How to transfer data from one Android to another: Samsung → Xiaomi and vice versa

The transition to a new smartphone is always exciting, especially when it comes to changing the ecosystem from Samsung to Xiaomi or vice versa. Even within the same Android operating system, data transfer can turn into a headache. Somewhere the contacts were gone, someplace the app settings were blown up, and the photos were in low resolution. UI Samsung and MIUI/HyperOS Xiaomi, but also in the nuances of synchronization of accounts, backup formats and even in hardware limitations.

This article will help you avoid errors and choose the best way to transfer depending on your situation, we will analyze 5 working methods – from standard Google tools to specialized manufacturers’ utilities – and also tell you how to recover data if something went wrong. The focus is on cross-platform porting between Samsung and Xiaomi, where compatibility issues are most common. All instructions are relevant for Android 10-14 devices, including the latest flagships like the Galaxy. S24 Ultra and Xiaomi 14 Pro.

1.Preparation for transfer: what to do before the beginning

Before you rush to copy files, make sure both devices are ready for the procedure.Neglecting this stage is the main cause of data loss or malfunction of the new smartphone.

On the old phone (data source):

• 🔋 Charge the battery to at least 50% – transfer can take from 10 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of data.
• 📶 Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (or use mobile Internet with unlimited rates).
• 🔄 Update all apps you plan to port to the latest versions – this minimizes the risk of conflict.
• 🗑️ Delete unnecessary files (cache, duplicate photos, old ones) APK) using built-in tools (Settings) → Warehouse).

On the new phone (receiver):

• 📱 Go through the initial setup before the request to transfer data (do not miss this step!).
• 🔐 Turn off the screen lock (PIN, pattern lock) at the time of transfer – some methods require this.
• 📦 Make sure that the device has enough free space (at least 20% more than the amount of data transferred).

⚠️ Note: If you transfer data from Samsung to Xiaomi and use Samsung Knox to encrypt your work files, you will have to decrypt them first, otherwise the files will be transferred, but you will not be able to open them on Xiaomi.

2. Method 1: Smart Switch (for transferring from Samsung to Xiaomi or other Android)

Samsung Smart Switch is the official solution from Samsung, which can transfer not only media files, but also SMS, Call logs, app settings, and even some game data. But with Xiaomi (and others, not the same thing).-Samsung devices) not all functions.

What can you transfer from Samsung to Xiaomi via Smart Switch:

• 📸 Photo and video (in original resolution).
• 📞 Contacts, call log, SMS/MMS.
• 📁 Documents (PDF, DOCX, XLSX etc.).
• 🎵 Music and melodies (except for DRM-secure files).

What won't happen:

• ❌ Apps (only their data if the app is already installed on Xiaomi).
• ❌ System settings (wallpaper, sound circuits, gestures).
• ❌ Data from some proprietary applications (e.g. Samsung Health or Samsung Notes).

Step-by-step:

1. Download Smart Switch to both devices: For Samsung: preinstalled or available in the Galaxy Store. For Xiaomi: download from Google Play.

Samsung

Send data → Wireless.

Xiaomi

Get data → Android

Wi-Fi Direct

Select data types to transfer and confirm the start of the process.

Download Smart Switch to both devices|

Disable VPNs and firewalls |

Connect to one Wi-Fi network|

Close all background applications-->

⚠️ Warning: If you see a “Disconnected” error when transferring via Smart Switch, try restarting both devices and turning off the power saving mode. MIUI Optimization on Xiaomi background activity of the application (setting in Settings) → Special facilities → MIUI Optimization).

3. Method 2: Mi Mover (to be ported to Xiaomi from any Android)

Mi Mover – the analogue of Xiaomi’s Smart Switch, optimized for data transfer to devices with a mobile device MIUI Unlike Samsung, it works better on porting applications (including APK-files, but it is worse with multimedia.

Features of the Mi Mover:

• 🔄 It works on Wi-Fi Direct (does not require internet).
• 📦 Transferred APK-Application files (sets them automatically).
• 📱 Supports portability from iOS, but for Android functionality is wider.
• ⚠️ Does not transfer data of some system applications (for example, Google Pay or Samsung Pay).

Instructions for transfer:

1. On Xiaomi (new phone) when you first turn on, select Data Transfer → Android.
2. Download Mi Mover from Google Play on your old phone.
3. Run the app on both devices and select I sender (old phone) and I receiver (Xiaomi).
4. Scan it. QR-Xiaomi screen code on an old phone.
5. Select the data to transfer and wait for completion.

Advantages of Mi Mover over Smart Switch:

• ✅ Transfers installed applications (including their data).
• ✅ Stores lock screen settings (wallpaper, widgets).
• ✅ It works faster with a lot of data (optimized for Xiaomi).

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Cannot handle account settings (you will have to log in again).
• ❌ Maybe miss some. SMS multimedia.

4. Method 3: Google Account (universal but limited)

Syncing through Google Account is the most versatile way, but it only works for basic data: contacts, calendars, notes and some settings. Multimedia and apps will have to be moved separately.

What is synchronized automatically:

• 📇 Contacts (via Google Contacts).
• 📅 Calendars (Google Calendar).
• 📝 Notes (Google Keep).
• 🌐 Bookmarks and browser history (Chrome).
• 📍 Google Maps data (saved places, travel history).

How to set up synchronization:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Accounts → Google.
2. Select your account and enable sync for all the categories you want.
3. Press Sync now.
4. On the new phone, log in to the same Google account and wait for the sync to complete.

💡

If contacts are not synced, check if they are duplicated in multiple accounts (e.g. Google and Samsung).

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Photos and videos are not automatically synced (you need to use Google Photos separately).
• ❌ SMS and call logs are not carried.
• ❌ Application settings (e.g., game progress) are lost.

⚠️ Note: If you have used two-factor authentication (2FA) In apps, moving over Google Account won't save those settings. You'll have to reconfigure. 2FA in every service (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram or banking applications).

Method 4: Manual transfer via cable OTG computer

If wireless methods don’t work or you need to transfer a lot of data (e.g. 100)+ GB photos and videos, the best option is manual cable transfer, which is the most reliable, but it takes longer.

You'll need:

• 🔌 Cable USB-C → USB-C (Adapters, if the ports are different).
• 💻 Computer (optional, but convenient for file sorting).
• 📁 flash drive or external SSD (if the data is more than 256 GB).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old phone to your computer via cable.
2. Select File Transfer Mode (MTP).
3. Copy the right folders: DCIM (Photo/video) Download (downloads) Pictures (images from apps) WhatsApp/Media (WhatsApp media) Android/data (Application data, if necessary)
4. Turn off the old phone and connect the new one.
5. Transfer the copied files to the corresponding folders on the new device.

For transfer without computer:

• Use it. OTG-adapter.
• Copy the data from the old phone to the flash drive, then paste it into the new one.
• For convenience, use a file manager (e.g. Files by Google or Mi File Manager).

💡

Manual transfer is the only way to save the original folder structure and metadata of files (date of creation, geotagged, etc.).

Method 5: Cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud, Samsung Cloud)

Cloud storage is convenient for transferring small amounts of data (up to 15-20 GB) or if the devices are located in different places, but each service has limitations:

Google Drive:

• 📁 Free - 15 GB.
• 🔄 You can back up your entire phone (Settings) → System system → Backup).
• ⚠️ Recovery is possible only on a new phone at the first setup.

Mi Cloud (for Xiaomi):

• 📁 Free - 5 GB (expands to 100 GB for 200 rubles / month).
• 🔄 Keeps it. SMS, Contacts, settings, notes.
• ❌ Does not tolerate applications and their data.

Samsung Cloud:

• 📁 Free - 15 GB.
• 🔄 Stores Samsung Application Data (Notes, Health, Reminder).
• ⚠️ When migrating to Xiaomi, many data will be unavailable.

How to transfer data via Google Drive:

1. On your old phone, open Google Drive.
2. Press. ⋮ → Settings → Backup.
3. Select the data to copy and click Create a copy.
4. On the new phone, when you set up, select Restore from backup and log in to the same account.

⚠️ Note: If you use Samsung Cloud to migrate to Xiaomi, download the backup to your computer in.sbk format and then extract the data using Samsung Smart Switch for PC. Otherwise, the files will not be available.

7. Transfer of specific data: WhatsApp, Telegram, games

Some applications require a separate approach to portability, and let's look at the most popular ones:

WhatsApp:

• 📱 Use the built-in Backup function in Google Drive (Settings) → chat → Backup copy).
• ⚠️ Make sure the new phone uses the same number and Google account.
• ❌ Samsung and Xiaomi could take up to 24 hours to move due to encryption difference.

Telegram:

• ☁️ All chats and media are stored in the cloud – just log in to your account on your new phone.
• 📁 To transfer local files (uploaded to the device), use the manual method.

Games (e.g. Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile)

• 🎮 Most games are linked to an account (Google Play Games, Mi Account, Facebook).
• ⚠️ To transfer saves to some games (such as Stardew Valley) you will need to manually copy the folder. Android/obb.

8. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions, you can have problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If none of the methods worked:

• 🔧 Check if the antivirus is blocking data transmission.
• 📡 Try transferring over a local area network (for example, using LocalSend or Snapdrop).
• 📞 Contact the manufacturer (for Samsung – Samsung website, for Xiaomi – Mi Service).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions