How to Transfer Data from Samsung Phone to Xiaomi: A Complete 2026 Guide

The transition from Samsung to Xiaomi is not only about changing the ecosystem, but also about moving all the important data. Contacts, photos, messages, notes, and even app settings all need to be saved and moved to a new smartphone correctly. Unlike moving between devices of the same brand (for example, from the Galaxy S22 to the Galaxy S24), the transition between Android devices from different manufacturers requires a special approach.

The main problem is that Samsung and Xiaomi use different proprietary shells: One UI and MIUI respectively. This means that standard backup tools (such as Samsung Smart Switch) will not work with Xiaomi. Fortunately, there are universal methods that allow you to transfer data without loss. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven methods - from simple (through the cloud) to advanced (using a PC).

It is important to consider that some data (such as SMS/MMS or call logs) may not be automatically transferred over standard services, but will require specialized applications, and it is worth checking the amount of data transferred in advance – if you have tens of gigabytes of photos and videos, you should use a wired connection instead of cloud services.

Preparation for transfer: what to do before the start

Before you start transferring data, you need to take a few critical steps, and neglecting them can lead to the loss of information or malfunction of the new phone.

First, update the firmware on both devices. On Samsung, check the relevance of One UI in the Settings menu → Software Update, and on Xiaomi, MIUI in Settings → About Phone → System Update. This minimizes the risk of compatibility errors.

Second, make room for the new Xiaomi: Transferring 50GB of data to a 64GB device that already has 50GB of storage will cause crashes, delete unnecessary files, or transfer them to a memory card (if supported).

• 📱 On Samsung: Check out the One version UI and release at least 10-15% memory.
• 🔄 On Xiaomi: Reset to factory settings (if the phone is new) or clear the cache.
• 🔌 Charging: Make sure both devices are at least 50% charged – transfers can take several hours.
• 📡 Internet: Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (for cloud methods) or prepare USB-cable (for wire transfer).

⚠️ Note: If you are using two-factor authentication (2FA) In applications, save backup codes in advance. After porting, some services (such as WhatsApp or Google Authenticator) may require reconfiguration.

2. Method 1: Transfer through Google Account (the easiest way)

This is a good way for most users, because it uses Google's built-in tools, and it allows you to migrate:

• 📇 Contacts
• 📅 Calendar
• 📎 Notes (if synced with Google Keep)
• 📱 System settings (Wi-Fi passwords, wallpaper, screen brightness)
• 🎮 Data from some games (via Google Play Games)

However, there are limitations to this method: photos, videos, SMS and call logs are not portable, and additional steps will be required (see the following sections).

Step-by-step:

1. On Samsung, open Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Archiving and Recovery.
2. Choose Archive Data and confirm sync with Google Account.
3. On Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select Recover Data and log in to the same Google Account.
4. Select a backup from Samsung and wait for the process to be completed.

⚠️ Note: If you have already set up Xiaomi without recovery, reset it to factory settings (Settings) → The phone. → Reset settings) and repeat the process. Otherwise, some of the data may not be transferred.

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Google Account is the fastest way to transfer basic data, but it doesn’t cover multimedia and SMS. For full portability, combine it with other methods.

3. Method 2: Porting photos and videos via Google Photos

If you have thousands of photos and videos, Google Photos is the best solution, offering 15GB of free cloud storage (with Google Drive), which is enough for most users, and for large libraries (over 15GB), you either have to buy additional space or use alternative methods (see the section on wired transfer).

How to move:

1. On Samsung, set up Google Photos (if not installed) and log in to your account.
2. Enable Backup and Synchronization in the application settings.
3. Wait until all media files are downloaded (may take several hours depending on internet speed).
4. On Xiaomi, install Google Photos, log in to the same account and wait for sync.

To save space in the cloud, before downloading:

• 🗑️ Remove duplicate photos (use Google Files or Gallery Doctor).
• 📹 Squeeze the video to 1080p (In Google Photos Settings, select High Quality instead of Original).
• 🗃️ Archive old photos in the Archive (they will not appear in the main tape, but will remain in the backup).

⚠️ Attention: If you are using SD-Map on Samsung, Google Photos by default does not reserve files from it. To enable this option, go to Settings → Backup of the device → Memory. SD-map.

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If you have slow internet, upload photos at night or use unlimited rates. To speed up, turn off video backup (in Google Photos settings, select Photo Only).

Method 3: Direct Cable Transfer with Mi Mover

Mi Mover is a proprietary application from Xiaomi that allows you to transfer data directly between devices through the Internet. USB-cable (companying Xiaomi) or Wi-Fi. Unlike Samsung Smart Switch, it supports most Android devices, including Samsung.

What can be transferred:

• 📇 Contacts
• 📞 Call logs
• 💬 SMS/MMS
• 📷 Photographs and videos
• 🎵 Music and audio files
• 📁 Documents
• 📱 Annexes (only) APK-files, no data)

Step-by-step:

1. Download Mi Mover on Samsung from Google Play.
2. On Xiaomi, the app is preinstalled (find it through a search in the menu).
3. Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi or connect them with a USB cable (use a USB-C to USB-C adapter or USB-A to USB-C).
4. On Xiaomi, select I get data, on Samsung I send data.
5. Select files to transfer and confirm the start of the process.

Cable transfer speed is ~500MB/min, Wi-Fi speed is ~100-200MB/min (depending on the router). If the transmission is interrupted, check:

• 🔌 Cable (should support data transfer, not just charging).
• 📶 Wi-Fi stability (close to the router).
• 🔋 Battery charge (if the charge is below 20%, the process may stop).

Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network|Download Mi Mover on Samsung|Charge both devices at least 50 times%|Prepare. USB-cable (with wired connection)|Free up space on Xiaomi (minimum 10% free memory)

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5. Method 4: Transfer of SMS, call logs and applications

If you need to migrate SMS/MMS, call logs, or application data (such as saving in games), standard methods won’t help.

For SMS and call logs:

1. Install the SMS Backup & Restore app on Samsung.
2. Create a backup and save the file to Google Drive or internal memory.
3. Transfer the file to Xiaomi (via cloud or cable) and recover the data (Restore).

For these annexes:

• 🎮 Use Google Play Games to sync your saves.
• 💬 Messengers: WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber have built-in backup tools (cloud or local backup).
• 📊 Other applications: Check the settings of each application for the Export/Import option.

⚠️ Note: Some apps (e.g. banking) prohibit data portability for security reasons, and you will have to reconfigure them on Xiaomi.

Method 5: Complete portability over PC (for power users)

If you need to migrate all the data without exception (including system files or rare formats), the best way is to use a computer. This method takes longer, but guarantees 100% control over the process.

Tools required:

• 🖥️ Windows PC or macOS.
• 🔌 USB-cables for both phones.
• 📁 Programs: Android File Transfer (for macOS), Samsung Smart Switch (for backup), Mi PC Suite (optional).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Samsung to your PC and copy all files from DCIM, Downloads, Documents, etc. folders to your hard drive.
2. Use Samsung Smart Switch to create a full backup (including SMS, call logs, and customizations).
3. Connect Xiaomi to your PC and transfer the copied files to the appropriate folders.
4. To recover SMS and logs, use Backup & Restore SMS (as in Method 4).

Advantages of this method:

• ✅ Full control over the data transferred.
• ✅ Possibility of selective copying.
• ✅ It works even with damaged or outdated devices.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Requires PC and technical skills.
• ❌ It takes more time.

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If your PC doesn’t see Xiaomi when you connect, turn on File Transfer Mode (MTP) in the phone’s notification curtain or install Mi PC Suite drivers.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when following instructions, users often encounter problems. TOP-5 errors and ways of solving them:

If none of the methods worked, try alternative applications:

• 📲 Cloneit – transferring data between any Android device.
• 📲 Send Anywhere – transfer files over Wi-Fi without restrictions.
• 📲 Sharet – Quick sharing of large files.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions