How to run Smart Switch on Xiaomi: Full Guide

Many users who switch from Samsung devices to Xiaomi devices face terminology confusion when trying to find the feature "Smart Switch". It is important to be clear immediately: Smart Switch is a proprietary application developed exclusively by Samsung Electronics for their gadgets. On Redmi and Poco smartphones, you will not find a native application with this name in the system or official repositories.

But that doesn't mean you can't do the same thing. MIUI And the new HyperOS has its own powerful tool called Mi Mover, which functionally completely replaces the Korean counterpart. APK-In this article, we will look at all the ways of data migration, system settings and conflict resolution that arise when trying to use competitors’ tools on Chinese devices.

Understanding the Android architecture allows you to manage portability flexibly. Whether you’re using an old Samsung Galaxy or another Android phone, the Xiaomi-side algorithm will be built around system utilities or proven third-party solutions. The main thing is to choose a method that ensures that your contacts, media files and application settings are safe without loss of quality.

The difference between Smart Switch and Mi Mover

The fundamental difference lies in the level of access to the system. Smart Switch is optimized for the One UI shell and is deeply integrated into Samsung services. Mi Mover, in turn, was created by Xiaomi engineers to work with the MIUI file system. This means that the native tool better understands the structure of folders, the location of alarm clocks, call history and specific interface settings of the Chinese brand.

Using third-party software often results in some data being transferred as “unknown files.” For example, keyboard layouts or theme settings may not be read correctly by someone else’s app. Mi Mover can recognize system paths and transfer even hidden configurations that are critical for comfortable operation.

In addition, the native app’s data transfer speeds are usually higher, as it uses its own Wi-Fi Direct compression and transmission protocols, minimizing packet loss. External utilities can run slower due to Android security restrictions that prevent one application from fully accessing another’s data without special permissions.

While Smart Switch works well with Samsung Cloud backups, Mi Mover is sharpened for Mi Cloud and local MIUI backups. Direct phone-to-phone transfers make the difference less noticeable, but when you recover from the cloud, choosing the right tool becomes critical.

Xiaomi Preparing for Data Transfer

Before launching any migration tool, you need to properly prepare the receiving device. Xiaomi setup requires several preparatory steps to avoid connection errors or interruption of the process halfway. Ignoring these steps can lead to the fact that the phones simply “do not see” each other.

First of all, make sure that both devices are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled. Although the transfer is over Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth is necessary for the initial handshake and exchange of encryption keys. It is also critical that the battery charge on both devices is at least 50-60%, as the process can take from 15 minutes to several hours.

Don’t forget to check for free space. If you’re carrying 100GB of data and the new Xiaomi only has 80GB, the process will either not start or end up in error. Clear the cache in advance or delete unnecessary files if the memory is filled with system updates.

⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to start the migration process if the phone is on "Energy Savings" mode. The system can force the Wi-Fi module to save charge, which will break the connection and damage the transferred files.

It is also recommended to disable any VPN-services or proxy connections, if they are active by default, can redirect traffic to the outside world, making it impossible to connect directly between devices (LTE/5G), The phone is guaranteed to use Wi-Fi module for transmission.

Installation and launch of Smart Switch analogues

Since there is no native Smart Switch on Xiaomi, you have two options: use the built-in Mi Mover or install it. APK-The second option is often chosen by those who are used to the Samsung interface or want to migrate data in a specific way, although this is not always effective.

To install a third-party application, you will need to download the.apk installation file from the verified resource, since in Google Play on non-Samsung devices it may not be available or marked as incompatible. Once downloaded, the MIUI system will issue a security alert. You will need to allow installation from unknown sources in the window that appears.

Settings → Password and security → Privacy → Special access rights → Install unknown applications

However, the most stable method is Mi Mover, which is already pre-installed in the Tools folder on most models, and if you delete it, you can download it again through GetApps, and it starts in one click, and then the phone will ask you to choose the role of the device: "I am the sender" or "I am the recipient."

When using third-party counterparts like Send Anywhere or SHAREit, the process looks different. You need to install the same app on both phones. This is a good option if you change platform (for example, from an iPhone to Android), but for a pair of Android-Android native means are always preferred.

Step-by-step instructions for data transfer

Consider the process (migration) using Xiaomi’s regular tool, as this is the most reliable way to guarantee data integrity.

Run Mi Mover on your new phone and select "I'm the recipient." On your old device (whether it's Samsung or another Android), select "I'm the sender." On the new phone screen, you'll see the new phone. QR-Scan it with the camera of the old device or enter the displayed key manually if the camera is not working.

• 📱 On your old phone, select data categories: Contacts, Messages, Call Log, Applications, Photos, Videos, Music.
• 📡 Wait for Wi-Fi Direct to be installed. Speeds can range from 5 Mbps to 40 Mbps depending on the modules.
• 🚀 Click "Send" and do not turn off device screens until the process is complete.

Particular attention should be paid to the transfer of applications. MIUI Try to download the latest versions of apps from Google Play or GetApps, rather than just copying them. APK-It's good practice, because you get the latest bug-free versions, but it requires a stable Internet.

Once the transfer is complete, the system will suggest a reboot, which is a necessary step for indexing media files and correctly recording all imported contacts in the phone book, without rebooting, you can see empty spaces in the gallery or duplicate records.

Solving compatibility and access issues

Xiaomi owners often face aggressive memory management systems, and if the transfer process hangs in the middle or the application shuts down on its own, the system protection probably worked, and you need to manually give the application all possible permissions.

Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the tool you use (Mi Mover or analogue). Go to Permissions and give access to everything: Files, Contacts, Phone, SMS, Location. Without that, Android blocks reading data.

⚠️ Attention: New versions of HyperOS and Android 13/14 You have an extra layer of protection, and when you try to access files, you might see a system window called "Allow all files to be managed?" and you'll have to press "Allow" or you'll only see empty folders.

Another common problem is the conflicting versions of Android: If you move from a very old device (Android 6-7) to a new Xiaomi (Android 13-14), some database formats may not be readable, in which case it is better to transfer only media files and contacts manually, and install the applications again.

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If Mi Mover can’t see an old phone, try turning off the Wi-Fi Smart Switch or a similar feature on the old device in the Wi-Fi settings, which may interfere with the creation of an access point.

Also worth mentioning is the problem with WhatsApp: WhatsApp chats are not always portable by standard means because of encryption; it is better to use the built-in backup function in Google Drive on the old phone, and on the new one, you can simply restore chats when the messenger is first launched.

System settings after migration

Once the transfer is completed successfully, the work is not over. Xiaomi requires additional customization for comfortable work. First of all, check the synchronization of contacts. If you see duplicates, use the "Combine duplicates" function in the Contacts app.

Next, you need to configure notifications. MIUI is known for its strict energy saving policy, which can "kill" the background processes of important applications immediately after transfer. Go to the battery settings and for key applications (messengers, mail, bank) select "No restrictions" mode.

• 🔒 Check your security and fingerprint settings as biometrics are not portable for security purposes.
• 🎨 Set up the theme and fonts if the old settings didn’t apply automatically.
• 🔄 Perform the first full system update through Settings → The phone. → Update MIUI.

It is also important to check the work of NFC and contactless payment. When transferring data from some devices, card tokens may be reset, you will have to re-link the cards to Google Wallet or Mi Pay (if supported in your region).

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It takes another 15-20 minutes to fully set up the phone after the data transfer. Don't rush to delete the data from the old device until you make sure everything works correctly for a couple of days.

Be sure to check the alarm clocks. On some models, when ported from other brands, alarm clocks may not ring if the phone has been turned off. In the Xiaomi alarm settings, there is an option "Alarm rings even if the phone is off" - activate it if it is available for your model.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)