How to transfer data from Samsung to Xiaomi: all the ways 2026

Why moving data between Android devices isn’t as easy as it sounds

The transition from Samsung to Xiaomi is not just a brand change, but a transition between two different ecosystems with unique branded services. Even though both manufacturers use Android, their shells (One UI from Samsung and MIUI/HyperOS from Xiaomi) are very different, which means that standard tools like Google Account will only carry basic data, but application settings, SMS, call log and even some multimedia files can be lost.

The main problem is that Samsung is actively promoting its Smart Switch, a proprietary migration solution that is not compatible with other brands. On the other hand, Xiaomi offers Mi Mover (now integrated into Settings → About Phone → Data Import), but it does not always work correctly with the latest Galaxy models. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to transfer data in 2026, including workarounds for problem cases.

It’s important to understand that the newer the device, the easier the process. For example, transfer from Galaxy S23 to Xiaomi 14 will go smoothly through Google One, but for older models like Galaxy A5 2017 may need manual copying of files.

Method 1: Official Mi Mover Tool (recommended for new Xiaomi models)

Mi Mover is a proprietary solution from Xiaomi that should automatically identify the Samsung device and offer portability, but it doesn't always work consistently.

1. Preparation: on Xiaomi go to Settings → About Phone → Data Import (on HyperOS the path may be different: Settings → Additional → Data Migration). On Samsung, install the Mi Mover app from Google Play (if it is not built-in).
2. Connection: Select Android on both devices. Samsung will be available QR-Code – scan it with Xiaomi camera.
3. Select data: After you connect, select which to transfer: contacts, SMS, photos, videos, audio or applications. Note: applications will be transferred without data (for example, save games will have to be restored separately).

Advantages of the method:

• 🔹 Speed: The process takes 10–30 minutes depending on the amount of data.
• 🔹 Minimal losses: even Wi-Fi settings and some system settings are portable.
• 🔹 Cloudless: Data is transmitted directly over Wi-Fi Direct, without downloading to the Internet.

⚠️ Note: If Samsung has enabled storage encryption (usually activated when you set a password), Mi Mover may not see some files. → Biometrics and safety → Other security parameters → Encryption.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Not all Samsung models are supported (especially older or custom firmware).
• ❌ Applications are transferred without data (for example, correspondence in Telegram will not survive).
• ❌ Sometimes it “hangs” at the connection stage – in this case, rebooting both devices will help.

Method 2: Transfer through Google Account (universal but limited)

The most reliable, but not the most complete, method is syncing through Google Account, which is suitable for basic data: contacts, calendar, some settings and some media. Here's how it works:

Make sure Samsung is synced | Check free space in Google Drive | Update Google Play Services on both devices | Connect Xiaomi to the same Google-->

Step-by-step:

1. On Samsung, open Settings → Accounts & Archiving → Account Management and select your Google Account.
2. Make sure that sync is enabled for Contacts, Calendar, Google Photos and Notes (if you use them).
3. On Xiaomi, add the same account Settings → Accounts → Add an account → Google.
4. Once logged in, the data will sync automatically, and you can manually sync the sync in your account settings to speed up the process.

What's going on?

The main disadvantage of this method is the limited amount of free storage (15 GB per account), if you have a lot of photos or videos, you will either have to pay for the expansion or use alternative methods.

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Before transferring, check what data is already synced with Google. Go to myaccount.google.com → Data and Personalization → Data Management and Personalization.

Method 3: Using Samsung Smart Switch (Backway)

Samsung Smart Switch doesn’t officially support porting to other brands, but there’s a workaround: first back up on Samsung and then extract the data manually.

Instructions:

1. On Samsung, install the Smart Switch (if not installed) and connect the device to your computer via USB.
2. In the program, select Backup and save the data to your PC. Importantly, choose the.sbk format (not.zip) as it is easier to unpack.
3. Download SmartSwitchBackupExtractor (available on GitHub) and use it to extract data from the backup.
4. Transfer the files you need (.vcf, photo, video) to Xiaomi via USB or cloud.

Advantages:

• 🔹 Transferred SMS Call logs that are not available through Google.
• 🔹 Only the necessary data can be selectively extracted.

⚠️ Warning: Smart Switch backup files are encrypted. If you forget your backup password, you can't recover it. By default, the password is the backup. PIN-code of your Samsung device.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ A computer and additional software are required.
• ❌ The process is more complicated than other methods.
• ❌ Not all data is extracted correctly (for example, settings of some applications).

Method 4: Manual transfer via OTG cable or computer

If the automatic methods don't work, you have to manually copy it, which is the most reliable, but it takes longer.

• 🔌 Cable USB-C — USB-C (Adapters, if the ports are different).
• 💻 Computer (optional if not) OTG-cable).
• 📁 File Manager (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Samsung to Xiaomi via cable. On Samsung, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. On Xiaomi, open the file manager and go to the section "USB-storage".
3. Copy the right folders: DCIM — Photos and videos. Downloads — downloads. Pictures, Music, Movies — multimedia. WhatsApp/Media — Media files from WhatsApp (you can’t transfer the correspondence yourself!).

contact

Samsung

.vcf

Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports

Xiaomi

Advantages:

• 🔹 Full control over the data transferred.
• 🔹 There are no limits on the volume (except for free space on devices).
• 🔹 It works on older or uncertified devices.

⚠️ Warning: Don’t copy the entire Android folder – this can cause app crashes on Xiaomi.It’s better to reinstall the programs via Google Play and restore data from their own backups (if supported).

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Manual transfer is the only way to save files in their original quality without compression (relevant for RAW or 4K video).

Method 5: Cloud Storage (Google Drive, OneDrive, Mi Cloud)

If you have slow internet or little space on your devices, cloud services can be a good alternative.

1. Google Drive.

Suitable for backup of multimedia and documents, how to use:

1. On Samsung, install Google Drive and press + → Download.
2. Select the files and wait for the download to be completed.
3. On Xiaomi, log in to the same account and download files.

Restriction: free only 15 GB. For more volume you will have to pay or use other services.

2. OneDrive (from Microsoft)

It gives you 5GB for free, but it's integrated with Windows, which is convenient if you have a PC. It's a similar instruction to Google Drive.

3. Mi Cloud (from Xiaomi)

Less versatile, but if you plan to use Xiaomi for a long time, it makes sense to upload the data there. However, you can’t download files directly from Samsung to the Mi Cloud — you have to transfer them to Xiaomi first, and then upload them to the cloud.

Comparison of cloud services:

Cloud services are convenient, but they are not suitable for transferring SMS, call logs or application settings, and you still have to use specialized tools to do this.

What to do if the data is not transferred or transferred incorrectly

Even if you follow instructions correctly, sometimes you have problems, and here are the most common solutions.

• 📵 Contacts not moved: Check if contact sync is enabled in Google Account. export contacts manually to.vcf file and import to Xiaomi.
• 📸 Low quality photos and videos: If you used Google Photos, check the compression settings (Settings) → Photo compression. Move files manually through the cable to avoid compression.
• 💬 Not overdue. SMS: Use the app. SMS Backup & Restore to backup on Samsung and restore on Xiaomi.
• 🔄 Apps not recovered: Reinstall them manually via Google Play. Use Google Play Games for save games (if cloud-based saves support is available).

If Xiaomi started to slow down after the transfer, perform optimization in Settings → Apps → Clean up or restart the device.

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Before resetting Samsung to factory settings, make sure all data is moved. It is impossible to recover information after reset without a backup!

FAQ: Frequent questions about data portability from Samsung to Xiaomi