How to Move Data from Samsung to Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Comparing All Ways

Switching from Samsung Galaxy to Xiaomi Redmi/POCO is not just about changing your brand, it's also about migrating all your data, from contacts to call history, which many users fear is losing important information or spending hours manually setting up. In fact, it can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour to transfer data between Android devices from different manufacturers, depending on the method chosen and the amount of information you use.

In this article, we will look at 5 proven ways to transfer data, including the official Samsung Smart Switch and Xiaomi Mi Mover tools, Google cloud services, and manual methods through cable and memory card. Particular attention will be paid to transferring messages from Samsung Messages to Mi Messages - this is the most problematic stage, which often requires additional actions, you will learn which method is faster, which is more reliable, and how to avoid typical errors during migration.

1. Preparation of devices before data perenos

Before you start the transfer, you need to follow a few critical steps on both smartphones, skipping either of them can cause crashes or incomplete data migration.

On Samsung:

• 🔋 Charge your phone to at least 50% – it can take up to 40 minutes with a lot of data.
• 📁 Release me. 1-2 GB of memory – temporary migration files take up additional space.
• 🔒 Make sure there's no phone on it. PIN-code or pattern lock during transfer (you can temporarily disable).
• 📱 Update Samsung Smart Switch to the latest version via Galaxy Store.

On Xiaomi:

• 📦 Reset your phone to factory settings (Settings) → The phone. → Resetting if it's new, it'll save you from data conflicts.
• 🔌 Connect to stable Wi-Fi – Cloud-based methods require fast internet.
• 📲 Install Mi Mover from the Mi App Store (if it is not in the default firmware).

⚠️ Note: If your Samsung has enabled data encryption (Settings) → Security → Encryption, some portability techniques may not work. In this case, use a cloud backup via Google Drive.

Method 1: Smart Switch + Mi Mover (official method)

This is the most reliable way, recommended by both manufacturers, which allows you to migrate contacts, messages, photos, videos, music, calendars, and even some application settings, but there are nuances: not all data migrates correctly (for example, Samsung Notes notes will not be transferred to Mi Notes).

Step-by-step:

1. On Samsung, open the Smart Switch and select Send Data → Wireless.
2. On Xiaomi, run Mi Mover and select I Recipient → Android.
3. Samsung will appear on the show QR-Code – scan it with Xiaomi camera.
4. Select data types to transfer (we recommend that you leave all ticks except the "Application" - they may conflict).
5. Wait until the process is complete (it can take up to 30 minutes for 30+GB of data).

⚠️ Warning: If the process is stuck in the Preparation phase for more than 10 minutes, restart both applications and try again. This is a typical error with a large amount of media files.

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If the Smart Switch doesn’t see Xiaomi over Wi-Fi, try connecting via an OTG cable (you need a USB-C → USB-C adapter).

Method 2: Transfer through a Google account (cloud backup)

This is a good way to do it if you already have a Google account synced on Samsung, with the advantage of being stored in the cloud and can be restored on any Android device, and the disadvantage of not all types of data being synced automatically (e.g., messages and notes need to be backed separately).

What is automatically transferred:

• 📇 Contacts (via Google Contacts)
• 📅 Calendars (Google Calendar)
• 📎 Google Keep (if you have used it)
• 📷 Photo and video (if Google Photos with Autoload were enabled)
• 🎮 Data from some games (via Google Play Games)

Instructions:

1. On Samsung, check that sync is enabled: Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync.
2. Start manual sync by clicking "Sync Now".
3. On Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select “Recover Data” and log in to the same Google account.
4. Select your Samsung backup (it will be marked by the last sync date).

The downside is that there's a limit to data, and Google Photos, which is free, compresses photos down to 16 megapixels, and Google Drive only gives you 15 GB of space, and if you have more data, you'll have to pay for the expansion or use alternative methods.

Method 3: Transfer over OTG cable (for large data volumes)

If you have more than 50GB of data (like a collection of RAW photos or 4K videos), wireless methods will be too slow or not at all, in which case the optimal use of a direct connection via an OTG cable (you need a USB-C → USB-C or USB-C → MicroUSB adapter, depending on the Samsung model).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Samsung to Xiaomi via OTG-adapter.
2. On Xiaomi, select File Transfer (MTP) mode in the Connection Notification.
3. Open Explorer on Xiaomi and copy the desired folders: DCIM (Photo/video) Downloads (downloads) Documents (documents) WhatsApp/Media (media)
4. To transfer contacts and SMS, export them to: Contacts: Contacts → Settings → Export / Import → Export to.vcf SMS: use SMS Backup & Restore (as in the spoiler above)

Cable transmission speeds reach 40-60 MB/s (versus 5-10 MB/s over Wi-Fi), which is 5-10 times faster than wireless methods, but there is a risk of losing folder structure if you don't copy them manually.

⚠️ Warning: Don't turn off the cable while copying - this can cause file damage.If Xiaomi doesn't see Samsung as a drive, try another one OTG-Adapter (cheap Chinese adapters often don't support) MTP-protocol).

5. Method 4: Transfer over a memory card (for phones with a microSD slot)

If both your phones support microSD (such as the Samsung Galaxy A52 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 11), this method will be the easiest and most reliable, the main advantage is that there is no dependence on the Internet or cables, and the speed is limited only by the class of the memory card (UHS-I provides up to 90 MB / s).

Instructions:

1. Insert the memory card into Samsung and copy all the necessary data to it through My file.
2. Remove the card and paste it into Xiaomi.
3. In Explorer on Xiaomi, select Internal Memory → Copy and transfer files from the card.
4. For contacts and SMS Use Export to Files (as in the Method with the OTG-cable).

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Memory card is the only method that works even on phones with a broken screen (if the sensor is partially functional).

Method 5: Third-Party Applications (for Advanced Users)

If standard methods don't work (e.g., you need to migrate data from a particular application or system settings), you can use specialized utilities. We tested 3 of the most reliable solutions:

Xiaomi’s Clone Phone is the Mi Mover equivalent, but with more brands in it, it can even carry a call history that many competitors can’t. Send Anywhere is convenient for transferring large files without registering, and Titanium Backup saves you if you need to migrate application data (for example, save in games), but requires root rights.

⚠️ Note: When using Titanium Backup on Xiaomi with firmware MIUI 14+ You may have problems restoring system applications, but only user data can be backed up.

Typical problems and their solutions

Even when following the instructions, users often encounter errors, and we have compiled the TOP-5 problems and ways to solve them:

1. Smart Switch doesn’t see Xiaomi over Wi-Fi: 🔄 Restart Wi-Fi on both phones. 📶 Connect to 2.4 GHz network (5 GHz may not be supported). 🔌 Use the cable. OTG instead of Wi-Fi.

No messages from Samsung Messages are transferred

Solution: Use SMS Backup & Restore (instruction in spoiler above).

Xiaomi does not see a memory card from Samsung

Solution: Format the card in exFAT on your PC before use.

Applications are not restored after transfer

Solution: Manually install APK via Explorer on Xiaomi.

Photos moved but not displayed in the Gallery

Solution: Restart the Gallery app or clear its cache in Settings → Apps.

If none of the methods worked, try resetting your network settings to Xiaomi (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Network resetting. This often solves connection problems.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions