How to Transfer Data from Samsung Phone to Xiaomi: A Complete 2026 Guide

Changing a smartphone from Samsung to Xiaomi is not just a hardware upgrade, but also a migration of all digital life: photos, correspondence, passwords and settings. Many users fear this process, imagining hours of manual copying of files or loss of important data. In practice, transferring data between Android devices takes 15-40 minutes, if you know proven methods and avoid typical errors.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways of migration - from official tools Xiaomi and Samsung to universal solutions for any Android-smartphone, SMS, Photos, videos, apps and even lossless Wi-Fi settings, as well as the nuances that are important to consider when moving between the ecosystems of the two brands. We will focus on format compatibility (for example, why.samsung backups don’t open on Xiaomi) and hidden limitations (for example, transferring data from Samsung Knox).

If you've tried to migrate and you've encountered errors, there's a section at the end of the article that addresses typical problems (from "can't see the device" to "files don't copy"), and for those who want to save time, we've compiled a method table for speed, reliability, and supported data types.

1.The official way: Mi Mover by Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a proprietary application from Xiaomi, designed to migrate data from other Android devices (including Samsung) to Redmi smartphones, POCO It's the easiest and most secure method, because it automatically detects compatible data types and offers you to transfer them "with a single click:

• 📞 Contacts (including groups and labels)
• 💬 Communications SMS and MMS
• 📷 Photos and videos (in original quality)
• 🎵 Audio files and melodies
• 📁 Documents (PDF, DOC, XLS, etc.)
• 📡 Wi-Fi settings (including passwords)
• 📱 Some system settings (language, date/time)

However, the Mi Mover has limitations:

• ❌ Does not transfer installed applications (only their data, if the application is already installed on Xiaomi).
• ❌ Does not support porting of Samsung Notes or calendars.
• ❌ You may not recognize data protected by Samsung Knox (corporate profiles, Secure Folder).

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

Install Mi Mover on both phones (available on Google Play)

Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network

Charge both smartphones to at least 50%

Free up enough memory for your data on Xiaomi

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1. Open Mi Mover on both phones. On Samsung, select "I am the sender," on Xiaomi, "I am the recipient."

2.At Xiaomi, it will appear. QR-Scan it with a Samsung camera (or enter the code manually).

3. Select data types to transfer. Please note that if you are transferring high-resolution photos, the process can take up to 30 minutes (depending on the volume).

4. Wait for the transmission to be completed. Don't interrupt the connection or block the screens!

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If Mi Mover is stuck in the connection phase, try restarting Wi-Fi on both devices or using a mobile hotspot instead of a home router.

2.Samsung Smart Switch: Backward portability

Many users are surprised, but Samsung Smart Switch, the official migration app, works not only with Samsung devices, but can export data to a universal format, which is then imported to Xiaomi.

• 🔹 You want to save Samsung Notes or calendars.
• 🔹 You have a large library of Samsung Music or Samsung Gallery with albums.
• 🔹 You need to move calls and logs (which Mi Mover sometimes ignores).

Instructions for export via Smart Switch:

1. Install Samsung Smart Switch on Samsung (usually preinstalled) and download it to Xiaomi from Google Play.

2. On Samsung, select "Export" → "External storage (or Samsung Cloud).

3. Transfer the resulting archive (usually in.ssbk or.zip format) to Xiaomi via cable, cloud, or memory card.

4. On Xiaomi, open Smart Switch, select "Import" and specify the path to the file.

⚠️ Smart Switch on Xiaomi may not work well due to limitations MIUI. If the application is experiencing an error, try alternative methods in the following sections.

3.Move over Google Account: Universal Method

If you use Google services (Gmail, Drive, Photos), most of the data is already synced to the cloud automatically, and this method does not require additional applications and works on any Android device.

• 📇 Contacts (via Google Contacts)
• 📅 Calendars (Google Calendar)
• 📧 Letters and settings Gmail
• 📸 Photos and videos (if synced with Google Photos is enabled)
• 🎮 Data from some games (via Google Play Games)
• 🔑 Passwords (if you use Google Password Manager)

How to check and enable synchronization:

1. On Samsung go to Settings → Accounts and archiving → Managing a Google Account.

2. Make sure that synchronization is enabled for all the necessary services (contacts, calendar, disk, etc.).

3.On Xiaomi, add the same Google account and wait for the sync to complete.

🔹 Pros of the method: you do not need to connect devices to each other, the data is available on any phone with your account.

🔸 Cons: not to be tolerated SMS, Calls, Wi-Fi settings and some system data.

4. Direct cable connection (OTG or USB)

If you don't have Wi-Fi or you don't trust cloud services, you can transfer data directly over the cable.

• 🔌 USB-C cable type (for new models of Samsung and Xiaomi).
• 🔄 adapter OTG (If you have a microUSB connector on one of the phones).
• 📱 File Manager (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Samsung to Xiaomi via cable. On Samsung, select File Transfer Mode" (MTP).

2.On Xiaomi, open the file manager and go to the section "USB-device".

3. Copy the required folders:

• DCIM — photo and video
• Downloads – Downloaded files
• Pictures - images from messengers
• WhatsApp/Media — WhatsApp media

4. To transfer contacts, export them to the.vcf file via the Contacts app on Samsung, then import them to Xiaomi.

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When copying via cable, make sure that Xiaomi has enough free space. If memory is scarce, transfer data in parts (for example, photos first, then videos).

⚠️ Note: Some folders (for example, Android/data) They can be hidden or protected, and they require root rights to access them, which is not safe for inexperienced users.

5. Transfer of applications and their data

Transfer the installed applications themselves (APK-files) from Samsung to Xiaomi are not possible due to differences in architecture and signatures:

• 📲 Save a list of installed apps and install them again through Google Play.
• 🔄 Transfer application data (for example, saving games, settings messengers).
• 📁 Restore backups if the app supports export (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram).

For the transfer of application data:

1. Use built-in backup features (e.g. WhatsApp: Settings) → chat → Backup copy).

2.For games and other applications, connect to Google Play Games or log in to a developer account (e.g., Clash of Clans via Supercell). ID).

3. Use applications like Swift Backup (requires root rights) for manual transfer.

📌 Important: Some apps (such as banking) are tied to the device and will require re-authorization on Xiaomi.

6.Hidden Data Transfer: Secure Folder, Knox and Passwords

If you've been using a Secure Folder on Samsung, you can't transfer data from there by standard methods. Here's what you can do:

• 🔐 Export files from Secure Folder to Samsung’s regular memory, then transfer them to Xiaomi.
• 🔑 Use Samsung Pass to export passwords to Google Password Manager.
• 📱 For corporate data (if the phone was tied to Knox), contact the administrator IT-division.

For Wi-Fi password transfer:

1. Install the WiFi Password Viewer app on Samsung (requires root).

2.Export the list of networks to a file and import it to Xiaomi via Mi Mover or manually.

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If you have forgotten your password from Secure Folder, you can only restore access through your Samsung account or reset your phone (data will be lost!).

Comparison of data transfer methods

Solving typical transfer problems

Even when following instructions, users encounter errors, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

🔴 Mi Mover doesn’t see Samsung device.

🟢 Decision:

• Check that both phones are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (not to different bands) 2.4/5 GHz).
• Turn it off. VPN or firewall on both devices.
• Restart Mi Mover and repeat the scan QR-code.

🔴 Problem: Photos moved, but not displayed in the gallery Xiaomi.

🟢 Decision:

• Open the files. → DCIM/Camera And check if there are files.
• Run "Media Scan" in the gallery settings.
• Restart your phone - sometimes MIUI Does not update the media library immediately.

🔴 Problem: Not overdue SMS.

🟢 Decision:

• Use third-party apps like this SMS Backup & Restore.
• Export. SMS To the.xml file on Samsung, then import to Xiaomi.

🔴 Problem: Xiaomi does not have enough space to move.

🟢 Decision:

• Free up space by removing unnecessary files or apps.
• Move the data in parts (first contacts, then media).
• Use a memory card (if Xiaomi supports it).

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If neither method worked, try resetting the network settings on both phones (Settings). → System system → Reset → Resetting network settings).

FAQ: Frequent questions about data transfer