How to Transfer All Data from Samsung to Xiaomi: A Step-by-Step Guide

The transition from Samsung to Xiaomi is not just a brand change, but a complete migration of digital life: contacts, photos, messages, apps and even screen settings. Many users are afraid of losing important data or spending hours manually transferring each file. In fact, the process can be automated by 90% if you know the right tools and avoid typical errors.

In this article, we’ll look at all possible portability options, from official Mi Mover and Smart Switch utilities to cloud services and manual copying, how to save contact-based call history (which is often lost in standard export), why Google Photos can crop image quality, and how to transfer passwords from the Samsung Pass to the Mi Browser, and what to do if the new Xiaomi doesn’t see the old Galaxy over Wi-Fi Direct.

1. Preparation of telephones before transfer

Before you start migrating, make sure both devices are ready for the process, which will save you from making mistakes like a connection break or losing some data.

On Samsung:

• 🔋 Charge the battery to at least 50% – transfer can take up to 1 hour with a large amount of data.
• 📶 Connect to stable Wi-Fi (not mobile data!) – this will speed up transfers and save traffic.
• 🗃️ Clear the cache in Settings → Caring for the device → Memory. → Clearing the cache will delete unnecessary temporary files.
• 🔒 Turn off the screen lock (PIN/pattern lock – some utilities require unlocked access.

On Xiaomi:

• 📦 Install the latest updates MIUI In Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 📱 Turn on Developer Mode (7 times click on Version) MIUI In "About the phone" then activate the debugging USB.
• 🔄 Reset network settings in Settings → Wi-Fi → Additionally. → Reset network settings if you have previously had connection problems.

⚠️ Note: If Samsung has data encryption enabled (check Settings) → Biometrics and safety → Encryption, transfer will take 2-3 We recommend temporarily disabling encryption before migrating.

2. Official Utilities: Mi Mover vs Samsung Smart Switch

The most reliable way is to use the branded tools of manufacturers, but everyone has limitations.

Samsung Smart Switch (set by default on all Galaxy):

• ✅ Carrying: contacts, messages, photos, videos, music, calendars, notes, call history.
• ❌ Does not tolerate: applications (only their data), system settings, passwords from Samsung Pass.
• 🔗 It works via Wi-Fi Direct or cable. USB-C/OTG.

Mi Mover (pre-installed on Xiaomi):

• ✅ Transferring: Contacts, SMS/MMS, Photos, videos, music, calendars, applications (including) APK-file).
• ❌ Cannot tolerate: screen settings, data of some game accounts (for example, PUBG Mobile).
• 🔗 Requires cable connection (Wi-Fi Direct is unstable).

Which tool to choose? If you want apps, use Mi Mover. If you want a complete contact name history, Smart Switch. You can combine both methods to maximize results.

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Before using Mi Mover, disable "Optimize" MIUI" In the battery settings of the new Xiaomi, this will prevent the transfer process from automatically ending.

3. Step-by-step instruction: transfer via Mi Mover

This is the most complete method, but it requires preparation.

1. On Xiaomi, open Settings → About Phone → Data Transfer (Mi Mover).
2. Select "I receive data" → "Android".
3. On Samsung, install Mi Mover from Google Play (if not preinstalled).
4. Connect the phones with a cable. OTG (need an adapter USB-C → USB-C or microUSB → USB-C model-wise).
5. On Samsung, select “I send data” and confirm access to the files.
6. Select the data types to transfer (we recommend that you note everything except “Other files” – this is garbage).
7. Wait until it's done. Don't break the connection, even if the screen is out, it can take up to 40 minutes.

Shut down. VPN both phones|Close all background applications|Use the original cable USB|Connect to the socket (not only to the PC)-->

⚠️ Warning: If the Mi Mover is 99 percent freeze, don't restart your phones! Wait 10 minutes, the system can finish the transfer in the background. If nothing changes after the time, turn off the cable, restart both devices, and try again from scratch.

Alternative methods: cloud and PC

If the official utilities don’t work (for example, because old models are incompatible), use alternative methods.

4.1 Transfer via Google Account

Suitable for contacts, calendars, notes and parts of applications:

1. On Samsung: Settings → Accounts and archiving → Accounts. → Google → synchronize all data.
2. On Xiaomi: Sign in to the same Google account and wait for automatic sync.

Restrictions: not carried forward SMS, Call history, photos in original quality.

4.2. Porting photos and videos via Google Photos

Quick way, but with losses:

• 📸 On Samsung, install Google Photos and enable autoload in original quality.
• 🖼️ Wait for the download to be completed (check in Photos) → Settings → Storage management).
• 📱 On Xiaomi, log in to the same account and download files via Photos → Your library. → Choose all. → Save it to the device.

Google Photos compresses video to 1080p, even if the original 4K. Use Mi Mover or Physical Transfer to maintain quality.

Manual transfer via PC

The most reliable, but longest method:

1. Connect Samsung to your PC via USB (Select the File Transfer Mode).
2. Copy folders: DCIM (photo/video), Download (download), Pictures (images from messengers) WhatsApp/Media (media from Watsap)
3. Connect Xiaomi and paste the files into the same folders.

For transfer SMS And use call histories. SMS Backup & Restore (available on Google Play).

5. Transfer of applications and their data

Move it yourself. APK-Files are half the battle. It's important to save application data (e.g., game progress or messaging settings).

Method 1: Through Mi Mover

The utility carries APK-Data and files for most applications, but there are exceptions:

• ✅ Works: WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, Facebook, Instagram.
• ❌ Banking applications (requires re-authorization), PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact.

Method 2: Backup through ADB (advanced)

If you want to save data from an application that is not supported by Mi Mover:

1. Install Android SDK Platform-Tools on your PC.
2. Connect Samsung to the USB and do: adb backup -f backup.ab -apk -obb -shared com.example.app (replace com.example.app with an app package).
3. On Xiaomi, restore backup: adb restore backup.ab

Not all apps support backup through ADB (Samsung Health is blocking exports).

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To transfer game data (e.g. in Genshin Impact), link your account to your email or social network before you change your phone, otherwise your progress will be lost.

6. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions, you can have problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

The error is “Not enough space on Xiaomi.”

If the Mi Mover shows this error, although the memory is sufficient:

1. On Xiaomi, clear the cache in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Mi Mover → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
2. Reboot both phones.
3. Repeat the transfer by selecting fewer data categories (e.g. contacts and photos only).

⚠️ If your contacts from Samsung Contacts are missing after transferring to Xiaomi, check the Internal Storage folder. → MIUI → Backup → Sometimes the data is stored there in.vcf format, but not imported automatically.

7. Xiaomi Optimization After the Move

After migration, the data may not work properly due to differences in firmware.

1. Contact setting

• 📇 Open Contacts. → Settings → Imports/Exports → Combine the takes.
• 🔍 Check Contact Groups: Samsung often creates separate groups (e.g., the group, "ICE"), which are not displayed by default in MIUI.

2. Recovery of media files

• 🎵 If the music doesn’t appear in the player, update the media base: install Rescan Media from Google Play.
• 📷 For photo: Open the Gallery → Albums. → Settings → Update media files.

3. Transfer of screen settings

MIUI It doesn't support importing brightness settings, wallpaper or display modes:

• 🌓 Dark theme: Settings → Screen. → Dark subject.
• 🎨 Wallpaper: download the original wallpaper Samsung from Samsung Themes.
• 👁️ Protection of vision: Settings → Screen. → Reading mode (similar to Blue Light Filter).

4. Set up notifications

V MIUI The logic of notifications is different from one. UI:

• 🔔 Go to Settings. → Notifications → Management of notifications.
• 📵 For each application, turn on "Show notifications" and "Sound".
• 🚫 Disable "Battery Optimization" for messengers in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions