Switching from Xiaomi to the Samsung Galaxy A52 is not just about changing your brand, it's also about migrating all your data, from contacts and photos to your phone history, and many users fear this process, thinking it will take hours or lead to loss of important information, and in fact, modern tools allow you to carry out the transfer in 15 to 30 minutes, with minimal effort.
In this article, we’ll look at 5 working ways to migrate data, from the official Samsung Smart Switch solution to manually copying through the cloud, and focus on the nuances that arise when you transition between the two brands: differences in backup formats, limitations on proprietary services (Mi Cloud vs Samsung Cloud), and ways to bypass common bugs. If you’ve unpacked the new Galaxy A52 and don’t know where to start, read on.
Preparation for transfer: what to do before the start
Before you start migrating, make sure that both devices are ready for the procedure, neglecting this step can lead to data loss or incomplete transfer.
- 📱 Charge both smartphones to at least 50%.Transfer data via cable or Wi-Fi consumes battery power, and interruption of the process due to discharge can damage files.
- 🔄 Update the software on Xiaomi and Galaxy A52 Outdated firmware may not support current transmission protocols.
- 📡 Connect to stable Wi-Fi (if you plan to use cloud services) Mobile Internet may not be able to withstand the transfer of large files (for example, video to video). 4K).
- 🔐 Make sure that on the Galaxy A52 Check the space available in the Settings section. → Caring for the device → Memory.
Pay special attention to unlocking the bootloader on Xiaomi if you have previously done it. Some portability methods (for example, through ADB) may not work on devices with unlocked bootloader due to Samsung security limitations. Also do not use the "Memory Cleanup" or "Optimize" features on the Galaxy A52 before the transfer is completed - they can delete temporary files necessary for sync.
⚠️ Note: If data encryption is enabled on Xiaomi (Settings section) → Additionally. → Encryption and credentials), some transfer methods (e.g., through OTG-In this case, use cloud services or Smart Switch.
2. Method 1: Smart Switch – the official solution from Samsung
Samsung Smart Switch is a proprietary data migration tool that supports porting from most Android devices, including Xiaomi. It copies not only media files, but also system settings, messages, call logs and even some application data (such as WhatsApp).
- Install Smart Switch on both devices: On the Galaxy A52: the app is pre-installed (find it in the menu or through search). On Xiaomi: download from Google Play.
- Connect the devices: 🔌 Cable: Use the original USB-C cable (complete with Galaxy) A52) and OTG-Adapter for Xiaomi, if it has a microUSB connector. 📶 On Wi-Fi: Select the Wireless option in Smart Switch and follow the instructions.
Select data for transfer
Advantages of Smart Switch:
- ✅ Transferred SMS/MMS Call logs (which Google does not do).
- ✅ Stores home screen markup (folders, widgets).
- ✅ Supports encrypted backups.
| Type of data | Is it transferred over Smart Switch? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts | ✅ Yes. | Including contact photos |
| Communications (SMS/MMS) | ✅ Yes. | Exception: messages from Mi Messages (branded messenger Xiaomi) |
| Photos and videos | ✅ Yes. | Transferred in original quality |
| Annexes | ⚠️ Partially. | Only APK-files without data (e.g. game saves will not be portable) |
| Wi-Fi settings | ✅ Yes. | Including passwords |
⚠️ Note: If Xiaomi has custom firmware installed (e.g. LineageOS), the Smart Switch may not recognize the device. In this case, use the methods in Section 4 (manual copying).
Download Smart Switch on Xiaomi| Charge both phones >50%| Connect to one Wi-Fi network (for wireless transfer)| Free up space on the Galaxy A52 (minimum 10GB)
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Method 3: Transfer through Google Account (for contacts, calendar and email)
If you only need to migrate contacts, calendar events, notes and email, the easiest way is to sync through Google Account, which requires no additional applications and works even on devices with an unlocked bootloader.
Instructions:
- On Xiaomi, go to Settings → Accounts → Google and enable sync for all the data you need (contacts, calendar, Gmail, etc.).
- Wait for the sync to complete (check in Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Management → Sync).
- On the Galaxy A52, add the same Google Account to Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Account Management.
- Turn on sync – the data will automatically be downloaded to the new phone.
Limitations of the method:
- ❌ Not transferable: messages, photos, music, documents.
- ❌ Not all apps support backup in Google Drive (e.g. Mi Fit or Xiaomi Community).
- ❌ Files from internal memory (such as downloads or screenshots) are not synced.
If you use a Mi Account to store contacts, pre-export them to the VCF-file:
- Open the Contacts app on Xiaomi.
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If the contacts are duplicated after sync, open on Galaxy A52 App Contacts, click ⋮ → Contact management → Join contacts and follow the tips.
Method 3: Manual file transfer via OTG cable or computer
If you only need to transfer media files, documents or APK-files, the easiest way to do this is by hand:
- 🔹 You don't have Wi-Fi access.
- 🔹 You do not want to use cloud services.
- 🔹 You need to transfer sample files (for example, only photos from the last year).
Option 1: via OTG cable
- Connect. OTG-Galaxy adapter A52 And insert a Xiaomi cable into it.
- On Xiaomi, select File Transfer (MTP) mode when you connect.
- On the Galaxy A52, open My File (or any file manager) and copy the files you want from Xiaomi’s memory.
Option 2: Computer-assisted
- Connect Xiaomi to your PC and copy files to a folder on your computer.
- Disable Xiaomi, plug in the Galaxy A52 and transfer files back.
What files should be transferred manually:
- 📁 DCIM/Camera — photo and video.
- 📁 Download – Downloaded files.
- 📁 Pictures/Screenshots — screenshot.
- 📁 Android/data — data from certain games (e.g, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact).
⚠️ Warning: Do not copy the folder Android/obb whole – some files may be linked to a particular device and not work on a Galaxy A52. Better to reinstall games via Google Play and download data again.
How do you move the game saves?
5. Method 4: Move over Mi Cloud and Samsung Cloud
If you’ve been using Mi Cloud on Xiaomi, you can transfer data through the cloud and then upload it to the Galaxy A52.
Step 1: Exporting data from Mi Cloud
- On Xiaomi, open Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
- Make sure that the data you need is synchronized (contacts, notes, photos).
- For photos: Open the Gallery, select albums and click Export (save to your device or Google Photos).
Step 2.Import on Galaxy A52
- 📧 Contact: Export them to the VCF-File (as described in method 2) and import to Samsung.
- 📷 Photo/video: Download them from Mi Cloud via your browser on your PC, then transfer them to Galaxy A52.
- 📝 Notes: Mi Cloud does not export notes to a universal format. copy text manually or use Google Keep to port.
Samsung Cloud does not support direct import from Mi Cloud, but you can:
- Download data from Mi Cloud to your PC.
- Sign in to Samsung Cloud via your browser (support.samsungcloud.com) and manually upload files.
| Type of data | Mi Cloud | Samsung Cloud | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | ⚠️ Requires export to VCF |
| Photo/video | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Direct download via browser |
| Notes | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | ❌ Incompatible formats |
| SMS | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No direct transfer. |
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Mi Cloud and Samsung Cloud are not directly compatible, and transferring data between them always requires an intermediate step (export to a PC or other cloud service).
6. Method 5: Transfer WhatsApp and other messengers
Messages from WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber are not transferred through Smart Switch or Google Account.
- On Xiaomi, back up chats: Open WhatsApp → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup. Click Create a copy (make sure the copy is saved to Google Drive).
Galaxy A52
Google Drive
Telegram
- 🔹 Cloud chats are automatically transferred when you log in to your account on a new device.
- 🔹 Local files (downloaded media) must be copied manually from the folder /Telegram/Telegram Images.
Viber
- On Xiaomi, open Viber → More → Settings → Account → Backup.
- Create a copy on Google Drive or in internal memory.
- On the Galaxy A52, install Viber, log in to your account and recover your data.
⚠️ Note: If you used Double WhatsApp on Xiaomi (app cloning feature), the second account backups are not saved to Google Drive. /sdcard/Android/media/com.whatsapp.w4b/Databases manually and restore it through the file manager on Galaxy A52.
7.Typical mistakes and how to avoid them
When migrating data from Xiaomi to the Samsung Galaxy A52, users often face the following problems:
- 🚫 "Smart Switch doesn’t see Xiaomi: Check if Debugging Mode is enabled USB on Xiaomi (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times click on the version, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB). Use the original Samsung cable – cheap analogues may not support data transfer.
- 🚫 "There is not enough space for the Galaxy A52": Remove unnecessary files from your new phone (e.g. pre-installed games) and transfer data in parts (contacts and messages first, then photos).
- 🚫 "Photos moved but not displayed in Gallery: Open My file on Galaxy A52 and check the folder. DCIM/Camera. If there are files but are not visible in the Gallery, restart the phone. delete the.nomedia file if it is in the folder (it hides media from the gallery scanner).
If the Smart Switch interrupts the transfer in half:
- Restart both devices.
- Repeat the process by selecting only the data that has not been copied.
- If the error is repeated, use an alternative method (e.g., manual copying via PC).
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If you lose your wallpaper or theme after you port to the Galaxy A52, close all apps and restart your phone. System settings are sometimes delayed.