Samsung to Xiaomi Data Transfer: A Complete 2026 Guide

Why is it so difficult to transfer data between Android devices of different brands?

The switch from Samsung Galaxy to Xiaomi (whether it’s Redmi Note 13, POCO X6 or Xiaomi’s flagship 14) is often accompanied by data migration issues, as manufacturers use their own ecosystems: Samsung Knox for data protection and MIUI with Xiaomi’s integrated services. These systems are not always “out of the box” compatible, leading to errors when trying to port through standard Android tools.

A key challenge lies in the different implementations of the Android Backup Service protocol. For example, Samsung Smart Switch is optimized to work inside the Galaxy line and can ignore requests from other brands. On the other hand, Xiaomi’s Mi Mover does not always correctly recognize backups created on Samsung due to differences in encryption, as a result, users face lost contacts, clipped videos or completely empty galleries after the transition.

Additional nuance - firmware MIUI Block access to Android system folders through MTP-It's a protocol that you connect to a PC, which makes it difficult to manually transfer files through a computer, and it's a feature that makes you look for workarounds, like using a computer to do things like this. ADB-Teams or third-party file managers with root rights.

Preparation of devices before data transfer

Before migrating, there are several critical steps to follow on both smartphones, and neglecting preparation can lead to data loss or transmission failures.

• 🔋 Charge both devices to at least 70%.Transfer a large amount of data (for example, 64 GB photo) can take 1-2 hours and drain the battery.
• 📶 Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (5GHz is preferred) Mobile internet is not suitable due to traffic restrictions and connection instability.
• 🧹 Clear the cache in the Settings apps → Annexes → Application management → [Select an application] → Warehouse → Clear cache on both phones.
• 🔒 Turn off the screen lock (PIN, Some tools (e.g. Mi Mover) require unlocked screens.

Pay special attention to application permissions. On Xiaomi, go to Settings → Apps → Permissions → Autorun and enable autorun for Mi Mover or alternative portable software. On Samsung, check that Smart Switch has access to Contacts, Files and Media, Phone in permission settings.

Method 1: Mi Mover is the official tool of Xiaomi

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary solution for migrating data from Android devices (including Samsung), pre-installed on all smartphones with MIUI 9 and later, and its main advantage is that it supports porting apps along with their data (such as saving in games or setting up instant messengers), which is not available in most alternatives.

There are nuances, however: The Mi Mover may not work properly with the Samsung Galaxy on Android 13/14 due to changes in Google’s security policy.If your Samsung is updated to the latest version, try temporarily rolling back One UI or using alternative methods.

1. Install Mi Mover on Samsung from Google Play (if not installed).
2. Run the app on both devices. On Xiaomi, select I'm a new user; on Samsung, I'm an old user.
3. Scan it. QR-code from the Xiaomi screen with a Samsung camera or enter PIN-manually.
4. Select data types for transfer: Contacts, Messages, Multimedia, Applications.
5. Confirm the transfer on both devices and wait until the transfer is completed (time depends on the amount of data).

Turn off VPN on both devices | Make sure Xiaomi has enough free space |Close all background apps |Connect to one Wi-Fi network-->

⚠️ Note: If the Mi Mover is stuck in the Preparation phase, restart both phones and try again. If the error repeats, try transferring data in parts (for example, contacts first, then photos).

Method 2: Samsung Smart Switch (reverse port)

The control shot is the reverse Samsung Smart Switch, which is suitable if the Mi Mover failed or you need to move Samsung Notes or Secure Folder data that other tools ignore.

Important: Smart Switch isn't originally designed to export data from Samsung, but there's a workaround by backing up your PC and extracting files. USB-cable (preferably from Samsung's set).

• 💻 Install Smart Switch on PC.
• 📱 Connect Samsung to your computer and back up (backup) → Reserve).
• 🔍 Find a folder with a backup (usually) C:\Users\[Your name]\Documents\Samsung\SmartSwitch\backup).
• 📁 Extract the data you need (photos in Photos, contacts in Contacts.spb) and transfer it to Xiaomi via the link. USB cloud.

⚠️ Note: Smart Switch backups are encrypted. Retrieval of contacts and messages will require third-party software like Samsung Backup Extractor (paid) or Syncios Data Transfer (free trial).

Method 3: Cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud, Samsung Cloud)

Cloud porting is a universal method that does not depend on the phone model, and its main advantage is that you do not need to connect devices to each other, but this method has limitations: free cloud service rates are often limited to 5-15 GB, and download speed depends on the Internet connection.

Optimal route for most users: Samsung Cloud → Google Drive → Xiaomi. Samsung Cloud allows you to store up to 15 GB of data (including app backups) for free, and Google Drive is integrated into MIUI and synced automatically.

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If you have slow internet, turn on the “Wi-Fi Only Download” option in your Samsung Cloud account settings on Samsung to avoid wasting mobile traffic.

1. On Samsung, go to Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Samsung Cloud.
2. Select Data Backup and mark the categories you want (contacts, calendar, notes, calls).
3. Once you have completed your reservation, export your data to Google Drive: Open Samsung Cloud → Manage backups. Select the latest copy → Export to Google Drive.

Xiaomi

Method 4: Direct transmission via cable (USB OTG + adapter)

For users who don't trust the cloud or face traffic restrictions, direct cable transfer remains the most reliable method.

• USB OTG-adapter (Type-C) → Type-C or Type-C → MicroUSB depending on device ports).
• High-quality cable (cheap cables may not support data transmission).
• File Manager with root folder permissions (e.g. Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).

Algorithm of action:

1. Connect Samsung to Xiaomi via OTG-adapter.

2.On Xiaomi, select File Transfer (MTP) mode in the notification panel.

3. Open the file manager on Xiaomi and go to /storage/emulated/0/ (Samsung’s internal memory).

4. Copy the necessary data manually:

• Photo/Video: DCIM/Camera and Pictures
• Contacts: export to.vcf via the Contacts app
• Messages: Use SMS Backup & Restore to create a backup

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Direct cable transfer is the only way to transfer files without compression (important for the purpose of transferring files). RAW-photo 4K).

⚠️ Note: If Xiaomi does not recognize Samsung as a USB-drive, check the developer settings on Samsung: turn on Debugging by USB and select mode MTP c Configuration USB default.

Method 5: Third-party applications (SHAREit, Xender, Send Anywhere)

If standard methods fail, third-party applications for Wi-Fi Direct file transfer come to the rescue, with the main advantage of high speeds (up to 20 MB/s) and no data limits.

• 🔒 Some applications (such as SHAREit) collect user data.
• 📡 Transmission can be interrupted with a weak Wi-Fi signal.
• 📱 Installation of the application on both devices is required.

Best options in 2026 are Send Anywhere (no ad, data encryption) and Xender (supports app transfer).

1. Install the selected app on both phones.
2. On Samsung, select files to send and generate QR-code PIN.
3. On Xiaomi, scan the code or enter a PIN to start the transfer.
4. Confirm receipt of files and wait for completion.

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To transfer large files (>4 GB) to Send Anywhere, use the "Unlimited Mode" function (available after registration).

Transfer of specific data (WhatsApp, Telegram, games)

Social networks and instant messengers store data in secure folders that are not portable by standard methods, and each service needs a personalized approach:

• 💬 WhatsApp: Back up chats on Samsung (⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup copy. Copy the folder. /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases Install WhatsApp on Xiaomi, log in and restore chats from local copy.
• 🎮 Games (e.g. Genshin Impact, PUBG): Use Google Play Games to save progress in the cloud. For Chinese games (such as Honkai: Star Rail), link your account to an email or miHoYo Account. 📌 Telegram: Telegram syncs messages through the cloud, but media files need to be transferred manually: Open Settings → Data and memory → Telegram folder. Copy the Telegram folder on Xiaomi. In the Telegram settings on the new device, specify the path to the copied folder.

⚠️ Note: When migrating WhatsApp from Android to Android, do not use Google Drive - it will not be possible to restore chats from the cloud to Xiaomi due to differences in the implementation of backup!

What if the data is not transferred or damaged?

Even with careful preparation, the migration process may not go according to plan.

If data is lost irretrievably, try the recovery tools:

• 📱 For photo/video: DiskDigger (scans internal memory).
• 📞 Check the archives in Google Contacts (Undo changes).
• 💬 For communications: GT Recovery (requires root rights).