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 customization, which many users fear as complex or risky. In fact, transferring data between Android devices has become much easier thanks to built-in tools and third-party services, but there are nuances: for example, Xiaomi uses its own shell. MIUI, It can interact with data from Samsung One in different ways. UI.
In this article, we'll look at 5 proven ways to communicate data, from official solutions to alternative methods for power users, which is the fastest, which stores the most information, and how to avoid common errors, and we'll also compare which types of data are fully portable and which may require manual processing.
If you are switching from Galaxy S23 Xiaomi 14 or Samsung A52 On the Redmi Note 12, the principles will remain the same, and the key is to get both devices right and choose the method that suits your tasks, for example, to transfer only contacts, you will need the cloud, and to fully migrate with the applications you will need to use specialized tools.
1. Preparation of devices before data transfer
Before migrating, there are several critical steps that need to be taken, and neglecting them can lead to data loss or transmission failures.
On Samsung, check:
- 🔋 The battery must be at least 50 percent charged, and it can take 10 minutes to an hour to transfer data, and discharging in the process will interrupt the operation.
- 📶 Stable Internet connection (if you use the cloud) If you have a weak Wi-Fi or mobile signal, files can be corrupted.
- 🗃️ Free space – Xiaomi should have at least 20% more data than the amount of data transferred.
Xiaomi is required to:
- 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version through Settings → The phone. → System Update: Older versions may not support new transmission protocols.
- 🔐 Turn off the lock by fingerprint or PIN-Transfer code – some methods require an unlocked screen.
- 📱 Make sure there are no restrictions on third-party sources (Settings) → Annexes → Special rights → Installation from unknown sources).
If you transfer data from Samsung to Xiaomi via cable, use the original one. USB-C Cheap, uncertified cables may not support the protocol. USB OTG, direct-transmission.
⚠️ Note: If Samsung has enabled data encryption (Settings) → Security → Encryption, some portability techniques may not work, in which case use cloud services or pre-decrypt the device (reset will be required!).
2.The official way: Mi Mover by Xiaomi
Mi Mover is built into the MIUI It's an application that migrates data from other Android devices, and it supports the transfer of contacts, messages, photos, videos, music, notes, and even certain settings, but it's not possible to migrate the apps, just their data (for example, saving in games).
How to use Mi Mover:
- On Xiaomi, open Settings → The phone. → Migration data (or find Mi Mover through search in settings).
- Select “I am a new user” and follow the instructions.
- Download Mi Mover from Google Play on Samsung (if it’s not in your area, use it). APK from the official Xiaomi website).
- Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network or use a direct connection via a Wi-Fi network. QR-code.
- Select the data to transfer and wait for completion.
The speed of transmission depends on the amount of data:
- 📎 Contact and SMS — 1-2 minutes.
- 📷 Photo (5 GB) - 10-15 minutes.
- 🎵 Music and Video (20GB) – 30-40 minutes.
⚠️ Note: If Samsung is running on Android 12+, And Xiaomi, on MIUI 13/14, You may need additional permission to access files. Manually confirm the request to Samsung at the time of transfer.
Both phones are charged at more than 50 times%|Disabled. VPN and proxy on both devices|Xiaomi has enough free space|Samsung has disabled battery optimization for Mi Mover-->
3.Alternative: Samsung's Smart Switch
Samsung Smart Switch is a proprietary data porting solution, but it works the other way: from Samsung to other Android devices, including Xiaomi (APK-Files that are not available in Mi Mover.
Instructions for use:
- Install Smart Switch on Xiaomi from Google Play.
- On Samsung, open the Smart Switch (already preinstalled).
- Select “Send Data” on Samsung and “Receive Data” on Xiaomi.
- Connect devices via Wi-Fi Direct or cable (recommended).
- Select data types to transfer (you can note "Applications").
Features of the method:
- ✅ Portable to installed apps (but not everyone can run on Xiaomi due to architecture differences).
- ❌ Does not tolerate system settings (wallpaper, sounds, profiles).
- ⚠️ Some apps (such as Samsung Health or Bixby) won’t work on Xiaomi.
If you choose to transfer via cable, use an adapter. USB-C → USB-C (or USB-A → USB-C, If you have a Type-C connector on Samsung, connect the cable directly, without hubs, and this will speed up the process 2-3 times.
What apps won’t migrate from Samsung to Xiaomi?
4. Cloud services: Google Drive, Xiaomi Cloud, Samsung Cloud
If direct cable or Wi-Fi transmission is not possible (for example, because of firmware incompatibility), cloud services will be a reliable alternative, the main advantage is that the data is stored in the cloud, and you can transfer it to Xiaomi at any time, even in a few days.
Comparison of cloud services for transfer:
| Service | Supported data | Max. Free volume. | Speed. | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Drive | Photos, videos, contacts, calendars, documents | 15GB | Medium (depending on the Internet) | Integration with Google Photos and Google Contacts |
| Xiaomi Cloud | Contacts, SMS, notes, photos | 5GB | Fast (optimized for MIUI) | Requires a Xiaomi account |
| Samsung Cloud | Contacts, calendars, photos, notes | 15GB | Slow (server restrictions) | Data is stored only 15 days after deleting the device |
Step-by-step instructions for Google Drive (recommended method):
- On Samsung, open Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Backup and Restore → Data Backup.
- Select Google Drive and log in to your account.
- Mark the data for reservation (contacts, photos, SMS) and click "Create a backup copy".
- On Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select “Restore from backup” or do it later in Settings. → Accounts. → Google → Recovery.
Important: If you use Google Photos to transfer media files, turn on the “Original Quality” option in the settings, otherwise the photos will shrink to 16 MP.
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If you have slow internet, upload data to the cloud at night or use mobile internet with unlimited rates. To speed up, turn off background synchronization of other applications (for example, WhatsApp or Telegram).
5. Data transfer via computer (for advanced users)
If you have more than 50GB of data or want to have full control of the process, PC porting is the most reliable way, and is suitable for transferring any files, including application backups (.apk and.obb), system settings, and even data from root folders (if root permissions are available).
What you need:
- 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
- 🔌 Two. USB-cables (preferably original).
- 📁 File transfer software: Samsung Smart Switch for PC or AnyTrans (paid, but with a trial period).
Instructions through Windows Explorer (without additional software):
- Connect Samsung to your PC and select File Transfer Mode" (MTP).
- Copy the right folders (DCIM For photo, Downloads for downloads, Android/data for applications) on the computer.
- Disable Samsung, connect Xiaomi and paste files into the appropriate folders.
- For the transfer of contacts and SMS export them to.vcf and.xml files respectively (via the Contacts and Messages apps on Samsung).
Use the application transfer ADB (Requires skills to work with the command line):
adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab
adb restore backup.ab⚠️ Note: When transferring applications through ADB Some of them may not work on Xiaomi due to the difference in the processor architecture (Samsung Exynos vs Qualcomm Snapdragon.
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PC porting is the only way to save data from root folders (such as saving games or launching settings), but it requires more time and technical knowledge than cloud services or Mi Mover.
6. Transfer of specific types of data: contacts, photos, messages
Not all data is equally well-transferred. Let's look at the nuances for each type.
Contact:
- 📇 The most reliable way is synchronization with Google Contacts (Settings) → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of contacts).
- 📱 Alternative: Export to.vcf via the Contacts app on Samsung and import to Xiaomi.
- ⚠️ If your contacts are stored in a Samsung Account, export them to Google or.vcf first.
Photo and video:
- 📷 Use Google Photos with the “Original Quality” setting (without compression).
- 🖥️ For large libraries (100)+ GB is better to transfer over PC – the cloud can compress files or limit speed.
- 🗃️ folder DCIM/Camera Xiaomi must match the original structure, otherwise the gallery will not recognize the files.
Messages (SMS/MMS):
- 💬 Mi Mover is moving SMS Completely, but without attachments (photo/video) MMS).
- 📄 Use it for backup copy SMS Backup & Restore (saves to.xml).
- ❌ Messages from Samsung Messages won’t be transferred to Google Messages – manual import will be required.
Applications and games:
- 🎮 For games, use Google Play Games (save to the cloud) or Helium (for local backups).
- 📱 APK-Files can be transferred via Smart Switch or manually, but they may not be triggered due to incompatibility.
- 🔄 Application data (such as WhatsApp) is only transferred through a local backup (/sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases).
7.Typical mistakes and how to avoid them
Even when following instructions, users face problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:
Error 1: “Unable to connect to the device” (in Mi Mover or Smart Switch)
- 🔌 Check the cable - try another one (original).
- 📶 Turn it off. VPN and proxy on both devices.
- 🔄 Reboot both phones and try again.
- 🛠️ On Samsung, turn on Debugging by USB (Settings → The phone. → Assembly number (7 taps) → Developer parameters → Debugging by USB).
Error 2: “Not enough space on the device”
- 🗑️ Clear cache and unnecessary files on Xiaomi through Settings → Warehouse → Cleanup.
- 📁 Transfer data in parts (e.g., photo first, then video).
- 🔄 If you use the cloud, delete old backups.
Error 3: Files are moved but not displayed
- 🖼️ For the photo: check the folder DCIM Xiaomi – sometimes files are copied to Downloads.
- 🎵 For Music: Update your Media Library through the Music app".
- 📱 For apps: Reinstall them from Google Play – this will restore the icons.
Error 4: “Apps don’t work after transfer”
- 🔧 Check Compatibility: Some Samsung apps (like Samsung Pay) are not supported on Xiaomi.
- 🔄 Update apps through Google Play.
- 📱 If the app crashes, clear its cache (Settings) → Annexes → [Name of name] → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
Error 5: “Messages are transferred without attachments”
- 📎 Use it. SMS Backup & Restore with the option "Include" MMS".
- 📁 Manually copy the folder. /sdcard/Pictures/MMS from Samsung to Xiaomi.
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If the transfer is stuck in the Preparation phase, don’t interrupt the process! Give devices 10-15 minutes – sometimes they take a long time to analyze large files (for example, video in the video). 4K).
8 What to do after data transfer
Data portability is only half the battle, and after the migration, you need to check the integrity of the files, adjust the synchronization and optimize Xiaomi for your needs.
Step 1: Data verification
- 📞 Open Contacts and make sure all numbers are in place (especially check groups and contact notes).
- 📷 View photos in the Gallery - sometimes the dates of creation are confused.
- 💬 Go to the "Messages" and check the history SMS (particularly important correspondence).
Step 2: Set up synchronization
- ☁️ Enable automatic sync with Google Account (Settings) → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization).
- 📱 Set up backup in Xiaomi Cloud (Settings) → Xiaomi account → Cloud. → Backup).
- 🔄 Install Google Photos and enable autoload for media files.
Step 3: Optimizing Xiaomi
- 📵 Set up "Do Not Disturb" and notifications to suit your preferences.
Step 4: Transfer additional data
- 🎮 For games: log in to Google Play Games and download saves.
- 📅 For calendar: sync with Google Calendar.
- 🔐 For passwords: import them from Samsung Pass to Google Password Manager or Bitwarden.
If you notice that some data is not transferred or is not working correctly, do not panic. Most problems are solved by re-transfer or manual adjustment. For example, if notes from Samsung Notes are not synchronized, export them to the Internet. PDF Download it to Google Keep or Xiaomi Notes.
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After transferring data, make a full backup to Xiaomi via Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.This will protect you from losing information in future updates or crashes.