How to transfer data from Samsung smartphone to Xiaomi

The changing ecosystem of Android smartphones always elicits mixed feelings: on the one hand, the novelty and functionality of Xiaomi is pleasing, and on the other hand, the prospect of a long and tedious setup is frightening. Many users postpone buying a new device precisely for fear of losing important contacts, photos or correspondence history during the migration process. However, modern technology allows you to carry out data transfer as quickly and without loss, if you know the right tools.

The process of switching from Samsung to Xiaomi (MIUI or HyperOS) has become much easier in recent years. Unlike switching between different operating systems, you don’t need complex file converters or paid services. The main task is to choose the right synchronization method that will be most convenient for your amount of information.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current portability options, from the built-in Mi Mover app to Google’s cloud services and manual transmission through your computer, and learn how to save folder structure, migrate Wi-Fi passwords, and even alarm clock settings so that your new smartphone becomes an extension of your old device, not someone else’s.

Preparing devices for data migration

Before any technical procedure, you need to conduct basic training of both smartphones. Make sure that both devices – both the old Samsung and the new Xiaomi – have a battery level of at least 50-60%. The process of transferring a large amount of data can be energy intensive, and suddenly turning off one of the devices will interrupt the operation.

It’s also critical to check for space: Xiaomi’s new device should have more free memory than the data archive on an old phone weighs, and if you’re planning to carry gigabytes of photos and videos, it’s better to make room in advance or use a memory card if the model supports expansion.

Be sure to connect both smartphones to the same Wi-Fi network. While some methods work through a direct connection of devices, a stable router will provide better transfer speeds, especially if you are outputting more than 10-20 GB of data.

Using the Mi Mover app to migrate fully

The most effective and native way for Xiaomi ecosystem is the Mi Mover utility.This app is pre-installed on most of the brand's new smartphones, but if it's not available, it can be downloaded for free from Google Play or GetApps. On a Samsung device, the app also needs to be installed from the store.

The startup process is as follows: on the new Xiaomi, open Settings → The phone. → Mi Mover or find an icon in the Tools folder. Select the role "I am the recipient." On the old Samsung, launch the app and select "I am the sender." Next scan. QR-code that will appear on the screen of the new phone so that devices can detect each other.

⚠️ Warning: During the Mi Mover connection process, phone screens may go out. Don't panic or try to unlock them until you see the data progress bar.

Once connected, you’ll see a list of data categories to port. Mi Mover allows you to selectively copy contacts, messages, calls, apps, images, music, and even system settings. The peculiarity of working with Samsung is that some system settings (such as those specific to One UI) may not be migrated, but the basic settings will be saved.

Transfer via Google account and cloud sync

If you don’t have a Wi-Fi router on hand or prefer cloud computing, syncing through a Google account is the perfect solution, especially for saving contacts, calendar, notes and passwords. On Samsung, go to Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Account Management → Google and make sure all the sync switches are active.

Once the old phone has announced sync is over, take the new Xiaomi. When you first turn on (or after you reset), enter the same Gmail address. The system will offer to restore data from the backup. An important nuance: applications will start downloading automatically, but their data (logins inside games, cache) may not be saved if the developer does not use cloud saves.

For photos and videos, Google Photos is the best option. Install the app on Samsung, turn on Autoboot and Sync and wait until the process is over. On Xiaomi, just log in to the same account in the Google Photos app, and your entire library will be instantly accessible without taking up space in internal memory.

Manual transfer of files through USB-cable

When it comes to transferring heavy files like 4K video, document archives or music collections, wireless methods can be too slow. In this case, the good old computer acts as a reliable intermediary. Connect Samsung to your PC with a cable and select the USB File Transfer (MTP) mode in the notification.

Copy the required folders (usually DCIM, Download, Music, Documents) to your computer's hard drive. Then turn off Samsung and plug in Xiaomi. Copy the data into the appropriate directories of the new phone. This method guarantees 100% file integrity and independence from Internet speed.

It is worth noting that when you manually transfer photos, the structure of the albums can get lost. To avoid chaos in the Xiaomi gallery, create folders manually or use the file manager to save the hierarchy. After copying the library, it is recommended to start scanning media files through Settings → Storage.

Transfer of messages and call history

The most sensitive part of migration is often SMS and call history. Standard Android tools aren't always willing to share this information between different brands. Mi Mover app handles this best, but if you use other methods, you'll need third-party software.

It is recommended to use proven utilities such as SMS Backup & Restore. Install the application on Samsung, back up and save the file to Google Drive or send it to your own mail. Then install the same application on Xiaomi and restore the data from the created file. This ensures that no message is lost.

⚠️ Note: When restoring the history of the call and SMS On a new device, the process can take a few minutes. Do not interrupt the application in the background, otherwise the database may become corrupted.

For instant messengers like WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber, the procedure is different. Telegram and Vasya (Viber) store their history in the cloud — just enter a phone number and chats will be loaded. WhatsApp must be backed up to Google Drive when transferring from Samsung inside the settings of the messenger itself (Chats → Backup Chats).

Solutions and optimization after the transfer

Once the migration is complete, you may find some apps malfunctioning or the battery draining faster than usual, because Xiaomi uses an aggressive MIUI (or HyperOS) optimization system that can “smother” the background processes of apps ported to Samsung.

It is recommended to manually check the battery settings for important applications. Go to Settings → Apps → All applications, select the desired messenger or social network, go to Battery and select No Limits mode. This will prevent notifications from missing.

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After transferring the data, be sure to delete the temporary cache files. Go to Security → Cleanup so that the system analyzes and removes debris left over from old applications.

It’s also worth checking the permissions. When you first run the ported apps on Xiaomi, it will again request permissions to access the camera, microphone and geolocation. Without this, the functionality of the programs will be limited. Take 10-15 minutes to initial setup, so that in the future there will be no distractions to pop-ups.

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The full system adaptation after data transfer takes about 1-2 days of active work.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)