the Tools folder. It allows you to transfer data over a local Wi-Fi channel without using Internet traffic. While the app is geared toward moving into the Xiaomi ecosystem, it can be used to transfer files to other devices as long as they support similar protocols or if you temporarily migrate data to an intermediate Xiaomi. However, for the Xiaomi-Samsung bundle, it will be more effective to use Samsung’s native tools, which will be discussed below, since the Mi Mover may not recognize the receiving device of another brand for full cloning of the system. However, if you decide to try to transfer only multimedia over Wi-Fi Direct, you will need to be able to transfer it: 📲 Run the Mi Mover app on your old phone. 📡 Select the “Sender” mode and wait for the device search. 🔒 Scan it. QR-screen code of the receiving device (if it supports the protocol). 📂 Select file types to transfer and click "Send." It is important to understand that system settings and installed applications via Mi Mover on Samsung devices may not be ported correctly due to differences in firmware structure. MIUI one UI. The most effective solution for Samsung owners is the official Smart Switch application.It is designed specifically for migrating data from any Android smartphones, including Xiaomi, as well as from the iPhone. Install the Smart Switch Mobile app from Google Play on both phones. On the new Samsung, it may already be preinstalled in the Samsung folder. Run the app on both devices. On the old Xiaomi, select Send Data, and on the new Samsung, Accept Data. Choose whether you connect wirelessly or via cable. Cable connection is preferred because it provides a stable speed and will not be interrupted by a weak Wi-Fi signal. Once connected, the system will analyze the data, so you can choose what you want to move: 📞 Contacts and call logs. 💬 Communications (SMS and MMS). 🖼️ Images, video and audio files. 📱 Installed apps (the ones in the Play Market). ⚙️ System settings and alarm clocks: Press "Transfer" and wait until the process is complete. The waiting time depends on the amount of information. Comparison of data transfer methods To make it easier for you to choose the right method, we have prepared a comparative table of the main characteristics of synchronization methods. Method Speed Dependence on the Internet What carries Google Account Average Contacts required, Calendar, Photos Samsung Smart Switch High Not required (locally) All (including apps and settings) Google Photos Depends on the channel Only media files required USB Cable + As you can see from the table, the combined approach often gives the best result: Smart Switch for base and applications, and Google Photos for backup images in the cloud. Frequent problems and solutions: There may be technical difficulties in migrating, and one of the common problems is a connection error when using the Smart Switch, which often happens when one of the devices is power-saving, which limits the Wi-Fi module. ⚠️ Warning: Before the transfer, turn off the "Energy Saving" mode on both smartphones. Also make sure that the device screens do not go out during the process, otherwise the connection may break. Another problem is the lack of some applications after the transfer. This happens if the application was downloaded not from the official Google Play store, but from a third party source, or was specific to the MIUI shell. In this case, they will have to be installed manually. If the data transfer hangs on a certain percentage (for example, 99%), do not panic. Often the system simply checks the integrity of files. If the process costs more than 30 minutes, try to interrupt it and repeat the operation by selecting fewer types of data (for example, only photos, then separately contacts). Go to Settings. → Biometrics and security, and set up fingerprint or face unlock, as this data is not transferred from the old device for security reasons. UI Notification management is different from MIUI. Go to the notification settings and make sure that important apps (messengers, mail) have permission to work in the background and are not blocked by the power saving system. Remember to log out of Mi Account on your old device if you plan to sell or give it away. This will remove the activation block and protect your data from outsiders. Should Xiaomi apps be removed after the transfer? Xiaomi system apps that could have been installed on Samsung as a form of a mobile phone? APK-files (calculator, voice recorder, themes), it is better to delete. They may not work correctly or conflict with native Samsung applications. Replace them with analogues from Google Play or Galaxy Store. What to do with.MI files? MIUI themes or backup files that may have been transferred to Samsung will not open. They can be safely deleted via the Storage or My Files menu, sorting the data by type or date. Can you interrupt the synchronization process? It is highly undesirable to interrupt the data transfer process via Smart Switch. This can damage the contact or message database. If the process is up, it is better to wait for a timeout or reboot both phones, and reboot the method, by sorting the data from the steam, however, the switching the device to the Wiwitch is automatically transferred to the vapored, when the WhatsApp manager is saved from the Wi-s? For WhatsApp, it’s better to use a built-in backup feature. On Xiaomi: WhatsApp → Settings → Chats → Backup → Google Drive. On Samsung, when it first launches, WhatsApp will offer to restore data from the cloud. Direct transfer via cable sometimes works worse than the cloud method for instant messengers.