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

Why standard Bluetooth isn’t always the right fit for brand-to-brand data transfers

Transferring files between smartphones from different manufacturers is one of the most common tasks that users face when changing devices. If you switch from a Samsung Galaxy (such as the S23 Ultra or A54) to Xiaomi (say, Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or POCO F6), you will find that standard tools like Bluetooth or Share via Wi-Fi Direct work unstable, it is all about proprietary protocols: Samsung uses Quick Share (formerly Samsung Share), and Xiaomi uses Mi Share (or Nearby Share in new versions of MIUI).

Another trap is file size limits. For example, Bluetooth 5.2 (available in most modern models) can theoretically transmit data at speeds up to 2 Mbps, but in practice, the speed drops to 500-800 Kbps, and files over 500 MB are sent with errors. In this article, we will discuss 7 proven methods that are guaranteed to work on any Samsung and Xiaomi models, including budget and flagship devices.

Before you go to the instructions, answer one question:

Method 1: Using a USB OTG cable (the fastest method)

If you need to transfer tens of gigabytes of data (for example, a collection of photos in a format) RAW or video 4K), piece USB OTG-cable is the optimal solution. The transmission speed reaches 40-60 MB / s (depending on the version). USB It's 50 to 100 times faster than Bluetooth:

• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C — USB Type-C (if both phones are modern) USB Type-C – Micro-USB (for older Samsung or Xiaomi models).
• 📱 adapter OTG (If you do not have a direct telephone cable").
• 🔋 Charging at least 30% - when transferring large volumes, the battery sits down faster.

Instructions:

1. Connect Samsung to Xiaomi via OTG-The Samsung screen will be notified "USB For file transfers, select File Transfer (or MTP).
2. On Xiaomi, open any file manager (such as Google Files or the standard MIUI File Manager) and the Samsung internal memory folder will appear in the Devices section.
3. Copy the files you want to use in Xiaomi memory. Use Allocation (Ctrl+A in some managers) and drag and drop to speed up the process.

The cable supports data transfer (not all charging cables are suitable)

Both phones have enabled File Transfer (MTP) mode.

Xiaomi memory is not full (leave at least 10% of free space)

Battery Optimizers for File Managers Disabled-->

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi 12) when connected via OTG There may be a "Device not recognized" error:

1. Reboot both phones. 2. In Xiaomi settings, go to Settings → Additional → For Developers and enable “Debugging by USB.” 3. Reconnect the cable and select MTP mode on Samsung.

Method 2: Transfer via Google Photos (for photos and videos)

If you only need to transfer media files (photos, videos, screenshots), Google Photos is one of the most convenient options. The service automatically syncs files to the cloud and then allows you to download them to a new device.

• ☁️ Free up to 15 GB (total limit of Google Account).
• 🔄 Automatic compression (can be turned off to maintain original quality).
• 📅 Data and metadata (unlike some other cloud services).

Step-by-step:

1. On Samsung, install Google Photos (if not installed).
2. Open the app, log in to your Google Account and enable “Backup and Sync” in the settings.
3. Wait for the files to be downloaded (the “Backup Completed” notification will appear in the upper right corner).
4. On Xiaomi, log into the same Google Account, open Google Photos and download the desired files through “Photo on the device” → “Select” → “Save to the device”.

⚠️ Note: If you have more than 15 GB of files:

1. Buy extra space on Google One (from 139) ₽/A month for 100GB). 2. Or break the gear up into parts: first download 10GB, download to Xiaomi, then remove them from the cloud and repeat the process. 3. Alternative: use Yandex Drive (gives 10GB for free) + bonuses).

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If you want to transfer your photo in original quality, go to Settings → Backup and Sync → Download quality before uploading to Google Photos and select “Original Quality”.

Method 3: Local Wi-Fi network (without internet)

If you don't. OTG-And you can use the same Wi-Fi network, you can use local transmission through specialized applications:

• 📲 Send Anywhere – supports files up to 10 GB per send, speeds up to 10 MB / s.
• 📲 Feem – works without the Internet, creates a local network between devices.
• 📲 LocalSend is open source, there are no limits on file sizes.

Let’s look at the example of Send Anywhere:

1. Install the app on both phones (Samsung, Xiaomi).
2. On Samsung, select the files to send and click "Send." The application will generate a 6-digit key or QR-code.
3. On Xiaomi, type this key into the “Get” field or scan the QR.
4. Confirm the transmission on both devices.

Speed depends on the power of the router.

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For maximum speed when transferring over Wi-Fi, connect both phones to a 5 GHz network (rather than 2.4 GHz) – this will increase bandwidth by 2-3 times.

Method 4: MicroSD Memory Card (for phones with support)

If both of your phones support microSD (such as the Samsung Galaxy A54 or Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro), then transferring files through a memory card is one of the most reliable ways.

• 💾 No dependence on the internet or cables.
• 🔄 You can reuse the card (for example, SanDisk Ultra 128 GB costs about 1000 GB). ₽).
• ⚡ Read/write speed up to 100 MB/s (on class cards) A2 or UHS-I).

How to transfer files:

1. Insert microSD into Samsung and copy files to it through the file manager.
2. Remove the card (pre-click "Extract" in notifications) and paste in Xiaomi.
3. On Xiaomi, open Files → Memory Map and copy the data to internal memory.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi phones (e.g., on some Xiaomi phones, POCO X5) The memory card is formatted as the default internal storage, which means that:

1. The card cannot be retrieved without data loss. 2. It cannot be used on other devices. 3. To avoid this, select Portable Storage when you first connect (if the system offers a choice).

Method 5: Computer as a mediator (for large archives)

If you need to move tens of gigabytes (like a WhatsApp backup or a music collection), the easiest way to do this is to use a PC or laptop as an intermediate, a method that works even on older models.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux two USB-port.
• 🔌 Two cables (or one) USB-hub).
• 📁 File Manager (e.g., Total Commander or Standard Explorer).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Samsung to your computer via USB and select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Copy the necessary files from your phone to your desktop or to a separate folder.
3. Disable Samsung, plug in Xiaomi and drag the files back in.

🔹 To speed up the process:

• 📦 Use an archiver (for example, 7-Zip or WinRAR) to compress files before transfer.
• 🔌 Connect phones to ports USB 3.0 (usually marked in blue).

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If your computer doesn’t see your phone in MTP mode, update your drivers via Device Manager (Windows) or install Android File Transfer (macOS).

Method 6: Cloud services (for slow but reliable transmission)

If you have unlimited internet (such as home Wi-Fi or unlimited rates), cloud services are a convenient way to transfer files wirelessly.

Example of transfer via Yandex Disk:

1. On Samsung, install the Yandex Disk.
2. Upload files to the cloud via the "+" → "Download" button.
3. On Xiaomi, open the same Yandex account and download files to your phone’s memory.

⚠️ Note: When downloading large files (> 1 GB via mobile internet:

1. Turn off automatic application updates in Play Market. 2. Use traffic saving mode in the Yandex Disk settings. 3. If the transfer is interrupted, check if the daily traffic limit of the operator is not exhausted.

Method 7: Xiaomi Mi Mover app (official tool)

Xiaomi has developed its own solution for transferring data from other devices, the Mi Mover, which is pre-installed on most Xiaomi smartphones (starting with MIUI 9) and supports transfers from Samsung, iPhone and other brands.

What can be transferred:

• 📸 Photos and videos (including Google Photos albums).
• 📞 Contacts and call log.
• 📱 Communications (SMS and MMS).
• 🎵 Music and documents.

How to use:

1. On Xiaomi, open Mi Mover (find through app search).
2. Select “I am a new user” and follow the prompts.
3. On Samsung, scan it. QR-code that will appear on the screen of Xiaomi.
4. Select files to transfer and confirm the transfer.

⚠️ Note: Mi Mover has limitations:

1. Not all Samsung models are supported (e.g., the Galaxy S22 may not work). 2. There may be errors when transferring large volumes (> 5 GB). In this case, break the files into parts. 3. Applications cannot be moved - only their data (e.g., saving games).

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Mi Mover is the only official way to transfer data to Xiaomi that stores folder structure and file metadata (creation dates, geotags, etc.).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions