How to Move Data from Samsung to Xiaomi: A Complete 2026 Guide

The transition from Samsung to Xiaomi is not only a brand change, but also the migration of all personal data, from contacts to call history. Many users face the problem: how to save all information without losing a single byte? In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to transfer data, including official tools from Xiaomi and universal solutions.

The shift between these brands is different, with Samsung’s One UI and Xiaomi’s MIUI/HyperOS, which means that standard Android features (like Google Backup) may not work properly. We tested all methods on the Galaxy S23 Ultra and Xiaomi 14 Pro models — the results in the comparison table below.

Important: If you use a Samsung Knox corporate account, some data (such as work emails) may not be transferred due to security policies. IT-division.

1.The official way: Mi Mover by Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a Xiaomi-branded app that is installed by default on all new smartphones of the brand. It supports porting from most Android devices, including Samsung, but there are nuances:

• 📱 It only works when Xiaomi is first enabled (after setting up)
• 🔌 Requires cable. USB-C to USB-C (Adapter for older Samsung models with Micro-USB)
• ⚡ Transferring: Contacts, SMS, Photos, video, audio, calendar, notes
• ❌ Does not tolerate: applications, application data (for example, save in games), Wi-Fi passwords

How to use:

1. Enable the new Xiaomi and go to the “Data Transfer” stage in the setup wizard.
2. Select "Move from Android" → "Mi Mover (cable)".
3. Download Mi Mover from Google Play (if not available).
4. Connect your phones with a cable and follow the instructions on the screen.

Charging both phones > 50%|The same Wi-Fi network on both devices|Disabled. VPN firewalls|Free space on Xiaomi (at least 20% of the volume of data transferred)-->

⚠️ Note: If Samsung has enabled data encryption (Settings) → Biometrics and safety → Encryption), Mi Mover may not work well. We recommend temporarily disabling encryption before transferring it.

2. Transfer via Google account (for contacts, photos and apps)

The most versatile method, but with limitations. Google Backup is built into any Android smartphone and syncs:

• 📇 Contacts (via Google Contacts)
• 📅 Calendar (Google Calendar)
• 📸 Photo and video (via Google Photos if Autoupload is enabled)
• 📱 List of installed applications (but not their data!)

How to set up:

1. On Samsung, go to Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Archiving and Recovery → Google Data Archive.
2. Enable synchronization for the desired categories (contacts, calendar, Google Drive).
3. On Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select “Restore from backup” and log in to the same Google account.

⚠️ Note: If you used Samsung Cloud for backup, this data cannot be directly transferred to Xiaomi. First export it to Samsung to a local file (for example, contacts in.vcf), and then transfer to a new phone.

Official tools (Mi Mover, Smart Switch)|Cloud services (Google, Dropbox)|Manual transfer via cable/PC|I can't handle data, I can set it up from scratch.-->

3.Using Samsung Smart Switch (for full backup)

Smart Switch is Samsung's proprietary solution that creates a full backup of the device, but you can't transfer that data directly to Xiaomi.

1. Create a backup on Samsung: Connect Samsung to your PC via USB. Install Smart Switch for Windows/macOS. Select Backup and save the data to your computer.

Xiaomi

• Move the backup files (smartswitchback folder) to Xiaomi.
• Use third-party applications (such as Backup Extractor) to retrieve contacts, SMS, and media files.

The critical nuance is that the Smart Switch encrypts backups, and without official Samsung software, you can't open them on other devices. The only workaround is to extract files through a PC, but that requires technical skills.

4. Manual transfer via OTG or PC cable

If you only need to transfer photos, videos or documents, the most reliable way is to physically copy files.

• 🔗 Cable OTG: Connect the flash drive or external SSD To Samsung, copy files, then connect the drive to Xiaomi.
• 💻 Through PC: Connect both phones to your computer in File Transfer mode (MTP) And drag the data between the folders.
• 📁 Local area network: Use FTP-server (e.g. application) FX File Explorer for Wi-Fi transmission.

Where to look for files on Samsung:

• Photo/Video: /DCIM/Camera or /Pictures
• Download: /Download
• Documents: /Documents or /My Files
• Contacts: export to.vcf via Contacts → Contact Management → Import/Export

1. Connection mode on Samsung (Settings → Connections → USB → select File Transfer).

2. On Xiaomi in the notification curtain, click Charge via USB → File Transfer.

3. Try another cable (cheap cables often don't support data transmission).-->

5. Transfer of applications and their data (methods for advanced)

Standard methods do not tolerate installed applications and their data (for example, save in games or set up messengers).

• 🔄 Titanium Backup: Creates full backups of data applications. Only works on rooted devices.
• ☁️ Cloud syncs: Many apps (such as WhatsApp, Telegram) have built-in sync via account.
• 📦 APK + OBB: Download for games APK-file OBB (from /Android/obb) manually.

For WhatsApp:

1. On Samsung, back up to Settings → Chat → Backup.
2. Copy /sdcard/WhatsApp folder on Xiaomi (in the same location).
3. Install WhatsApp on Xiaomi and recover data when you first start up.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. banking or with) DRM-protection) prohibits the transfer of data to another device, in which case you will need to re-authorize.

6.Transfer data from a damaged Samsung

If your Samsung is not turning on or has a damaged screen but is responding to a PC connection, try:

• 🖥️ ADB-Commands: Connect the phone to the PC, turn on debugging USB (If you have previously been activated, use the commands: adb pull /sdcard/ PC path to copy files.
• 🔧 Recovery Mode: Download to Recovery (Power) + Volume Up and connect to PC in mode MTP (if maintained).
• 🛠️ Service Center: If data is critical, contact the service – they can extract information through the service JTAG memory-chip.

💡

If Samsung is not responding to the connection, but the screen is working, try turning on Debugging. USB In blind mode: press the Power + Volume Down for 10 seconds, then enter PIN-code (if requested) and press 7 times on the version MIUI in settings (analogue of the developer mode on Xiaomi).

Comparison of methods: what to choose?

The choice of method depends on the type of data and your technical skills:

• 📱 For beginners: Mi Mover (simple) or Google Backup (universal).
• 💻 For full control: Manual transfer via PC.
• 🔧 For the advanced: ADB Titanium Backup (requires root).
• 🚑 For damaged devices: Service center or JTAG.

If you need to transfer everything at once, combine the methods:

1. Contacts/calendars via Google.
2. Photos/video via cable or Google Photos.
3. SMS – via Mi Mover or SMS Backup & Restore.
4. Applications – manually or via APK.

FAQ: Frequent questions