How to quickly and safely transfer data from Samsung to Xiaomi Redmi: all the working ways

The transition from Samsung to Xiaomi Redmi is not only a brand change, but also a migration of personal data: contacts, photos, messages and applications. Many users face problems when trying to transfer information between devices on different operating systems (One One). UI vs MIUI). In this article, we will analyze 5 proven methods of data transmission, their pros and cons, as well as nuances that are not written in the standard instructions.

The main difficulty is that Samsung uses its own synchronization services (Samsung Cloud, Smart Switch), and Xiaomi is focused on the Mi Account and Mi Mover ecosystem. SMS We tested each method on current models (Galaxy). S23 Redmi Note 12 and highlight key moments that save time.

If you're in a hurry, use the quick method through Mi Mover (section 3). For complete control of data, you'd better combine several methods. If you only need to migrate WhatsApp, read the special section with step-by-step instructions.

1. Preparation of devices before data transfer

Before migrating, you need to take a few critical steps to avoid data loss or disruption, which will take no more than 10 minutes, but save you hours of recovery.

On Samsung:

• 🔋 Charge your phone to at least 50% – transferring data can take up to 1 hour with a large volume.
• 📁 Free up space: Delete unnecessary files (especially videos in the video) DCIM/Camera), if the amount of data exceeds 10 GB.
• 🔒 Turn off Find My Mobile in Settings → Biometrics and safety, otherwise Mi Mover may block access.
• 📡 Connect to stable Wi-Fi (if you use cloud services) or check your mobile internet.

On Xiaomi Redmi:

• 📱 Reset your phone to factory settings (Settings) → The phone. → Resetting settings if new, it will remove pre-installed applications that may conflict with data.
• 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version through Settings → System Update – Older versions of Mi Mover are unstable.
• 🛠️ Install Mi Mover from the App Store (if it’s not in firmware) or check for availability in Settings → Additionally.

⚠️ Note: If Samsung has enabled data encryption (Settings) → Biometry → Encryption), some transfer methods (e.g., through OTG-cables may not work. In this case, use cloud services.

2. Transfer through Google Account (for contacts, calendar and part of applications)

This is the most versatile way, but it doesn't work for all types of data. Google Account syncs:

• 📇 Contacts (including groups and tags)
• 📅 Calendar and reminders
• 📱 Some system settings (Wi-Fi passwords, wallpapers)
• 🎮 Game data (if Google Play Games is supported)

What's not tolerable: SMS, Call log, photos, videos, music, application files (such as saving to WhatsApp or Viber) will require other methods for this data.

Instructions:

1. On Samsung, open Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Account Management.
2. Select your Google Account and enable sync for all categories (contacts, calendar, etc.).
3. Wait for the sync to complete (check Google Contacts on the web version).
4. On Redmi, add the same account to Settings → Accounts. → Add an account.
5. Turn on synchronization and wait for data to load (can take up to 30 minutes).

If contacts don’t appear on Redmi, check:

• 🔄 Update Google Contacts and Google Play Services in the Play Market.
• 📱 Reboot both phones.
• 🔧 In the contact settings on Redmi, select the display of all accounts (Contacts) → Settings → Display contacts).

💡

If you have duplicate contacts after sync, use the Contacts Optimizer app (available on the Play Market) to automatically merge your records.

Quick transfer via Mi Mover (official solution from Xiaomi)

Mi Mover is a proprietary tool from Xiaomi that allows you to transfer most data directly over Wi-Fi Direct (without the Internet).

• 📞 Contacts and call logs
• 💬 SMS and MMS
• 📷 Photos and videos (including Google Photos albums)
• 🎵 Music and documents
• 📱 Installed annexes (APK-files, but no data)

Limitations:

• ❌ Does not transfer application data (for example, save games or chat WhatsApp).
• ❌ It may not work with Samsung with Android 13+ Due to changes in the transmission protocol.
• ❌ Maximum volume per session – 20 GB (with a larger volume, break the data into parts).

Step-by-step:

1. On Redmi, select Data Transfer when you first enable (or find Mi Mover in Settings). → Additionally).
2. On Samsung, download Mi Mover from the Play Market (the official app from Xiaomi).
3. Run Mi Mover on both phones and select I Give (on Samsung) and I Receive (on Redmi).
4. Scan it. QR-code from Redmi screen on Samsung.
5. Select data types to transfer and confirm the start of the process.
6. Do not interrupt the connection until you see the message Transfer completed.

If Mi Mover does not find the device:

• 🔄 Reset Wi-Fi Direct on both phones.
• 📶 Disable mobile data – it can interfere with the connection.
• 🔧 On Samsung, turn on Visibility for all devices in Wi-Fi Direct settings.

Charge both phones up to 50%+

Install Mi Mover on Samsung

Turn off mobile internet

Connect to a single Wi-Fi network (optional)

Free up space on Redmi (minimum 10 GB free)-->

4. Transfer of files over Bluetooth (for small volumes)

Bluetooth is suitable for transferring individual files (photos, documents, music) up to 500 MB in size, but it is slow, but does not require Internet or cables, SMS or.

How to move:

1. On Samsung, open the Gallery or Files and select the files you want.
2. Press Share → Bluetooth.
3. Turn on Bluetooth on Redmi and make it visible to everyone.
4. Select Redmi from the list of devices and confirm the transfer on both phones.

Process optimization:

• 📁 Send files to archives (ZIP/RAR) — This will speed up the process in 2–3 once.
• 🔋 Use Bluetooth 5.0+ (Galaxy-available S20+ Redmi Note 10+) speeds up to 2 MB/s.
• ⚡ Turn off the power saving on both phones, or the connection may break.

⚠️ Note: When you transmit files via Bluetooth, metadata (date of creation, geotagged files) may be lost. If it is critical, use Mi Mover or OTG-cable.

* For Google Photos – unlimited when compressed, the original quality takes place in the account.

5. Transfer through OTG-cable (the most reliable way for large volumes)

If you need to transfer tens of gigabytes of data (for example, a collection of photos or videos to the Internet) 4K), OTG-cable is the best solution:

• ⚡ It is 10 times faster than Bluetooth.
• 📁 Stores folder structure and metadata.
• 🔧 It does not require the Internet or special applications.

What you need:

• 🔌 OTG-cable (Type-C) → Type-C or Type-C → MicroUSB, depending on the ports).
• 📱 File Manager (e.g. Solid Explorer or Standard Files on Redmi).

Instructions:

1. Connect Samsung to Redmi via OTG- cable.
2. On Redmi in settings USB Select File Transfer (MTP).
3. Open the file manager on Redmi and go to the Samsung folder (it will appear automatically).
4. Copy the required files (for example, DCIM/Camera for the photo) in the internal memory or SD-map.

Nuances:

• 🔌 If Redmi doesn't see Samsung, try another cable - some cheap OTG supportive MTP-protocol.
• 📂 To speed up, copy data by folder, not by one file.
• 🔋 Charge both phones to 100% – copying a large volume drains the battery.

6. WhatsApp chat transfer (messages, media, backups)

WhatsApp does not support direct chat transfer between Android devices of different brands, but there is a workaround through local backup and manual installation.

Important: This method only works if:

• 📱 Samsung and Redmi use the same phone number.
• 🔄 You didn’t update WhatsApp on Redmi before you first logged in.

Instructions:

1. On Samsung, open WhatsApp and create a local copy: Settings → chat → Backup → Create a copy Wait for completion (file will appear in the file) /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases).
2. Copy WhatsApp folder on Redmi via OTG-cable.
3. Install WhatsApp on Redmi from the Play Market, but don’t run it.
4. Move the WhatsApp folder to the root of Redmi’s internal memory.
5. Launch WhatsApp and confirm your phone number. When you request, restore your chats from your local copy.

If the chats don't recover:

• 🔧 Make sure the backup file has a name msgstore.db.crypt14 (current-age).
• 📅 Check the date of creation of the copy – it should be newer than the last WhatsApp update on Redmi.
• 🔄 Reinstall WhatsApp and try again.

7.Alternative methods: cloud services and PC

If none of the above methods are suitable, you can use cloud services or a computer as an intermediary.

Option 1: Google Drive / Yandex.Disk

• 📁 Upload files from Samsung to the cloud (e.g., through Google Photos for Media).
• 📥 Download them to Redmi via browser or app.
• ⚠️ Restriction: 15 GB free on Google Drive, 10 GB in Yandex.Disk.

Option 2: Transfer over PC

1. Connect Samsung to your computer and copy the data to your folder.
2. Connect Redmi and transfer the files back.
3. 🔧 For contacts, export them to.vcf via Google Contacts and import them to Redmi.

Option 3: Migration annexes

Specialized programs like Clone Phone or Shareit promise fast transfer, but:

• ⚠️ May contain advertising or collect data.
• ⚠️ Often not tolerated SMS and call log in full.
• ⚠️ Speed depends on the quality of Wi-Fi Direct.

Frequent Questions (FAQ)