How to transfer data from Android to Samsung or Xiaomi: all working methods

Contents

• Introduction: Why Data Transfers Between Brands Need a Special Approach
• Preparation of devices: what to check before transfer
• Method 1: Smart Switch for Samsung, including models 2023-2026)
• Method 2: Mi Mover for Xiaomi (works on the phone) MIUI 14/15)
• Method 3: Cloud Transfer via Google Drive or Mi Cloud
• Method 4: Direct transmission by cable (USB-C/OTG)
• Method 5: Wireless transmission over Wi-Fi Direct or LocalShare
• Transfer of installed applications and their data
• Frequent questions and problems

Transferring data between smartphones of different brands is one of the most common tasks that users face when changing devices. A54, S23, Z Flip5) Xiaomi (Redmi Note 12, POCO F5, 13T Pro, standard tools like Bluetooth or ShareIt are often too slow or unstable, and the problem is compounded by the fact that manufacturers use different ecosystems: Samsung Smart Switch, and Xiaomi Mi Mover, which are not always compatible with each other.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to transfer data, including contacts, photos, videos, music, messages and even installed applications – taking into account the features of One firmware UI 6.0 (for Samsung and MIUI 14/15 (We will focus on transmission speeds, data security and avoiding common errors, such as when devices cannot see each other or communication is interrupted.

Preparation of devices: what to check before transfer

Before you start the transfer, make sure that:

• 🔋 Battery charge on both devices – at least 50%. Some methods (such as cable transmission) can discharge the smartphone to the 20-30% process.
• 📶 Free space on the target device, for example, for transfer 64 GB photos and videos will be required at least 70-80 GB of free space (consider cache and temporary files).
• 🔄 Software Updates. Check Settings on Samsung → Software Update, on Xiaomi - Settings → The phone. → System Update: Outdated firmware versions may not support new transmission protocols.
• 🔒 Disable the blockers. Antiviruses (Avast, Kaspersky) or optimizers (Clean Master) can block data transmission over the network.

If you are migrating data from Android to Samsung, turn off battery optimization for the Smart Switch app:

1. Go to Settings → Care for the device → Battery.
2. Tap on three points (⋮) → Settings → Applications in the background.
3. Find Smart Switch and enable the option to Allow Background Activity.

⚠️ Note: If encryption is enabled on an older device (e.g., Pixel or OnePlus), cable transmission may be slower on the device. 30-40%. In this case, it is better to use the cloud method.

Method 1: Smart Switch for Samsung, including models 2023-2026)

Smart Switch is the official solution from Samsung for transferring data from any Android device (including Xiaomi, Oppo, Google Pixel).

• 📞 Contacts, call logs, SMS/MMS
• 📷 Photos and videos (including Google Photos albums)
• 🎵 Music and documents
• 📥 Installed applications (without data, if there is no root)
• ⚙️ Some settings (wallpaper, sound profiles)

Step-by-step:

1. Download Smart Switch to both devices: Samsung: pre-installed by default (icon in the app menu). Xiaomi: download from Google Play.

Samsung

Smart Switch

Get the data.

Android

Xiaomi

Send data

Wireless.

Cable

Wi-Fi Direct

Xiaomi

Samsung

Transmission speed:

⚠️ Warning: If Smart Switch is stuck in the Preparing data stage, try clearing the app cache on both devices (Settings) → Annexes → Smart Switch → Memory. → Clear the cache).

Install Smart Switch on both devices|

Disable VPNs and ad blockers |

Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth|

Close all background applications (especially messengers) |

Check the space on Samsung (should be 10% more data portable)-->

Method 2: Mi Mover for Xiaomi (works on the phone) MIUI 14/15)

Mi Mover is an analogue of the Smart Switch, but from Xiaomi. It is optimized for data transfer to Xiaomi devices, but can receive data from other Android smartphones (including Samsung).

• 🔄 Supports data application portability (if the old device has root or it is from Xiaomi).
• 📡 Uses Wi-Fi Direct for wireless transmission (without mobile traffic consumption).
• ⚡ Up to 20MB/s (faster than the Smart Switch in wireless mode).

How to transfer data from Samsung to Xiaomi:

1. On Xiaomi, go to Settings → About Phone → Data Transfer (Mi Mover).
2. On Samsung, download Mi Mover from APKPure (there is no one on Google Play).
3. Run Mi Mover on both devices and select Me New User on Xiaomi and Send Data to Samsung.
4. Scan it. QR-code from the screen Xiaomi camera Samsung.
5. Select data types to transfer and wait for completion.

Mi Mover is better at porting application settings (such as game saves or instant messenger data), but may not handle:

• 📂 Files with non-Latin characters in the title (Cyrillic, hieroglyphics).
• 🔐 Encrypted folders (e.g. from Secure Folder to Samsung).
• 📱 Data from some system applications (Samsung Health, Bixby).

💡

If Mi Mover can't see the device, try connecting to one Wi-Fi network manually, then returning to the app. Sometimes this resets the detection error.

Method 3: Cloud Transfer via Google Drive or Mi Cloud

Cloud services are a universal way of transfer, independent of the brand of the device.

• 🌍 Have a slow Wi-Fi Direct or no cable.
• 📱 You need to transfer data to multiple devices at the same time.
• 🔄 You want to keep a backup before resetting your old phone.

Instructions for Google Drive:

1. On your old device, open Google Drive and tap on it. ➕ → Backup.
2. Select data types (contacts, photos, videos, calendar) and click Create a copy.
3. On a new device (Samsung or Xiaomi) sign in to the same Google account.
4. Go to Settings. → Accounts and archiving → Recover data (on Samsung) or Settings → Additionally. → Recovery and Reset (on Xiaomi).

Features of Mi Cloud (for Xiaomi):

• 📱 It works only when migrating to Xiaomi (with Samsung, you first need to upload data to the cloud, then download it to Xiaomi).
• 🔒 Offers 5GB for free (vs. 15GB for Google Drive).
• ⚡ Synchronize SMS, Notes and bookmarks of the browser that Google Drive does not tolerate.

Comparison of cloud services:

⚠️ Note: When you download large volumes (over 10 GB) to Google Drive via a mobile network, the operator may block traffic as "suspicious." Use only Wi-Fi.

Method 4: Direct transmission by cable (USB-C/OTG)

Cable transmission is the fastest and most reliable way if you have:

• 🔌 USB-C cable (for new Samsung and Xiaomi).
• 🔄 OTG-Adapter (if on one of the Micro-USB devices).
• 📱 File Manager (e.g. Solid Explorer or standard My files on Samsung).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your devices with a cable. On the screen of Samsung or Xiaomi, select File Transfer mode (MTP).
2. On the receiver device (Samsung or Xiaomi), open the file manager.
3. In the section USB-The device or external drive you will see the file system of the old smartphone.
4. Copy the right folders (DCIM For photos, Downloads for downloads, WhatsApp for chats) in the internal memory of the new device.

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ Speed to 40-50 MB/s (in) 3-4 faster than wireless methods).
• 🔒 No risk of data loss due to communication breakdown.
• 📁 Individual files can be selectively transferred.

Disadvantages:

• 🔌 Supported cable required OTG (Not all cheap cables work properly).
• 📱 Applications and their data (files only) are not portable).
• 🔧 On some devices (Samsung) A14, Redmi 10C) You need to manually activate the debugging USB (Settings → The phone. → Assembly number → 7 taps → Developer settings → Debugging by USB).

Method 5: Wireless transmission over Wi-Fi Direct or LocalShare

If the cable is not available and the Smart Switch or Mi Mover is not working, use alternative applications:

• 📲 LocalShare (from Xiaomi, but runs on all Android).
• 🔗 Send Anywhere (cross-platform, with no volume restrictions).
• 🌐 Snapdrop (web service, does not require installation).

Instructions for LocalShare:

1. Install LocalShare on both devices (Google Play).
2. On the sender device (Xiaomi or Samsung), select files and tap Send.
3. On the receiving device, click Receive and scan. QR-code.
4. Confirm the transmission on both devices.

Comparison of applications for wireless transmission:

⚠️ Note: When transmitting via LocalShare or Send Anywhere, turn off battery optimization for these applications, otherwise the connection may break.

💡

For maximum wireless transmission speed, turn off both devices VPN, Ad blockers and put them in the "Do not disturb" mode".

Transfer of installed applications and their data

The transfer of themselves APK-Application files are a simple task, but with application data (game saves, instant messenger chats, settings) it's more complicated:

1. Transfer APK-file:

• 📱 Use it. APK Extractor (from Google Play) for extraction APK old-device.
• 📁 Transfer files to the new device in any convenient way (cable, cloud).
• 🔧 Install. APK to a new device by allowing installation from unknown sources (Settings) → Security → Unknown sources).

2. Data transfer of applications:

• 🎮 For games: use a Google Play Games account or built-in sync (e.g., in Genshin Impact or Clash of Clans).
• 💬 For messengers: WhatsApp: backup in Google Drive (Settings) → chat → Telegram: data synced through the cloud automatically. Viber: Settings → Account. → Backup copy.
• ⚙️ For system applications: use Titanium Backup (requires root rights).

3. Transfer through ADB (for advanced users):

adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f /sdcard/backup.ab


adb restore /sdcard/backup.ab

This team creates a full backup of applications and their data on the old device and restores it on the new one. ADB (Samsung Health and Mi Fit, for example).

💡

If a game or app doesn't sync your account, try looking for the "Export/Import" option in its settings. For example, Spotify allows you to export playlists through Settings. → Social media → Exports.

Frequent questions and problems