The transition from Xiaomi to Samsung Galaxy is not just about changing the brand, but also migrating all the important data: contacts, photos, messages and even app settings. Many users fear losing valuable information or spending hours manually transferring files.
In this article, we will look at 5 proven ways to transfer data, from official Samsung Smart Switch and Mi Mover utilities to cloud services and manual copying. You will learn how to avoid typical errors (for example, losing WhatsApp chat history), which file formats are best used for seamless migration, and how to check the integrity of copied data.
Whether you are switching from Redmi Note 12 to Galaxy S23 Ultra or with POCO X5 Galaxy A54, The instructions below are suitable for any model, and the main thing is to prepare both devices in advance and choose the best method depending on the amount of data and the speed of the Internet connection.
1. Preparation of devices before data transfer
Before migrating, there are several critical steps to follow on both smartphones, and neglecting preparation can lead to data loss, slow transmission, or even disruptions to new devices.
On Xiaomi:
- 📱 Update your firmware to the latest version through Settings → The phone. → System updates, which will eliminate any bugs in the Mi Mover.
- 🔋 Charge the battery to at least 50% – the transfer process can take from 20 minutes to 2 hours.
- 🧹 Clear the app cache in Settings → Annexes → Manage applications to avoid transferring unnecessary temporary files.
- 🔒 Make sure that the device is not locked from PCBs (if you bought used.
On the Samsung Galaxy:
- 📦 Install the latest version of Samsung Smart Switch from the Galaxy Store (not from Google Play!).The built-in version may be outdated.
- 📡 Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (if you plan to wirelessly transfer) Mobile Internet is not suitable due to traffic restrictions.
- 🔄 Reset network settings in Settings → General. → Reset → Reset network settings if you have previously had connection problems.
Important: if data encryption is enabled on Xiaomi (checked in Settings) → Additionally. → Encryption and accounts, it needs to be temporarily disabled, otherwise the Smart Switch will not be able to read some files.
⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi with custom firmware (like LineageOS), the official port methods may not work, in which case manual copying via PC or cloud will be a priority.
2. Method 1: Samsung Smart Switch (recommended method)
Samsung Smart Switch is a proprietary solution from Samsung, optimized for transferring data from devices to Android (including Xiaomi).
- 📞 Contacts, call logs and SMS/MMS
- 📷 Photos, video and audio files
- 📱 Applications (including some of them, such as WhatsApp)
- 📅 Calendars and Notes (if synced to your Google account)
Step-by-step:
- Download Smart Switch to Xiaomi from Google Play (or from the official Samsung website).
- Run the app on both devices. On Samsung, select Receive data → Android, to Xiaomi - Send data.
- Connect your smartphones with a cable USB-C → USB-C (Or through an adapter if the ports are different, and using the original cable from Samsung will speed up the process.
- On Xiaomi, allow access to files and confirm transfer. On Samsung, select data types to transfer.
- Wait until the process is complete. Don't interrupt the connection even if the Xiaomi screen goes out (this is normal).
Both devices are connected to charging|The latest version of Smart Switch is installed on Samsung|On Xiaomi, encryption is disabled|Used by the original USB-cable-->
The speed of transmission depends on the amount of data:
| Data volume | Approximate time (cable) | Approximate time (Wi-Fi) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 10GB | 10-20 minutes | 30-50 minutes |
| 10 GB-50 GB | 30-60 minutes | 1.5-hours--2 hours |
| 50–100 GB | 1-1.5 hours | 3+ hour |
⚠️ Note: If photos in the gallery are not displayed after transferring to Samsung, go to Settings → Caring for the device → Memory. → Three points. → Settings → Sometimes Smart Switch saves media to the.SmartSwitch folder.
Method 2: Mi Mover (official solution from Xiaomi)
Mi Mover is a built-in utility in Xiaomi smartphones designed to migrate data to other devices, and unlike Smart Switch, it works better with system settings and data from Xiaomi applications (such as Mi Fit or Mi Home).
- ❌ Does not transfer some application data (for example, WhatsApp or Viber).
- ❌ It may not work properly with Samsung based on Android 13+.
- ✅ But it's a great copy. SMS, Call logs and contact without loss.
Instructions for use:
- On Xiaomi go to Settings → Memory. → Mi Mover (or search through the settings).
- Select I sender and connect to Xiaomi’s access point with Samsung.
- On Samsung, download Mi Mover from Google Play and select “I’m the Recipient.”
- Confirm the connection and select the data to transfer. Start the process.
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If the Mi Mover can’t see Samsung, try turning it off. VPN Or firewall on both devices, and check that Xiaomi has developer mode and debugging enabled. USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI, tap 7 times).
After completion, check:
- 📎 Contacts in the Google Contacts app (they must be duplicated in your Google account).
- 💬 SMS In the standard application Messages on Samsung.
- 📁 Files in the MiMover folder in internal memory.
Method 3: Transfer through Google Account (for contacts, calendars and mail)
If you only need to transfer contacts, calendars, notes and email, the most reliable way is to sync through Google Account, which requires no additional applications and works even when you change the operating system (for example, from Android to iOS).
How to set up synchronization:
- On Xiaomi go to Settings → Google accounts → Synchronization of the account.
- Make sure the switches for Contact, Calendar and Gmail are on.
- Press More. → Synchronize now.
- On Samsung, add the same Google Account and wait for automatic sync.
Advantages of the method:
- ☁️ Data is stored in the cloud and is available on any device.
- 🔄 Automatic updates when changes are made (e.g. new contacts).
- 🛡️ Protection against data loss when resetting a smartphone.
What to do if your contacts are not synchronized?
Limitations:
- ❌ Not tolerated. SMS, photos and applications.
- ❌ If the contacts are stored in Xiaomi’s local memory (not Google’s), they must be exported first.
5. Method 4: Manual copying via PC (for large amounts of data)
If you have more than 100GB of data, or if you want to selectively migrate files, the best option is to use a computer, which takes longer, but gives you complete control over the process.
Tools required:
- 🖥️ PC or laptop Windows/macOS/Linux.
- 🔌 Two. USB-cables (preferably original).
- 📂 Copyware (e.g., Total Commander or Standard Explorer).
Step-by-step:
- Connect Xiaomi to PC in File Transfer mode (MTP) (When you request a phone, select this option).
- Copy the right folders from Xiaomi’s internal memory on your PC: DCIM (Photos and videos) Downloads (downloads) Pictures (social media images), WhatsApp (backup chats) Music (audio files)
- Turn off Xiaomi and connect Samsung in the same mode.
- Move the copied folders to Samsung’s internal memory (or to a memory card if installed).
- For apps (such as WhatsApp) copy the folder further. /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases and restore the backup through the app.
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When manually copying, do not change the folder structure (for example, photos should remain in the folder). DCIM/Camera). Otherwise, the gallery on Samsung may not recognize the files.
Tips for speeding up the process:
- 🚀 Use it. USB 3.0 and ports on PC (usually blue).
- 📦 Archive folders to.zip before copying (reduce transfer time).
- 🔍 Check the copied files on your PC before transferring to Samsung.
Method 5: Cloud Services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud, Samsung Cloud)
If you don't have access to a PC or cable, you can use cloud storage, which is a method that can transfer photos, documents and some settings, but is inefficient for large amounts of data because of traffic and speed constraints.
Comparison of services:
| Service | Free seat | Max, loading speed. | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Drive | 15GB | ~10 Mbps | Photos, documents, contacts |
| Mi Cloud | 5GB | ~5 Mbps | Contacts, SMS, notes |
| Samsung Cloud | 15GB | ~15 Mbps | Photos, calendars, settings |
Instructions for Google Drive:
- On Xiaomi, install Google Drive and log in.
- Upload files to the cloud via + → Download.
- On Samsung, download files through the same app.
For Mi Cloud:
- On Xiaomi, go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
- Enable synchronization for the desired data (contacts, SMS, gallery).
- On Samsung, log into your Mi Account via your browser (i.mi.com) and download the data.
⚠️ Note: When using Mi Cloud to transfer photos, they will be compressed to resolution 2048×2048 (even if the originals in 4K). To maintain quality, use Google Photos in the "Original Quality" mode".
7. Transfer of specific data (WhatsApp, Telegram, games)
Some applications require special attention when migrating, because their data is not carried by standard methods.
WhatsApp:
- 📱 On Xiaomi, create a backup: WhatsApp settings → chat → Backup copy.
- 🔄 Copy the folder. /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases on PC (as in the Method) 4).
- 📲 Install WhatsApp on Samsung, confirm the number and wait for the offer to restore chats.
Telegram:
- ☁️ All chats and media are automatically synced to the Telegram cloud, and install the app on Samsung and log in to the same account.
- 📁 For local files (uploaded to "Saved Messages"), copy the folder /Telegram/Telegram Images.
Games (e.g. Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile)
- 🎮 Most games are tied to a Google Play account, Mi Account or Facebook. Sign in to Samsung and progress will pick up automatically.
- 💾 For offline games, copy folders with saves (usually in the /Android/data/ or /Android/obb/).
How to transfer saves to Genshin Impact?
8. Checking data after transfer and troubleshooting problems
Once the migration is complete, be sure to check the integrity of the data on the Samsung Galaxy.Frequent issues and their solutions:
Problem 1: Not all photos are displayed in the gallery.
- 🔍 Check the folder. DCIM/.thumbnails — Sometimes the miniatures are not updated.
- 🔄 Restart your device or use Samsung’s Gallery Doctor app.
Problem 2: Contacts are duplicated.
- 📇 Open Google Contacts, click Control → Connecting contacts.
- 🗑️ Remove unnecessary accounts in Settings → Accounts (e.g., Mi Account doubles).
Problem 3: Apps have not recovered.
- 📥 Go to Google Play. → Library → Installed and click "Update all".
- 🔧 If apps aren’t showing up, check that Google Play sync is enabled on Samsung.
Problem 4: WhatsApp is not restoring chats.
- 📂 Make sure the file is msgstore.db.crypt14 copied /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases.
- 🔑 Reinstall WhatsApp and wait for the offer to restore the backup.
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If Samsung is slowing down after the transfer, check Settings. → Caring for the device → Memory. Maybe the system indexes new files -- that's normal in the first hours after the migration.