How to transfer data from an old Samsung phone to Xiaomi Redmi 10: the complete guide

The move from Samsung to Xiaomi Redmi 10 is not just a brand change, but also a migration of all digital life: photos, chats, notes and even app settings, with many users fearing losing data or spending hours manually transferring files. In practice, the process takes from 15 minutes to an hour, if you know the nuances: from differences in firmware One UI (Samsung and MIUI (Xiaomi) before the features of synchronization through the cloud.

In this article — 7 Working ways to port data, including official Xiaomi tools and workarounds for rare occasions (e.g., if the old Samsung doesn’t turn on). We’ll discuss how to save your Samsung Phone call history (which isn’t exported by standard means), why Google Photos might “forget” albums after moving, and what to do if Redmi is a real name. 10 You can't see files through USB-All instructions are relevant to 2026 Years and years of testing on Galaxy models A/S/J-series and redmi 10/10A/10C.

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

The first step is to audit the data on the old Samsung, and make a list of what you want to transfer by dividing it into categories:

• 📱 Contacts and calls: including blocked numbers and call history.
• 📷 Media files: photos, videos (including hidden folders) DCIM/.thumbnails).
• 💬 Communications: SMS, MMS, chat WhatsApp/Telegram.
• 🎮 Applications and games: saves, settings, authorization data.
• 📅 Calendars and Notes: Events from Samsung Calendar or Google Keep.

Pay attention to 3 critical points:

⚠️ Note: If Samsung has enabled data encryption (Settings) → Biometrics and safety → Encryption), some transfer methods (e.g., through USB-OTG) In this case, use cloud services.

Check the space available on Redmi 10: full data transfer from Samsung medium load will require a minimum of 8-12 GB. Free up memory by removing pre-installed games (MIUI This allows you to do without root rights through Settings → Annexes → Delete).

Also prepare:

• 🔌 Cables: original USB-Type-C (for Redmi 10) and adapter OTG (If you need a direct exchange).
• 🌐 Internet: Wi-Fi at speeds from 10 Mbps (for cloud transfer).
• ⚡ Charging: Both phones must be charged at least 50% – when transferred through the cable, the battery consumption reaches 1-2% per minute.

2.The official way: Mi Mover by Xiaomi

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary solution for migrating data from Android devices, including Samsung.The app is pre-installed on Redmi 10 (located in the Tools folder), but it can also be downloaded to an old phone via Google Play.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Mi Mover on both phones.
2. On Redmi 10, select Me New User, on Samsung, Send Data.
3. Scanner. QR-Xiaomi code reads code from the Samsung screen (alternatively, manual code entry).
4. Select data types to transfer (see table below) and confirm the beginning.

What does Mi Mover carry (and what does not):

⚠️ Note: If Samsung has Android 12 firmware installed+, Mi Mover may request permission to Manage all files (Settings) → Annexes → Without this, the transfer of media files will not be possible.

The transmission speed depends on the method:

• 📶 Wi-Fi Direct: ~10–15 MB/s (recommended).
• 🔌 USB-cable: ~20-30 MB/s, but requires OTG-adapter.

Run Mi Mover on both phones|

Connect to a single Wi-Fi network (or use Hotspot)|

Disable VPNs and firewalls |

Free up 10-15% of memory on Redmi 10|

Close background applications (especially messengers)-->

3. Alternative from Samsung: Smart Switch

Samsung Smart Switch is designed to transfer data to new Samsung devices, but it can be used to export to Xiaomi, with the main advantage of supporting call history and system settings (wallpaper, notification sounds) that Mi Mover ignores.

How to export data via Smart Switch:

1. Install Smart Switch on Samsung (if not preinstalled).
2. Connect your phone to your PC through USB and select Backup.
3. Manually mark: 📞 Log of calls (file will be in.sbk format). 📝 Communications (SMS/MMS smb). ⚙️ Settings (Wi-Fi passwords, wallpaper).

Redmi 10

To import to Xiaomi, you will need to convert files:

• 📄.sbk/.smb → Use Samsung Backup Extractor (Windows) to extract.csv or.xml.
• 📎 Contacts → Import through Google Contacts (Import) → File. VCF).

⚠️ Note: Smart Switch does not carry any application data (e.g. game saves or WhatsApp chats).

4. Cloud services: Google vs Mi Cloud

If the direct transmission fails (for example, because of firmware incompatibility), use cloud storage. Each method has pros and cons:

Comparison of services for transfer:

Step-by-step instructions for Google Account:

1. On Samsung go to Settings → Accounts and archiving → Data Archiving and Enable Google Sync.
2. Make sure it's on: 📇 Contacts (synchronized with Google Contacts). 📅 Calendar (via Google Calendar). 📷 Photo (via Google Photos with high quality").

Redmi 10

Restore from Google backup

Settings → About the phone → Backup

Google Photos doesn't save albums and facial tags when you move between brands -- you'll have to manually restore them. After sync, open Google Photos on Redmi 10, go to the Library. → Utilities. → Restore albums.

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If Google Photos “hangs” during the download stage, clear the app cache (Settings) → Annexes → Google Photo → Warehouse → Clear the cache) and restart synchronization.

5. Transfer of chats and applications: WhatsApp, Telegram, games

Messengers and games require special attention, because their data is not carried by standard methods.

WhatsApp:

• 🔄 On Samsung, back up: WhatsApp settings → chat → Backup (select Google Drive).
• 📥 On Redmi 10, install WhatsApp, log in with the same number, and restore chats from Google Drive.
• ⚠️ If the backup is older than 7 days, WhatsApp will require you to create a new one.

Telegram:

• ☁️ All chats and media are automatically synced via the Telegram cloud.
• 📁 For local transfer, copy the Telegram folder from Samsung’s internal memory to Redmi. 10 (path: /storage/emulated/0/Telegram).

Games and applications:

• 📦 For local saves, use Helium (requires root) or manually copy folders /Android/obb/ and /Android/data/.

⚠️ Note: When you transfer WhatsApp from Samsung to Xiaomi via a local copy (without Google Drive), you may experience a “Can’t Restore Media” error.Solution: Before copying the WhatsApp folder, delete the.nomedia files in the subfolders.

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To transfer these games, check if the game supports cross-platform saves, PUBG Mobile Links Progress to Account Facebook/Twitter, Minecraft to Microsoft.

6. Local Transfer over PC or Mac

If cloud services are not available (e.g., with slow Internet), use direct copying via computer, a method suitable for carrying large amounts of data (100).+ HB) without compression.

Instructions for Windows:

1. Connect Samsung to your PC via USB, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Copy the right folders: DCIM - Photo and video Downloads - WhatsApp Downloads - WhatsApp Chat (if needed) Android/data - Application data (requires root to access)
3. Connect Redmi 10 and paste the files into the appropriate folders.

Features for Mac:

• 🍎 Install Android File Transfer (official software from Google).
• 🔌 If the Mac doesn’t see Samsung, restart the phone with debugging enabled. USB (Settings → The phone. → Assembly number (7 taps) → For developers → Debugging by USB).

What can not be transferred locally:

• ❌ SMS/MMS — stored in the database mmssms.db (requires specialized tools such as: SMS Backup & Restore).
• ❌ System settings (brightness, sounds) - tied to firmware.

7 Problem Solving: What to do if the transfer fails

Even when you follow the instructions, you can make mistakes.-5 problems and solutions:

Problem 1: Mi Mover doesn’t see Samsung through Wi-Fi.

• 🔄 Reboot both phones and router.
• 📡 Turn off Adaptive Wi-Fi on Xiaomi (Settings) → Wi-Fi → Additionally).
• 🔌 Use it. USB-cable.

Problem 2: There is not enough space for the Redmi 10 to carry.

• 🗑️ Remove Pre-installed Games (MIUI It allows for no rooting).
• 🔄 Transfer data in parts (for example, first photo, then applications).
• 💾 Use it. SD-map (if supported by the model).

Problem 3: Google Photos doesn’t upload videos.

• 📶 Check the limits of mobile traffic (Settings) → Networks. → Use of data).
• 🔄 Download the video one at a time (sometimes it helps).
• ☁️ Use an alternative: Yandex Disk or Mega.

Problem 4: Contacts from Samsung Contacts are not portable.

• 📇 Export contacts manually: Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Exports (.vcf format).
• ☁️ Upload the file to Google Contacts or send yourself an email.

Problem 5: Redmi 10 doesn’t see files through the USB.

• 🔌 Check the cable – use the original from Xiaomi.
• 🖥️ On PC, install Mi drivers PC Suite (download from the official website).
• 🔄 Switch the mode. USB Redmi 10: When you connect, select File Transfer (not Charging).

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If after transferring to Redmi 10, wallpaper or notification sounds are lost, check the theme settings in Settings → Screen. → Wallpaper and Settings → Sounds. MIUI drops them off at first launch.

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FAQ: Frequent questions about data transfer