How to Move Data from Samsung to Xiaomi: A Complete 2026 Guide

The transition from Samsung to Xiaomi is not just a brand change, but also a migration of all digital life: photos, contacts, messages and settings, which many users fear as complex or risky. In fact, data transfer between Android devices has long been a routine operation for which there are both built-in tools and third-party solutions, the main thing is to choose the appropriate method depending on the amount of information and model of your Xiaomi.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways of transferring data, from official services to alternative solutions for specific cases (for example, if you have an old Samsung without support for modern protocols), focus on typical errors that can interrupt the process and how to circumvent them.

⚠️ Note: If your Samsung is running Android 8.0 or older, some methods (such as Mi Mover) may require a software update. → The phone. → Android version.

1.The official way: Mi Mover by Xiaomi

Mi Mover

Xiaomi

Contacts, messages, photos, videos, audio, documents and even some system application settings

No need to use a computer or cloud services: data is transmitted directly over Wi-Fi

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

1. On Xiaomi go to Settings → The phone. → Data Import (or find the Mi Mover app in the menu).
2. Select the option “I am a new user” and follow the wizard’s prompts.
3. Download Mi Mover from Google Play on Samsung (if it’s not in your area, use it). APK from the official Xiaomi website).
4. Run the app on both devices and scan QR-code from the screen Xiaomi on Samsung.
5. Select the data types to transfer and wait for the process to be completed.

⚠️ Note: If the Mi Mover is stuck in the connection phase, check that Samsung has power-saving mode turned off and Wi-Fi Direct is enabled in the wireless settings. Also make sure that both devices have enough free space (at least 10% of the data transfer volume).

The speed of the transfer depends on the amount of data and the device model, for example, 10 GB of photos can be carried for 15 to 40 minutes.

• 📶 Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network (even if you use Wi-Fi Direct).
• 🔋 Charge both devices to at least 50% – the process consumes a lot of energy.
• 🚫 Close all background apps, especially instant messengers and social networks.

Install Mi Mover on Samsung|Shut down. VPN firewall|Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices|Release. 10-15% memory|Connect both phones to charging-->

2.An alternative from Samsung: Smart Switch

Samsung Smart Switch

Samsung

Xiaomi

Mi Mover

Samsung

Instructions for using Smart Switch:

1. Download Smart Switch on Samsung (usually preinstalled) and Xiaomi from Google Play.
2. On Samsung, select Send Data and on Xiaomi, Receive Data.
3. Connect devices through USB-cable (original cable from Samsung is recommended) or over Wi-Fi.
4. Select the types of data to transmit (contacts, messages, photos, videos, music, notes and calendar are available).
5. Confirm the start of the transfer and wait for the completion.

⚠️ Note: When using Smart Switch via USB-Xiaomi cable can be defined as an "unknown device:

1. On Xiaomi, turn on Debugging by USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Click 7 times on the line with the version, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers).
2. Connect the cable to the port USB 3.0 (usually marked in blue) on Samsung.
3. If you request permission to access, select "Always allow from this computer".

Smart Switch supports the transfer of applications, but only their APK-So the programs themselves will be migrated, but for example, save games or configure messengers — not. This will require additional tools like Helium or backup to the cloud.

Official applications (Mi Mover, Smart Switch)|Cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud)|Direct transmission by cable|Third-party programs (SHAREit, Xender)|I haven't decided yet.-->

3. Cloud services: Google Drive and Mi Cloud

If direct transfer is impossible for some reason (for example, the connector is damaged). USB Or weak Wi-Fi, you can use cloud storage, and it's universal, but it requires a stable Internet connection and enough free space in the cloud.

Method 1: Google Drive (recommended for contacts and media)

1. On Samsung, open Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Backup and Restore.
2. Select “Data Backup” and select your Google account.
3. Check the data types (contacts, calendar, photos, videos) and click "Create backup".
4. On Xiaomi, log in to the same Google account and restore data to Settings → Accounts → Google → Restore.

Method 2: Mi Cloud (optimum for Xiaomi settings)

• 📱 On Samsung, upload files to any cloud (e.g. Google Drive or Yandex Disk).
• 🔗 Download them to Xiaomi via a browser or cloud service app.
• ☁️ To sync contacts and notes, use Mi Cloud (sign in via Xiaomi account to Settings). → Mi Account).

⚠️ Note: When recovering from Google Drive to Xiaomi, photos and videos can be saved in low resolution if the Traffic Saving option is enabled:

1. Before recovery, go to Settings → Google → Backup.
2. Turn off "Photo Optimization" and "Mobile Traffic Savings".
3. Connect to a Wi-Fi network to recover original files.

Cloud services have the advantage of being able to access data from any device and be able to selectively restore it, but there are also disadvantages:

• ⏳ Long loading/unloading time with a large amount of data.
• 💰 Limited free space (e.g. 15GB on Google Drive).
• 🔒 Risk of data leakage when using unreliable cloud services.

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If you are transferring photos, archive them in advance. ZIP It will speed up cloud upload and maintain original quality.

4. Direct transmission via cable (USB OTG)

If you don't have access to Wi-Fi or cloud services, you can transfer data directly through the cable. USB OTG-adapter (or cable) USB-C to USB-C, If both devices support this standard, this method is suitable for transferring large amounts of data (e.g., video to video). 4K or backups of applications).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Samsung to Xiaomi via USB OTG-adapter.
2. On Samsung, select File Transfer Mode in the notification bar (or "USB-"Modem" if the first option does not work).
3. On Xiaomi, open Explorer (or any file menu) and select a connected device (Samsung).
4. Copy the necessary files to Xiaomi memory (it is recommended to create folders by category: Photos, Music, Documents).

⚠️ Note: When copying files through USB OTG Avoid the following mistakes:

• 🚫 Do not remove the cable during transmission – it can damage the file system.
• 📁 Do not copy system folders (Android, DCIM/.thumbnails) — They contain official data.
• 🔄 If the files are not copied, try changing the cable or port. USB.

To speed up the process:

• 📂 Transfer data in folders, not one file.
• 🔌 Use a support cable USB 3.1 (blue connector).
• 📱 Turn off autoload media files in the Xiaomi Gallery (Settings) → Annexes → gallery → Autoboot).

This method is most reliable for large files (such as movies or backups), but requires careful handling of cables. If Xiaomi doesn’t recognize Samsung, try:

1. Reboot both devices.
2. Enable Debugging on USB Samsung.
3. Use the other USB OTG-Adapter (some cheap adapters do not support data transmission).

5 Third-party applications: SHAREit, Xender, Send Anywhere

If the built-in tools don’t work or you’re looking for a more flexible solution, you can use third-party file transfer applications.They often support cross-platform transfer (including iOS) and offer additional features such as data compression or over-the-top transfer. QR-code.

Comparison of popular applications:

Instructions on the example of SHAREit:

1. Install Shareit on both devices from Google Play.
2. On Samsung, select “Send” and on Xiaomi, “Get”.
3. Connect devices via Wi-Fi Direct (automatically) or scan QR-code.
4. Select files on Samsung and confirm the transfer.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party applications:

• 🛡️ Check the permissions of the application (some request access to contacts or access to the app). SMS reasonlessly).
• 📡 Disable mobile data – only Wi-Fi, but some apps may use the internet to display ads.
• 🔄 If the transfer is interrupted, try to reduce the size of the packets (in the application settings).

Advantages of third-party applications:

• 🌐 It works on all Android devices, including outdated models.
• 📤 Supports data transfer applications (e.g. game saving).
• 🔄 You can transfer files between multiple devices at the same time.

💡

Third-party applications are convenient for transferring large files or when embedded tools don’t work.However, they can collect data about your files – only use proven high-ranking programs.

6. Transfer of applications and their data

One of the most difficult aspects of migration is the transfer of installed applications and their data (for example, saves in games, chat history in messengers or settings in social networks). APK-It's a file, not a user's data, and it's going to require specialized tools.

Method 1: Backup through Helium (obsolete but working method)

1. Install Helium on both devices (root access or PC connection required).
2. On Samsung, back up your desired applications.
3. Transfer the backup file to Xiaomi (via cloud or cable).
4. Restore data to Xiaomi via Helium.

Method 2: Built-in Application Functions

Many applications support export/import data via cloud or local files:

• 💬 WhatsApp: Settings → chat → Backup (save in Google Drive).
• 🎮 Games: Use your Google Play Games or Facebook account to sync your saves.
• 📅 Calendar: Export events to.ics file via Google Calendar.

Method 3: Titanum Backup (root only)

If your Samsung has root access, you can use Titanium Backup to create a full copy of your apps and their data.

1. Make a backup copy on Samsung.
2. Transfer the file to Xiaomi.
3. Recover data via Titanium Backup (root and Xiaomi required).

⚠️ Note: Data transfer applications may disrupt their operation if:

• 📱 The versions of the apps on Samsung and Xiaomi are very different.
• 🔑 Application is linked to the device (e.g. banking programs).
• 🛠️ Xiaomi has a custom firmware installed.

For most users, the most reliable way is to:

1. Sync data through accounts (Google, Facebook, Mi Account).
2. Reinstall apps from Google Play to Xiaomi.
3. Recover data through built-in application features (where possible).

Typical problem solving

Even if you follow the instructions, the data transfer process can be problematic, and let's look at the most common problems and how to solve them.

Problem 1: Devices can’t see each other on Wi-Fi

• 📶 Make sure both devices are connected to the same network (not the guest network).
• 🔄 Reboot the router.
• 📱 Turn it off. VPN and firewall on both phones.
• 🛠️ Update the firmware on Samsung and Xiaomi.

Problem 2: Transmission is interrupted at half

• 🔋 Check the battery charge (should be at least 30%).
• 📴 Turn off the power saving mode.
• 📡 Try another method of transmission (for example, with Wi-Fi on the Internet). USB OTG).
• 🗃️ Break up large files into parts (e.g., 2GB archives).

Problem 3: Xiaomi does not display transferred photos

• 🖼️ Check the folder. DCIM/Camera through the "Conductor".
• 🔄 Reboot Xiaomi.
• 📁 Update your media database: Go to Settings → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the data (files will not be deleted, only the index will be updated).

Problem 4: Contacts are not tolerated

• 📇 Make sure your contacts are saved in your Google account, not your phone’s memory.
• ☁️ Sync contacts manually: Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronize contacts.
• 📱 Export contacts to.vcf and import them to Xiaomi.

If none of these methods worked, try an alternative approach:

1. Backup your Samsung with Smart Switch or TWRP (if there is root).
2. Copy the backup file to your computer.
3. Connect Xiaomi to your PC and recover data via Mi PC suite ADB.

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Most data transfer errors are due to an unstable connection or memory deficit, and always check these parameters before starting the process.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions