The transition from Xiaomi to Samsung Galaxy is not just about brand change, but also about the migration of digital life, photos, correspondence, notes and settings, which many users fear as complex or risky. In fact, transferring data between Android devices can be done in 10 to 30 minutes, if you know the nuances, and the main thing is to choose the right method depending on the amount of information and phone models.
In this article, we will discuss 5 ways to migrate, including the official Samsung Smart Switch and Mi Mover tools, as well as universal solutions through Google account, OTG cable and cloud services. Particular attention will be paid to hidden traps: why some files are not transferred, how to avoid loss of photo quality and what to do if the process is stalled. If you switch from Redmi Note 12 to Galaxy S23 Ultra or from POCO X5 to Galaxy A54, the instruction is suitable for any combination.
———
Preparation for transfer: what to do before the start
Before you start migrating, check the compatibility of the devices and prepare them for the process, which will eliminate errors such as a connection break or loss of data.
On Xiaomi, upgrade to the latest MIUI (current for 2020 and newer models). Outdated versions may not support modern transmission protocols. On Samsung, make sure that the latest version of One UI is installed, which guarantees the Smart Switch to work smoothly. Also make room on both devices: Galaxy should have at least 10-15% free space from the volume of data transferred.
———
2. Method 1: Smart Switch is the official tool from Samsung
Samsung Smart Switch is the most reliable solution for transferring data from Xiaomi to Galaxy. The program supports the transfer of contacts, messages, photos, videos, music, notes, calendars and even some applications (if they are compatible with Samsung), the main advantage is the preservation of folder structure and metadata (for example, the date of creation of photos).
To use Smart Switch, download the app on both phones:
- 📱 Xiaomi: Smart Switch (Google Play)
- 📱 On Samsung: the app is preinstalled (if not, download from the Galaxy Store)
Next, select the connection method:
- By cable: Use the original USB-C cable (or adapter if the ports are different) and it is faster and more stable.
- Wi-Fi: Both phones must be connected to the same network, suitable for small amounts of data (up to 5 GB).
———
Download Smart Switch on both phones
Connect both devices to charging (battery > 50%)
Select the method of connection (cable)/Wi-Fi)
Close all background applications
Turn off the power saving mode-->
3. Method 2: Mi Mover – an alternative from Xiaomi
Xiaomi offers its migration solution, the Mi Mover app, which is less well known but works well when transferring data to devices from other brands, including Samsung, and the main difference from Smart Switch is that it supports applications and their data (for example, saves in games or settings for instant messengers).
How to use Mi Mover:
- Download the app to both phones from Google Play.
- On Xiaomi, select Send Data, on Samsung, Receive Data.
- Connect via Wi-Fi Direct (a local area network is automatically created).
- Select data categories to transfer and wait for completion.
⚠️
Note: Mi Mover does not transfer SMS and call logs to non-Xiaomi devices. For this data, use Smart Switch or backup via Google.
———
| Criteria | Smart Switch | Mi Mover |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer speed | ⚡ Quick (cable: up to 1 GB/min) | 🐢 Slower (Wi-Fi: ~200 MB/min) |
| Support for applications | ❌ Only APK-file | ✅ Application data (partially) |
| SMS and calls | ✅ Full support | ❌ Not tolerating.-Xiaomi |
| Internet is required | ❌ No (except Wi-Fi) | ❌ No. |
Method 3: Transfer through a Google account (for contacts, calendars, mail)
If you only need to transfer contacts, calendars, notes and email, the easiest way is to sync through a Google account, which requires no additional applications and works on any Android device.
Instructions:
- On Xiaomi go to Settings → Accounts → Google.
- Enable synchronization for Contacts, Calendar and Gmail.
- On Samsung, add the same Google account to Settings → Accounts.
- Wait for automatic synchronization (can take up to 10 minutes).
⚠️
Note: This method does not transfer photos, videos and messages. For multimedia use Google Photos (automatic download) or other cloud services.
———
How to transfer passwords from Xiaomi to Samsung?
5. Method 4: Transfer photos and videos over an OTG cable or cloud
If you only need to migrate media (photos, videos, music), the easiest way to do this is to use an OTG cable or cloud services, which is suitable if other methods have not worked or you want to select specific files.
Option 1: OTG cable + file manager
- Connect Xiaomi to Samsung via OTG-Adapter (if the ports are different).
- On Samsung, open My File (or any file manager)
- Copy files from DCIM, Pictures, Download folders on Xiaomi into similar folders on Samsung.
Option 2: Cloud services
- 🌥️ Google Photos: Automatically uploads photos/videos in original quality (if you enable Backup in settings).
- ☁️ Yandex.Disk or Dropbox: upload files to Xiaomi, then download to Samsung.
⚠️
Note: When using Google Photos in resolution above 16 MP and 4K video will be compressed to 1080p if you have a free account. To avoid loss of quality, use the OTG cable or paid Google One tariff.
Method 5: Manual transfer of messages and calls
If the Smart Switch could not be moved SMS And call logs, use specialized applications, SMS Backup & Restore saves messages to the XML-A file that can then be restored to Samsung.
Step-by-step:
- Download Backup & Restore SMS on both phones.
- On Xiaomi, click Backup and save the file to Google Drive or locally.
- Transfer the file to Samsung (via cloud or cable).
- On Samsung, click Restore and select the saved file.
Call Logs Backup & Restore (similar to the principle of operation) is suitable for the call log.
———
💡
If transferred contacts are not displayed on Samsung, check your sync settings: go to Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Sync contacts and select your Google account.
7. Frequent problems and their solutions
Even when you follow instructions, you can get errors, and here are the most common ways to fix them:
Problem 1: Smart Switch doesn’t see Xiaomi
- 🔌 Check the cable: use the original USB-C (cheap-to-cheap Chinese).
- 🔄 Reboot both phones and reconnect.
- 📶 Turn it off. VPN Firewalls (they can block the connection).
Problem 2: Some photos/videos are not tolerated
- 📁 Check the file format: Samsung may not support rare extensions (like iPhone.heic).
- 🗑️ Remove duplicates: Sometimes duplicate files are ignored.
- 🔧 Use an alternative method (e.g. Google Photos).
Issue 3: The transfer process is stalled
- ⏳ Wait 10-15 minutes: with a large amount of data (50 minutes)+ GB) the process may appear frozen.
- 🔋 Make sure that both phones are charged. > 30% (at low charge, transmission may be interrupted).
- 📡 Switch from Wi-Fi to cable (or vice versa).
———
💡
If neither method worked, try resetting your settings to Samsung (before first turning on).This often solves compatibility issues with Xiaomi, but will delete all data on the new phone.