How to Transfer All Data from Xiaomi to Samsung: 5 Proven Ways

The transition from Xiaomi to Samsung is not just a brand change, but a complete migration of digital life: contacts, photos, messages, apps and even screen settings. Many users face the problem of data loss or incomplete portability due to differences in firmware. MIUI One UI. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of transfer – from automatic through Samsung Smart Switch to manual copying of hidden files.

The peculiarity of the process is that Xiaomi uses its own cloud services (Mi Cloud), and Samsung is integrated with the ecosystem of Google and Samsung Account. For example, apps from the Mi App Store will not be automatically transferred, and some system settings (for example, gestures) MIUI) We've taken all of these things into account and put together instructions that work for the 2020-2026 models.

1.Preparation for the transfer: what to do on Xiaomi before you start

Before you connect devices, follow the mandatory steps on your old Xiaomi smartphone, which will prevent data loss and speed up the process:

• 🔋 Charge both phones to at least 50%. Transfer over the cable can take up to 1 hour, and discharging during the process will interrupt it.
• 📶 Connect Xiaomi to Wi-Fi. Some methods (e.g., through Google Drive) require you to download backups.
• 🔐 Make sure that Xiaomi is unlocked OEM Unlock (in Settings) → For developers. This is necessary for the Smart Switch to work properly.
• 📁 Clear the application cache (Settings) → Annexes → Clear the cache. This will reduce the amount of data transmitted.

If you are using Mi Cloud, check that all important data is synced. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud and update sync for contacts, notes and photos.Please note: Mi Cloud only stores data 30 days after deleting the device from your account.

⚠️ Note: If data encryption is enabled on Xiaomi (Settings) → Security → Encryption, cable transfers can end in error, in which case you can use cloud services or manual copying.

2. Method 1: Automatic porting via Samsung Smart Switch

Samsung Smart Switch is the official application for data migration from Android, iOS and even some Windows Phone models.

• 📞 Contacts, call logs and SMS
• 📷 Photos, videos and music
• 📱 Installed applications (without data)
• ⚙️ Wi-Fi settings, wallpaper and some system parameters

However, there are limitations: Not to be tolerated:

• 🔒 Wi-Fi passwords (network names only)
• 📝 Notes from Mi Notes (should be exported separately)
• 🎮 Game data (conservation, progress)

Step-by-step:

1. Download Smart Switch on both phones: Xiaomi: from Google Play Samsung: preinstalled or download from the official website

Samsung

Get data → Android

USB-C

Samsung

Xiaomi

Select data types to transfer and wait for completion.

⚠️ Warning: If the transfer is stuck during the Preparation phase, disconnect the cable, restart both phones and try again).

Download Smart Switch on Xiaomi|

Charge both phones ≥50%|

Connect the original USB-C cable|

Allow debugging by USB Xiaomi|

Shut down. VPN/advertising-blocker-->

3. Method 2: Transfer through Google Account (for contacts, calendar, mail)

If you use Google services on Xiaomi, most of the data is already synced to the cloud.

• 📇 Contacts (from Google Contacts)
• 📅 Calendar (Google Calendar)
• 📧 Letters (Gmail)
• 📁 Files from Google Drive

How to check sync on Xiaomi:

1. Open Settings → Accounts → Google.
2. Select your account and check if sync is enabled for Contacts, Calendar and Drive.
3. Press Sync now.

On the new Samsung:

1. When you first turn on, select Recover Data and log in to the same Google Account.
2. If the phone is already configured, go to Settings → Accounts. → Google and enable synchronization.

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ Fast (data is uploaded from the cloud, no need to wait for cable transmission).
• 🔄 Automatic update (contacts will sync on both phones).

⚠️ Note: If your contacts are saved to Mi Cloud instead of Google Contacts, they won’t migrate.To fix this, export your contacts from Mi Cloud to.vcf and import them to Google Contacts.

💡

Before transferring, check if contacts are duplicated in your Google Account. Go to contacts.google.com and select Find and combine duplicates.

Method 3: Manual file transfer (photos, videos, documents)

If the automatic methods didn't work or you only want to transfer certain files, use manual copying.

• 📸 Photos and videos (including hidden folders, such as.thumbnails)
• 📄 Documents (.pdf,.docx,.xlsx)
• 🎵 Music and podcasts
• 🎮 Save games (if you know the way to files)

Option 1: Through cable USB (most securely)

1. Connect Xiaomi to your computer via USB.
2. Select File Transfer (MTP) mode in the notification curtain.
3. Copy the folders you need (DCIM, Downloads, Pictures) on your PC.
4. Connect Samsung and transfer the files back.

Option 2: Through OTG-accumulator

If you have OTG-flash-drive:

1. Connect the flash drive to Xiaomi and copy the files to it.
2. Disable and connect the flash drive to Samsung.
3. Transfer the data to internal memory.

Ways to Key Folders on Xiaomi:

/storage/emulated/0/DCIM/ - Photo and video cameras


/storage/emulated/0/Downloads/ - Downloads




/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/ - Screenshots and saved pictures




/storage/emulated/0/Music/ - Music




/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/ - Application data (requires root to access)

5. Method 4: Transfer applications and their data

Automatic porting of applications via Smart Switch or Google has limitations: only installed APK-files and data (such as game progress or messaging settings) are lost:

• 🔄 Titanium Backup (requires root rights)
• 📦 APK Extractor + hand-mount
• ☁️ Cloud backups of the apps themselves (such as WhatsApp or Telegram)

Instructions for WhatsApp (save chats):

1. On Xiaomi, open WhatsApp → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup copy.
2. Create a backup in Google Drive.
3. On Samsung, install WhatsApp and log in to the same account.
4. When requested, restore chats from Google Drive.

For other applications:

• 📌 Telegram: Data synced through the cloud automatically.
• 📌 Viber: backup is created in Settings → Account. → Backup copy.
• 📌 Games: Use the Google Play Games or Facebook binding.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. banking) prohibit data portability due to security policies, and will have to be reconfigured. APK-Files from unknown sources – this may result in the blocking of your Google Play Protect account.

Method 5: Transfer of Notes, SMS and other specific data

System data, such as notes, SMS Or alarm clock settings, often ignored by standard methods:

Notes from Mi Notes:

SMS and call log:

If the Smart Switch is not overloaded SMS, use SMS Backup & Restore:

1. Install the app on Xiaomi from Google Play.
2. Create a backup (backup) copy.
3. Transfer the backup file to Samsung.
4. Install the same app on Samsung and recover the data (Restore).

Settings of alarm clocks and reminders:

This data is not automatically transferred.

• Take a picture of the screens with alarm settings on Xiaomi.
• Use Google Clock on both devices for sync.

7.Samsung Verification and Setup After the Move

After the transfer is complete, follow the mandatory steps to Samsung:

• 🔍 Check contacts: open Contacts and make sure all numbers are in place.If there are duplicates, combine them through Contact Management. → Unite.
• 📂 Make sure that photos and videos are displayed in the Gallery. If the folders are empty, check the permissions for the Gallery app in Settings. → Annexes.
• 🔒 Set up biometrics: fingerprint and facial recognition (Settings) → Biometrics and safety).
• 📶 Connect to Wi-Fi and check if passwords are saved (if not, manually transfer them).

Pay particular attention to:

• 🔋 Battery optimizations: Samsung aggressively shuts down background apps. add important messengers to exceptions (Settings) → Caring for the device → Battery → Background work).
• 🎨 Theme and wallpaper: One UI It offers other personalization options than MIUI. Try themes from Samsung Themes.
• 🛠️ Control gestures: c Settings → Additional functions → Gestures set up swipes and double touch.

⚠️ Warning: If Samsung brakes after the transfer, optimize: Reset your phone. Go to Settings → Caring for the device → Optimize now. Clear the app cache (Settings) → Annexes → ⋮ → Clear cache. A common cause of lags is data conflict from MIUI one UI.

💡

After the transfer, be sure to update all apps on Samsung via Google Play. Some programs (such as banking) may require the latest version to work correctly.

8. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions, you may have problems, and let's look at the typical errors and how to fix them:

If none of these methods work, try alternative tools:

• 🔄 Clone Phone (from Huawei, but works with most Android)
• 📦 Send Anywhere (Send Files over Wi-Fi Direct)
• ☁️ Dropbox or Yandex Disk for manual backup

In extreme cases, reset your settings to Samsung and repeat the transfer from scratch, which will help if the data conflicts with the firmware.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions