How to transfer files from Samsung to Xiaomi: all working ways

The transition from Samsung to Xiaomi is not only about changing the ecosystem, but also the need to transfer personal data: photos, contacts, music and documents. Many users face the problem: how to transfer files between devices of different brands quickly, safely and without loss of quality?

In this article, we will analyze 7 proven methods of file transfer - from classical (via cable and cloud) to modern (via Wi-Fi Direct and using specialized applications). MIUI One UI, You will learn which method is optimal for large amounts of data (e.g. 100)+ GB photo in original resolution, and which is suitable for fast sharing of individual files.

All instructions are relevant for Samsung Galaxy devices (S, A, Note, Z series) and Xiaomi (Redmi, Poco, Mi series) based on Android 10–14. S8 or Redmi 4X), Some methods may require additional adjustments – we will point this out in the relevant sections.

1. Transmission via cable OTG: surest

Cable use OTG (On-The-Go is one of the fastest and safest ways to transfer files, especially when it comes to large amounts of data (from 10 GB), unlike wireless methods, there is no risk of connection breakdown or speed limits:

• 🔌 Cable OTG plug-in USB-C (For modern Samsung and Xiaomi or Micro-USB (for older models).
• 📱 Adapter (if on one device) USB-C, And on the other, Micro-USB).
• 🔋 Charging at least 30% on both smartphones (transferring large files consumes battery).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the cable. OTG Xiaomi (file receiver).
2. Connect the second end of the cable to Samsung (source). Samsung will display a notification "Connected as" on the screen. USB-Driver - select "File Transfer".
3. On Xiaomi, open Explorer (or any file application, such as Files by Google) and a folder with the name of the Samsung model will appear in the Devices section.
4. Copy the files you want to use in Xiaomi memory (internal or on-board) SD-map).

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) at the first connection through OTG You may need to allow access in the Developer settings (Debugging by USB). If files are not displayed, check if the option is enabled "MTP-"Samsung.

Is it formatted? SD-mapping FAT32 (file >4GB not copied)|

Is there enough space on Xiaomi to transfer data?|

Is the cable connected? OTG The right port (on some Xiaomi only supports the bottom port) OTG)|

Whether the “file transfer” mode is selected" (MTP) Samsung-->

Transmission speed OTG depending on the version USB:

If the transmission speed is lower than expected, try:

• 🔄 Reconnect the cable (sometimes contacts are oxidized).
• 📵 Disable mobile Internet on both devices (background downloads slow down the process).
• 🔋 Connect smartphones to charging (at low charge, the system can limit performance).

2. Wireless transmission over Wi-Fi Direct

Wi-Fi Direct allows you to transfer files without a router, creating a direct connection between devices, which is convenient for transferring files up to 1-2 GB (for example, photo albums or music playlists), the main advantage is the lack of wires and maintaining the original quality of files.

How to set up the connection:

1. On Samsung, open Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct.
2. On Xiaomi go to Settings → Wi-Fi → Additionally. → Wi-Fi Direct (on some models, the path may be different: Settings) → Connection and sharing → Wi-Fi Direct).
3. On Xiaomi, click "Device Search" and select the Samsung model from the list. Confirm the connection on both smartphones.
4. Use any file manager (such as Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer) to transfer data.

💡

If Wi-Fi Direct doesn't find the device, try turning on Flight Mode for 10 seconds, then turn off and re-search. This resets the network settings.

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Not all Xiaomi models support Wi-Fi Direct in the latest versions MIUI (Like Poco. X5 This function can be hidden).
• 🐢 Transmission speed is lower than the OTG (usually 5-10 MB/s).
• 🔋 High battery consumption (15-20% per hour of active transmission).

⚠️ Note: Some Samsungs (e.g. Galaxy) S21 one UI 5.0+) Wi-Fi Direct may conflict with Quick Share. Turn off Quick Share in the settings before using it.

3. Cloud services: Google Drive, Mi Cloud, Samsung Cloud

Cloud storage is convenient for transferring files if you have a stable Internet and do not need to transfer data urgently. The main advantage is the ability to selectively synchronize: you can only download the right folders to the cloud (for example, you can download only the right ones to the cloud, DCIM/Camera Photos) and download them to Xiaomi.

Comparison of popular services:

The following steps are provided for Google Drive:

1. On Samsung, open the Google Drive app and click "+" → "Downloading".
2. Select files or folders (like Pictures or Downloads).
3. After downloading, log in to the same Google account on Xiaomi.
4. Find the uploaded files in the "My Files" section and download them to the device.

The advantages of cloud services:

• ☁️ Access files from any device (not just Xiaomi).
• 🔄 Automatic backup (configure in Google Photos or Mi Cloud).
• 📱 There is no physical connection (unlike the OTG or SD-map).

Disadvantages:

• 🕒 Long downloads with slow Internet (for example, 100 GB photos can be loaded for a day).
• 🔒 File size restrictions (for example, you can not download video to Mi Cloud) >2 GB).
• 💰 Pay for large volumes (for example, 100 GB in Google Drive are priced) ~1000 ₽/year).

Google Drive|

Yandex Disc |

Mi Cloud|

Samsung Cloud|

Other-->

4. File transfer applications: ShareMe, Snapdrop, Send Anywhere

Specialized file sharing applications often offer faster speeds than standard methods (Wi-Fi Direct or Bluetooth), they use optimized transmission protocols and support direct Wi-Fi transmission without an Internet connection.

Top.-3 Applications for transfer between Samsung and Xiaomi:

• 📲 ShareMe (Mi Drop) – the official application from Xiaomi, supports transmission at speeds up to 20 MB / s.
• 🌐 Snapdrop – web service (does not require installation), uses P2P-Connection. Ideal for transfer between different OSes (Android, iOS, PC).
• 🚀 Send Anywhere – supports file transfers of up to 10 GB at a time, there is a function of generation QR-fast-connection.

Instructions for ShareMe:

1. Install ShareMe on both devices (available from Google Play and Mi App Store).
2. On Samsung, select “Send” and on Xiaomi, “Get”.
3. On Xiaomi, scan. QR-code that will appear on the Samsung screen.
4. Select files and confirm transfer. Speed depends on the Wi-Fi version (on Wi-Fi 6 to 50 MB/s).

💡

Apps like ShareMe or Send Anywhere circumvent Android’s restrictions on file sharing between different brands using proprietary protocols, allowing data to be transferred faster than standard Wi-Fi Direct.

Transfer speed comparison (test on Samsung Galaxy) S22 Xiaomi 13):

⚠️ Note: Some applications (such as Xender) may request access to contacts, SMS Before installing, check Google Play permissions and user reviews. For maximum security, use Snapdrop, which runs through a browser without installing software.

5. Bluetooth transmission: when justified

Bluetooth is the most versatile, but also the slowest, way to transfer files.It should only be used for small files (up to 50 MB), such as sending multiple photos or documents. Bluetooth 5.0 speeds are as good as the best. ~2-3 MB/s, which is 5-10 times slower than Wi-Fi Direct.

How to transfer files over Bluetooth:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both devices (Settings) → Connections → Bluetooth on Samsung, Settings → Bluetooth on Xiaomi).
2. Make Xiaomi visible to other devices (see “Visibility” or “Detectable” option).
3. On Samsung, find Xiaomi in the list of available devices and connect (may require input) PIN-code, usually 0000 or 1234).
4. Select files in Gallery or Explorer, click "Share". → Bluetooth and choose Xiaomi.

Bluetooth limitations:

• 🐢 Speed: ~1-3 MB / s (on Bluetooth 4.0 even slower - up to 1 MB / s).
• 📶 Distance: no more than 10 meters (at a greater distance, the connection is terminated).
• 🔋 Battery consumption: ~5–7% per hour of active transmission.

When Bluetooth is justified:

• 📄 Transfer of documents (PDF, DOCX) contact (VCF).
• 🎵 Sending short audio files (such as voice recordings).
• 📱 If other methods are not available (for example, no cable) OTG or wifi).

💡

To speed up Bluetooth transmission, archive files to ZIP. This will reduce their size and reduce transmission time by 20 to 40%.

6.Use of SD-card

If your devices have a slot for SD-card-board USB OTG, You can use removable media as an intermediary, and this method is suitable for transferring large amounts of data (for example, collections of movies or backups of applications) and does not require the Internet.

Step-by-step:

1. Put it in. SD-card in Samsung (or connect the flash drive through the OTG-adapter).
2. Copy the desired files to the map using Explorer or My files.
3. Extract. SD-Map and paste it into Xiaomi (or plug in a flash drive).
4. Copy files from the card into Xiaomi’s internal memory.

Important nuances:

• 📁 Format SD-maps: for files >4GB card must be formatted in exFAT or NTFS (default FAT32, which does not support large files).
• 🔄 If Xiaomi can't see SD-card, reboot the device or check the card on another phone.
• 🛡️ For security, format the card after transfer (especially if it was used on public devices).

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) SD-The card is mounted as part of the internal memory (Adoptable Storage), in which case it can not be simply removed - first mount in the settings (Settings). → Warehouse → SD-map → Shut down).

Comparison of carriers:

7. Postponement of contacts, SMS applications

Files are just a part of the data that needs to be moved, and users often forget about contacts, messages, and app settings, and there are specialized tools to transfer them.

Methods of transferring contacts:

• ☁️ Google Sync: Open Contacts on Samsung → Settings → Imports/exports → Export to.vcf, then import the file to Xiaomi.
• 📱 Xiaomi’s Contacts app: Supports imports from SIM-file-card VCF.
• 🔄 Samsung Smart Switch: While this app is for Samsung devices, it can export contacts to a file that is then imported to Xiaomi.

Transfer SMS and call logs:

• 📄 Use applications like this. SMS Backup & Restore (Saves) SMS into XML And it's restoring it to a new device).
• 📱 On some Xiaomis (c) MIUI 14+) There is a built-in import function SMS file (Settings) → Annexes → SMS → Imports).

Transfer of applications and their data:

• ☁️ Backup in Google Drive: On Samsung, turn backup into Settings → Google → Backup, then restore to Xiaomi on first launch.
• 📦 APK-files: APK Extractor remove installed apps on Samsung, then install them on Xiaomi (but app data won’t carry over!).
• 🔧 Titanium Backup (requires root): Complete data application portability but only works on rooted devices.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. banking or with) DRM-protection) cannot be transferred by copying APK. You will have to install them again from Google Play.

FAQ: Frequent questions