Changing a smartphone is always an exciting process, especially when you need to transfer gigabytes of personal memories to a new device. Android ecosystem owners often face the situation when you need to transfer the archive of photos from a Xiaomi device (or Redmi, POCO) to a Samsung smartphone. It would seem that both phones work on the same operating system, but each manufacturer has its own features of the file system and preinstalled software, which sometimes creates the illusion of complexity of the task.
Fortunately, technology has enabled this in a number of ways, from proprietary migration utilities to cloud services to manual copying, depending on data volume, Internet speed, and computer availability, and in this article, we will discuss the most effective and secure options to help preserve image quality and folder structure.
Before you start, make sure both devices are at least 50-60% charged so that the process doesn’t get interrupted halfway through battery drain. Also check for free space on your Samsung target device, as the media library can take up a significant amount of internal memory.
Using Smart Switch Application for Migration
The most official and reliable way Samsung can do this is by using Smart Switch Mobile, an app designed to transfer data from any Android smartphone, including Xiaomi, to a Korean brand device that can transfer not only photos, but also contacts, calendars, notes, and even the location of icons on the desktop.
To get started, you need to install the Smart Switch app on both smartphones. On Xiaomi, it can be downloaded from Google Play Market, and on Samsung, it is often pre-installed in the system utilities folder or also available in the app store. Once installed, open the program on both devices.
On the receiving device (Samsung), select the option “Receive data” and specify the source — “Android”. On the sending phone (Xiaomi) click “Send data”. The system will offer several ways to connect: wireless connection (Wi-Fi Direct) or USB-C cable. Wireless method is convenient because it does not require unnecessary wires, but can be slower with a large amount of files.
☑️ Preparation for migration
Once the devices are connected, Xiaomi will have a list of data categories to transfer to. You need to find the Gallery or Images section and check the box. If you have a lot of videos, make sure you select the appropriate item, as they can weigh significantly more photos.
⚠️ Warning: During Wi-Fi transmission, do not leave the application and do not block smartphone screens, as the energy saving system MIUI can break the connection to save charge.
The copying process can take anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of data. Smart Switch will automatically create the required folders in the Samsung Gallery, retaining the original album structure if possible. Upon completion, you will receive a notification and all your photos will be available in the standard gallery.
Transfer through Google Photos and Cloud Services
If you have stable and fast Internet access, the easiest way to sync your library is to use Google Photos, a cloud service that is good because it is not tied to a specific time and device — your photos will be available from any gadget after authorization.
On an old Xiaomi phone, open the Google Photo app (usually built into the system). Click on the profile avatar in the top right corner and select Photo Settings → Autoboot. Make sure the switch is active and the Express quality (no compression if you have a Google One subscription) or Save Space is selected.
Once all Xiaomi photos are uploaded to the cloud (you can check the status in the Library → On Device section), take the new Samsung. Sign in to the same Google account in the Google Photos app. All images will appear in the feed automatically.
How to save photos in Samsung memory permanently
It’s important to understand the difference between cloud storage and on-premises. If you just log in, the photos will be visible but only in the cloud. It may require additional uploads to fully migrate to Samsung without depending on the internet.
Other cloud storage options, such as Yandex.Disk, Dropbox or Mi Cloud, can be an alternative, but the native integration of Google Photos with the Android Gallery makes this the most seamless way for users of the ecosystem.
Manual copying through USB-cable
For users who prefer full control of files and do not trust the cloud or wireless methods, the classic method through the computer remains the “gold standard” It allows you to transfer photos from Xiaomi to Samsung as quickly as possible using the speed of USB 3.0 ports.
Connect your Xiaomi phone to your computer with a cable. On your smartphone screen, select USB File Transfer (MTP) mode. On your computer, open My Computer, find the device, and go to the DCIM → Camera folder (or other folders that store pictures, such as Screenshots, WhatsApp Images).
Copy the folders or files you want to use on your PC hard drive. Then turn off Xiaomi and connect Samsung. Also, when you select MTP mode, copy the data from your computer to the corresponding folders on your new device, which ensures that no bytes of information are lost or compressed.
| Method | Speed. | I need a PC. | We need the Internet. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Switch (cable) | Tall. | No. | No. |
| Smart Switch (Wi-Fi) | Medium | No. | No. |
| Google Photo | Depends on the network. | No. | Yes. |
| USB + PC | Very high. | Yes. | No. |
When copying manually, it is important to follow the folder structure if you want photos to be automatically distributed across albums in the Samsung Gallery, for example, WhatsApp photos are better placed in Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Media/WhatsApp Images.
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Use the original USB-C cables that come with phones. Cheap charging cables may not support data transfer, and the computer simply won't see the device.
Local Transfers via Mi Mover and Send Anywhere
If for some reason, Smart Switch is not stable, you can use third-party applications to transfer files directly over Wi-Fi. One of the most popular is Send Anywhere or Xender. The principle of their operation is simple: they create a local network between devices.
Install the app on both smartphones. On Xiaomi, select the photos to send and click the "Send" button. The app will generate a six-digit key or QR-On Samsung, launch the app, select Get and enter the key or scan the code.
Transfer speeds in such applications are often faster than those over Bluetooth, and are comparable to Wi-Fi Direct. However, it is worth considering that free versions of such programs may contain ads that will distract from the process of transferring a large number of files.
Another option is to use the Mi Mover app built into MIUI, which is designed to move to Xiaomi, but some versions have the ability to send data to other Android devices, but it is less stable when working with Samsung than the native tools of the Korean brand.
⚠️ Note: When using third-party file sharing apps, make sure both phones are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, or that the receiving device is allowed to be detected on the local network.
Solving problems with HEIC formats and compatibility
One of the common problems when transferring photos between different Android brands is the compression format. If Xiaomi has enabled the option of shooting in HEIC (High Efficiency Image Coding), then on the old Samsung, these photos may not open or appear as a black screen.
To avoid this, before transferring data to Xiaomi, go to the camera settings and find Format or HEIC. Switch it to JPEG or Compatibility mode. This will ensure 100% readability of files on any device.