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

Why data transfer between Android devices of different brands is a separate task

The transition from Samsung Galaxy to Xiaomi Redmi, POCO or Mi seems simple: both devices run on Android, but in practice users face nuances. The fact is that manufacturers modify standard firmware to suit their needs: Samsung has a shell of One UI, Xiaomi has MIUI (or HyperOS in new models), these shells affect:

File storage structure: for example, the path to screenshots on Samsung is /Pictures/Screenshots, and on Xiaomi - /DCIM/Screenshots.

Backup format: Samsung Smart Switch creates files with the.spb extension that Xiaomi does not recognize.

Cloud Sync: Samsung Cloud and Mi Cloud are incompatible.

Xiaomi also restricts data transfer through standard Android tools for other brands’ shells, a marketing ploy to keep users in the Mi ecosystem. So universal solutions like Google Account or Bluetooth often run unstable. In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to take all of these features into account, from official utilities to workarounds for power users.

Method 1: Mi Mover – official solution from Xiaomi (does not work with all Samsung models)

Mi Mover is a built-in utility in Xiaomi smartphones designed to transfer data from other devices. It supports the transition from iPhone, Samsung, Huawei and other Android devices, but there are critical limitations:

• 📱 It only works for Xiaomi with MIUI 10 and newer (check the version in Settings) → The phone).
• 🔌 Requires original cable USB-C/USB-C (Adapter or adapter – cheap cables may not transmit data.
• 🚫 Does not tolerate applications and their data (only contacts, photos, videos, messages).
• ⚠️ On some Samsung models (e.g. Galaxy) S20+ You may need to disable Knox protection.

How to use:

1. On the new Xiaomi, open Settings → About Phone → Mi Mover (or search through the settings).
2. On Samsung, install the Mi Mover app from Google Play.
3. Connect both phones with a cable. On Xiaomi, select "I'm a new user," on Samsung, select "Send data."

⚠️ Note: If the process is stalled during the Preparation phase, check if Samsung is blocking transmission via Settings. → Biometrics and safety → Other security parameters → Install unknown applications. Allow Mi Mover to access the storage.

Charge of both phones > 50% | Original USB-C/USB-C cable | Power saving mode disabled | All file access requests allowed | Samsung has disabled Developer Mode (if enabled)

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Method 2: Samsung Smart Switch + workarounds for Xiaomi

Samsung Smart Switch is the native backup solution for Galaxy devices, and the problem is that Xiaomi can’t directly restore.spb backups.

Option A: Transfer over PC

1. Install Smart Switch on your computer (Windows/macOS).
2. Connect Samsung and back up (select the Unencrypted Archive format).
3. Unclose the.spb file with the SmartSwitch Backup Decoder (Python 3.8+ required).
4. Copy the extracted files (contacts in.vcf, photos in.jpg) to Xiaomi via cable or cloud.

Option B: Partial transfer via Google Account

• 📇 Contacts: Export them from Samsung Contacts to Google Contacts (Settings) → Contact management → Imports/exports).
• 📷 Photo/Video: Upload photos to Google with Samsung, then sync to Xiaomi.
• 💬 Messages: Use the app SMS Backup & Restore (saves to.xml, which reads Xiaomi).

⚠️ Note: If you used Secure Folder on Samsung, its content will not be transferred in any way. To save this data, first export it to the regular folder: Secure Folder → Settings → Archiving and unloading.

Method 3: Cloud services are universal, but not always convenient

Cloud storage (Google Drive, Yandex.Disk, Dropbox) is suitable for transferring media files and documents, but have limitations:

• 📁 Photos and videos: Optimally upload via Google Photos (up to 15 GB free) or Yandex.Disk (10 GB free).
• 🎵 Music: Services like Spotify or YouTube Music sync playlists, but not local tracks.
• 📄 Documents: Google Drive keeps formatting.docx/.xlsx, It can compress image quality in.ppt.
• ⚠️ Contact and SMS: Do not migrate through the cloud – use specialized applications.

Step-by-step instructions for Google Drive:

1. On Samsung, open Google Drive → ➕ → Download.
2. Select files (can be folders) and wait for the download.
3. On Xiaomi, log in to the same Google account and download files through the Files app.

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If you have a slow Internet connection, archive your files to.zip via RAR or ZArchiver before uploading to the cloud, which will reduce data volume by 20-40%.

For large volumes (for example, 100+ GB photos), it is better to use Yandex.Disk with the option “Photo Albums” – it does not compress image quality. The alternative is Mega (50 GB free), but it has a traffic limit (10 GB / day).

Method 4: Manual transfer via OTG cable or memory card

If you don't have access to Wi-Fi or the cloud, direct transmission over cable is the most reliable method.

• 🔌 Cable OTG (adapter USB-C → USB-A old Samsung).
• 📁 File Manager (e.g. Solid Explorer or Embedded Files on Xiaomi).
• ⚡ Charge. > 30% on both devices.

Instructions:

1. Connect Samsung to Xiaomi via OTG-cable.
2. On Xiaomi, open the notification "USB-plug-in" → select "File Transfer".
3. In the file manager, go to /storage/emulated/0/ (Samsung’s internal memory) and copy the folders you need: DCIM – Photos and Video Pictures – Screenshots and Downloads – Downloads – Downloaded Documents files – Documents
4. Insert files into Xiaomi’s internal memory (e.g. /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Camera).

⚠️ Note: Do not copy the entire Android folder – this can disrupt the system applications on Xiaomi. Instead, only port subfolders with game data (for example, Android/obb), if you need them.

Method 5: Transfer applications and their data (for power users)

Standard methods do not tolerate installed applications and their data (for example, progress in games, settings of messengers).

Option A: Titanum Backup (requires root rights)

• 🛠️ Install Titanium Backup on Samsung (available for rooted devices only).
• 📦 Create a backup of the required applications (backup copies) → Package action → Backup of all user applications).
• 🔄 Transfer the Titanium Backup file to Xiaomi (via cable or cloud).
• 🔧 Install Titanium Backup on Xiaomi (also root) and recover data.

Option B: ADB Backup (without root but with limitations)

1. On Samsung, turn on Developer Mode (Settings → About Phone → Assembly Number → tap 7 times).
2. Enable USB debugging in Settings → System → For developers.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, open Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux) and run: adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f C:\backup.ab
4. On Xiaomi, repeat steps 1–2, then recover the data: adb restore C:\backup.ab

⚠️ Note: When transferring data from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) through ADB Or Titanium Backup can be de-logged due to a change of device. To avoid this, before transfer: On WhatsApp: back up chats in Settings → chat → Backup. Telegram: export data through Settings → Additionally. → Chat data export.

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Rootless application porting is possible, but does not guarantee performance on a new device. Many programs (such as banking) are hardware-bound and may require re-authorization.

What to do if the data is not moved or damaged

Even if you follow the instructions, you might have problems. Let's look at typical scenarios and solutions.

Problem 1: Photos moved, but not displayed in the Xiaomi Gallery

• 🔍 Check the folder. /DCIM/.thumbnails — Sometimes the miniatures are not automatically generated.
• 🔄 Restart your phone or update your gallery through Settings → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 📁 If the photo is in format.HEIC (iPhone, install HEIF Viewer from Google Play.

Problem 2: Contacts are duplicated or lost

• 📇 Open Contacts. → Settings → Contact management → Combine duplicates.
• 🔗 Check if your contacts are synced with your Google and Mi Account at the same time (disable one of the sources).
• 📤 Export contacts to.vcf and import them again.

Problem 3: Apps fly out after transfer

• 🔧 Clear the app's cache: Settings → Annexes → [Name of name] → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 🔄 Reinstall the app from Google Play (data can be saved if it’s in the cloud).
• 📱 Check Compatibility: Some apps (like Samsung Health) don’t work on Xiaomi.

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If Xiaomi is slowing down after the transfer, check the load on the processor through Settings → About Phone → System Status. Often the cause is background indexing of files - wait 1-2 hours or restart the device.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions